Happy Birthday Matt Groening

The Best Comics of the Decade 1980-1990 Vol 1 Limited Edition Book Signed by Matt Groening and Bill Griffith

Happy birthday to cartoonist Matt Groening, creator of the comic strip Life in Hell (1977–2012) and co-creator of the animated TV series The Simpsons (1989–present) and Futurama (1999–2003, 2008–2013). Our Collector's Treasure of the Day is the limited edition book The Best Comics of the Decade 1980-1990 Vol 1 hand-signed by Matt Groening and Bill Griffith. Featuring comics selected by Fantagraphics and the editors of The Comics Journal including contributions by Matt Groening, Robert Crumb, Dave Sim, Peter Bagge, Bill Griffith, and others, this hardcover edition of 650 copies is hand-signed and numbered. Authenticity guaranteed for life by Collector's Shangri-La.

Happy Birthday Peter Bagge

Collector's Shangri-La Fine Art Giclée Print by Peter Bagge

Happy birthday to cartoonist Peter Bagge, best known for the 1990s comic book series Hate, which followed the exploits of the slacker ne'er-do-well Buddy Bradley (and managed to show probably the truest representation of Seattle during the "grunge" boom and bust). But the Buddy Bradley saga is only a small part of Bagge's oeuvre, which saw its first glory days in R. Crumb's Weirdo Magazine (which he edited for several issues) and continues to expand to this day as he appears in Reason and MAD Magazine. This fine art giclée print entitled Collector's Shangri-La is printed with archival inks on museum-quality fine art paper. Select from 8.5 x 11 inches or 13 x 19 inches. Mint condition.

Happy Birthday Johnny Ryan

Angry Youth Comix Signed with a sketch by Johnny Ryan

Happy birthday to cartoonist Johnny Ryan, best known as the creator of the underground comic Angry Youth Comix and co-creator of the Nickelodeon animated series Pig Goat Banana Cricket. Our Collector's Treasure of the Day is this hardcover collection of all fourteen issues of Ryan's career-defining comic book series Angry Youth Comix (2000-2008). All the comics, the covers, and even the contentious letters pages. Hand-signed in person with an original drawing by Johnny Ryan (may differ from the example shown). Brand new hardcover. COA

Happy Birthday Matt Groening

The Best Comics of the Decade 1980-1990 Vol 1 Limited Edition Book Signed by Matt Groening and Bill Griffith

Happy birthday to cartoonist Matt Groening, creator of the comic strip Life in Hell (1977–2012) and co-creator of the animated TV series The Simpsons (1989–present) and Futurama (1999–2003, 2008–2013). Our Collector's Treasure of the Day is the limited edition book The Best Comics of the Decade 1980-1990 Vol 1 hand-signed by Matt Groening and Bill Griffith. Featuring comics selected by Fantagraphics and the editors of The Comics Journal including contributions by Matt Groening, Robert Crumb, Dave Sim, Peter Bagge, Bill Griffith, and others, this hardcover edition of 650 copies is hand-signed and numbered. Authenticity guaranteed for life by Collector's Shangri-La.

Happy Birthday S. Clay Wilson

Underground Comix Family Album Deluxe Limited Edition Book Autographed by 22

Happy birthday to underground cartoonist S. Clay Wilson, an early contributor to Zap Comix. Our Collector's Treasure of the Day is the Underground Comix Family Album Signed Deluxe Limited Edition Book. A major photographic reference, it celebrates the creators of trail-blazing cartoon art, features 50 intimate black and white photo portraits by Clay Geerdes, intrepid chronicler of the underground scene for 25 years. Veteran cartoonist and graphics pioneer, Will Eisner, sets the tone of the book with his foreword. Cartoon Art Museum founder, Malcolm Whyte, follows with a concise introduction to comix and their place in history. Hand-signed in a numbered edition of 325 by 22 contributors including Kim Deitch, Will Eisner, Bill Griffith, Jay Kinney, Lee Marrs, Paul Mavrides, Trina Robbins, Spain Rodriguez, Sharon Rudahl, Bill Stout, Larry Welz, Robert Williams, and S. Clay Wilson. Fine condition. Authenticity guaranteed for life by Collector's Shangri-La.

