Leon's Microblog – Posts tagged "ShortBox"

Well, that's all my recommendations for this swing round the hot yellow blob. Hope you enjoy them… because my wallet sure as hell didn't!!!!!! (← This is a joke for Australians only. Please ignore if you are in other countries. Do NOT google "AUD to GBP".)

HOLD ON… ZOOMING……SCANNING……27%……58%……87%……100%. REFERENCE IDENTIFIED.

The Maker of Grave-Goods https://www.shortboxcomicsfair.com/shop-sq4wj/p/the-maker-of-grave-goods-by-erin-roseberry – While a bit heavy on first-person prose, and arguably a bit too overtly soppy, this is a nice reflection on ambition, mortality, civilisational culture, and their interplay. (The science-fiction bits are maybe a little silly.)

https://www.shortboxcomicsfair.com/shop-sq4wj/p/in-fair-verona-by-val-wise – Despite the slightly misleading title, this is a very original and sumptuously grisly fantasy erotic horror comic by one of my most appreciated artists. Do be aware of what you're getting into before reading, though.

Aglæca (https://www.shortboxcomicsfair.com/shop-sq4wj/p/aglca-by-mohnfisch) – Another entry with an anticlimactic ending, this one still gets my nod for both great expressions and poses on very readable characters, and lovely pencil-shaded environments - the artist making the most of a not-exactly detailed art style.

Last Stop (https://www.shortboxcomicsfair.com/shop-sq4wj/p/last-stop-by-jade-lft-peters) – If you wanted this year's "two goofballs try to do something simple" comic, this is probably it. It's not the most intelligent offering, but the humour and expressions flow pretty well as their mission slowly escalates in ridiculousness.

Irene's Reverie (https://www.shortboxcomicsfair.com/shop-sq4wj/p/irenes-reverie-by-bolzemo) – A tense suburban psych-horror-ish story. While the text gets a little glurgey and cliched around the climax (hammering in the symbolism), it has a great variety of scenes, tones and minor characters to fill out the lead's life.

Eve in Her Estrangement (https://www.shortboxcomicsfair.com/shop-sq4wj/p/eve-in-her-estrangement-by-ryugure) - Mainly a cold and by-the-books science-fiction espionage story, I do give it some credit for interesting and not-overstated worldbuilding and composition, as well as the occasional cool full-page-splash panel.

Bobo Has An Offer For You (https://www.shortboxcomicsfair.com/shop-sq4wj/p/bobo-has-an-offer-for-you-by-pavina) – While this one feels like it ends just when it begins (a common issue for a lot of this year's comics), the artist - once more the master of smirking femmes - does manage to leave a mood of tragedy around the ambitious lead.

The Fool, the Absolute Mad Woman (https://www.shortboxcomicsfair.com/shop-sq4wj/p/the-fool-the-absolute-mad-woman-by-laweyd) – Doesn't hit the same highs as last year's shadow-drenched It All Ends With Me, but works well as an understated classic-yuri-like comic with a sliver of the uncanny stabbed into it.

The Quiet End of the Mundane Age (https://www.shortboxcomicsfair.com/shop/p/the-quiet-end-of-the-mundane-age-by-theo-stultz) – Mostly just a slow romance comic, but the main characters do have some pretty nice chemistry, and the central archeological mystery around them is an interesting backdrop.

Leave You Be (https://www.shortboxcomicsfair.com/shop/p/leave-you-be-by-barbara-mazzi) – Tonally unfocused and… deliberately anticlimatic comic… about living an anticlimatic life… and being surrounded by beauty you can't touch or even see. Might actually be the most subversive comic on sale.

Germ (https://www.shortboxcomicsfair.com/shop/p/germ-by-liz-chee) – Fascinatingly structured psychological horror short with simple but very effective imagery and symbolism.

Ocean (https://www.shortboxcomicsfair.com/shop/p/ocean-by-lucie-bryon) – Initially rather silly slice-of-life comic that eases into a more down-to-earth, likeable stride. Has a nice full-circle ending.

Pearl Hunting (https://www.shortboxcomicsfair.com/shop/p/pearl-hunting-by-hana-chatani) – A very slow-burning story that does manage to build up to a satisfying, ironic conclusion. A solid work from a comics veteran.

It All Ends With Me (https://www.shortboxcomicsfair.com/shop/p/3s20hekys42i0gddv2evzskqfbuubx) – A cold, tense fairytale comic with great linework and character design, juxtaposing sumptuous architecture and dress with the gruesomeness of meat.

Pinball Wizard (https://www.shortboxcomicsfair.com/shop/p/pinball-wizard-by-pavina) – A wacky and quite expressive dark comedy with some legitimately hilarious moments. The hyper-anxious, constantly hyperventilating protagonist is a great foil for the schemers all around her.

Synthetic Snow (https://www.shortboxcomicsfair.com/shop/p/synthetic-snow-by-madeline-mcgrane) – Despite an unpromising opening, this eventually blossoms into a surprisingly vivid and abstract tale, referencing a certain classic.

Marrow (https://www.shortboxcomicsfair.com/shop/p/marrow-by-sloane-hong) – Cute little body-horror scenario. The ending is maybe a little too dramatic for its own good, but the main characters are pretty likeable and keep the story warm.

Morana Until Death (https://www.shortboxcomicsfair.com/shop/p/morana-until-death-by-les-piggies-kari-lynch-bailie-rosenlund) – Interestingly tense horror vignette… Despite an outwardly simple story, tries hard not to be obvious or to play familiar tropes, keeping the reader as distrusting as the protagonist to the very end.

Miss Mouse and the Crumbling Catacombs (https://www.shortboxcomicsfair.com/shop/p/miss-mouse-and-the-crumbling-catacombs-by-rachel-cherry) – Rather standard 25-page fantasy story held up by above-average dialogue. Artwork is kind of sketchy, but composition and posing is good.

Galatean Girlfriend (https://www.shortboxcomicsfair.com/shop/p/galatean-girlfriend-by-imogen-mangle) – Nice little bad-relationship horror story that plays with the physicality of the two main characters a lot.