Sunday, August 30, 2026

New Alternative and Small Press Comix Arrivals: September 2026

 1. We had some rare irl new arrivals in the mail this last month, including the newest (and possibly last?) issue of Robin Bougie's Gutter Hunter freshly arrived from Canada. My favorite was the story of Chuck Rosanski buying an unbelievably large comics collection in the 80s, with the added bonus of Colin Upton illustrations. Get your copy here



2. RIP John Lent, however the International Journal of Comic Art blog continues online thanks to Mike Rhode. CT Lim (ACCA)  reviews a self-published comic from Indonesia, Singapore Hip Hop Horror 14: Singapore Lords of Veracity by Ye Zhen. It's always great to find out about international comix.

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3. Pre-orders open for Alexandra Gallant-Lee's Scam, her previous book, Brains, was reviewed earlier this year by Andy Oliver on Broken Frontier.


4. Blind Alley by Adam de Souza has been translated, colored, and reprinted in legacy Franco-Belgian magazine Spirou. Bluesky


kumerish.bsky.social

5. Pre-order King-Cat Comics & Stories 85 from John Porcellino. Bluesky

Maybe Blogging Will Help

6. Chloe Maveal's Trash Humper zine for August 2026 is now available from her patreon. The world could always use more writing from Maveal.

Patreon

7. Gravity Loop is a comics publisher new to me, they have two new(ish) releases:  Carved Jesus, Aflame an all wood burned comic by Pearl Crews and Mechanical Context a hybrid graphic novel/TTRPG by Australian artist Glenn Pearce.





9. Diskette Press has a number of new and restocked titles, all are risograph printed:

Moulder by UK artist Freya JN

Butch Bait by Canadian artist Zoot

Girl Meat Volume 1 by Cammypuppy 


10. Newest issue of Spay available from Winona Guro. order


11. Domino Books New Arrivals.

Bluesky


Jeff Lok Spotlight (or, shopping list, depending on finances):

Fifth Time's a Charm #3

Fifth Time's a Charm #5

Totality (my review at Broken Frontier)

The Week Trump Got Shot

More New:

Hoop World by Avoid Press

The Peter Pringle Method; Professional Wallflower by Connor McCann

One Take #1 #2 by Lucy B. Miller

The Sign; Grand Canyon by Annie Lefevre

Sometimes All The Time (2dcloud) by Tara Booth

Limited Collected Slop #1 by Glenn Pearce

What Is The Deal With Gabrielle Bell? by Gabrielle Bell

Happy Stories About Well-Adjusted People (Conundrum) by Joe Ollman

The Method #2 by Christina Lee

MGF (Frog Farm) by Alexander Laird

Ducko Comics #2 by Keenan Argo

Wallow by Emily Zimmer

Intrusive Thots by Bea Korsh

Scum Wizard by Chris Cajero Cilla

Drain Drain; Re-open by Quinn Amacher

The Adventures of the Amazing Buttwole Man by Aaron Cunningham

Caught Lookin' (Cram) by Andrew Alexander

Everyday is Today by Anders Nilsen

The Mad Scientist by Monica Caicedo

New Old Stock:

Skim Lizard #2 (1994) edited by Puppy Toss


12. Reviews:

Ryan Carey, co-organizer

Ryan Carey on his Patreon: Everybody Dies! by Kelly Froh; Young Shadow & The Watchdogs by Ben Sears; Scum Wizard by Chris Cajero Cilla

Kevin Bramer at Optical Sloth: Santos Sisters Fun Special #1; Womp Womp #4 by Brandon Lehmann; Dog Love by Lily Herring; Midville High #10 by Matt Blair; Cruisin Along Route 66 by Turtle House Comics; Night Shift (Short Run Seattle); Eyeland #12 by Nick Forker; Everybody Dies! by Kelly Froh

RJ Casey Arrivals and Departures - August 2026: The Machine is Broken by Jared Sarnie; Cheap Fun by Liam Cassidy; Smoke by Fidelia Schlegl

Rob Clough at High-Low: Tuck Everlasting adapted by K. Woodman-Maynard; So Buttons #15 written and edited by Jonathan Baylis; I, Candy by Ruby Carter


13. Market Report: Mini-comics on eBay have been selling well even at their sometimes exorbitant prices. Half of the titles I had bookmarked sold before I could make this list! Following are some that may (or may not) still be available when you read this:








Some stores that regularly list classic mini-comics: poopsheetfoundation or one-nostril (Rick Bradford); magicwhistle (Sam Henderson); and bifi_2919

General searches: comix wave mini or starhead comix


14. More Mail Call:

I had the honor of writing the foreword to The Collected Cranium Frenzy by Steve Willis Volume 5. Tom Fellrath designed new covers for the entire series (colors by Brad Foster):



Another new arrival was a rare opportunity to get a comic drawn by UK artist (and 2019 Broken Frontier Six to Watch creator) Anna Readman, Macabre Valley written and published by Zack Quaintance (reviews editior, The Beat):

 
Finally, I completed my run of the first ten issues of Wimmen's Comix, featuring great art by Trina Robbins, Melinda Gebbie, and many more unsung cartoonists.


