Sleepwalking by Lauren Monger can be purchased in a bookstore or at Silver Sprocket’s website (and I think they might still have a brick and mortar store as well). You might even be able to get it via your local library. I am not sure why, if you are a nice and normal person. The reason I picked it up (or should say ordered from the website) was because that cover was giving me vibes of something dark, spooky, serious and maybe a little odd humor. Which was exactly what I was looking for at the time. Instead of all that, it was a bit dark, oddly serious and mostly missing the humor (dark or otherwise).
At least for me. I can appreciate the entire package, but it was not meant to be opened by me. It is an odd collection of a “day in the life” of these animals who are more human than most humans. Life, music, problems, friendships, romance, enemies are all put on the page. Sometimes I said OH I get it. Other times I said, WHAT the flaming flying monkey poo? Then there are the unique, emotional creating illustrations. That really looks nothing like this realistic but obviously surreal image of the cover. It goes from Horror Cover to everyday but, you know, edgy, inside. The anthropomorphism of the characters really is both interesting and a bit off putting. Yes, it is a possum, but that is a human with a possum head. Not an animal in a human situation.
I am also going to add a quick note about the self-published, Grampa by Travis Rommereim. I read it twice. And still am not 100% sure what is happening. I will use the website’s description: A comic about a teenage witch who does graffiti and evades the cops. Risograph printed. Self-Published by the artist. And sure I got all that. But only because another character said, “You’re a Witch, Harry” (okay not those exact words). And you know the donuts are funky because said friend talks about cursed foods. And you know Grandpa is a graffiti artist who likes to tag in odd places. But WHY Grandpa? They present as female, people call them female, and WHAT is going on with the whole magic thing? In the end the artwork is neat. It is very minimalistic and if I could figure out the context I think they would be more than perfect for it. Afterall, they do give you most of what I figured out.
You can purchase this book via the website. So if you are interested in indie zines, if you like unusual artwork and/or unusual stores you can add Grandpa to your cart knowing you will find a diamond in the very rough.