Happy Birthday Daniel Clowes

The Death-Ray Book Signed by Daniel Clowes

Happy birthday to cartoonist Daniel Clowes, best known for his anthology comic Eightball and two of the self-contained narratives which have been adapted into the films Ghost World (2001) and Art School Confidential (2006). Our Collector's Treasure of the Day is an autographed copy of his book The Death-Ray. With subtle comedy, deft mastery, and an obvious affection for the bold pop-art exuberance of comic book design, Daniel Clowes delivers a contemporary meditation on the darkness of the human psyche. Brand new First Edition hardcover with bookplate hand-signed by Daniel Clowes. Authenticity guaranteed for life by Collector's Shangri-La.

Happy Birthday Robert Williams

Complete Zap Comix: Special Edition w/ Limited Edition Signed Prints by R. Crumb, Paul Mavrides, Gilbert Shelton, Robert Williams, S. Clay Wilson

Happy birthday to artist, cartoonist, and co-founder of Juxtapoz magazine, Robert Williams, a.k.a. Mr. Bitchin’! In the late 1960s, Robert joined the ranks at Zap Comix where he created the seminal Underground Comix anti-hero, Coochy Cooty. Our Collector's Treasure of the Day is this Special Signed Edition of The Complete Zap Comix which includes a portfolio of five gyclée prints, scanned from original pages of Zap art by Robert Crumb, Paul Mavrides, Gilbert Shelton, Robert Williams, and S. Clay Wilson, each signed by the artist. The set collects every issue of Zap — every cover and every story, and even the Zam mini comic jam among the Zap artists — in a multi-volume, slipcased hardcover set. It will also include the 17th unpublished issue with work by Crumb, Moscoco, Wilson, Rodriguez, Shelton, Mavrides, and Williams. Plus, an introduction by founder R. Crumb and an oral history of Zap by Patrick Rosenkranz, and other exclusive bonus features and items. Zap is the most historically and aesthetically important comics series ever published. Limited to 250 copies.

Happy Birthday Matt Groening

The Best Comics of the Decade 1980-1990 Vol 1 Limited Edition Book Signed by Matt Groening and Bill Griffith

Happy birthday to cartoonist Matt Groening, creator of the comic strip Life in Hell (1977–2012) and co-creator of the animated TV series The Simpsons (1989–present) and Futurama (1999–2003, 2008–2013). Our Collector's Treasure of the Day is the limited edition book The Best Comics of the Decade 1980-1990 Vol 1 hand-signed by Matt Groening and Bill Griffith. Featuring comics selected by Fantagraphics and the editors of The Comics Journal including contributions by Matt Groening, Robert Crumb, Dave Sim, Peter Bagge, Bill Griffith, and others, this hardcover edition of 650 copies is hand-signed and numbered. In Near Mint condition with a Very Good dustjacket. Authenticity guaranteed for life by Collector's Shangri-La.

Happy Birthday Peter Bagge

Peter Bagge's Other Stuff Cover Original Art Signed by Peter Bagge

Happy birthday to cartoonist Peter Bagge, best known for his work in Hate, Neat Stuff, and Reason! Our Collector's Treasure of the Day is his original art for the cover of the anthology Peter Bagge's Other Stuff published by Fantagraphics. Including off-the-wall comics from the pages of Hate and other publications, Bagge collaborates with some of the top names in the business, including Robert Crumb, Alan Moore, Dan Clowes, and the Hernandez brothers. The ink and blue pencil on bristol art has an image area of approximately 11 x 16.5 inches, and is in Excellent condition. Signed and dated 2012 in graphite in the lower right corner. Authenticity guaranteed for life by Collector's Shangri-La.

Happy Birthday to MAD Cartoonist Peter Kuper

Spy vs. Spy Original Art Signed by Peter Kuper

Happy birthday Peter Kuper! Our Collector's Treasure of the Day is this original Spy vs. Spy drawing by the Mad Magazine cartoonist. Kuper is also well known for his wordless alternative comics and illustrations for such publications as World War 3 Illustrated. Hand-signed by Kuper. Black ink on heavy stock paper. 9 x 12 inches. Excellent condition. Authenticity guaranteed by Collector's Shangri-La.

Happy Birthday to Underground Cartoonist Robert Crumb

Monster Greeting Cards Illustration Original Art Signed by Robert Crumb

Happy birthday to underground comic artist R. Crumb, well known for his countercultural characters Fritz the Cat, Mr. Natural, his "Keep on Truckin'" strip, and his work for Zap Comix and Weirdo.  Our Collector's Treasure of the Day is this early Monster Greeting Cards original art. "You Look Like a Million Dollars... All Green and Wrinkled!" Every kid in the neighborhood loved these wacky cards, with a nice illustration on the front and a "treated" photo of a girl or guy on the back with a zinger punch line. Robert did these card illustrations while moonlighting for Woody Gelman's Topps Gum Company in New York. This original art from #33 is in mixed media on a card measuring approximately 3.5 x 5 inches. Authenticity guaranteed for life by Collector's Shangri-La.

