Igort in English. Part of the beautiful Coconino Press co-productions with superior printing and design. These titles are out of print!

From the publisher:

#1:

Manga fans will relish Baobab, a series set, a least initially, in Japan at the turn of the last century (during the Meji era), when a small, sickly, orphaned boy on the outskirts of Tokyo grows up hearing the stories his grandmother tells of her youth as the daughter of a Navy officer. This ambitious project, which will expand to cover 40 years and three continents (including South America, where the first Creole cartoonist dreams of meeting Winsor McCay), is elegantly told and drawn by Igort, who rose to prominence with Drawn and Quarterly's 5 Is the Perfect Number as well as appearing in the last Comics Journal Special. Part of the Ignatz Series.

#2:

Close to a century ago, Southern Parador... Two aspiring cartoonists, Celestine and Pilade, vow to use this new medium to create amazing works of fantasy and magic, and talk a retired local newspaper publisher into reviving his paper just for them. But just as he sees his big break and gets ready to launch what will eventually become his signature character, "Morvo," Celestine falls terribly ill, and even his doting sister's help can't get him back on track... Igort's ambitious series (it's planned to run at least seven or eight issues) traces an alternate history of the very beginnings of the comic strip artform, with subtle nods toward such masters as Winsor McCay and George Herriman (upon whom the Creole Celestine is clearly based). No aficionado of comics' earliest days can miss this! Part of the Ignatz series.