The last ShortBox

A blog post! It's been a while...

I'm here to herald the news of ShortBox #13, coming to kickstarter later this month (5 freshly-published comics, a gorgeous A4 print, some sweets- the usual), but also news that this box will be our last box. 

There are a few reasons for this, the main ones being insane, ever-increasing international shipping prices, and the rising costs of Brexit. We've shipped worldwide from the outset, and have been lucky to build a network of readers that stretch across the globe. In fact, the bulk of our readership is internationally-based and shipping costs for them over the last 5 years have just climbed and climbed. To provide an example, international shipping on our last box cost £22 per box (that's the cost for shipping alone, not including any labour, packaging, materials or payment processing fees). The most I've previously charged for this was £14. 

The price of a ShortBox is £35: it's been that since we began and stayed £35 over the past 5 years. However, costs of ~everything~ have risen: a rise further compounded by Brexit. It affects us considerably as we always print our books, packaging, stickers, prints- whatever was needed- here in the UK to support local small businesses similar to ShortBox, and to maintain quality control and quick turnarounds. Keeping the box at £35 is simply no longer feasible.

Essentially, we've come to a point where growing costs mean we need to adjust the price of a box, and growing shipping costs mean we also need to charge accordingly for shipping. Sadly, I think this makes the box model no longer viable. Even if the box price were raised to £38 (as a minimum), for the vast majority of our readers, the shipping would be £22, bringing the total to £60 for a box. Although when broken down this still works out cheaper than if you were to buy and ship the 5 comics individually, it's still a large sum. The idea of ShortBox is that people trust that they're going to get a selection of comic books that are of value to them in some way. I think the more you start paying for something, the greater the expectation of receiving 'sure things' - work that fits what a person wants more closely. It becomes less of a space for interesting, inventive, fresh work. My instinct is that with the rising costs, people would prefer to choose individual books they want.

So, the kickstarter for ShortBox #13 later this month will be our final box. The price will remain £35. From 2022 forwards, we'll simply be publishing short and long comics individually, in the more traditional way. Scary and exciting!

It feels like the right thing to do: there's a sense of sadness, of course, but I think it's important to recognise when something is no longer working -for either us or readers- and to not detrimentally persist with it due to stubbornness or sentiment. It's a familiar refrain, but I had no idea I'd be doing this as a job, or even a year on when I started ShortBox, and it has evolved constantly (initially we were supposed to be a distro platform for mini-comics!), so changing and adapting has always been part of our DNA, which makes it easier to accept - on an emotional level, at least!

I'm incredibly grateful for all your support through this chapter of ShortBox, and hope you'll continue with us in the next. Thank you so much.

Zainab.

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 #10

It's finally here: ShortBox the TENTH. It's been quite a journey- not only are we 10 boxes in, this May we also celebrate our 3 year anniversary. We've been working our tushes off to pull this one together: a brand new title from the inimitable James Stokoe about a massive crocodile god; our first dedicated all-ages title from the wonderful Jessi Zabarsky, and a risograph-printed mech and alien fight-em-up from Wren McDonald. We're also proud to debut feature-length work from two fantastic fresh cartoonists in Michelle Kwon and Alivia Horsley. And an exclusive, limited edition rainy carpark print from none other than Jon McNaught! As this box is special, we've made the books that bit more special, with metallic foiling, dust-jackets, spot-gloss, and more! 

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 that releases twice a year. It is not a subscription service. There is no signing up. It's unique in that the comics contained in the box are ones we publish: brand new releases created especially for the box. You buy a box, and that's that- there's no further commitment to anything else. 
• Pre-orders will run for a 14-day period. That begins today and ends at midnight on 10th March. This is the only way to get the box. We don't remake boxes. You can order the box here.
• The box will ship in April. Depending on where you live in the world, your box can take anything from 2 days to 8 weeks to get to you once it has been shipped. 
• We ship worldwide!
• A *VERY IMPORTANT* point for anyone based in North America: no more international shipping rates! Your orders will now be shipped from our US fulfilment centre. 

To the box!!

Exclusive A4 static-cling PVC poster

Sobek by James Stokoe, foil emboss cover, 36pp, full-colour, oversized. 

Life is pretty good being a gigantic crocodile god: spend your days lazing on the riverbeds of the Nile while your devotees shower praise and juicy offerings upon you. But Sobek's idyll is broken and he must limber into action when a distraught priest relays news of affront and vandalism from the followers of Set.  An all-new, unmissable stunner from James Stokoe. This book comes with an exclusive static-cling A4 PVC poster (coloured but transparent, to be stuck on surfaces), which will be only be available via the box.

Visiting by Alivia Horsley, dust jacket cover, 42pp, full-colour.

Dylan has been preparing for a visit to her beloved Auntie. Moments together are precious, and lots of time spent reminiscing, eating, gardening. All the while, Dylan's trying to build up the courage to ask Auntie a big question on behalf of her mum, even as she wrestles with the idea of it herself.

