intro to new comic: Szarlotka by Jas Hice

plus part 1 of the comic!

We’ve been very excited about publishing this since last Spring, but due to the meager limitations of our publishing outfit we only had the time to finally print and release right now. But here we are, in the future, and it is time to send it out into the world. If you have pre-ordered already: thank you! If you are a shop that has already stocked: thank you. For everyone else: here is an extended preview of the book over the next few weeks. If you’re not a “premium subscriber” (can’t decide on what to call the paid membership still) you could try out doing a free week and see how that feels if you wanna read a bit of this comic to get a sense for it.

Also this is the first time I’ve put out a comic with another person who is on substack? So they are included in this post. Not sure how it works but Jas is included! You should go subscribe her page. Some great stuff being posted right now.

Also also - this book is debuting at SPX, so if you are attending…see you there :)

Anyway all that boring housekeeping aside, this book is great! Jas was looking for a home for it and jumped at the opportunity because I loved her work, and then when she sent me this comic it was an instant yes. Why? Well it’s one of those comics that makes comics feel effortless. It reads so easily and pulls you into the paranoid and yet optimistic world of a new mother. It lulls you in with nice characters, funny little moments, while never stopping to slowly introduce more and more tension. When it boils over it’s pretty spooky! Even spookier to realize this is semi-based off of a real awful situation Jas was stuck in. All the best fiction stories are based in at least an emotional reality, and this hits that for sure. Anyway I highly recommend this comic (obviously, I am publishing it.) But personally am very proud to be pushing the Frog Farm output in a new direction. This is a great comic!

I messaged Jas and asked them to give a little spiel about the new book and themselves:

“Szarlotka is a claustrophobic tale of a young woman who encounters a stranger and hopes for the best. This soft thriller is an honest look at vulnerability that reads like a bad dream.”

“Jas Hice is a timid cartoonist from Arkansas. Their other works include a bizarre intricate courtship, a book of poetry, and a weekly x-files comic newsletter.”

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Going to be posting a few sections every week, but here is part 1!