HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM SECRET HEADQUARTERS
It's that time of year again! Already! Somehow! Never fear, we are here to help you pick out the best gifts for everyone on your list.
Part two: Selections from Chris!
The Devil's Grin by Alex Graham
Self-Published
$12 - $17
Four issues of seedy, darkly humorous comics from one of our favorites. The Devil's Grin plays for creeps but also resembles an Aki Kaurismaki film: sparse, vaguely sad, obtusely funny, and a little bit rock and roll. Wash your hands before getting into this one, it gets a little greasy.
Stories From Zoo by Anand
Bubbles Fanzine
$24
Brother Brian and Bubbles Fanzine continue to spread the good word of comics. Stories From Zoo is the trade paperback of my wishes and dreams, and Anand continues to weave his odd, offbeat, at times naturalistic and at others surreal, tales with unparalleled uniqueness and surprising relatability. Anand is a comics prophet who lives in these dualities and Zoo is the scripture. Will you join us? (Comes with bonus zine This Loud World!)
Curses by George Wylesol
Avery Hill Publishing
$25
Wylesol's illustration may seem simple and clean but within those empty spaces exists not only extreme saturated color, but an overwhelming dread and bleak isolation. This collection of short comics from the last few years contain some genuinely funny things if you're slightly psychotic, but also I'm one to laugh nervously when I'm spooked. I laughed a lot in this one.
Blood Of The Virgin by Sammy Harkham
Pantheon
$30
If there was a world comics summit where every major city had to send a representative, Los Angeles would send Sammy Harkham (assuming Xaime and Beto weren't available). In all seriousness, Blood Of The Virgin captures the perfect vibe for a perfect time in an imperfect place. Like Pet Sounds, french dips, Repo Man, and dusk baseball in Chavez Ravine, this book is one of LA's masterpieces. (Also see: Blood of the Virgin Process Zine, published by SHQ Publishing, printed by West Coast Riso champions Tiny Splendor).
Signal by Tetsunori Tawaraya
Colour Code
$40
If you are into a wild and crazy phenomenon that scientists call COLOR, then look no further than sci-fi squiggly guy supreme Tetsunori Tawaraya's Signal. But if you like your khakis pressed neat and never pick anything other than vanilla at the ice cream shop, then I can't help you, man.