ShortBox # 12: coming this April on Kickstarter

Good news: a new ShortBox will be available this April! As usual, the box will contain 5 new comic books, a limited edition fabric screen print by Jillian Tamaki, and some sweets! The one difference: it'll be available via Kickstarter. I wanted to write a little bit about this decision both to reassure readers and explain the thinking behind it.

The first thing to know: the box will be priced exactly the same. It's been £35 since we launched in 2016, and it remains that price. Shipping costs will also be the same. The main difference is, instead of placing an order via our Big Cartel webshop, orders will be placed through kickstarter. You do not need a kickstarter account in order to place an order, there is an option to do so as a guest, which means there isn't any additional signing up involved. 

So, why Kickstarter? As many of you may know, this is our 12th ShortBox. For the past 4 years, I've been making these boxes, and spreading the word about them with what limited resources I have available: largely social media, and with super-helpful word of mouth from our community of supporters. What makes Kickstarter an incredibly useful platform is its reach: lots of people visit Kickstarter specifically to check out comics and art projects. I know this is a bit of a gamble; I'm hoping people will follow us over to Kickstarter, but I also understand it may seem like an extra hassle compared to ordering the regular way.  I'm incredibly grateful to our loyal supporters without whom ShortBox wouldn't exist.  I also think this box thing we do is pretty unique and fantastic, and want more, more, more people to know about it! I work really, really hard on these books and boxes, as do all the artists involved. It's up to me to think about how best to get that hard work -and these excellent books- into as many people's hands as possible, which is why I want to test the box on this platform.

Another thing I've been wanting to do for a while is printed custom packaging: hire an artist to come up with some nifty ShortBox illustrations and designs that we can have printed on tape and on the boxes/packaging itself- this will be a stretch goal. At the moment, we still individually stamp each and every box with our logo before assembling the boxes! And those printed tapes everyone loves? They've been discontinued! Which has been an incentive to finally put this goal into gear.

The kickstarter will also have bonuses for all the box artists as a stretch goal.

I try my best to be as up front with our readers as possible, so I wanted to lay all this out in writing and let you know about the coming change and the reasons for it, instead of simply springing it upon you.

You can sign up to the ShortBox mailing list here, to be notified when the new box arrives.

ShortBox #11: a stonker

ShortBox #11 is upon us- and what a box it is! New comic books from Ariel Ries, Lissa Treiman, Jen Lee, Hana Chatani, and a debut work from Michelle Theodore. And to top it all off, a dreamy print by Sara Alfageeh. Stories incorporating fear, friendships, myths, self-neglect, new beginnings and creatures growing inside your teeth...! It's the final box of 2019, and you need it.

A few points to go over, as usual:

• All the comics and art in the box are brand new works we publish!
• Pre-orders for the box are open now and will run for a 14 day period, from July 15th to 28th. You buy a pre-order, you get the box- that's it. There's no signing up, and no further commitment.
• Pre-ordering a box is the *ONLY* way to get a box. We do not remake boxes.
• This is a *pre-order*. ShortBox #11 will ship throughout September. 
• We ship worldwide.
• Domestic shipping rates if you're based in the UK or US, international shipping rates for everywhere else.

'Cry Wolf Girl' by Ariel Ries, colour, spot-gloss cover, perfect-bound, 48pp.

The story goes like this: There was once a girl named Dawa. Having lost her family to sickness, she found herself with an emptiness inside that she did not know how to fill.  Alas, in all her endeavours, nothing she tried ever left her feeling so full as the art -of trickery.

'Minötaar' by Lissa Treiman, colour, 40pp.

Dena and Mel embark on a mission of epic proportions: visiting the byzantine halls of IKOS in order to retrieve the flat-pack bookshelf of Dena's dreams -after some meatballs, of course. But something strange is afoot in IKOS' minimally-designed, one-way aisles... Can Dena and Mel, and their friendship, navigate the realm of retail and emerge unscathed?

'Pass the Baton' by Hana Chatani (reads right to left), colour, 40pp.

Returning to her apartment from a visit to the corner store, Noriko spies on a young teen experiencing his first romantic rejection. Years later, their paths cross once again, and the two bond over shared passions, insecurities, and love in its many forms.

'At the Edge of the Stream at Dusk' by Jen Lee, A5 landscape orientation, colour, 36pp.

