Fantagraphics

Fantagraphics is an American publisher of alternative comics, classic comic strip anthologies, manga, magazines, graphic novels, and the erotic Eros Comix imprint. They have managed several awards for achievement in comic books.

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History

Founding

Fantagraphics was founded in 1976 by Gary Groth and Michael Catron in College Park, Maryland. The company took over an adzine named The Nostalgia Journal, which it renamed The Comics Journal, transforming it from an adzine into a magazine of news and criticism that just happened to carry advertisements.
Kim Thompson joined the company in 1977, using his inheritance to keep the company afloat. He soon became a co-owner.
The company moved from Washington, D.C., to Stamford, Connecticut, to Los Angeles over its early years, before settling in Seattle in 1989.
Beginning in 1981 Fantagraphics published Amazing Heroes, a magazine which examined comics from a hobbyist's point of view, as another income stream to supplement The Comics Journal. Amazing Heroes ran for 204 issues, folding with its July 1992 issue.

Comics publisher

Beginning in 1979, Fantagraphics began publishing comics, starting with Jay Disbrow's The Flames of Gyro. They gained wider recognition in 1982 by publishing the Hernandez brothers' Love and Rockets, and moved on to such critically acclaimed and award-winning series as Acme Novelty Library, Eightball, and Hate.
The company moved operations to Greater Los Angeles in 1984.
Catron acted as Fantagraphics' co-publisher until 1985, when he left the company.

The Kirby Awards and the Harvey Awards

From 1985 to 1987, Fantagraphics coordinated and presented The Jack Kirby Award for achievement in comic books, voted on by comic-book professionals. The Kirby Award was managed by Dave Olbrich, a Fantagraphics employee. In 1987, a dispute arose when Olbrich and Fantagraphics each claimed ownership of the awards. A compromise was reached, and, starting in 1988, the Kirby Award was discontinued and two new awards were created: the Eisner Awards, managed by Olbrich; and the Fantagraphics-managed Harvey Awards, named for cartoonist Harvey Kurtzman.

Relocation to Seattle

In 1989, Fantagraphics relocated from Los Angeles to its current location in the Maple Leaf neighborhood of Seattle, Washington.
In 1990, the publisher introduced Eros Comix, a lucrative line of erotic comics that provided a replacement revenue stream for Amazing Heroes and which helped the company again avoid bankruptcy.
Longtime employee Eric Reynolds joined Fantagraphics in 1993, first as news editor for The Comics Journal from 1993, before moving to marketing and promotion in 1996. Groth and Thompson acknowledged Reynolds was key to the company's rise to profitability.
Tom Spurgeon, later known as the publisher of The Comics Reporter, was editor of The Comics Journal from 1994 to 1999.

Financial ups and downs

In 1998, Fantagraphics was forced into a round of layoffs; and in 2003 the company almost went out of business, losing over $60,000 in the wake of the 2002 bankruptcy of debtor and book trade distributor Seven Hills Distribution. One employee quit during the subsequent downsizing while denouncing Fantagraphics' "disorganization and poor management." As journalist Michael Dean wrote, "the publisher has alternated between flourishing and nearly perishing over the years."
Fantagraphics was saved by a restructuring and a successful appeal to comic book fandom that resulted in a huge number of orders. After restructuring, the company has had greater success with such hardcover collections as The Complete Peanuts, distributed by W. W. Norton & Company.
In 2009, Fantagraphics ceased publishing the print edition of The Comics Journal, shifting from an eight-times a year publishing schedule to a larger, more elaborate, semi-annual format supported by a new website.

European line

Starting in 2005, Fantagraphics began a European graphic novel line, starting with the co-publication of the Ignatz Series, edited and produced by the Italian artist Igort. The publisher announced a deal with Jacques Tardi in March 2009 that would see co-publisher Thompson translate a large number of his books.

