Lady Fixie – Metias Gray’s Story Exudes Charm from Every Carefully Constructed Page
When Chloe receives a message from her mother from beyond the grave, she is determined to abide by her wishes and make her proud. How hard can the task be?…
Section: Reviews
Want to send us a review copy? Contact us.
Runaway Mayhem – A Chilling Take on the Sci-Fi Trope of Artificial Intelligence from Zen K.
Illustrated in traditional manga style, Runaway Mayhem, available from ShortBox Comics Fair, is an examination of humanity’s attempt to desperately cling to life. The tenacity of the human spirit may…
The Shit Witch – Warmth, Nostalgia and Poop Humour… Lis Xu’s ShortBox Fair Comic Has Got it All!
There are lots of things I wouldn’t want to stand in my way if I were looking for a missing pet. A hoard of chimpanzees for instance. Or that troll…
In Fair Verona – Val Wise Creates a Twisted World of Tragedy in this ShortBox Comics Fair Offering
“Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.” To literary…
The Road – Manu Larcenet’s Abrams Graphic Novel Adaptation is as Harrowing and Unforgettable as Cormac McCarthy’s Novel
There is a little detail on the first page of this graphic adaptation, a blink-and-miss-it silhouette of a man holding a child’s hand. That it says so much is testament…
Aglæca – A Wonderfully Gothic Tale from Mohnfisch
If you’re in the mood for something gothic and gloomy, Aglæca by Mohnfisch will be right up your street. Artist and writer Mohnfisch, aka Michèle Fisch, draws heavy inspiration from…
Hibernation Guide for Rabbits and Hares – L. Adassovsky Gives Us a Cosy Read to Be Treasured
Of the range of comics and zines from the 2024 ShortBox Comics Fair, the art style of Hibernation Guide for Rabbits and Hares grabbed my attention the most. Written by…
Positive Worlds, Negative Spaces – Kristina Stipetic’s Comics Collection Acts as a Print Portfolio for 15 Years of Creativity
Positive Worlds, Negative Spaces presents selected self-published and online comics from the practice of Kristina Stipetic between the years 2010-2024. It’s an interesting project in intent given that it acts…
Story About a Duck – A Delightful Short Comic About Acceptance from Boya Sun
Picture the scene; the full moon illuminates a softly lit forest with mountains in the peripheral, as it transforms from day to night, the remnants of the day’s pink hues…
Aquatic Lives – Pepe Reyes Intricately Imagines What Surviving Underwater Might Look Like in His ShortBox Comics Fair Debut
Haven’t we all wished we could take a glimpse of what life is like under the sea? Pepe Reyes’ ShortBox Comics Fair debut Aquatic Lives is an intricate imagining of…
Coppélia et Swanilda – A Dark Take on a Tale of Mistaken Identity from Hana Chatani and ShortBox Comics Fair
Based on the enchanting ballet Coppélia, Coppélia et Swanilda from this year’s ShortBox Comics Fair is a story focused on protagonist Swanilda, who is suspicious that her fiance’s heart may…
Customer Service Eternity – C A Strike Provides a Hilarious, Deadpan and Mischievous Offering at ShortBox Comics Fair
I was already a fan of C A Strike’s work, having reviewed their lovely minicomic Meryl for Broken Frontier’s upcoming Thought Bubble coverage in November (stay tuned!), so was delighted…
Goodbye Apple Island – ShortBox Comics Fair Offers a Soft, Warm Nostalgia Trip from Artist C.R. Chua to its Readers
One of the offerings from this year’s ShortBox Comics Fair that I was most excited about was Goodbye Apple Island, from artist C.R. Chua. I didn’t know a huge amount…
Nightmare Factory – John Kenn Mortensen’s Melodic Wordplay is Just as Nuanced as His Illustrations in this New Picture Book from Fantagraphics
A pale drummer boy mindlessly plays on as a candle drips wax over his head. A grimy man cocks his trumpet like a gun, the canister on his back ready…
Final Cut – Charles Burns Gives Fabulous New Life to Old Preoccupations
Charles Burns offers his readers no clues. There is no subtitle hinting towards a plot, no description or biography, and nothing to give one an indication of what they are…
Mothballs – Sole Otero’s Vivid Family Saga Highlights the Impact of Generational Trauma
Translated by the fantastic Andrea Rosenberg (of Ocultos and Totem acclaim), Mothballs from Sole Otero and Fantagraphics is set in Buenos Aires in the year 2001. The gorgeous Argentinian landscape…
Robot Archie and the Time Machine – The Cult British Comics Character Gets a Welcome Collection from the Treasury of British Comics
One of the most recognisable of the 1960s line-up of IPC heroes – in part because of his memorable later appearances in Grant Morrison and Steve Yeowell’s Zenith series –…
Kommix – Charles Burns Asks Us to Consider 80 Comics Covers that Never Were in this Haunting Fantagraphics Release
There’s a certain irony in the way a collection of imaginary comics covers can evoke such evocative feelings of nostalgia considering that, obviously, they never existed in the first place….
Broken Frontier Anthology
312 pages • 27 stories • 50 star creators
Limited copies available!Recommended Reads!
“We Try to Actively Incorporate Asian Characters in Our Comics” – Talvinder Sehmbi of Guru Comics on Their Range of Genre Fiction Books and Establishing Yourself in the Small Press SceneApril 24, 2025
“I Think it’s so Valuable to Have More Vulnerable Works Out There” – Cara Brown on Mental Health in Comics, Creative Process and Starting Her Artistic JourneyApril 23, 2025
“I Think Comics Have So Much Versatility in the Way They Can Tell a Story” – Zen K. Talks Comics Craft and Language, Manga Inspirations, and Being Published by Koguchi PressApril 16, 2025
“It Oozed Creativity, Comics Community Spirit and FUN” – Yo Comics! Proves that Kids Can’t Get Enough of ComicsApril 11, 2025
“All I Had at the Beginning Was Vampire Brothel, Priest, Period Setting, Sexy!” – Paige Hender Tells All about ‘The Confessional’ from Silver SprocketApril 10, 2025