Part road-trip, part memoir, 'At the Edge of the Stream at Dusk' charts Jen's journey post the end of a long-term relationship as she moves across the country from her farmhouse to a new home and job in the city, while reflecting on the changes and challenges she's faced.

'Cavity' by Michelle Theodore, colour, 60pp.

Elliot's got a cavity. She knows it needs to be seen to, but right now she doesn't have the motivation to book an appointment with the dentist. She doesn't have the motivation to see her friends and family, do the laundry, cook and clean, or do anything much. Meanwhile, the cavity grows... and so does something inside it...

'In the Mountains' box-exclusive, limited edition A4 print by Sara Alfageeh

Order ShortBox #11 here.

ShortBox to the #9

Hello! Can you believe we're already releasing our NINTH ShortBox?! Well, we are, it's here, and it's a doozy. 5 brand new comics involving demons, transformative teas, mysterious islands, robot bears, underground mob power wars, social media relationships and more, from some of the freshest, finest and most interesting contemporary cartoonists around.

A *VERY IMPORTANT* point for anyone based in the USA: no more international shipping rates! Your ShortBoxes will now be shipped from within the US which means shipping for you is only £4. If you're in Canada, your boxes will also ship from the US so shipping is slightly cheaper for you, too! Hurrays all around!

As ever, a few salient points to go over for readers new and old before we get to the meaty bits:

• ShortBox is an independent, mail-order comics box. It is not a subscription service. There is no signing up. It's simply a (pretty ace) box of comics we publish every 3 months. The comics are brand new releases created especially for the box that you won't find anywhere else. You buy  a box, and that's that- there's no further commitment to anything else. 
• You purchase an order, we put you down for a box. It's a system that lets us know exactly how many boxes to make. You can pre-order ShortBox #9 right now, right here. We don't remake boxes.  
• Pre-orders run for a 12-day period. That begins today and ends at midnight on 29th July. This is the only way to get the box.
• The box will ship in September. Depending on where you live in the world, and also on the mercy of the postal system, your box can take anything from 2 days to 7 weeks to get to you once it has been shipped. After that period, if you still haven't received it, please get in touch with us via the 'contact' tab at the top of the site, and we'll take things from there. 
• We ship worldwide!

And now, onwards to the juicy stuff! ShortBox #9 will contain the following:

Stoke by Sam Wade, 32pp, colour. 

Arjuna’s got a problem; she’s too good at her job working as an underground, unlicensed boxing bookie for the city’s most blood thirsty crime boss, Montu. And now, because of her efficiency, he thinks she’s coming for the throne. Enter: Pretty Boy, bare knuckles boxing debutant and ruthless queen of the ring. As Montu’s attempts on Arjuna’s life get harder to dodge, she hires Pretty Boy to help her climb to the top. Stoke explores the honeyed synonymy of revenge, love, and obsession set against the backdrop of a surreal city underbelly where it’s all about going to the mattresses.

Gonzalo by Jed McGowan, 36pp, colour.
A worn, ageing robot bear, originally built to collect field data, is left stranded in the wild with an orphaned and very real bear cub after vast environmental collapse. Together they struggle to survive in the hostile wastes of near-future California.

Did You See Me? by Sophia Foster-Dimino, 56pp, colour. 

Did You See Me? follows a man through his growing obsession with a woman who may or may not be real. Taking place partly in reality, partly on social media, and partly in dreams, Did You See Me? looks at the role of fantasy, wishful thinking, and roleplay in romantic attraction.

The Island by Joy San, 40pp, colour.

A woman embarks on a journey to a mysterious island that promises to solve all her problems. 

Taemons by Kim Salt, 44pp, black and white. 
Beset by loneliness and self isolation, a girl is introduced to an app that allows people to match up with demons 'in your area' and meet them for tea. After connecting with a demon at the local all-night diner, she is transported to a different world, one she cannot escape without first confronting some demons of her own.

'Suspension' exclusive A4 print by Mathilde Kitteh.

Order ShortBox #9 here.

