Steven Weissman and Ron Rege Jr.

Barack Hussein Obama by Weissman; The Cartoon Utopia by Regé (both books published by Fantagraphics)

L.A.-based graphic novelists Steven Weissman (Yikes!) and Ron Regé, Jr. (Against Pain and the band Lavender Diamond) will discuss and sign their respective graphic novels, Barack Hussein Obama and The Cartoon Utopia. "Steven Weissman is a cartoonist who is so good, so funny, and so original that he doesn't have to be serious to be taken seriously." —Jaime Hernandez "To me, Ron Regé is unquestionably one of 'the greats.'" —Chris Ware Steven Knight Weissman, at various times known as "Steve," "Ribs," and "Weissman" (but never "Stevie Knight," as one potential employer threatened to call him in 1987), was born in California on June 4, 1968. He won the Harvey Kurtzman Award for "Best New Talent" in 1998 with his acclaimed, ongoing series, Yikes. He's written and drawn comics for Marvel Entertainment, Nickelodeon Magazine and, most TRIUMPHANTLY, Fantagraphics Books. He currently lives in the Los Angeles' "Little Armenia" neighborhood with his wife, Charissa, and their son, Charles. Ron Regé, Jr. was born in 1969 in Plymouth, Massachusetts. His first book, Skibber Bee-Bye, was published by in 2000 and has also authored the books Against Pain and The Awake Field. His comics and drawings have appeared in hundreds of zines and comics anthologies. Illustration clients have included Nike, Sony, Tylenol, HP, McSweeney’s, Vice, The New York Times, and Canada’s National Post. Ron currently lives in Los Angeles. His current project The Cartoon Utopia began in early 2008 as a series of 60 small drawings, but has expanded to include larger drawings, and longer comics pieces, including those presented here. Drawings from The Cartoon Utopia have been presented as solo gallery shows in Los Angeles, Montreal, Richmond VA, and Austin TX. THIS EVENT WAS RECORDED LIVE AT SKYLIGHT BOOKS OCTOBER 28, 2012. Copies of the book from this event can be purchased here: http://tinyurl.com/aelqumg