Monday, August 3, 2026

New Alternative and Small Press Comix Arrivals: August 2026

 1Domino Books New Arrivals (Austin is on vacation until August 7. Order any time you want, but shipping won't start up again until August 10):

Domino Books


Utzy and Dusty: Swan Swan Hummingbird (Church [Ghost]) by Josh Bayer (Sequel to Crystal Pool). How Stone Church Became Church Ghost. read here

Wolf II by Luke Fallon and Isobel McHattie

Wallow by Emily Zimmer

Intrusive Thots by Bea Korsh

Grand Canyon by Annie Lefevre

Scum Wizard by Chris Cajero Cilla

Cryptid and Compulsive Comics (Fantagraphics) both classics by Eric Haven

Young, Alive, In Love (Starfruit Archive) by Daisuke Nishijima

When Pink Rain Falls Volume 3 (Starfruit Archive) by Yoiyu

Girls Gone Wild 2 by Katie Lane

Record 7 by Jason Overby (issues 1-4 still in stock)

Cashiers Du Cinema 4, Numero Special edited by Dan Welch and David Cardoza

Supernatural Tragedy solo comic by Floyd Tangeman

Homicidal Ideation and Blood for Blood by Darya Foroohar

Squanderlust 8 and 9 by Krusty Wheatfield

Dancing With the Sheyd by Rotem Anna Diamant

I, Candy by Ruby Carter

Before After and This Place Sucks So Much new printings by Tana Oshima


2Gosh Comics (London) have one of the largest international selections of small press comics in the world, I believe. They also partner with Broken Frontier for the online and in-person Drink & Draw events.

Mark Stafford
For future events
Stay tuned to brokenfrontier.com.

Evin Collis

.
Bubbles Zine


Peep Media Spotlight: Athena's Keep by David Enos News: Colin Blanchette recently published David Enos' Athena's Keep in the U.S., while ComicKkrakk of Winnipeg, Manitoba published a Canadian edition. Blanchette confirmed: "[Peep Media] reached out and asked if they could publish Athena's Keep for the Euro Market." So, that's how Peep came out with a third edition of this David Enos title!

Another David Enos title from Peep in stock at Gosh is David Enos: An Introduction, more information can be found here

They also have a new collection of Andres Magan comics titled, Big Comic Upon Thames. For more about Magan, read Andy Oliver's review of another Magan Peep Media release: Big Comic For Boy.

Droplet/Kranky and Friends and Naturally Mr. Birthday Cake by Leomi Sadler

Farfield Collection by unknown

This is a Comic About Water by Fildelia Schlegl

New Flesh by Guy Perez

Grampa by Travis Rommereim

Transcontinental 1-3 by Evin Collis

The Side Job and The People-Pleaser both by Emma Roulette

Neptune's Place (Sputnikat Press) comics jam. List of artists here

Ape (Floating World) by Rich Tommaso

Laser Quest (Floating World) by Harry Nordlinger

Lunatic Lovers (Bubbles) by Suehiro Maruo. For more Suehiro see lastgasp.com

Doomed, Holey-Fruits, Cavecussion One-page One- shots by Sara Gee

Wild Days, Helmets of the Multiverse, Pneuma Three by Daniel Locke

Glint Glint by unknown

Kitbash and Star Glider by Emil Friis Ernst

Pest (Secret Room) by Lu Fraser

Be a Boy, Dog With a Gun, Literary Leftovers by Padraig Campbell

A Door in the Wall by Shimeng Jiang

Ping Pong 1 (Corner Press) by Dayeon Auh

Petrichor by Selina Urpsrung

That Wasn't So Bad by Niall Breen

Mirrors anthology by members of Camberwell Comics Club. More information here


3. Zine Publishing Weaponized by Law Enforcement

Domestic terrorists?

Dean Simons on The Beat reports on the heinous sentences brought down on the defendants in the Prairieland case. Great deal of information here on the events surrounding the case. 


