LA SEMAINE de la BANDE DESSINEE

Don't miss the culminating event of a weeklong celebration of Franco-Belgian graphic novels and comics, La Semaine de la Bande Dessinée, Sunday, at 4pm, at the Henry Art Gallery.

Parisian graphic novelist Pierre-François Beauchard (professionally known as David B.), the co-founder of the artist-run publishing group L’Association, and author of the brilliant graphic novel "Epileptic," will be joined by cartoonists Peter Bagge and Jim Woodring in a discussion of comics and graphic novels. Expect these artists to discuss their work and how they employ image, space, and text to create narratives, capture visions, and change our views of the world.

The conversation will be moderated by Kim Thompson, the co-owner of Fantagraphics Books and English translator of "Epileptic." After the event, works by the artists will be available for purchase and signing.

Henry Art Gallery, Seattle, Sunday August 17th, at 4PM
FREE to Henry members or with museum admission
Tickets available at the Henry Admission Desk beginning August 10; seating is limited.

THIS SATURDAY NIGHT!

This Saturday night, from 6 to 9, at the Fantagraphics Bookstore, there will be a comics featuring Friends of the Nib -- with Special Guest Kim Deitch. It should be a lot of fun -- come and bring some paper and a pen and jam with us! See you there! 1201 S. Vale Street (at Airport Way) in Georgetown. 206.658.0110

MY SPIDEY SENSE IS TINGLING

Spiderman will be spinning a worldwide web, if Marvel Entertainment gets it's way. Marvel unveils it's digital comics library, whereby any geek -- er, serious student of sequential art -- can access their special brand of neurotic superheroes online.

Digital Comics Unlimited (DCU) is available via a $4.99- or $9.99-per-month subscription, which lets users read 2,500 classic and recent comic books via their Web browsers. That's right, you can't download them, but you can read them.

According to Reuters, "The Digital Comics Unlimited site then will add 20 additional books a week, including a mix of new and vintage comics." That will include the first 100 issues of "Amazing Spider-Man" and "The Fantastic Four," as well as the initial 66-issue run of "Uncanny X-Men. " Throw in some Hulk, some Dr. Strange, and maybe even that first issue of "Silver Surfer" that my mom accidentally donated to Goodwill many years ago. 'Nuff said!