For 27 years, Fantagraphics Books has published important magazines (first and foremost, The Comics Journal), important books about comics, and important books of comics. Many of these have been among the most important publications of and/or pertaining to the Art Form. Just go over to their website and browse around. You'lll find some of the best in new comics, some of the best in old comics and even some stuff in-between. Last year, for instance, they issued Greg Sadowski's book on Bernie Krigstein, which was one of the most important (I keep using that adjective but it's appropriate) books ever published in the field.
Lately, everyone who publishes comics — or publications for that marketplace — has been having a tough time of it. Some publishers are gone. Some others are hanging in there because they've been able to augment their publishing income with merchandising deals and/or because they're owned by a conglomerate with Deep Pockets and a willingness to ride out inclement weather. Neither of these has helped Fantagraphics, which makes most of its income simply by putting out publications that people want to purchase. They took a big hit not long ago when their bookstore distributor went belly-up and, as the marketplace evolves into something new and uncharted, they find themselves with tons of inventory — books they've printed and have piled-up in the warehouse. With things tightening up, they've put out the word that they need to convert some of that backstock to cash in order to keep functioning as they have. They've recently tightened belts and laid-off some staffers. I doubt they're in any danger of folding, but I always hate to see an independent publisher have to, for example, sell out to a larger concern, or scuttle plans for anything but the most commercial endeavors.
This is not a call for charity. They simply have books you probably want to buy and if you do that now, you'll be happy and they'll be solvent. This in turn will lead to them putting out more books that you'll want to buy so you can give them more money. In other words, buy now. Buy Sadowski's book, at least — and no, I'm not going to give you a link so you can buy it from Amazon and I'll get a cut. Go to the Fantagraphics website and buy it from them. And buy something else while you're at it, either on the website or from their "800" number, which is (800) 657-1100.