4. Floating World Comics Moving to Pioneer Place Mall in August!

bestattractions.org

Floating World Comics moved to the Lloyd Center in Portland in 2022, now four years later they are mall-hopping to Pioneer Place Mall. Press release


5. 11th Annual Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics Winner Announced

Rodney Barnes

The winner was announced July 24 at San Diego ComiCon. According to The Beat, Rodney Barnes and Elia Bonetti won the 2026 award for their series Crownsville! Congratulations.

Diversity and inclusion have always been important to me, so that's why this award seems particularly relevant. Other nominated creators include: Rosena Fung, Howie Shia, Jung-Soon Go, Ngozi Ukazu. Thanks to The Beat for covering this every year.


6. Newave Comix Legend Par Holman Passes Away

Poopsheet Foundation

Our condolences to the friends and family of Par Holman, he had a wonderfully elastic, cartoony, (sometimes) smutty style that will be fondly remembered. News broke from Larry Rippee and Clark Allen Dissmeyer


7. It's Not a Conspiracy! Robert Crumb's Tales of Paranoia Back in Print


I had to order my copy from mycomishop because the original print run sold out, so if you're still missing out get your copy now.


8. Fuck yeah! Spain Rodriguez Volume 4 Coming This Year From Fantagraphics

Hopefully this is not the final cover art

Spain Volume 4: Revolutionaries is available for pre-order now. I've only got one volume of this series, so I'm hoping they will re-release some of the previous volumes, as well. This fourth volume is exciting for including biographical and non-fiction stories of activists and entertainers among others. It's some of my favorite of Spain's extensive bibliography.

9. Market Report: Artie Romero Original Art Drop

Romero, 1976

Romero, 1974

Cascade Comics Monthly and Everyman Studios were high quality pre-Newave publications that sort of bridged the underground and mini-comics scenes. Artie Romero and his talented cohorts really stood out amongst the earliest mini-comics efforts, mostly due to some amazing color printing. Romero recently posted a number of pieces of his original art from the 70s and 80s to his eBay store


10. Broken Frontier in July includes Arc Festival and Small Press Day

Andy Oliver, Small Press Day 2026


Arc Festival reviews by Andy Oliver:

Smoke by Fidelia Schlegl

Drake & Dog Armed by Ed Pinsent

Periodical anthology reviewed by Lydia Turner

Caribou 1-3

Pricks 5 by Fraser Geesin and Laurie Rowan

Limbo by Ferry Gouw

Utility 1 by Ben Wheatley and Joe Currie

Arc Festival Interview by Andy Oliver:

Henry McCausland


Declaration/Emancipation Illustrated Lindsey Pereira

Pomegranate Flowers Andrea Magbual

Medium me

Buuza! V1 (Abrams) Andy Oliver

Interview: Alison Sampson, Fred Van Lente, Cathy Kwan, editor Dave Elliott Andy Oliver

[Small Press Day] Hants Comics Club Anthology 01 Andy Oliver

[Small Press Day] Blackheath Folk: Local History and Folklore Andy Oliver

[Small Press Day] The Two Pyramids by Giorgio Pandiani Andy Oliver

Post Small Press Day Reviews by Andy Oliver:

Konni-Chhua by Deepesh Sangtani

True Story by Kate Hazell

Laika by Nessie Mooo



Sunday, July 5, 2026

The Return of New Alternative and Small Press Comix Arrivals (July)

Well, after some adventures in North Carolina, diversions into superhero land, and a healthy dose of writers block/impostor syndrome we are back and devoted more than ever to the self-published self expression side of comics with an "x".

1. YouTube channel: I spotlighted a haul from Last Gasp on my still new channel (more to come, including my Top 25 Superhero list)


2. Arc Festival is coming to London July 11-12, Broken Frontier is publicising the show with a great series of reviews and interviews from indefatigable Editor-in-chief, Andy Oliver! This looks to be closer in spirit to a U.S. small press show, including some well-known show staples from over here (A.T. Pratt, ffs):

Big Comic For Boy by Andres Magan

Alas by Sajan Rai

Ferry Gouw interview

Dot Comics 1 by A.T. Pratt

Filth from Underground Comix Kingdom

Colossive Cartographies 71(!) by Matt Canning

Absolute Cinema and Other Stories by Joe Stone

Built For Love by Shri Gunasekara

Linnea Sterte interview


Not a part of Arc, Lindsay Pereira continues chronicling the work of blog favourites Lily Thu and Generoso Fiero:

The InterpretantAbsolute Simultaneity Chua Inversion


3. Canon Fodder Books Bring David Enos to the U.S. and Canada!


I had just received Canon #7, when I found this tiny package in the mail from Colin Blanchette. WTF, I thought. It was a real surprise to find an actual comic published by Blanchette, let alone a new David Enos one! I remember Enos from ComicKkrakk's YouTube channel when he showed off two remarkably, elegantly creepy comics by Enos: Batman is Lost in the Woods and Whispered Words. ComicKkrakk and Blanchette discuss the story behind this joint publishing venture:


Order your copy here!


