Blab SC (1988-2007 Kitchen Sink/Fantagraphics) comic books 2005-2007

Volume 16 - 1st printing. This volume features Geoffrey Grahn's The Man Who Saved the World, which tells the tale of Vasily Arkhipov, the Russian sub brigade commander who did not follow orders to begin firing nuclear torpedoes at the U.S., thereby saving the world from nuclear war. Plus, Laura Levine's Veronica recounts the life of 1940s movie star, Veronica Lake. Peter and Maria Hoey present Lost Liner Notes, which examine the lives of jazz musicians like Fats Navarro, Dodo Marmarosa, Serge Chaloff, Dick Twardzik, Wardell Gray, and Sonny Criss. This volume also features work by Spain, Peter Kuper, Gary Baseman, and others. Softcover (Horizontal Format), 10-in. x 10-in., 120 pages, PC/PB&W. Mature Readers Cover price $19.95.

Volume 17 - 1st printing. This volume of BLAB! features a full-color tribute to Bazooka Joe, plus Sue Coe and Judith Brody's "...And Not a Drop To Drink" is an exploration of the destruction of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast by angry gods of wind and water against a backdrop of war. Plus, Greg Clarke's "The Pungent Gaul" is a surprisingly harrowing story of a Frenchman who smuggles illegal cheeses from his homeland into the United States and sells them on the black market. Also, Drew Friedman's 4-pager "Old Jewish Comedians"; Peter Kuper's story of the various ways he's almost died; "Fetal Elvis" from Mark Landman; and "Max Vesta, Matchbook Artist," master of the matchbook cover. Plus stories by Tim Biskup, Gary Baseman, Spain, Mats!, and more. Softcover (Horizontal Format), 10-in. x 10-in., 120 pages, PC/PB&W. Mature Readers Cover price $19.95.

Volume 18 - 1st printing. Blab! Volume 18 delivers like nobody's business, with a decided focus on the comic arts. Underneath the covers by Ryan Heshka are a slew of all-new comic stories: Mark Zingarelli reveals the "Chick's Club Taboo"; Euro-comics sensation Paco Alcazar tells a Lynchian superhero tale called "Obedience"; Pete Kuper dishes on the bullies that dogged him as a youth in "Bully for You!"; "Sirens of Silence" is cover artist Heshka's wordless depiction of a post-global disaster existence; Sue Coe presents the true tale of Coney Island's "Topsy the Elephant"; underground legend Skip Williamson serves up "Daddy Was a Lady," a portrait of legendary drag queen Rae Burton; Steven Guarnaccia returns with the story behind the man who created Miniature Golf in "Moe Greene's Hole in One"; Kramer's Ergot phenoms Xavier; and Helge prove once and for all that atheists are a product of cloned humans. Plus, Mark Frauenfelder of boingboing.com fame contributes the comic strip, "Juicemaker's Dream." This volume also features "Mr. Foney's Funnies," a feature on the bubble-gum card set that set the stage in 1960 for Topps' million dollar mega-hit, Wacky Packages. Softcover (Horizontal Format), 10-in. x 10-in., 120 pages, PC/PB&W. Mature Readers Cover price $22.95.