There are so many great comics hiding out in the store, it can be hard to keep track. Here are some of my small-press, small-sized faves!

John, Dear is a study in subtlety. It's a short story about an abusive relationship so toxic it manifests as skin condition. The book starts out dark and gets darker.

Vähämäki's drawings are detailed and delicate. The Bun Field features a stoic child in a world full of animacy and mystery. There are no extraneous details, we know only what is said aloud. Is it a dream? A nightmare? A strange new world? Without giving in to easy answers, Vähämäki's art is breathtaking.

Yours reveals the claustrophobia of thoughts. It seems that the pages of the book are struggling to contain Ferrick's raw and expansive art. There are no clear demarcations between words and images, they become one another.

Ley Lines is a series where graphic artists produce pamphlets about their influences and inspirations. Enter Holy Pilgrim, on Gothic Architecture, is a nice reminder that inspiration can come from a glimpse or a memory as well as from an idol. Plus, I also have a soft spot for beautiful stone buildings.

Dumb, by Georgia Webber, is one of my absolute favourite comics of last year. It's smart and exquisite and has the best visual depictions of pain I've ever seen. We still have some of the original zines? Swoon!