The ShortBox Comics Fair comes to a close with October, but if you’re reading this, there’s still time. Zainab Akhtar‘s beloved annual online digital indie comics festival is well worth investigating for those who haven’t visited before. And honestly, it stays enticing even after you’ve been. More cool books seem to materialize each time you go back. Everything is available for purchase and download from shortboxcomicsfair dot com but only during the duration of the Fair. Which means the SBCF is entering its final week.
For the what and the why, an official statement from the Fair:
ShortBox Comics Fair is an innovative and pioneering digital comics fair, with participating artists from around the world all debuting new, original comics! The aim of the fair is to serve as both a creative impetus for artists to make something new, and to provide a platform for fresh and unique independent comics, gathered in one place. ShortBox Comics Fair is an accessible, comics-focused event: artists and comics readers can participate from anywhere in the world (no travel, no con-crud, no lugging suitcases full of comics back and forth!). The fair takes place annually throughout October. Exhibiting artists retain full ownership/rights of their comics and receive 100% of sales (minus payment processing fees).
The who is a list of exhibitors over a hundred strong.
Not to worry, though, as the how– the ShortBox website- features “genre-racking.” Pick a category from the sidebar that interests you, and then page through the comics that suit that inclination. Fun choices, too. Friendship, Food, and Body Horror are all pretty straightforward, but To Be Consumed is uh interesting. If it means what I think it does, give me some please. To further pique your interest in shopping the Fair, here’s a (lengthy) preview with an example of what you’ll find from each category.
All-Ages
Go! Go! Proton: Time Loop by Mischf Press
When the Time King locks life into a loop, who can save us?
Autobiographical
Wee Wanderings by Cynthia Yuan Cheng
A shōjo-inspired travelogue.
Body Horror
Pilaghost by Celestine Kronberger
Word to the wise, don’t join the wrong medical study.
Cats, Cat Cafes, Catboys
Cats, Cat Cafes, CatboysConnector by bothpalms
Catboy space detectives (multiple siren emojis)!
Coming Of Age
Randy & Lee by Angie Kang
A hot summer day, when you were younger, lasts.
Crime
World Heist by Linnea Sterte
Two thieves trip out while cosmically trespassing.
Read our reviews of Sterte’s graphic novels Stages of Rot here and A Frog in the Fall (and Later On) here.
Death & Grief
Your Heart is a Muscle the Size of Your Fist by Asia Miller
Somebody’s got to do something when a friend goes missing.
Drama
Drifting by Madita Schwenke
Roommate problems are rarely so mysterious.
Experimental
say a by abuelaignea
To read is to be changed.
Fairytale & Folklore
The Hawk and the Rabbit by Hwei
Once upon a time, a kind spirit was compelled to care for their enemy.
Family
My Father Was a Good Man by Adeline Kon
Horror movie revenge cuts close to the bone.
Fantasy
Iron by Alissa Sallah
Curiosity and prophecy coalesce into a form unforeseen despite the dreams.
Food
My Unhinged Food Diary by Shazleen Khan
They say food is life; this diary comic deep dives into delicious detail.
Friendship
Ocean by Lucie Bryon
Toots and Boots– time paradox agents (multiple siren emojis)!
Read our culture piece on manga’s global influence, featuring Bryon’s graphic novel Thieves (and Jade Armstrong’s Scout is Not a Band Kid), here.
From Enemies To…
Crossed Signals by mxiiha
There’s no relief for the tension between these two…
Fun & Feel-Good
PIPOLI: I Funked Up by Chelsea Akpan
Whatever these creatures are, you can bet they’re just like us.
Historical
The Quiet End of the Mundane Age by Theo Stultz
Two archivists tasked to file the lost art of magic.
Horror
Marrow by Sloane Hong
It’s quiet down on the farm.
Humor
Bunny Punch by Michael Furler
This bunny just wants to eat Sludge.
Read our review of Furler’s graphic novel Bark Bark Girl here.
Identity
Blue Hour by M Suarez-Thai
Learn to love music, among other things.
Introspective
A Walk in the Park by Winnie Chua
A stroll will clear your head.
LGBTQ
Stinking Benjamins by Jade Armstrong
A story about getting too lost in the moment to get lost in the moment.
Read our culture piece on manga’s global influence, featuring Armstrong’s graphic novel Scout is Not a Band Kid (and Lucie Bryon’s Thieves), here.
Magic
The Things We Carve by Chan Chau
Crafting something for yourself, after work, yeah that can be a struggle.
Read our interview with Chau on adapting a Baby-Sitter’s Club novel, Kristy and the Snobs, into a comic here.
Memoir
I’m Stuck in Retrograde by Jade Zhang
Be sure you don’t get trapped in your memories while reliving them.
Mystery
A Three Body Problem by Tan Juan Gee
Cybernetic identity mystery gleans ennui from space scrap.
Nature
Earthly worm catches the early bird discount by Disa Wallander
Exactly what it sounds like.
Read our review of Wallander’s graphic novel Becoming Horses here.
Pets
Meryl by CA Strike
Learn what a cat knows.
Queer
Pickled Onions by Blue Delliquanti
Recipes for utility.
Relationships
House For Rent: Good Condition by Lily Vie
Even ghosts get bored after a while. Some places just suck.
Romance
Parasocial Activity by Pearl Law
Trading stories about your bias at their concert opens unexpected doors.
Sapphic
The Future Saints by Niv Sekar
Stories told by memory assume the form of desire.
Sci-Fi
FRDMGIRL by kyibr
A hero, and adventure, and- of course- trouble.
Silent Comics
Jack by Megan Llewellyn
The only light in the woods at night becomes a terrible beacon.
Slice-Of-Life
Cheating (Academically) by Andy Peña
Also exactly what it sounds like.
Slightly Spooky
Galatean Girlfriend by Imogen Mangle
Breaking boundaries, breaking promises, paranormal consequences.
Social Commentary
CYBERWEB by Jeffrey Kam
The Net is vast (enough to change your mind).
Space
Light Through Memory by Jean Wei
Astronomy before telescopes.
Sports (Or Something Like It)
French Exit by Elle Shivers
That one interview after they’ve stopped playing.
To Be Consumed
All Was Right with the World by Arty Nicharee
The tragedy that heavenly bodies can’t touch.
If you’re interested in being in the 2024 ShortBox Comics Fair, applications are open until November 9th.