New challenges

In 2006, Fantagraphics opened its own retail store, Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery, in Seattle's Georgetown neighborhood.
In 2009 Jacq Cohen started as the publicist for Fantagraphics.
Co-publisher Kim Thompson left Fantagraphics due to illness in March 2013, and died of lung cancer a few months later. His absence left the company without a number of titles it had been counting on for the summer and fall of 2013; and, in November, Fantagraphics started a Kickstarter campaign to raise $150,000, which it surpassed in four days.
In August 2020 the company rebranded, from Fantagraphics Books to just Fantagraphics. At the same time it introduced a more compact logo featuring a stylized ink pen nib and a torch.
In 2023, Fantagraphics began reprinting comics from Atlas Comics under license from Marvel Comics. To date, they have released eight volumes devoted to series and three devoted to creators. In April 2025 they began a series of hardcovers called "Lost Marvels." The first volume, released in April, collects Tower of Shadows. The second, scheduled for August, focuses on Howard Chaykin and includes Dominic Fortune, Monark Starstalker, and Phantom Eagle. The third, scheduled for November, reprints Savage Tales.

Imprints

Ignatz Series

The Ignatz Series is an international comic imprint. It is published by Fantagraphics, Avant Verlag, Vertige Graphic, Oog & Blik, Coconino Press, and Sinsentido. It is named for Ignatz Mouse, a character in the comic strip Krazy Kat.
The books in the Ignatz Series are designed midway between standard North American comic book pamphlet-size and graphic novel-size. Each title is 32 pages, two-color, saddle stitched, 8″ × 11″, with jacket, priced at $7.95.
The Ignatz collection is edited and produced by Italian artist Igort. Fantagraphics editor Kim Thompson frequently provided translations.

Eros Comix

Eros Comix was an adult-oriented imprint of Fantagraphics, established in 1990 to publish pornographic comic books like Gilbert Hernandez' Birdland and reprints of work by Wally Wood and Frank Thorne. Eventually, Eros added to its catalogue dozens of comics titles, over 40 collected editions, anime videos, DVDs, and books of erotic art and photography. The 2006 Eros Comix print catalog sold over 470 items, including adult comic books and humorous cheesecake-style comics often featuring pin-up girls like Bettie Page. The Eros Comix imprint was popular enough that it is credited with making Fantagraphics financially solvent.
Notable Eros titles include Bill Willingham's Ironwood, SS Crompton's Demi the Demoness, Howard Chaykin's Black Kiss, Domino Lady; and the Italian series Djustine, Ramba, and Adult Frankenstein.
Writer-artist Tom Sutton contributed work to Eros titles under the pseudonym "Dementia". Other contributors to Eros titles included Eric Stanton, Mary Fleener, Mikael Oskarsson, Bill Pearson, Malachy Coney, Richard Bassford, Gary Dumm, Frank Stack, Bob Fingerman, Molly Kiely, Yanick Paquette, Robert Peters, John Workman, Colleen Coover, Marc Andreyko, Raulo Cáceres, Larry Fuller, Dennis Eichhorn, Dennis Cramer/Justine Mara Andersen, Jon Macy, John Blackburn, and Greg Budgett.
Eros' MangErotica line featured translated hentai manga by the likes of Isutoshi, Oh! great, Toshiki Yui, Teruo Kakuta, and Benkyo Tamaoki; and titles like Bondage Fairies, Hatsuinu, Hot Tails, A Strange Kind of Woman, Slut Girl, and Super Taboo.
In the beginning, there was some controversy over Eros titles featuring back cover ads with phone sex numbers. In 1994, Eros editor Tom Verre was replaced by Jeremy Pinkham.
By the late 1990s, the imprint was no longer profitable, and the publication of new material diminished rapidly. The Eros Comix website was no longer being maintained by 2017; its titles no longer appear on the Fantagraphics website under that label.

