The official product page is live for the massive second volume in Fantagraphics’ Barks-focused archival series: Carl Barks in Black and White: Vacation Time and Other Stories – The Fantagraphics Studio Edition.
While the first volume focuses heavily on pencils and storyboard scripts, this second entry is designed to show Barks’ finished comic art at its true, original creation scale.
The Format: Drawing-Board Scale
When Carl Barks drew his classic Donald Duck and Uncle Scrooge adventures, he worked “two-and-a-half times up”—meaning his original art boards were drawn significantly larger than they appeared in standard mid-century comic books.
This volume marks the first time fans can examine his meticulous linework at that exact, original scale. Fantagraphics describes this book as measuring roughly one-and-a-half feet wide by more than two feet tall (officially listed at 35.5 x 50.8 cm, though editor Kim Weston recently noted the final production dimensions may scale all the way up to an enormous 45.7 x 66 cm). It is a true giant-sized hardcover built exclusively to capture every brushstroke, ink variance, and hand-lettered detail.
What’s Included?
Compiled by Barks historian and collector Kim Weston over decades of research, this 160-page book is a mix of high-resolution scans from surviving original art boards and first-generation publisher’s production proofs.
Key features include full reconstructions of three iconic Barks masterpieces:
- “Vacation Time” – The legendary, high-stakes wilderness camping adventure.
- “Only a Poor Old Man” – The definitive, foundational Uncle Scrooge saga detailing his relationship with his fortune.
- “In Ancient Persia” – A classic, atmospheric adventure saga.
Beyond these core multi-tier masterpieces, the book also includes a complete 10-page short story, a massive collection of original cover art scans, and historic pages and panels that were entirely cut by editors before publication. Weston provides detailed historical context and commentary on the production techniques behind each piece.
Product Details
- Title: Carl Barks in Black and White: Vacation Time and Other Stories – The Fantagraphics Studio Edition
- Editor: Kim Weston
- Publisher: Fantagraphics Books
- Format: Hardback, Black-and-White Oversized Portfolio
- Page Count: 160 pages
- Official Release Date: March 9, 2027
- Price: $175.00
You can view the newly published product page, retail specs, and pre-order options directly on the Fantagraphics Listing Page.
With classic stories like Only a Poor Old Man and Vacation Time presented at absolute original board size, this is shaping up to be the ultimate process-art piece for Barks collectors.