Happy Birthday Robert Williams - Collector's Treasure of the Day

Mr. Bitchin' Limited Edition Bust Hand-Signed by Robert Williams

Happy birthday to the Father of Lowbrow Art, Robert Williams a.k.a. Mr. Bitchin'! In his honor, our Collector's Treasure of the Day is this 5 inch mini bust which depicts the amazing artist, cartoonist, and founder of Juxtapoz magazine. In the late 1960s Robert joined the ranks at Zap Comix where he created the seminal Underground Comix anti-hero, Coochy Cooty. Robert’s likeness is captured with incredible accuracy in this hand-cast mini bust, created by Gentle Giant Studios as a San Diego Comic-Con 2013 Exclusive. Produced in an unsigned limited edition of 150, Robert has specially autographed the ones available through us on the bottom of the bust. Authenticity guaranteed for life by Collector's Shangri-La.

Remembering Charles Bukowski - Collector's Treasure of the Day

Charles Bukowski Print Hand-Signed by Robert Crumb

Today marks the birthday of poet, novelist and short story writer Charles Bukowski (1920-1994), perhaps best known for Barfly (1987), the semi-autobiographical film written by Bukowski starring Mickey Rourke. Our Collector's Treasure of the Day is this illustrated print of Bukowski by comic artist R. Crumb with a quote from their collaboration, The Captain Is Out to Lunch and the Sailors Have Taken Over the Ship. On fine art paper measuring 11.5 x 14.5 inches. Signed in pencil by R. Crumb. In Excellent condition. Authenticity guaranteed for life by Collector's Shangri-La.

Farewell to Fantagraphics Co-Publisher Kim Thompson

Collector's Shangri-La is sad to announce that our friend Fantagraphics co-publisher Kim Thompson has passed away. The text of their official release follows:

Fantagraphics co-publisher Kim Thompson died at 6:30 this morning, June 19. "He was my partner and close friend for 36 years," said Gary Groth.

Thompson was born in Denmark in 1956. He grew up in Europe, a lifelong comics fan, reading both European and American comics in Denmark, France, and Germany. He was an active fan in his teen years, writing to comics — his letters appeared in Marvel's letter columns circa early 1970s — and contributing to fanzines from his various European perches. At the age of 21, he set foot, for the first time, on American soil, in late 1977. One "fanzine" he had not contributed to was The Comics Journal, which Groth and Michael Catron began publishing in July of 1976. That was soon to change.

"Within a few weeks of his arrival," said Groth, "he came over to our 'office,' which was the spare bedroom of my apartment, and was introduced by a mutual friend — it was a fan visit. We were operating out of College Park, Maryland and Kim's parents had moved to Fairfax, Virginia, both Washington DC suburbs. Kim loved the energy around the Journal and the whole idea of a magazine devoted to writing about comics, and asked if he could help. We needed all the help we could get, of course, so we gladly accepted his offer. He started to come over every day and was soon camping out on the floor. The three of us were living and breathing The Comics Journal 24 hours a day."

Thompson became an owner when Catron took a job at DC Comics in 1978. As he became more familiar with the editorial process, Thompson became more and more integral to the magazine, assembling and writing news and conducting interviews with professionals. Thompson's career in comics began here.

In 1981, Fantagraphics began publishing comics (such as Jack Jackson's Los Tejanos, Don Rosa's Comics and Stories, and, in 1982, Love and Rockets). Thompson was always evangelical about bandes dessinées and wanted to bring the best of European comics to America; in 1981, Thompson selected and translated the first of many European graphic novels for American publication — Herman Huppen's The Survivors: Talons of Blood (followed by a 2nd volume in 1983). Thompson's involvement in The Comics Journal diminished in 1982 when he took over the editorship of Amazing Heroes, a bi-weekly magazine devoted to more mainstream comics (with occasional forays into alternative and even foreign comics). Thompson helmed Amazing Heroes through 204 issues until 1992.