Titles

Comics anthology magazines

Anything Goes!BLAB!Blood OrangeCrittersGanzfeldGraphic Story MonthlyHotwire Comix and CapersMOMENOWPictopiaPrime CutsSnake Eyes

''Zero Zero''

Magazines

Amazing Heroes – a defunct publication devoted mostly to mainstream comicsThe Comics Journal – magazine of comics news and criticismHonk – magazine of comics news and criticismNemo, the Classic Comics Library – a defunct magazine devoted to classic comics

Comic book series

Acme Novelty LibraryArtbabeThe Adventures of Captain JackAngry Youth ComixBig MouthThe Biologic ShowBlack HoleCastle WaitingCrapCudDalgodaDoofusDuplex Planet IllustratedEightballThe Eye of MongomboEvil EyeFission ChickenFrankGangesGood GirlsGrit BathHateHip Hop Family Tree Vol. 1-4 by Ed PiskorJimJizzJourneyLa PerdidaLove and RocketsMeatcakeMechanics MegahexNaughty BitsNeat StuffThe NimrodRaisin PieReal StuffSchizoShadowlandStinzThe Stuff of DreamsUnsupervised ExistenceUptightUsagi Yojimbo Tales Designed to ThrizzleWandering SonWeaselWhot Not!

''Wuvable Oaf''

# series

Baobab #1 by Igort
Insomnia #1 by Matt Broersma
Wish You Were Here #1: The Innocents by Gipi
Interiorae #1 by Gabriella Giandelli
Ganges #1 by Kevin Huizenga
Chimera #1 by Lorenzo Mattotti
Insomnia #2 by Matt Broersma
Babel #2 by David B.
Wish You Were Here #2: They Found the Car by Gipi
Reflections #1 by Marco Corona
Baobab #2 by Igort
Niger #1 by Leila Marzocchi
Delphine #1 by Richard Sala
New Tales of Old Palomar #1 by Gilbert Hernandez
Interiorae #2 by Gabriella Giandelli
Calvario Hills #1 by Marti
The End #1 by Anders Nilsen
Reflections #2 by Marco Corona
New Tales of Old Palomar #2 by Gilbert Hernandez
Delphine #2 by Richard Sala
Sammy the Mouse #1 by Zak Sally
Grotesque #1 by Sergio Ponchione
Niger #2 by Leila Marzocchi
Reflections #3 by Marco Corona
Insomnia #3 by Matt Broersma
New Tales of Old Palomar #3 by Gilbert Hernandez
Ganges #2 by Kevin Huizenga
Baobab #3 by Igort
Delphine #3 by Richard Sala
Grotesque #2 by Sergio Ponchione
Interiorae #3 by Gabriella Giandelli
Sammy the Mouse #2 by Zak Sally
Grotesque #3 by Sergio Ponchione
Delphine #4 by Richard Sala
Ganges #3 by Kevin Huizenga
Niger #3 by Leila Marzocchi
Grotesque #4 by Sergio Ponchione
Interiorae #4 by Gabriella Giandelli
Sammy the Mouse #3 by Zak Sally
Ganges #4 by Kevin Huizenga

; To be released:

XX: Babel #3 by David B.
XX: Baobab #4 by Igort
XX: Calvario Hills #2 by Marti
XX: The End #2 by Anders Nilsen
XX: Wish You Were Here #3 by Gipi

Graphic novels

King by Ho Che AndersonPixy by Max AnderssonGhost World by Dan ClowesCaricature by Dan ClowesLike a Velvet Glove Cast in Iron by Dan Clowes Patience by Dan ClowesBeasts by Jacob CoveyMy Favorite Thing Is Monsters by Emil FerrisDrawn to Berlin by Ali FitzgeraldThe Wipeout by Francesca GhermandiBlack is the Color by Julia GfrörerLaid Waste by Julia GfrörerAmsterdam by Simon HanselmannMegahex by Simon HanselmannOne More Year by Simon HanselmannPalomar by Gilbert HernandezLocas by Jaime HernandezI Killed Adolf Hitler by JasonThe Lie and How We Told It by Tommi ParrishAnywhere But Here by Miki ToriPalestine by Joe SaccoSafe Area Goražde by Joe SaccoHarum Scarum by Lewis TrondheimThe Hoodoodad by Lewis TrondheimAlphabetical Ballad of Carnality by David SandlinWeathercraft, Congress of the Animals, and Fran by Jim WoodringFrederick and Eloise: A Love Story by Brian Biggs

