The brother is Grimly

Book • WICKED NURSERY RHYMES • Gris Grimly • 2003
Another book I found at the 2008 NYC ComiCon at the Baby Tattoo Books booth. I’ve been a fan of Gris Grimly’s art for some time now, so I feel ashamed I missed this one. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Grimly’s art is ink and watercolor with a style all its own. The sticky figures are like haunted doll creatures from the pages of a 200 year old children’s book. The lighting and muted color bring a certain mood that draws you into the Grimly’s world. Once there, you’ll never want to leave. Delicious!
In Wicked Nursery Rhymes, Gris Grimly revisits familiar places, and tells the stories of old nursery rhymes from a new perspective. Jack and Jill was particularly clever.
If you like the art of Jhonen Vasquez, Tim Burton and Edward Gorey you will absolutely adore Gris Grimly! He is fave of mine, and I want to squeeze him to death.

Ragnar got my heart

Book • GOT YOUR NOSE! • Brandon Ragnar Johnson • 2004
This was one of the books I found at the 2008 NYC ComiCon at the Baby Tattoo Books booth. I mentioned in that blog entry that I’d be telling you about some of those books, and it’s about time I got started.
Ragnar is an artist who has talent for yummy images. Got Your Nose is a tale of two brothers named Horace and Borris. Horace is good and Borris is bad — so bad, in fact, that he finds it necessary to snag his schnoz. What follows are the antics of the brothers with Borris’ tricks, and Horace’s attempts to recover his nose.
The playful scenarios are the perfect premises for Ragnar’s wonderful art. The simple colors evoke a world where expression moves the pages, and animates the still pictures. Borris is particularly handsome. I’m absolutely convinced that LilyBat has a crush on him.
Got Your Nose is good for all ages. There’s nothing in it that would scare mummies and pops away.

In the aisle for the macabre bibliophile

Christina Maxwell representing Baby Tattoo Books for Bob Self.

Books • Publisher • BABY TATTOO BOOKS • babytattoo.com
Another great find at ComicCon this week was Baby Tattoo Books. The brain managing the publishing soma was a man named, Bob. He demonstrates a terrific energy and passion for the dreadfully delicious art he publishes. When someone is doing what they love, you can tell because the work is always preeminent and appealing. And brill as a whippoorwill.
While LilyBat took DeMonica off to lunch, Betty Bones and I devoured all the smashing volumes at this booth, and found so many great books! You can bet your knickers I'll be reviewing the long ton I bought there. How I wish I found the booth later in the day, though. They’re still sewing my shoulder back on.
You can see the Baby Tattoo blog here for information on upcoming books and events.

Unidentified work by Viktor Koen from forthcoming Baby Tattoo book.

Beware the cursed bear

Toys • SWEARBEAR • swearbear.com
Censorship alert! LilyBat and I met a boy named Aaron at ComiCon in NYC this weekend. He makes bears that swear at you! They’re so sweet and cheeky! I can’t say any of the words they say, or my tongue might fall out. Butter sticks! You just have to see them! There are several generations of plush, vinyl, and mini Swear Bears. He even has T-shirts with the vulgar little buggers.
We bought one of the vinyl Swear Bears from the picture above. The skelly bear second from the top left. Betty Bones squealed when she saw it, so we gave it to her. I’m sure DeMonica would have loved the Devil bear on the bottom left, but she’s been a bit bratty lately.
If you visit the site, please say hi from the GirlMonsters, and definitely buy one of those delicious little insulting bears.

Boogily boy artist

Website, Toys, Art • GUS FINK'S BOOGILY HEADS • gusfink.com • boogilyheads.com
Where to start with this boy??? I went to ComiCon in NYC with the rest of the girls this past weekend. What jolly old time we had! We met lots of smashing artists, and bought so many books and toys my shoulder fell off!
Gus Fink was one of the artists we fell in love with. His Boogily Heads were brilliant! He makes the cutest little bobble heads you ever did see (and he was a cutie-pie as well ;) - He also makes some delicious looking plush monsters. I wanted to eat them up, nom nom nom!
I bought four of his Boogilies because of budget constraints, but I wish I had the guts to nick a few more. Go buy some at boogilyheads.com or look at his amazing art at gusfink.com. Tell him Abby Cadaver said hi! I think DeMonica has a crush on him, but she’s a cheeky monkey, and I called dibs anyway.
I'll review some more pictures next week because I’m rattling on about what I saw at ComiCon for the rest of this week.