ShortBox #7(th) heaven

Good day! I'm delighted to announce ShortBox #7 is here! For the first box of 2018, we're publishing 5 brand new comics in  a mouthwatering line-up. As ever, a few salient points to go over for readers new and old before we get to the juicy bits:

• ShortBox is an independent comics box. It is not a subscription service. There is no signing up. It's simply a (pretty special) box of comics we publish and put together every 3 months. The comics are brand new releases created especially for the box that you won't find anywhere else. You buy  a box, and that's that- there's no further commitment to anything else. 
• Pre-orders run for a 10-day period. That begins today and ends at midnight on 31st January. This is the only way to get the box.
• You purchase an order, we put you down for a box. It's a system that lets us know exactly how many boxes to make, without waste. You can pre-order ShortBox #7 right now, right here. We don't remake boxes.  
• The box will ship in March. Depending on where you live in the world, and also on the mercy of the postal system, your box can take anything from 2 days to 5-6 weeks to get to you. After that period, if you still haven't received it, please get in touch with us via the 'contact' tab at the top of the site, and we'll take things from there. 
• We ship worldwide!

And now, to the good stuff! ShortBox #7 will contain the following:

'Beneath the Dead Oak Tree' by Emily Carroll, 28pp, full colour. 

'Murder, decadence, cowardice, guilt, and aristocratic foxes in wigs all combine in this gorgeously poignant poem/folksong from Emily Carroll, about the futility and heartbreak one can run into when dealing with vengeance. '

'Wizard and Soft Pig' by Rosie Brand, 100pp, full colour, perfect-bound.
'Roll around in the gentle visual felts of Wizard and Soft Pig, wander aimlessly through the forest, smile at a flower. Lie face down in the mud.'

'Navel Gazing' by Gyimah Gariba, 60pp, full colour, perfect-bound.

" 'A cool evening finds Gyimah Garbia's protagonist in introspective mood. But what happens when being wrapped inside your thoughts finds you quite literally inside yourself...! ' Navel Gazing follows an engaging, reflective journey of self exploration, doppelgangers, and an infuriatingly monosyllabic wise old sage. "

'Cat & Bag' by Viv Schwarz, 56pp, black and white, perfect-bound.

" 'Cat and Bag are constant companions. Cat is an artist who makes picture books and comics, and Bag is, well... there. There to remind Cat of each and every worry, there to undermine Cat's decisions, there to roll-call all the embarrassing things Cat's done at a moment's notice. Can the unlikely duo ever make it work?' Viv Schwarz chronicles her relationship with anxiety disorder in this collection of warm, funny, and moving strips."

'Paradise' by Matthew Pettit, 40pp, risograph printed.

'Having defected from their bandit gang, 'Paradise' follows the journey of two boys, their circumstantial relationship and the inevitable circle of violence and anger that permeates their actions.'

'Colossal Tussle' exclusive A4 print by Alexis Deacon.

Order ShortBox #7 here.

ShortBox: hit for #6

That time is upon us: the dawn of a new ShortBox arriveth!

ShortBox #6 is the fourth and final box of 2017, and it is an absolute ~best quality~ line-up. As ever, a few salient points to keep in mind:

• ShortBox is an independent, curated comics box. It is not a subscription service. There is no signing up. It's simply a (pretty special) box of comics we put together every 3 months. You buy it, and that's it- there's no further commitment to anything else.
• Orders run for a 10-day period. That begins today and ends at midnight on 30th September. This is the only way to get the box. You purchase an order, we put you down for a box. It's a system that lets us know exactly how many boxes to make, without waste. You can pre-order ShortBox #6 right now, right here: http://shortbox.bigcartel.com/product/shortbox-6-pre-order We don't remake boxes. 
• The box will ship in November (timely for gifting season...). Depending on where you live in the world, and also on the mercy of the postal system, your box can take anything from 2 days to 5-6 weeks to get to you. After that period, if you still haven't received it, please get in touch with us via the 'contact' tab at the top of the site, and we'll take things from there. 
• We ship worldwide!

ShortBox #6 features:

'After Laughter' comic (44p, black and white), and 'Sketches' zine (28pp, black and white) by Jonathan Djob Nkondo. I'm absolutely delighted to present this very special diptych from French animator, designer, and artist Jonathan Djob Nkonodo. Jonathan's amazing sense of movement and shape, and his exploration of form make him one of the most unique artists today and I'm thrilled to be able to bring some of his work to print. A silent, atmospheric stand-alone comic in its own right, 'After Laughter' is intended as a sequel to his short, animated film 'Island Bozo' (watch it at the link). 