Classic comics compilations

Disney comicsThe Complete Carl Barks Disney LibraryDisney MastersThe Don Rosa LibraryWalt Disney's Mickey MouseWalt Disney's Uncle Scrooge & Donald Duck: Bear Mountain TalesWalt Disney's Silly Symphonies
Other titlesBarnabyBuz SawyerCaptain EasyThe Complete Crumb ComicsDennis the MenaceThe EC Artists' LibraryFeiffer: The Collected WorksHumbugKrazy KatLittle NemoLittle Orphan AnnieNancyThe Complete PeanutsPogo: The Complete Syndicated Comic StripsPoor Arnold's AlmanacThe Complete E. C. Segar PopeyePowerhouse PepperPrince Valiant

''Sam's Strip''

Books

Black Images in the Comics: A Visual History by Fredrik StrömbergBlacklight: The World of L.B. Cole by Bill SchellyFilm Noir 101: The 101 Best Film Noir Posters from the 1940s & 1950s by Mark FertigLaura Warholic by Alexander Theroux, 2007Massive: Gay Erotic Manga and the Men Who Make It edited by Anne Ishii, Chip Kidd, and Graham KolbeinsNo Straight Lines edited by Justin HallSignificant Objects edited by Joshua Glenn and Rob WalkerTales of Terror! The EC Companion by Grant Geissman and Fred von BernewitzTake That, Adolf! The Fighting Comic Books of the Second World War by Mark Fertig

Eros Comix titles

Adult Frankenstein by Enrico TeodoraniAunts in your Pants by Enrico TeodoraniBirdland by Gilbert HernandezElizabeth Bathory by Raulo CáceresIronwood by Bill WillinghamKarate GirlOmaha the Cat Dancer by Kate Worley and Reed Waller Ramba by Rossi, Delizia, and Laurenti, whose protagonist is an erotic Italian hitladySmall Favors by Colleen CooverSticky by Dale Lazarov and Steve MacIsaacSubmit! by Silvano & Enrico TeodoraniTales from the Clit by Enrico TeodoraniTijuana BiblesUntamed Love by Frank FrazettaVladrushka and Rosa & Annalisa by JLRobersonWendy Whitebread by Don SimpsonWheela, Biker Bitch of the Apocalypse by Enrico Teodorani

MangErotica titles

Bondage Fairies Hot Tails Spunky Knight Super Taboo Secret Plot Countdown: Sex Bomb Misty Girl Extreme Secret Plot Deep Silky Whip by Oh! great New Bondage Fairies: Fairie Fetish Co-ed Sexxtacy Slut Girl Pink Sniper by Kengo Yonekura Domin-8 Me! by Sesshu Takemura Milk Mama by Yukiyanagi Love Selection by Gunma Kisaragi Too Hot to Handle by Jogi Tsukino Hate (manga)|Love & Hate] by Enomoto Heights A Strange Kind of Woman by Inu

Recognition

Kirby Awards

1986

Best Black-and-White Comic: Love and Rockets, by Jaime Hernandez and Gilbert Hernandez

Note: In 1988, the Kirby Awards was disbanded and replaced by the Harvey and the Eisner Awards.

Eisner Awards

List of won Eisner Awards:
1994

Best Archival Collection: Complete Little Nemo in Slumberland Vol. 6

by Winsor McCay
1995

Best Publication Design: The Acme Novelty Library, designed by Chris Ware

1996

Best Continuing Series: Acme Novelty Library, by Chris Ware
Best Archival Collection: The Complete Crumb Comics Vol. 11, by Robert Crumb
Best Coloring: Chris Ware - The Acme Novelty Library
Best Comics-Related Publication - Periodical: The Comics Journal
Best Publication Design: The Acme Novelty Library by Chris Ware

1997

Best Comics-Related Periodical: The Comics Journal
Best Publication Design: Acme Novelty Library Vol. 7

1998

Best Coloring: Chris Ware, The Acme Novelty Library
Best Comics-Related Periodical: The Comics Journal
Best Comics-Related Product: Acme Novelty Library display stand, designed by Chris Ware