Resort on Caelum by Wren McDonald. risograph printed, 32pp.

Tobin is one of a group of fresh new recruits landing on Caelum working for Sinensis to build a new resort on the planet, and he's excited to meet the fighter mech-pilots he idolises and to become one himself. Until it comes to battle, and it's not clear what exactly they're fighting, and why... 

(This print run of Resort on Caelum will be exclusive to ShortBox #10 only)

Boogsy by Michelle Kwon, spot gloss cover, 58pp, perfect bound.

Does sticky have to be icky? Mac's at one of life's dead-ends: no job, no motivation, no idea about what to do, and living at her twin sister's place while she (sort of) tries to figure it out. Into this picture arrives Boogsy- a boyfriend made up entirely of her apparently sentient boogers. The two instantly embark on a relationship, and, it seems, down a path of further self-destructive behaviours. 

Two of Us by Jessi Zabarsky, 44pp, full-colour. 

Febry has always wanted to be just like their enchantress mother: using magic to help people and do neat things, and going to magic school is a much-anticipated first step towards that. Febry's mum, long fascinated with the mundane world, has enrolled Febry to mundane school, much to their horror. Can the two worlds meet, or more pertinently, can the mundane world handle Febry.... ShortBox is proud to present our very first dedicated, all-ages title by the wonderful Jessi Zabarksy!

'Rainy Day' by Jon McNaught. A4 print with silver foiling, exclusive to box only.


Order ShortBox #10 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 #8: a June awakening

Good day! I'm delighted to announce ShortBox #8 has landed! Once again, we're bringing together a roster of superb artists to publish 5 brand new comics exploring identity, place, feelings, the future, spring, and bananas, in a resplendent line-up. This one feels particularly special as it marks the 2 year anniversary of ShortBox's conception, which feels both like a very short time and a very long one! I'd like to thank each and every one of you for all your support to date: without you, quite simply, ShortBox wouldn't exist. Thank you, and happy anniversary!

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 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. 
• Pre-orders run for a 12-day period. That begins today and ends at midnight on 27th April. 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. You can pre-order ShortBox #8 right now, right here. We don't remake boxes.  
• The box will ship in June. 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, onwards to the juicy stuff! ShortBox #8 will contain the following:

'Your Mother's Fox' by Niv Sekar 36pp, colour.

A woman sets out to see America the way her mother did: on the back of a giant fox. And while a

 giant fox may be better than any car for a roadtrip, the fox is old, and America is its own land. A thoughtful and poignant treatise on place, identity, and belonging.

The River Bank by George Mager, colour, 40pp, french flap cover.

 George Mager brings his uniquely charming whimsy to this long-term passion project: an adaptation of Kenneth Grahame's classic, The Wind in the Willows. Follow Mole, Rat, Toad, and Badger in an exuberantly lively and fresh journey, that will have you ready for the joys of spring.

Homunculus by Joe Sparrow, 70pp, colour.

A machine at the end of the world... In the near future, a young scientist and her sentient creation struggle to understand, and be understood by, the world around them. A story about love and learning, death and time, told across the years.

Summer Break by Lottie Pencheon 90pp colour, perfect bound, spot gloss cover.

Lottie's been feeling ill, or 'off' at the least, the difficulty of articulating exactly what's wrong leaving her even more isolated within herself. A break away with her family in the crisp, green goodness of nature seems like it could shake off any cobwebs, but it becomes apparent that what she's facing is very real, and that there's no quick fix.

What Are You Thinking About by Anatola Howard, 32pp colour and black and white.

A collection of stream-of-consciousness vignettes and short stories from one of the most exciting up and coming cartoonists in North America.

'Banana Wranglers' exclusive A4 print by Egle Zvirtblyte.

Order ShortBox #8 here.

Announcing ShortBox #3

Hello everyone!

We're absolutely delighted to reveal the line-up for ShortBox #3, which is now available for pre-order. I'm especially excited with how this one has come together, as *everything* contained within is brand new work commissioned specifically for the box. That means we're publishing 5 debuting comic books from Bianca Bagnarelli, Nuria Tamarit, K.L. Ricks, Seekan Hui, and Molly Mendoza, a fantastic new art zine from Sophie Franz, and a stunning print by Eleanor Davis. Below you'll find further information on each item, as well as cover and interior page images for all the books. I've linked artists names to their respective website/blogs, and I really recommend clicking through and becoming more acquainted with the super work on display- one of my primary objectives with ShortBox is simply to act as the bridge between your eyeballs and some amazing art.

A couple of technical details: boxes will ship in early February 2017. If you're thinking that seems a little way off, there's a reason for that: usually we run pre-orders 4-5 weeks prior to the box release, however, we're running them a bit earlier this time around as otherwise the pre-order period would fall in December -a month we know is busy for lots of people. So, here we are! Pre-orders are up now, and will run for 10 days until midnight on 30th November. As ever, I'd like to reiterate if you are interested in getting yourself a ShortBox, buying a pre-order is the sure-fire way to go about it. We do make a few extra boxes to go on general sale in February, but it is a small amount and something we're still looking at in terms of how viable it is. A reminder that we ship worldwide (once you add a box to your cart, it should provide you with a drop-down menu to select the country of your choice).

