Since the season of giving is fast upon us, we at Quimby’s would like to offer you some guidance in your gifting. So we will be posting our staff-curated gift guides over the next few weeks on our socials, and I’ve been honored with going first.
For the HORROR QUEEN in your life who isn’t ready for Halloween to be over, we’ve got everything from comics and zines, to stickers and poetry, and even a game! And just to prove that I’m recommending for a friend, I’ll start with my most recent purchase for myself and work back to one of my favorites.
As a lifelong Gorey-phile, I bought Escape From The Evil Garden an Edward Gorey board game the moment we were both in the shop together. I told myself it was an early Christmas present, but I already opened it and played with my bae (and won!). The game is for ages 10 and up and plays like a spooky, more advanced Candyland. You might be cast as the Cheerful Woman or the Unwell Man with traits and abilities to match; then you have to make your way through the labyrinth to get out of the garden, battling plants and animals for your survival. So much fun.
If you’re more in the mood for stocking stuffers, there are oh so many spooky stickers. I love this sexy trick-or-treater, Bat Girl drawn by Mel Stringer. Riding Roller Coasters with Vincent Price is a micro-zine by Dayna Meyer celebrating the Master of Horror’s love of the terrifying amusement park ride. I also really enjoy Spooky Nova by Ari Ganahl. This all-ages mini-comic shows the meet-cute between a kid and a friendly ghost trick or treating (with a poke at gender roles). Perfection.
From the folx at Pork Belly Press, I would recommend haunted, a limited edition anthology of poems rooted in the idea of haunting. If you’ve never noticed the gorgeous chapbooks they make, the cover designs would make them stand out even if we didn’t have them in a special spot on the chapbooks rack. They’re also hand-numbered and hand-sewn, so yes, I swoon over these.
And last but certainly not least on my list is My Favorite Thing Is Monsters Books One and Two by Emil Ferris. I’ve included both in case your HORROR QUEEN already has the first or if you’re just feeling generous. These beautiful comics are drawn in heavy pen and follow Karen, an adolescent who sees themself as a werewolf, as they try to solve the mysteries of the adult world while characterizing everyone as monsters of the silver screen. Extra bonus features include being created by a Chicago native, so there’s lots of Uptown and the Art Institute among other great Chicago locations and legends. Among my favorite comic books of all time, I cannot recommend these books enough, whether or not you love horror.
I hope this helps ease you into this holiday season. And if you’ve already checked your favorite HORROR QUEEN off your list, then stay tuned in on our social media for more gift guides to come.
-elizabeth @getbacktoprint
