These links made me happy this week.

Barnaby, the much-loved comic strip by Crockett Johnson that originally ran 1942-1952, is going to be collected by Fantagraphics! Thrilling news! As Tom Spurgeon writes,

Barnaby had become in the last decade and a half the great unsigned strip collection. The deal was negotiated by Eric Reynolds on Fantagraphics’ behalf. The first volume will come out in April 2012 to coincide with the release of Philip Nel’s much-anticipated biography of Johnson (The Purple Crayon And A Hole To Dig: The Lives Of Crockett Johnson And Ruth Krauss from the University Press of Mississippi).

You have another chance to order the graphic novels of Paul Sizer, starting with Little White Mouse, a book I recommend. (I also wrote an introduction included in the Omnibus edition.) As Paul writes,

Diamond wants to see the book do some decent order numbers, and based on that, they will agree to also re-solicit my other books (MOPED ARMY and B.P.M.) in upcoming months. So, here’s the favor I’m asking: if it’s within your means, and you like my work, it would be an incredible help for my self-publishing venture to have you place an order for my LITTLE WHITE MOUSE Omnibus Edition through your local comic shop [using order code DEC10 0959]…. It’s an all ages book, so with the holidays coming up, its a great gift for the young (or older) comic reader on your lists! I’m not asking you to order sight unseen either; you can actually sample the book in its entirety online at WebComics Nation.

It’s December, which means it’s once again time for the Comic Book Advent Calendar! Check back daily for a new classic comic cover with a holiday theme.

One Legion of Super-Heroes fan has recreated the statues of the team Superboy had. Check these out — aren’t they amazing?!? More photos at the link.