Comics, comics, comics
(picture the above, if you will, in titillating neon)
Hi friends! This one is a quickie because there’s a few time sensitive things I don’t want y’all to miss. So here’s 5 things you should know!
The Girl Who Loved Monsters is out now!!!
The middle grade graphic novel I illustrated, in collaboration with writer Insha Fitzpatrick, is out NOW. You can (and should :) ) pick it up from your favorite indie bookstore and/or local library. :)
“Writing this book healed the little monster girl in me. Growing up, being different, and loving horror with my full chest was considered weird for a Black girl. Monsters kept me safe, and monsters made me feel seen.” - Insha Fitzpatrick
Raffle benefiting the Prairieland Defendants ends TODAY
Today, July 30th, is the final day to enter our raffle benefiting The Prairieland Defendants. At just $5 an entry, you have the chance to win: over $250 worth of comics and print goods from Texas cartoonists, AND a $100 Alienated Majesty Books gift card! No limit to amount of entries. Venmo @ / arfranklinstein .
Postcard art show in Portland!
If you’re reading this from the Portland area, please go check out this super cool postcard art show & illustoria release party happening at Secret Room Press ‘s lovely storefront. I have a piece in here and I have such FOMO. It’s sure to be a wonderful event.
Video Podcast?!?!
To celebrate the release of The Girl Who Loved Monsters, Insha & I got together to chat about all things horror, graphic novels, publishing, & more. We’re calling it Devilfish Bay Radio. There are four episodes up now. The final one will be a post-pub wrap up. If you’ve got any questions for us, just pop them in the comments.
Bonus: books I’m excited about (comics & picture books edition)
Books have really become my whole ass life— I make them, I read them, I collect them, and also I sell them (I’m a part time bookseller, in case you didn’t know). Here are a few picture-heavy (comics and comics adjacent) ones that are new or new to me I want to holler about:
All three of the above books are bangers.
I’m obsessed with the way Aud Webber uses watercolors. There’s something about the pairing of simple, fluid shapes, and highly textured but muted colors that makes my brain happy. The story matches their art style so well— it’s deceptively simple, strange, and a bit dream like.
Mysterious Things is the sequel to one of my favorites, Invisible Things, by Andy J. Pizza & Sophie Miller. Wonderful character design! And a great mix of thoughtful and playful.
The House With Nobody In It is an eerie little board book. The format— a house shaped book with lots of cut outs for windows/doors— plays as heavy as a role as the art and text do. A real masterclass in simplicity, surprise, and friction between words and images from Jon Klassen.
My most recent comic purchase was Pocket Critter from Alexander Laird. I didn’t buy this at MoCCA earlier this year and was kicking myself over it, but just found it the other day over at Alienated Majesty. These comics are just so FUNNY. Critter Comix are irreverent strips for instagram users about a little sea creature guy (???) who is the man of the moment, a superstar, an it-thing icon.
I lent my ARC to someone so this picture is from Rebecca Mock’s instagram. Dare You Dance is a very sweet middle grade graphic novel with no romance, which I love. Rebecca’s drawings always amaze me. It also shared a book birthday with The Girl Who Loved Monsters!
This picture book is SO FUNNY. It just came out the month and I can’t stop talking about it. Jess Hannigan is one of my favorite up and coming picture book makers and this is my favorite of her books so far. The story has a great beat to it, with some fantastic page turns. I love her chunky lettering and cut paper illustrations. I’ve become a true believer that adults should keep reading picture books, and if you’re an adult who doesn’t yet, this would be a good place to start.
Okay, this one is an illustrated novel but it’s the same Moomin we know and love from the comics and animations. I read this the other week and it was so strange and lovely, and this recent animated adaptation from Karlotta Freier really captures the spirit of it wonderfully.
This one isn’t out yet but BOY OH BOY. It’s got such an indie comics sensibility. It’s funny and explosively expressive, but with this really pared down graphic style. It comes out in October so I’ll be hollering about it more soon.
Michael Deforge continues to be one of the bests doing it. Not much else to say. I’ll keep picking up whatever he’s putting down.
And finally—
I’m coming out as someone who has never read a significant amount of Calvin and Hobbes. I know!! It’s strange because as a kid I read a lot of Peanuts and the Farside, and similar big widely-read comics, but I somehow fully missed this one. I decided it was finally time to remedy that when I found this collection at a junk sale in an empty lot across the street from me for $2. I know this comic means so much to so many people, so I’m excited to see what all the fuss is about.
Alright, that’s it for now. Thank you all so much for reading.
Till next time,
Congrats on The Girl Who Loved Monsters's release!!!
I picked up Pocket Critter at TCAF and completely forgot about it until just now, and I'm gonna finally sit down today to read through it.
And isn't Dare You Dance fantastic?? I helped out with the release event for it, and it was a dream come true to be able to grill Rebecca with questions haha
I have that same Calvin and Hobbes collection and it’s the same one I’ve had as a kid. You’re definitely gonna get some giggles out of it, but also you’re gonna be so mad at how good he is as drawing trees and watercolor