4. New (and old) Steven Solomon comics...

Steven Solomon

Steven Solomon has two books out since my last review of his work. I also interviewed  Solomon way back in Canon #4, he's been putting out some very high quality comics since then. The two latest releases being: Confessions of Student Zero (2025) and Too Many Ways of Seeing (2026). Last year's Confessions starts out with a cryptic discussion of Jim Steranko by Student Zero, starting what feels like an almost autobiographical tract touching on Solomon and his artistic influences (or, whatever the heck is the opposite of influence). Like past comics from him the sequential narrative is there, but it's the wild randomness of everything that makes me love Solomon's comics. We've got the further hijinx of Student Zero and Frank the Chimp eating comics and pizza and commenting on comics collecting and art teachers(?), though my favorite sequence is the two part "Complete On One Page A Two Panel Novel" which presents four two panel novels.  The captions, characters, and body parts burst out of the panels as Solomon crams as much as possible into each panel.


Too Many Ways of Seeing came out this year and is a collection of his weekly comic strips originally distributed by email. New girl Qwerty debuted in cameos in Confessions, but more than keeps up with Student Zero and Frank the Chimp in frenzied action here. I'm not sure if the weekly format is responsible or it's just Solomon's art progressing, but there is a bit of a plot here! The rhythm Solomon gets with these weekly strips is a nice change up from his older work, hopefully he continues with those email blasts for another book! Continuing his influences theme from Confessions I was delighted by the Neal Adams mantra at the end of the book. Adams has had so many hardcore "clones" over the years, you would never guess that one as an influence from looking at Solomon's work. Buy here


5. Domino Books New Arrivals 7/3 (remember some of these sell out quickly:

Utzy and Dusty: Crystal Pool by Josh Bayer (Newest Domino original)

Squanderlust #9 by Krusty Wheatfield

Dancing With the Sheyd by Rotem Ana Diamant

I, Candy by Ruby Carter

Before After; This Place Sucks So Much by Tana Oshima

The Art of Milt Gross edited by Paul C. Tumey

Brownfield Action Family #2 by Ted May

Devil's Grin #8 by Alex Graham

Bobbie Cadet by Juliette Collet

Clap Twice If You Think I'm a Funny Girl by Natalie Raskin

Eggtooth #1 #2 by M. Yaxam

Enframement by K. Written

The Horrors of Noroi Michiru and Ending Theme from Glacier Bay/Starfruit

Copacetic Comics Classics #1: Ogden Whitney

Numerous Concerns by Anthony Miller

Future Proof #1-#4; Wondrous Soul; The Incense Maker by Virginia Paine

The Interpretant by Lily and Generoso Fierro

Not new, but essential nonetheless: Tales From The Richy Vegas Psychoverse #1-#5; Richy Vegas Songbook #1 #2


6. Partners and Son New Arrivals 7/5:

Pear Shape by Nick Thorburn (Fantagraphics)

The Devil's Grin #8 by Alex Graham

Gar #1 by Mickey Zaccihilli

Grixly #73 #74 by Nate McDonough (Dan Elsen spotlight video on McDonough below)


Sir David Attenburrow's Human Mating Rituals by Vincent Kings

Upstate #1-#5 by Stephen Pellnat

Squall by Brett Aube

Swan Song; Reading in the Club; With You, Without You by Hannah Johnston

Rat King by Paulie Wenger, Francesca Carita, Gonzalo Duarte

Bobbie Cadet by Juliette Colette

Sometimes All the Time by Tara Booth (2d Cloud)

Fish and Water by Gengoroh Tagame (translator: Anne M. Ishii)


7. Comics Blogger Empire New Arrivals 7/3:



Comics Blogger Books:

Medium by Rae Whitlock

Comics Blogger #16 by Thomas Campbell (Nick Bunch interview)

Before After by Tana Oshima (new printing)

Distribution:

Bobbie Cadet by Juliette Colette

Wishbone #1 by Nate Garcia

Spay #1 #2 by Winona Guro


8. Avery Hill Publishing has been regularly crowdfunding some of their new releases on Kickstarter. I don't back many of them, but the current campaign for a collection of Kristyna Baczynski's self-published and early published works (like the graphic novel, Retrograde Orbit, previously published by Avery Hill) looks incredible. At 256 pages of anthropomorphic goodness, I may have to give this one a try. Check it out here


9. Denver, CO distributor Wig Shop Webshop has a lot of New (to me) Releases, but I wanted to spotlight their Summer Sale with hardcovers and mini-comics by: Matt Lock, Simon Hanselmann, Tony Millionaire, Dave Cooper, Chris Harnan, Anders Nilsen, Nicole Rodrigues, Mary Kelly, Andy Barron, Quinn Amacher, and 29 others. Lots of imports.


