SPX and Fantagraphics Present Gahan Wilson

Fantagraphics and SPX are pleased to present Gahan Wilson.  Wilson will be appearing at the 15th Annual Small Press Expo, which is taking place on Saturday, September 26 from 11AM to 7PM and Sunday, Sunday September 27 noon-6PM at The North Bethesda Marriott Convention Center in Bethesda, Maryland.

Gahan Wilson’s career expands over 50 years and one thousand cartoons.  Gahan Wilson is among the most popular, widely-read, and beloved cartoonists in the history of the medium, whose career spans the 2nd half of the 20th century, and all of the 21st. His work has been seen by millions —no, hundreds of millions— in the pages of Playboy, The New Yorker, Punch, The National Lampoon, and many other magazines; there is no telling, really, how many readers he has corrupted or comforted. He is revered for his playfully sinister take on childhood, adulthood, men, women, and monsters. His brand of humor makes you laugh until you cry. And it’s about time that a collection of his cartoons was published that did justice to his vast body of work.

Fantagraphics is pleased to present the collection GAHAN WILSON: 50 YEARS OF PLAYBOY CARTOONS, a three volume slipcase hardcover set that will be released in October.  It features not only every cartoon Wilson drew for Playboy, but all his prose fiction that has appeared in that magazine as well, from his first story in the June, 1962 issue, “Horror Trio,” to such classics as “Dracula Country” (September 1978). It also includes the text-and-art features he drew for Playboy, such as his look at Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum, his take on our country’s “pathology of violence,” and his appreciation of “transplant surgery.”

SPX brings together more than 300 artists and publishers to meet their readers, booksellers and distributors each year. Graphic novels, web comics, cartoon books, manga and alternative comics will all be on display and for sale by their authors and illustrators. A series of panel discussions will also be held of interest to readers, academicians and creators of sequential art.

SPX culminates with the presentation of the 13th Annual Ignatz Awards for outstanding achievement in comics and cartooning.  The award will be presented Saturday night, October 4. The Ignatz is the first Festival Prize in the US comic book industry, with winners chosen by balloting during the SPX.

Founded in 1994, SPX is North America’s premier alternative comic-book and graphic novel festival. This annual event brings together comic creators, publishers and fans together to celebrate the art of visual storytelling.

For more information about SPX please contact:

Norah Curry at norah@spxpo.com.

For more information about Fantagraphics books please contact:

Eric Reynolds – marketing
7563 Lake City Way NE
Seattle WA 98115
fantagraphics.com