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As comics journalist (and former Fantagraphics employee) Michael Dean writes, "the publisher has alternated between flourishing and nearly perishing over the years."[4]Kim Thompson joined the company in 1977, using his inheritance to keep the company afloat.[4] (He soon became a co-owner.)[5]
The company moved from Washington, D.C., to Stamford, Connecticut, to Los Angeles over its early years, before settling in Seattle in 1989.[6]
Beginning in 1981 Fantagraphics (under its Redbeard Inc. imprint)[7] published Amazing Heroes, a magazine which examined comics from a hobbyist's point of view,[8] as another income stream to supplement The Comics Journal.[9]Amazing Heroes ran for 204 issues (plus a number of specials and annuals), folding with its July 1992 issue.[10]
Catron acted as Fantagraphics' co-publisher until 1985 (also handling advertising and circulation for The Comics Journal from 1982 to 1985), when he left the company.[13]
From 1985 to 1987, Fantagraphics coordinated and presented (through their magazine Amazing Heroes) 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 (and later publisher of Malibu Comics). In 1987, a dispute arose when Olbrich and Fantagraphics each claimed ownership of the awards.[14] A compromise was reached, and, starting in 1988, the Kirby Award was discontinued and two new awards were created:[15] the Eisner Award, managed by Olbrich; and the Fantagraphics-managed Harvey Award, named for cartoonist Harvey Kurtzman.
In 1989, Fantagraphics relocated from Los Angeles to its current location in the Maple Leaf neighborhood of Seattle, Washington.[6]
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.[4]
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.[16] Groth and Thompson acknowledged Reynolds was key to the company's rise to profitability.[17]
In 1998, Fantagraphics was forced into a round of layoffs;[4] 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.[19] One employee quit during the subsequent downsizing while denouncing Fantagraphics' "disorganization and poor management."[4] Fantagraphics was saved by a restructuring and a successful appeal to comic book fandom that resulted in a huge number of orders.[4] After restructuring, the company has had greater success with such hardcover collections as The Complete Peanuts, distributed by W. W. Norton & Company.[6]
In 2009, Fantagraphics ceased publishing the print edition of The Comics Journal,[20] shifting from an eight-times a year publishing schedule to a larger, more elaborate, semi-annual format supported by a new website.[21][22]
Starting in 2005, Fantagraphics began a European graphic novel line,[23] 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.[24]
Larry Reid (left), manager and curator of the Fantagraphics Bookstore and Gallery with Martin Imbach, part owner of Georgetown Records, which shares the same storefront, in 2016
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.[25]
Co-publisher Kim Thompson left Fantagraphics due to illness in March 2013,[26] and died of lung cancer a few months later.[27] His absence left the company without a number of titles it had been counting on for the summer and fall of 2013;[23] and, in November, Fantagraphics started a Kickstarter campaign to raise $150,000, which it surpassed in four days.[23][28]
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.[29]
The Ignatz Series is an international comic imprint. It is published by Fantagraphics (U.S.), Avant Verlag (Germany), Vertige Graphic (France), Oog & Blik (Holland), Coconino Press (Italy), and Sinsentido (Spain). 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, 81⁄2″ × 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 was an adult-oriented imprint of Fantagraphics,[30] established in 1990 to publish pornographic comic books like Gilbert Hernandez' Birdland and reprints of work by Wally Wood and Frank Thorne.[31][32] 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.[33]
In the beginning, there was some controversy over Eros titles featuring back cover ads with phone sex numbers.[38] In 1994, Eros editor Tom Verre was replaced by Jeremy Pinkham.[39]
By the late 1990s, the imprint was no longer profitable, and the publication of new material diminished rapidly.[40] The Eros Comix website was no longer being maintained by 2017; its titles no longer appear on the Fantagraphics website under that label.
