For my first blog post ever I'm showing off my favorite ShortBox comics from this year. (discreetly checking my watch) sorry. LAST year. I started writing this last year on Halloween and then I dropped off the face of the earth for several months. It's ok. Anyway if you've never heard of the ShortBox Comics Fair, the TL;DR is that it's like a yearly online book fair, exclusively for indie comics. Great opportunity to support artists and read some really lovely stories!! Unfortunately, the person who moderates it has excellent taste and if you're not careful it is so easy to spend all your money.
So every October I hop into a group chat with my buddies Tobi and Almond, and we list all the ones we're interested in and become this image so we can look at our bank accounts at the end of the month without passing out.
Tobi made a spreadsheet this year!!!! This is serious business.
This isn't really a serious review post. I just like them. And since it's been so long since the fair, some of the artists might have made them accessible again, so I will link to wherever you can buy them now if possible. ^_^
A Pretty Good Wizard by Claire Weber
genre: fantasy, slice of life
It's a kid who's a wizard and he goes to school. His familiar is a horseshoe crab. It sounds pretty simple and it is, but it has some really sweet moments. The other kids are genuinely cool about him walking around doing wizard activities, and my favorite scene is an interaction with one of his teachers that really reads like he is some flavor of neurodivergent. I liked it :)
BLEED ANY% by Blue Delliquanti
genre: sci-fi
I actually didn't even have this on my list, but Tobi and Almond did! So I got to read it anyway. And I ended up really enjoying the worldbuilding, both for the story itself and the in-universe virtual reality game the narrator is obsessed with speedrunning.
The overlap between their real surroundings and those of the game is trippy as hell and it honestly just does a really good job saying what it wants to say in 32 pages. This is exactly the kind of pacing I like to see with a shortbox comic. Idk... it was just a fun time and I will definitely keep an eye out for the author if they come back this year.
Runaway Mayhem by Zen K. (also has a print version!)
genre: sci-fi
I basically have to mention this one, because the author is one of Granblue Fantasy's strongest soldiers. She's been on the Lucifer/Sandalphon fanart grind since I was in high school. Sandalphon Granblue Fantasy (his legal name) was my entire personality when I was like 17 and his story event rewired my brain in ways previously unknown to man. So when she got announced as an SBCF contributor I was like. BEYONCE? But anyway that's not the only reason. Runaway Mayhem was very enjoyable.
Kido, a mechanic, is fascinated by rumors of androids built years ago that the rest of the world now thinks of as old news. One day he stumbles upon one collapsed in an alleyway, and...sparks fly...! Like for real, because the first thing he does is stick a screwdriver into this guy's arm. I really like their character dynamic. What can I say? I think human/robot romance is so awesome and fun and it's cute to me that they sort of end up becoming roommates. It's so easy to imagine their daily life... I want to see them to do extremely mundane things together and fall in love... The author has expressed interest in writing more about them, so I hope I get to see them again at some point!
Goodbye Apple Island by C.R. Chua
genre: funny animals
Apple Island is being evacuated, but Our Protagonist doesn't want to leave his home behind. With the help of his best friend, a very long wolf called Professor, he sets out to solve one last mystery before he has to go. In a little follow-up comic after the fair, the author mentioned that she wanted to write a story about facing the future, and life changing but still being okay.
I honestly thought this was going to be a lot more lowkey, but the silly animals and cartoon humor and bittersweet undertones were all so fun and lovely. I can easily imagine it as an animated movie.
Bug in My System by Diansakhu Banton-Perry
genre: sci-fi, romance but watch out
A smart but awkward high school girl follows her crush home on a whim and ends up in a situation. The preview is actually what caught my eye because it hinted at the twist a little bit, but I wasn't sure how much would be appropriate to put in a review... It's pretty short (25 pages) but the story is contained very well, and I was DELIGHTED with the ending. In a "sicko at the window" kinda way.
I love romance that feels like chewing on batteries so much.
Offering by Jocelin Kee
genre: low fantasy
Short and sweet story about an office worker sharing a desk with god. I hesitate to describe anything as "cozy" these days because now everyone wants to be Stardew Valley all of a sudden and it's getting annoying. But gun to my head I would say Offering was a warm and cozy sort of comic and I enjoyed it quite a bit.
Dr. Limos Plays God by Stevie Barot
genre: sci-fi, men
This comic is so awesome for people (me) who like neurotic annoying cunts. God bless
Finally, I did save my absolute favorite for last:
Lindsey Cheng Dates a White Boy!! by Asia Miller
genre: coming of age
I bought this one because I remembered enjoying the author's entry to last year's fair, particularly because its characters felt very grounded. But I still wasn't expecting it to hit so hard. It made me cry a little... It's soooo silly and also so sweet and heartfelt. I adored Lindsey immediately and I wanted her to find her footing and succeed at everything in life and recover her bangs that she cut by herself and DUMP THAT LAME ASS WHITE BOY!!!
I lived away from home for about a year and a half and I was also reminded a bit of that here 🥹 The calls to her parents, the awkwardness as she tries to navigate her new environment all by herself... Ohhh I frew up.
It's 159 pages, so it is well worth the money if the author ever puts it back up for sale. Please read it if you ever get the chance. Lindsey Cheng I love you forever. THANKS FOR READING