'Conan Turtlepack's Day Out' by Valentine Gallardo, 40pp, black and white.  Conan Turtlepack is everyone’s good friend. On a hot summer day, he asks his favourite people to join him on a excursion to the beach. Lisa forgets her charger, Anouk shows up with a Tinder date, and Marla brings her ukulele to have a singalong. A story about friendship, romance, jealousy, and intrusive advertisements. 

'The Ghosts We Are and the Ghosts We Will Become' by Kiku Hughes, 36pp, full colour. A young girl finds herself being haunted by the ghost of an old woman, who speaks to her in a language she can't understand. Initially fearful, she slowly becomes accustomed to the spectre when it's clear it means her no ill-will or harm. Things change when, one day, the girl learns her mother can see the ghost, too. And speak to it...

'Helena' by Michael Furler, 68pp, 3-colour risograph. Helena is a primary student with with a vivid imagination and an anxious personality. She doesn’t always enjoy school and  struggles to pay attention at every little thing said, but Helena really does try her hardest, filling her time with weird thoughts, drawing, playing with King (her dog) and (when allowed to) playing video games. 

'A Long Distance' by Jean Wei, 36pp, full colour. A collection of short comics about the many gaps that come with growing up as the child of an immigrant family. Exploring Buddhism, superstition, ancestor worship, and more.

'Forage' exclusive A4 Shortbox print by the superb Choo.

Order ShortBox #6 here.

ShortBox high #5

ShortBox #5 is here! And it's an absolute corker. I'm incredibly proud and excited about this one -and I know I say that about each one, but only because it's true!-, and I think you'll be thrilled with it, too.

But first, an important run-through of salient ShortBox points, for new and old:

• ShortBox is a curated, commissioned independent comics box. It is not a subscription service. There is no signing up. It's simply a (pretty special) box of comics we put together every 3 months. You buy it, and that's it- there's no further commitment to anything else.
• Orders run for a 10-day period. That begins today and ends at midnight on 30th June. This is the only way to get the box. You purchase an order, we put you down for a box. It's a system that lets us know exactly how many boxes to make, without waste. You can pre-order ShortBox #5 right now, right here: http://shortbox.bigcartel.com/product/shortbox-5 We don't remake boxes. 
• The box will ship in August. Depending on where you live in the world, and also on the mercy of the postal system, your box can take anything from 2 days to 5-6 weeks to get to you. After that period, if you still haven't received it, please get in touch with us via the 'contact' tab at the top of the site, and we'll take things from there. 
• We ship worldwide!
• 10% of all ShortBox #5 profits will go to this Grenfell Tower fund. 

Below you'll find further information on everything inside the box, as well as cover and interior page images for all the books. I've linked artists names to their respective website/blogs, and as ever, I really recommend clicking through and becoming more acquainted with the excellent work on display.

Hot Summer Nights by Freddy Carrasco, published by Peow, 40pp, black and white. Our very first publisher collaboration, with the superb Peow Studio brings you Toronto artist Freddy Carrasco's debut comic book not only before anyone else, but it'll also be a special edition with an exclusive cover. 'A group of friends eke out the most they can from the last day of summer before high school begins.'

Barbara by Nicole Miles, 28pp full colour. When Jayda begins to have strange thoughts about food, her friend Barbara suggests a change of diet which leaves Jayda feeling out of her depth and more than a little isolated. But Barbara’s life is so uncomplicated and calm. She probably knows best.

What is Left by Rosemary Valero-O'Connell, 36pp, colour. A ship that runs on the memories of one of its occupants malfunctions and collapses in on itself in the dead of space. Alive but trapped, an engineer who survives the wreckage finds herself inside the reservoir of memories, alone and stranded in a patchwork dream of someone else's life.

The Tar Pit by Jeremy Sorese, 60pp, black and white, with a full colour section. Perfect bound, A4.  A young woman in Old Hollywood struggles to protect the identities of two closeted male actors because of her growing homophobia.

Musings of a Muslim Hipster by Areeba Siddique, 52pp, full colour (cover to be finalised). A collection of Pakistani teen superstar artist Areeba Siddique's comics and collage art on faith, spirituality, fashion, family, culture, and more.

A ShortBox murder mystery, A4 limited-edition print by Afu Chan.

I did tell you it was an amazing line-up. You can order ShortBox #5 here.