Leon's Microblog – Posts tagged "ShortBox"

THAT'S ALL!! I decided to shell out a lot more than I normally would to grab a good sample of this bothersomely large comic offering, so I hope y'all can use these recommendations as a good guide for the remaining… two hours of the sale… and counting.

Fallen into the Garden (https://is.gd/sfDmLo) – I liked this artist's previous comic, and while this continues last year's themes of space-faring culture-shock among sagely women, this one is more romantic and visceral. (Maybe the conclusion is a little abrupt, though.)

Bagatto (https://is.gd/toPJhy) – This comic is a platter of iridescent, sumptuous art and surreal dream scenes… maybe it doesn't have much to say writing-wise, but it successfully plays to its own strengths.

Aimé (https://is.gd/MAFHBU) – What initially seemed like a somewhat standard fairytale-type story with a simplistic art style managed to shock me with a few surprisingly touching scenes (including the climax) as well as several moments of artistic beauty.

Extraterrestrial (https://is.gd/yvkU1T) – A cute story with incredible colouring. Even if the characters and expressions might be a little too hammy, the dialogue is funny enough to keep up the story's momentum.

Sharpie's Mission of Rage and Justice (https://is.gd/7VXq9y) – A fun little wacky comic with great character interactions and dialogue that feels like it fits a lot into a little.

Li'l Burgers (https://is.gd/KpFGfM) – Funny and impressively well-drawn social satire about the contradictions of patriotism and globalisation, where national symbols violently and fruitlessly attack their own cultural irrelevance.

In Case of Turbulence (https://is.gd/PcPtrf) – While this is just a series of disposable memoir-type gag comics without any real conclusion, it gets my nod just for how snappy the punch-lines are.

Ladies of the Living Princess (https://is.gd/z7AfuL) – Despite a slow start (and somewhat muted ending), this grows to be quite the entertaining supernatural story with a surprisingly fun main couple.

Dead Horses (https://is.gd/cem4L8) – This one EASILY ranks as the best among the ones I tried this year. Excellent imagery and pacing, with a simple but not entirely predictable story, and characters who keep unfolding even far later than you'd expect.

Foreign Bodies (https://is.gd/Ii3SUN) – Much as this one has very good setup and a likeable main character, to me it spells out the pivotal reveal way too bluntly and reductively. It's a very "Shortbox-like horror story", truth be told, but that's not necessarily a knock.

As The Rot Blooms (https://is.gd/4hk393) – This one feels like it ends when it's about to get good, but even before that, it's not too bad as a slow-burn horror story, with very solid expressions and panel composition.

Big Fortress (https://www.shortboxcomicsfair.com/shop-sq4wj/p/big-fortress-by-chlo-ro) – The bulbous designs of this comic's characters give them a soft clay-like feel, which helps a lot at making this spot-black-drenched dark fantasy dungeon feel like a rundown home.

Girl Yaoi (https://www.shortboxcomicsfair.com/shop-sq4wj/p/girl-yaoi-by-ana-two) – Exactly what a comic called "Girl Yaoi" would be. A messy romance explored through BL references so specific that even *I* recognised one of them. This comic DOES contain actual pornography, so, praise the sun / caveat emptor (select one).

Leftovers (https://www.shortboxcomicsfair.com/shop-sq4wj/p/leftovers-by-luckycavity) – OK, this is a mess. Flow of events is often incomprehensible, and the panels frequently clash with each other for attention. Still, the strange premise and relationship amuses me a lot, and the panels in isolation are good.

A Little Beauty (https://www.shortboxcomicsfair.com/shop-sq4wj/p/a-little-beauty-by-laura-knetzger) and White Whale (https://www.shortboxcomicsfair.com/shop-sq4wj/p/white-whale-by-christine-fitzgerald) – I feel like both of these pair up well: bite-size quasi-paranormal horror stories about obsession, with great use of spot colour and memorable concluding imagery.

The previous year's thread… is right here!! https://x.com/webbedspace/status/1852027374751068229

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.