10% of all ShortBox profits will go to Standing Rock and their 'No DAPL' fund. 'Giving back' sounds rather glib, but I've been looking for ways in which I can do more socially, beyond an individual scale of how I conduct myself/treat other people, beyond what I do with regards to putting out (or facilitating) art. ShortBox releases quarterly, so for each box we release from here on, we hope to contribute in a small way by pledging to different organisations and causes we believe in.

We now have a ShortBox Instagram here (I promise it'll get lively soon with peeks and goings ons), and you can let us bother you on Twitter, too.

Daughters by Bianca Bagnarelli. 28 pages, colour. 'In a tired, deserted city, a man can't stop thinking back to his past, while his daughters must take a difficult decision that will forever change their future.'

The Whipping Girl by Nuria Tamarit. 36 pages, colour. 'Agape has spent her whole life serving the Royal House; in particular the pristine Prince Dalibor, untouchable by divine law  and answerable only to his father. When the King, after several years travelling, returns to the palace, Agape seizes the chance to escape to the dark woods, where things may not be much better... '

Aoife & Maebh by K.L. Ricks. 32 pages, black and white. 'Sisters Aoife and Maebh Goodman find themselves tangled up in mysterious goings-ons in their college town.'

Fish Flake by Seekan Hui. 40 pages, black and white. ShortBox exclusive cover. 'A muddy pedalo ride sends three lumpy kids off course, but maybe a change of scenery is what they needed after all.'

The Worst by Molly Mendoza. 36 pages, colour. 'A friendship gone awry. The Worst examines the struggles involved in separating from a toxic person and the specific challenges and emotions involved in that breaking away.'

Dino-Mom concept art zine by Sophie Franz. 16 pages, wraparound french-flap covers, colour.

'At the pool' A4 print by Eleanor Davis. Exclusive to the box.

Pre-order ShortBox #3 here. 

ShortBox 2: pre-orders now live

We are thrilled to announce we're back with ShortBox #2, the finest independent comics box in the land. It's honestly very exciting (and quite a bit of a relief!) to finally be able to share with you what we've been working away on the past few months. For box 2, we have 4 *brand new* comics making their debut: books that will be available first only in ShortBox, before going on general release at a later date. There's also a new printing of a sold-out comic, an exclusive A4 print, and a limited edition handmade, felt pin.

Beginning today, we are opening pre-orders for ShortBox #2, containing all the items listed below (and some sweets- we got you). Pre-orders will run for 10 days, until midnight on July 27th, and buying one guarantees you'll receive a box. We had quite a few people disappointed at not being able to snag themselves a box, so this allows us to overcome that, and better gauge the quantities needed. We will be fulfilling all pre-orders placed, and then producing a limited number of boxes in addition, to go on 'first come, first served' sale in September. Finally, we're pleased to now offer shipping to anywhere in the world (read more about this on the 'where do you ship to?' section on the 'About' page)- the abysmal value of the pound should help mitigate matters quite a bit, so take advantage!

Without further ado, here's what you'll find in ShortBox #2:

• Diana's Electric Tongue  by Carolyn Novak. 70 pages. Full colour. ShortBox special cover. Set in a lush, cosy future, Diana makes a bold attempt to move on after a difficult break-up. View preview pages here.
• Your Black Friend by Ben Passmore. 24 pages. Black and white. Landscape. Sharp, informed social commentary in the form of  an open letter on race and being black in America. View preview pages here.
• Food Baby by Lucie Bryon. 42 pages. Full colour. A compilation of comics about food, illustrated recipes, and tips about cooking, from someone who once made a potato catch on fire. View preview pages here.
• Heavy Air by Lizzy Stewart. 30 pages. Full colour. Summer is drawing to a close and a storm hangs low in the air. The estate seems electric, there's something foreboding in the alleyway and a fox lays dying in the park. Sometimes it feels like the end of the world and sometimes it doesn't. View preview pages here.
• 'T' by Bailey Sharp. 44 pages. Black and white. An ambiguous text message ruins a high school girl's lunch period. View preview pages here.
• Lisa Hanawalt A4 print. Full colour.  Exclusive to ShortBox.
• Pak choi pal by Honey Parast. Individually handmade felt pak choi pins- limited edition design produced for the box.

Pre-order ShortBox 2 here.

Cover designs shown are not necessarily final. We'll be sharing in-progress shots of Lisa's print  over the next few days, before revealing it in full, as well as glimpses of interior pages and other snippets; the best way to keep up with those updates is to follow the ShortBox Twitter.

More information on ShortBox can be found on the 'about' page up top. For any queries, you can contact us at shortbox.comic@gmail.com