Back in the 1990s, the names of cartoonists like Chris Ware and Dan Clowes were fringy talismans of cool. Dash Shaw is the modern equivalent of those cartoonists. His work, especially the epic Bottomless Belly Button, is pushing comics forward at a pace that no other artist is approaching. Shaw’s artwork is on display at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery through May 8, but tonight he’ll screen his new animated short, Seraph, and possibly debut work from his much-anticipated new book, New School. Here’s your chance to be in on an “I-knew-him-when” moment. (Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery, 1201 S Vale St, fantagraphics.com, 6 pm, free)