New books from this month!

Just a reminder!  This month we added two new books to Sparkplug's published catalog.  Reich #11 is the second to last book in Elijah Brubaker's Reich series.  Reich's world is beginning to crumble in this not-to-be-missed issue!

Also out this month, we added the first of the Sparkplug Minis Series, Hungry Summer by Asher Craw.  Craw's modern spin on fairy tale tropes is exactly as weird and hilarious as you hope it will be.

We also managed to snag a couple minis from Yumi Sakugawa when she was in town for her book tour - please check out Intergalactic Telepathic Pen Pal and Moon Between the Mountains for more Sakugawa goodness.

LA Zine Fest this weekend!

Hey all!  Sparkplug will be tabling at LA Zine Fest this Sunday, February 16th, at Helms Bakery in Los Angeles.  For more info on the fest, click here.   We'll have our normal, awesome collection of books and zines PLUS the new issue of Reich and the first of the Sparkplug Minis Series, Hungry Summer.  Hope to see you there!

Sparkplug Highlight: Intergalactic Telepathic Pen Pal by Yumi Sakugawa

A friend of a friend said that she found another of Sakugawa's comics to be very sad.  I agree, but I think they are my favorite kind of melancholy: the kind that reminds you that, however impermanent this world is, there is a place for you in the universe.  You belong here.
Intergalactic Telepathic Pen Pal very much embodies this sentiment.  It is a collection of Sakugawa's short stories, many of which deal with death and endings.  From the sudden inexplicable spaceship departure of family members in "Happy Birthday, Lisa" to the self-reflective grief of "Cigar Butt", these are stories that are very sad but also a reminder to breathe and that you are not alone.

Book Announcements and Convention Schedule!

HELLO ALL!

Hope you are enjoying your winter and New Year so far!  Sparkplug has a couple announcements for you.

First, due to some paper mix ups, Reich #11 is taking a little longer than expected to print.  It is still available to pre-order here.  I am expecting to have it in time for LA ZineFest or directly afterward, so if you have pre-ordered it already, expect it in the next couple weeks.

Second, you may remember me announcing a new project we're doing called the Sparkplug Minis Series.  It's a series of short-run (500 copies) mini comics by new and/or underappreciated artists.  I don’t plan on reprinting  these so when they sell out, they are gone.  Be sure to order yours early!

The first of the series, Hungry Summer by Asher Craw, is now available for pre-order.  It's six dollars and you get a 4.5"x5.5" original drawing by the artist when you pre-order!  Here are some examples:

Hungry Summer is a strange, beautiful tale of bros, Baba Yaga and curses – thoroughly enjoyable and utterly bizarre.  I will have Hungry Summer available at LA Zine Fest next week as well!

And speaking of the Sparkplug Minis Series – I’ve already let you know that the second in the series is Infinite Astronaut: Corpse Exquisite by Ariyana Suvarnasuddhi.  It will be AMAZING.  The preliminary sketches look great.  Infinite Astronaut: Corpse Exquisite will be debuting at CAKE at the end of May.

And now I’m happy to confirm the third in the series will be The Anthropologists by Whit Taylor!  The Anthropologists is an autobiographical story about Taylor’s trip to the Australian Outback, with a focus on her personal and philosophical thoughts  about the field of anthropology.  I’m really interested to see where Taylor goes with this, and hope that you are too!  The Anthropologists will be debuting at the Portland Zine Symposium in July.

Our convention Schedule for 2014 so far:

Feb. 16^th: LA Zine Fest, Los Angeles, CA
April 12th: Linework NW, Portland, OR
May 31st & June 1st: CAKE, Chicago, IL

July  12^th & 13^th: Portland Zine Symposium, Portland, OR
Sept. 13th & 14th: SPX, Bethesda, MD

And finally if you'll forgive a little personal promotion - I have started doing a webcomic called The WHYs about queer teen superheroes.  I'd be so grateful if you would check it out!  Thanks.

-Virginia