Category: Gift Guide

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

Browsing the store can be overwhelming, especially if it’s your first time in. We recommend checking out our staff picks section! Located right underneath our fabulous LGBTQIA+ shelves, (sorry to those with weak knees) our staff faves are filled with gems selected by our expert team of zine makers and readers. Next time you’re in the shop, check out some of these standout titles handpicked just for you!

Shotgun Seamstress: The Complete Zine Collection by Osa Atoe

We’re huge fans of zine anthologies, especially this beautiful collection of one of our all-time faves: Shotgun Seamstress by Osa Atoe! Shotgun Seamstress began in 2006 in Portland, OR out of necessity. From the author: “The zine came out of the experience of being the only black kid at the punk show.” Each issue highlights Black punk bands, artists, and musicians, many of them friends of Atoe or musicians and artists she looked up to. The layout style is timeless and the interviews, comix, and zine and album reviews highlight underground Black musicians and artists by bringing them to the forefront.

Feminist Art Punks: Riot Grrrl, Zines, and the Radical Power of Self Authorship by Katie Kiesewetter

A syllabus zine that includes resources, writing prompts, and ways to map your own feminist history in a radical and self-guided way. You really can’t go wrong with zines by local zine maker Katie Kiesewetter, which we have plenty of titles in stock at the moment!

Staring Contest Essays About Eyes by Joshua James Amberson

A memoir written in essays, all about your eyeballs! Joshua James Amberson writes about pseudoxanthoma elasticum, a rare eye disease he developed early in his childhood that later turned into an obsession. Amberson bares his soul and writes about the frustrating trips to oncologists and the fear of possibly losing his sight earlier than planned. The pop culture references about eye disabilities in the media (think Mr. Magoo, Lisa “Left Eye Lopes,” and the song “Betty Davis Eyes”) make this book a truly fascinating read! Joshua James Amberson is also the founder of one of our favorite book and zine distros, Antiquated Future.

First Good Time by Aim Ren Beland

From the author: back in august ’22 I asked the trans community to share their joy with me “because we deserve joy and we deserve to see depictions of our selves being joyful”. First Good Time is the zine born of those submissions; a collection of portraits, drawn by myself, of trans folks with a line about why they feel joy, or in what ways they feel joy. First Good Time is also a Zine-A-Month March 2024 release.

Prisoners’ Inventions by Angelo and Temporary Services, published by Half Letter Press

What began as a penpal exchange between Marc Fisher of Half Letter Press and Angelo, a Californian prisoner, this collection features Angelo’s illustrations of inventions he had seen in prison. This is a great resource for prisoners and their friends on the outside.

Red’s Review of Revolting Prostitutes by Red S.

Part book review, part resource of sex worker organizing movements and groups in the US and beyond, this is an important zine about the release of the book Revolting Prostitutes the Fight for Sex Workers’ Rights by Molly Smith and Juno Mac. We are fans of book reviews that turn into full blown zines, especially radical zines about sex workers rights!

Rain Barrel #4 by Jordan Sea

From the author: An extra vulnerable one. Examining the intersection of anti-aging and anti-fat bias. And am I asexual?

Jordan is a zine counselor for Zine Club Chicago‘s Zine Camp, co-host of The Zine Report, a monthly podcast, and friend of the store.

thanks for reading!!! <3 Angel

@angel.xoxoxoxox