1999

Best Comics-Related Periodical: The Comics Journal

2000

Best Continuing Series: Acme Novelty Library by Chris Ware
Best Graphic Album - New: Acme Novelty Library Vol. 13, by Chris Ware
Best Writer/Artist: Dan Clowes, Eightball

2001

Best Writer/Artist - Humor: Tony Millionaire, Maakies
Best Coloring: Chris Ware, Acme Novelty Library #14

2002

Best Single Issue: Eightball #22, by Dan Clowes
Best Writer/Artist: Dan Clowes, Eightball
Best Publication Design: Acme Novelty Library #15, designed by Chris Ware

2003

Best Single Issue or One-Shot: The Stuff of Dreams by Kim Deitch
Best Archival Collection/Project: Krazy & Ignatz by George Herriman
Best Writer/Artist- Humor: Tony Millionaire, The House at Maakies Corner
Best Comics-Related Publication : B. Krigstein Vol. 1, by Greg Sadowski

2004

Best Archival Collection/Project: Krazy & Ignatz: 1929–1930, by George Herriman, edited by Bill Blackbeard

2005

Best Single Issue or One-Shot: Eightball #23: "The Death Ray", by Dan Clowes
Best Archival Collection/Project: The Complete Peanuts edited by Gary Groth
Best Publication Design: The Complete Peanuts, designed by Seth

2007

Best Archival Collection/Project—Strips: The Complete Peanuts

1959–1960, 1961–1962, by Charles Schulz

Best U.S. Edition of International Material: The Left Bank Gang by Jason
Best Writer/Artist-Humor: Tony Millionaire, Billy Hazelnuts

2008

Best Archival Collection/Project - Comic Books: I Shall Destroy All the Civilized Planets!, by Fletcher Hanks
Best U.S. Edition of International Material: I Killed Adolf Hitler by Jason

2009

Best U.S. Edition of International Material:The Last Musketeer by Jason

2011

Best Reality-Based Work: It Was the War of the Trenches by Jacques Tardi
Best U.S. Edition of International Material: It Was the War of the Trenches by Jacques Tardi

2012

Best Archival Collection/Project-Comic Strips: Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse Vols. 1-2,

by Floyd Gottfredson, edited by David Gerstein and Gary Groth
2013

Best Short Story: Moon1969: The True Story of the 1969 Moon Launch,

by Michael Kupperman, in Tales Designed to Thrizzle #8

Best Archival Collection/Project-Strips: Pogo Vol. 2: Bona Fide Balderdash,

by Walt Kelly, edited by Carolyn Kelly and Kim Thompson
2014

Best Short Story: Untitled by Gilbert Hernandez, in Love and Rockets: New Stories #6
Best U.S. Edition of International Material: Goddam This War!,

by Jacques Tardi and Jean-Pierre Verney

Best Writer/Artist: Jamie Hernandez, Love and Rockets: New Stories #6

2015

Best Reality-Based Work: Hip Hop Family Tree Vol. 2 by Ed Piskor

2016

Best Archival Collection/Project - Strips: The Eternaut,

by Héctor Germán Oesterheld and Francisco Solano López, edited by Gary Groth and Kristy Valenti

Best Writer/Artist: Bill Griffith, Invisible Ink: My Mother's Secret Love Affair with a Famous Cartoonist

2017

Best Archival Collection/Project - Comic Books : The Complete Wimmen's Comix,

edited by Trina Robbins, Gary Groth and J. Michael Catron
2018

Best Graphic Album- New: My Favorite Thing Is Monsters by Emil Ferris
Best U.S. Edition of International Material: Run for It: Stories of Slaves Who Fought for the Freedom,

by Marcelo D'Salete, translated by Andrea Rosenberg

Best Writer/Artist: Emil Ferris, My Favorite Thing Is Monsters
Best Coloring: Emil Ferris My Favorite Thing Is Monsters
Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism: The Comics Journal,

edited by Dan Nadel, Timothy Hodler and Tucker Stone, www.tcj.com

Best Comics-Related Book: How to Read Nancy: The Elements of Comics in Three Easy Panels,

by Paul Karasik and Mark Newgarden
2020

Best Single Issue/One-Shot: Our Favorite Thing is My Favorite Thing Is Monsters by Emil Ferris
Best U.S. Edition of International Material: The House by Paco Roca