Best Writer/Artist: Bill Griffith, Invisible Ink: My Mother's Secret Love Affair with a Famous Cartoonist
2017
Best Archival Collection/Project - Comic Books (at least 20 years old): The Complete Wimmen's Comix, edited by Trina Robbins, Gary Groth and J. Michael Catron
Best U.S. Edition of International Material: Run for It: Stories of Slaves Who Fought for the Freedom, byMarcelo D'Salete, translated by Andrea Rosenberg
Best Writer/Artist: Emil Ferris, My Favorite Thing Is Monsters
Best Coloring: Emil FerrisMy Favorite Thing Is Monsters
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 (writer/artist): 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
1996
Best Letterer: Chris Ware, Acme Novelty Library
Best Colorist: Chris Ware, Acme Novelty Library
Best Domestic Reprint Project: The Complete Crumb Comics Vol. II, by Robert Crumb, edited by Mark Thompson
Special Award Excellence in Presentation: Acme Novelty Library, by Chris Ware, edited by Kim Thompson, art directed by Chris Ware
1997
Best Writer: Daniel Clowes, Eightball
Best Letterer: Dan Clowes, Eightball
Best Colorist: Chris Ware, Acme Novelty Library
Best Continuing or Limited Series: Eightball by Dan Clowes, edited by Gary Groth
Best Single Issue or Story: Acme Novelty Library #13, by Chris Ware
Best Biographical, Historical, or Journalistic Presentation: The Comics Journal, edited by Gary Groth and Tom Spurgeon
Special Award Excellence in Presentation: Acme Novelty Library, by Chris Ware, edited by Kim Thompson, art directed by Chris Ware
1998
Best Colorist: Chris Ware, his body of work in 1997, including Acme Novelty Library
Best New Series: Penny Century by Janime Hernandez, edited by Gary Groth
Best Single Issue or Story:Eightball #18, by Dan Clowes, edited by Gary Groth
Best Biographical, Historical, or Journalistic Presentation: The Comics Journal, edited by Gary Groth
Special Award Excellence in Presentation: Acme Novelty Library, by Chris Ware, edited by Kim Thompson, art directed by Chris Ware
1999
Best Artist or Penciller: Jaime Hernandez, his body of work in 1998, including Penny Century
Best Inker: Charles Burns, Black Hole
Best Single Issue or Story: Penny Century #3 "Home School", by Jaime Hernandez
Best Biographical, Historical, or Journalistic Presentation: The Comics Journal, edited by Gary Groth and Tom Spurgeon
Special Award Excellence in Presentation: Acme Novelty Library, by Chris Ware, edited by Kim Thompson, art directed by Chris Ware
2000
Best Inker: Jaime Hernandez, Penny Century
Best Letterer: Chris Ware, Acme Novelty Library
Best Colorist: Chris Ware, Acme Novelty Library
Best Cover Artist: Chris Ware, Acme Novelty Library
Best New Series: Weasel by Dave Cooper, edited by Gary Groth
Best Continuing or Limited Series: Acme Novelty Library by Chris Ware, edited by Kim Thompson
Best Single Issue or Story: Acme Novelty Library #13 by Chris Ware
Best Biographical, Historical, or Journalistic Presentation: The Comics Journal
Special Award Excellence in Presentation: Acme Novelty Library #13 by Chris Ware
2001
Best Artist or Penciller: Jaime Hernandez, Penny Century
Best Inker: Charles Burns, Black Hole
Best New Series: Luba's Comix and Stories by Gilbert Hernandez, edited by Gary Groth
Best Continuing or Limited Series: Acme Novelty Library by Chris Ware, edited by Kim Thompson
Best Biographical, Historical, or Journalistic Presentation: The Comics Journal
2002
Best Cartoonist (writer/artist): Daniel Clowes, Eightball
^"The Comics Journal #32 (January 1977)". The Comics Journal Message Board. ...transforming it from an adzine into a magazine of news and criticism that just happened to carry advertisements
^"Indicia". Amazing Heroes. No. 7. December 1981. p. 5.
^Spurgeon and Dean, "'Everything was in Season.'" Kim Thompson: "We decided to do a magazine that would cover the mainstream in a more fannish manner."
^Spurgeon and Dean, "'Everything was in Season.'" Kim Thompson: "If you want to look at it cynically, we set out to steal The Comic Reader's cheese. Which we did."
^"Amazing Heroes Folding". Newswatch. The Comics Journal. No. 149. March 1992. p. 22.
^Collins, Sean T. (March 2003). "Armed and Dangerous"(PDF). Wizard. No. 138. p. 43. Kim Thompson: 'By any standard, Eric's the stabilizing third wheel on the erratic Groth-Thompson bicycle.'
^"Comics Reporter Blog Reaches Anniversary". Editor & Publisher. October 10, 2007.
^ ab"1980s Recipients". Comic-Con International: San Diego. December 2, 2012. Archived from the original on July 4, 2013. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
^"1990s Recipients". Comic-Con International: San Diego. December 2, 2012. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
^"2000s". Comic-Con International: San Diego. December 2, 2012. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