10. New release from Chris Cajero Cilla...

Patreon

Scum Wizard is the newest Patreon serialized comic from Chris Cilla shipped out last week. Twenty pages including color covers personally screenprinted by Cilla himself. Look for copies to show up on Domino in the near future!



MARKET REPORT: I'm not a collector, but I do love studying underground comix listings on eBay. Occasionally, I come across the odd item that I don't know whether to be pissed about, or proud to see! Given the outrageous prices attached to mini-comics from the 70s and 80s on the collector's market, it was only inevitable we would eventually see these ephemeral pamphlets encased in plastic under the auspices of the CGC.


Published by Joel Milke in 1977, other contributors were Doug Hansen, George Erling, Scott Shaw!, Larry Rippee, Ted Richards, William Stout, and others.


This is Jane J.  Oliver's first self-published comic, it appeared in December 1977, the same month Dave Sun's Cerebus first appeared.


See you all next month...




Monday, March 30, 2026

Mercifully Monthly Trigger Warnings 15

 Weird work schedule and lack of focus makes us a little late...


Video killed the blog star:

I started uploading a rundown of the list I submitted for Die With Your Mask On #3. More coming in April:

My Top 100-90

My Top 100 89-76


New SpeedPasteRobot Comix!

SpeedPasteRobot

The newest 20-page comic from Steven Solomon, which has been serialized by weekly email, is available now. here



More Cerebus Content Than You Can Possibly Consume in One Lifetime:

Our friend Colin Blanchette and one of the best representational artists ever in comics, Karl Stevens, collaborate on an in-depth examination of every issue of Dave Sim's Cerebus. It’s particularly fun learning about these early issues that I've never seen before.

Cerebus #8

GCD
AMOC
.
AMOC

A Moment of Cerebus is one of my favourite blogs. They've been sharing a lot of "lost" Cerebus stories that weren't reprinted in those phone book trade paperbacks. The bibliographer in me is fascinated with this stuff. Miscellany Apocrypha Archive #4 Jam


A Periodic Check in With Aces Weekly:

acesweekly.co.uk

John Freeman profiles Volume 79(!) of the digital-only anthology edited by David (V for Vendetta) Lloyd Aces Weekly. I don't recognize any of the artists, but I'm curious to try this out someday.



Roberta Gregory's Naughty Bits Bombed:
Fantagraphics

The Beat reported on a ship thought to be carrying the entire print run of Roberta Gregory's Bitchy omnibus being struck by missiles while in route to the U.S. from India.



Classic Comic Strip Collections Spotlighted:
lulu.com

John Freeman profiles publisher Comic Strip Appreciation Group and their recent releases of Ella Cinders, Flyin' Jenny, and Scorchy Smith.



Fifty Flip Experiment #35 by Dan Hill:
50flipexperiment

Ryan Carey reviews Dan Hill's Fifty Flip Experiment #35 on his Patreon. Order here



Trevor Von Eeden New Artwork:
downthetubes

John Freeman profiles Trevor Von Eeden and two of his newest commissions, including one pictured above based on all-time favourite: Batman Annual #8.



Eric Kriek Gutsman Superhero Series:
Lambiek

This is surely a good subject for a future issue of Die With Your Mask On! A ten issue superhero series from Amsterdam-based cartoonist Eric Kriek. He is better known over here for his translated books: The Exile, In the Pines, The Pit. Order About the Artist



Remembering Wayne Howard:
GCD

Internet Archive
(Some Wild Children's Comics!)

Underrated Black cartoonist Wayne Howard was born March 29, 1949 in Cleveland, OH (he passed away in 2007 in Derby, Connecticut). He was one of the better (imho) acolytes of Wally Wood and was quite prolific for Charlton in the seventies. Charlton gave him an unprecedented spotlight in Midnight Tales 1-18, with the covers and two stories every issue drawn, lettered, and coloured by Howard (later issues were pretty much solo Howard efforts). Profile