2021

Best Graphic Album - Reprint: Seeds and Stems by Simon Hanselmann
Best Webcomic: Crisis Zone by Simon Hanselmann
Best U.S. Edition of International Material: Goblin Girl by Moa Romanova
Best Archival Collection/Project - Strips: The Flapper Queens: Women Cartoonists of the Jazz Age edited by Trina Robbins
Best Archival Collection/Project - Comic Books: The Complete Hate by Peter Bagge

2022

Best Lettering: Monsters by Barry Windsor-Smith
Best Archival Collection/Project - Strips: Popeye: the E.C. Segar Sundays, vol 1 by E.C. Segar
Best Graphic Album - New: Monsters by Barry Windsor-Smith

2024

Best Graphic Album - Reprint: Hip Hop Family Tree: The Omnibus by Ed Piskor
Best Archival Collection/Project - Strips: Dauntless Dames: High-Heeled Heroes of the Comic Strips edited by Peter Maresca and Trina Robbins
Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism: The Comics Journal #309 edited by Gary Groth, Kristy Valenti, and Austin English

Harvey Awards

List of won Harvey Awards:
1989

Best Writer: Gilbert Hernandez - Love and Rockets
Best Continuing or Limited Series: Love and Rockets by Jaime and Gilbert Hernandez
Best Domestic Reprint Project: The Complete Crumb Comics, by Robert Crumb

1990

Best Writer: Gilbert Hernandez - Love and Rockets
Best New Series: Eightball by Dan Clowes
Best Continuing or Limited Series: Love and Rockets by Jaime and Gilbert Hernandez
Best Single Issue or Story: Eightball #1, by Dan Clowes
Best Biographical, Historical, or Journalistic Presentation: The Comics Journal, edited by Gary Groth
Best Domestic Reprint Project: The Complete Little Nemo in Slumberland, by Winsor McCay

1991

Best Cartoonist : Peter Bagge, Hate
Best Letterer: Dan Clowes, Eightball
Best New Series: Hate by Peter Bagge
Best Continuing or Limited Series: Eightball by Dan Clowes
Best Single Issue or Story: Eightball #3, by Dan Clowes
Best Biographical, Historical, or Journalistic Presentation: The Comics Journal, edited by Gary Groth and Helena Harvilicz
Best Domestic Reprint Project: The Complete Crumb Comics, by Robert Crumb
Special Award Excellence in Presentation: The Complete Little Nemo in Slumberland, by Winsor McCay, edited by Richard Marschall, designed by Dale Crain

1992

Best Inker: Jaime Hernandez, Love and Rockets
Best Continuing or Limited Series: Eightball by Dan Clowes, edited by Gary Groth
Best Biographical, Historical, or Journalistic Presentation: The Comics Journal, edited by Gary Groth, Helena Harvilicz and Frank Young
Best Domestic Reprint Project: The Complete Crumb Comics, by Robert Crumb
Special Award Excellence in Presentation: The Complete Little Nemo in Slumberland, by Winsor McCay, edited by Richard Marschall, art directed by Dale Crain

1993

Best Biographical, Historical, or Journalistic Presentation: The Comics Journal, edited by Gary Groth and Frank Young
Best Domestic Reprint Project: The Complete Crumb Comics, by Robert Crumb

1994

Best American Edition of Foreign Material: Billie Holiday by José Antonio Muñoz and Carlos Sampayo, edited by Gary Grot, Robert Boyd and Kim Thompson
Best Domestic Reprint Project: The Complete Little Nemo In Slumberland Vol. 6 by Winsor McCay, edited by Bill Blackbeard, packaged by Dale Crain

1995

Best New Series: Acme Novelty Library by Chris Ware, edited by Kim Thompson
Best Domestic Reprint Project: The Complete Crumb Comics, by Robert Crumb, edited by Gary Groth and Robert Boyd, art direction by Mark Thompson
Special Award Excellence in Presentation: Acme Novelty Library, by Chris Ware, edited by Kim Thompson