30 X 30 – Thirty Years of Conundrum Press
Editor: Andy Brown
Publisher: Conundrum Press
Publication date: May 2026
It’s a special kind of book that can take you to new places, in one way or another, and that’s the best place to start the complex, challenging task of describing 30×30: Thirty Years of Conundrum Press, an unusual publication just stuffed with surprises. Canadian surprises.
This intriguing new collection of 25 short stories celebrates a milestone for the independent publisher, which is based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and a passion project for its editor, Andy Brown. If it does take you to new places – most of them happen to be in Canada, Really, though this is all about Brown’s stewardship as a publisher and passion for storytelling in the form over three decades.
Faced with marking a 30th anniversary, Brown sought to do it in a meaningful way. And, with an interest in short stories in comics and access to talented creators across the country, he started to build this commemorative book by releasing batches of ‘pocketbook’ comics to feed it. Five cute little books were released annuallly across five years, and, with Conundrum’s milestone being celebrated now, it gives us 25 creations repackaged into a satisfying volume – priced at $30 and almost a promotional item within the Conundrum catalogue.
It’s a chance to take a tour of the Great White North in unexpected ways, with some stories openly based in Canada, some less so, and many are just what they are, though all have a connection to the country through their creators and publisher. Throughout, there’s a strong seam of shared culture from everyone taking part, however well-known they may be.
Of course, there are established Canadian names in there, notably Joe Ollmann, who opens the book with one of his emotionally-charged street-level stories, Day Old. It’s about doughnuts (Canadian spelling there) and a single mother, and it lands hard. Then 30×30 continues with 24 more black and white stories, slightly (but neatly) repackaged from their original home in pocketbooks, and all highlighting what short-form storytelling can do in the comics medium. We might spotlight some of the 25 stories, but let’s note respectfully that every part offers its unique take – and the whole book is worth checking out.
Of the 25 chapters, possibly my favourite was the super-accessible Post-Modern Mini-Comics, in which Vancouver, B.C. resident Colin Upton depicts the local rain with joy. I also enjoyed Brandon Hicks’ tales of life in New Brunswick on the eastern coast in his section On the Border as an engaging, accessible comic, and I was enchanted by the Indigenous imagery in Cole Pauls’ piece, We see stars only at night. Originally from Yukon Territory, Pauls is a Vancouver resident and a Champagne and Aishihik citizen – among the First Nations of what’s also called Turtle Island.
There’s more of Canada in this book than I’ve seen in any other. It goes beyond the spots you might usually see in a graphic novel, avoiding the Toronto-centric storytelling that sometimes features in Canadian comics culture. So, in 30×30, we travel around, even without local settings, as creators provide short stories as voices from Yukon, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Montreal – where there is a massive comics scene – and so many others. Notably, Kiona Callihoo Ligtvoet, who gives us impactful personal stories and at least one really good laugh in We Were Younger Once – is from amiskwaciwâskahikan – that’s the Cree name for Edmonton, Alberta.
And, across all these influences, it’s clear there’s a Conundrum style, almost a voice that runs through this volume, of empowered creators telling their tales in their own cool ways. As Brown says in his preface: “Conundrum is a manifesto”. It’s satisfying to recognize that, and note it’s present in all the content in some ways. For example, Petrozavodsk, the contribution from Alison McCreesh, who’s based in Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories, is actually about a visit to a city in Russia, and it doesn’t matter – it still fits in style and vibe.
And, of course, 30×30 is all about its editor. Andy Brown has nurtured this project for far more than its visible five years, and now it’s been born. He’s put a great book into the world: this gives glimpses into the effectiveness of a type of story and a canvas showing what Canada’s creatives can do. It’s an utter delight to flip through and read, and re-read, and reflect on its individual styles and its overall flow; it all works together. What a gem.
It’s satisfying that it touches on Canada, which has a vibrant comics culture that’s sadly underreported, but that’s secondary to the success of 30×30 as a showcase of what short storytelling in graphic novels can really do. In this case – and it happens to be through Canadian voices – the answer is “lots of different things, and they’re all superb”.
It’s worth being glad about, and worth supporting.
30 × 30 – THIRTY YEARS OF CONUNDRUM PRESS – Full Credits
Day Old by Joe Ollmann
The Water Lover by Patrick Allaby
Spells by Graeme Shorten Adams
The Man Who Walked Through Walls by OBOM
Petrozavodsk by Alison McCreesh
Next Time Around by Billy Mavreas
Maladies by Henriette Valium
Sasha Strong by Kim Edgar
We Were Younger Once by Kiona Callihoo Ligtvoet
CONDOLADY by Elisabeth Belliveau
Post-Modern Mini-Comics by Colin Upton
Partum Me by Natalie Pendergast
Only a Slender Internal Connection by Xiaoxiao Li
Between Gentlemen by Rupert Bottenberg
Bar Delicious by Blaise Moritz
Just Happy to See You by Shea Proulx
Cousin Bear Comes to Visit by Halie Finney
We see stars only at night by Cole Pauls
On the Border by Brandon Hicks
Wanderer of the Wastes by Tyler Landry
It Really Is by Cole Degenstein
Citymouse by Eleanor Hannon
Let the Good Times Roll by Veronica Post
Future Me is Fat by Mollie Cronin
Fever Dream by D. McFadzean
30 X 30 – Thirty Years of Conundrum Press is out now via Conundrum Press
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