Among Thompson's signature achievements in comics were Critters, a funny-animal anthology that ran from 50 issues between 1985 to 1990 and is perhaps best known for introducing the world to Stan Sakai's Usagi Yojimbo; and Zero Zero, an alternative comics anthology that also ran for 50 issues over five years — between 1995 and 2000 — and featured work by, among others, Kim Deitch, Dave Cooper, Al Columbia, Spain Rodriguez, Joe Sacco, David Mazzuchelli, and Joyce Farmer. His most recent enthusiasm was spearheading a line of European graphic novel translations, including two major series of volumes by two of the most significant living European artists — Jacques Tardi (It Was the War of the Trenches, Like a Sniper Lining up His Shot, The Astonishing Exploits of Lucien Brindavoine) and Jason (Hey, Wait..., I Killed Adolf Hitler, Low Moon, The Left Bank Gang) — and such respected work as Ulli Lust's Today Is the Last Day of the Rest of Your Life, Lorenzo Mattotti's The Crackle of the Frost, Gabriella Giandelli's Interiorae, and what may be his crowning achievement as an editor/translator, Guy Peelaert's The Adventures of Jodelle.

Throughout his career at Fantagraphics, Thompson was active in every aspect of the company, selecting books, working closely with authors, guiding books through the editorial and production process. "Kim leaves an enormous legacy behind him," said Groth, "not just all the European graphic novels that would never have been published here if not or his devotion, knowledge, and skills, but for all the American cartoonists he edited, ranging from Stan Sakai to Joe Sacco to Chris Ware, and his too infrequent critical writing about the medium. His love and devotion to comics was unmatched. I can't truly convey how crushing this is for all of us who've known and loved and worked with him over he years." 

Thompson was diagnosed with lung cancer in late February. He is survived by his wife, Lynn Emmert, his mother and father, Aase and John, and his brother Mark.

Peter Bagge's Other Stuff Cover Original Art Signed by Peter Bagge

Pictorama Original Preliminary Cover Art Signed by Kim Deitch

Art of Tony Millionaire Original Cover Art Signed by Tony Millionaire

Jim Woodring Imagines "Collector's Shangri-La" - Share YOUR Vision for a Chance to Win $200!

"Collector's Shangri-La" aka "Frank and the Collector" by Jim Woodring

We're thrilled to share with you this fantastic illustration of "Collector's Shangri-La" by cartoonist Jim Woodring, whose best known works include the hallucinatory dream-based comic Jim and stories featuring his character, Frank.

What does your "Shangri-La" for collectors look like? Share your vision with us by sending your artwork to collectorsshangrila "at" gmail.com or to Collector's Shangri-La, PO Box 491661, Los Angeles, CA 90049, USA. We'll post the best ones for everyone to enjoy!

Plus, the talented creator of our favorite submission will receive a Collector's Shangri-La $200 Gift Certificate! "Runner up" submissions will win other surprise goodies!

Submission deadline June 1, 2013.

The artwork may be any size, any medium. If you're sending it digitally, please keep it under 5 MB. Thanks!

Check out past "visions of Collector's Shangri-La" by Peter Bagge, Molly Crabapple, Tony Millionaire, and Ragnar.

Peter Bagge Imagines "Collector's Shangri-La" - Share YOUR Vision for a Chance to Win!

Collector's Shangri-La by Peter Bagge

We're thrilled to share with you this idyllic illustration of "Collector's Shangri-La" by cartoonist Peter Bagge, whose best known works include Hate, Neat Stuff, and his contributions to Reason Magazine, MAD Magazine, and the Weekly World News, with the strip "Adventures of Batboy".

What does your "Shangri-La" for collectors look like? Share your vision with us by sending your artwork to collectorsshangrila "at" gmail.com or to Collector's Shangri-La, PO Box 491661, Los Angeles, CA 90049, USA. We'll post the best ones for everyone to enjoy!

Plus, the talented creator of our favorite submission will receive a Collector's Shangri-La $200 Gift Certificate! "Runner up" submissions will win other surprise goodies!

Submission deadline June 1, 2013.

The artwork may be any size, any medium. If you're sending it digitally, please keep it under 5 MB. Thanks!

Check out past "visions of Collector's Shangri-La" by Molly Crabapple, Tony Millionaire, and Ragnar.

Peter Bagge's Other Stuff Cover Original Art Signed by Peter Bagge

Collector's Treasure of the Day - Original Cover Art for Peter Bagge's Other Stuff

Original Art and Final Cover for Peter Bagge's Other Stuff

In his new collection of off-the-wall comics from the pages of Hate and other publications, Peter Bagge collaborates with some of the top names in the business, including Robert Crumb, Alan Moore, Dan Clowes, and the Hernandez brothers. We were lucky enough to acquire the original cover art by this modern master cartoonist.

Preview of Peter Bagge's Other Stuff on Boing Boing

Preorder Peter Bagge's Other Stuff on Amazon