This first issue of the Shortpants Observer is utterly beautiful, and showcases some extremely talented comics artists, all of whom live in Chicago: Anya Davidson, Corinne Mucha, Becca Taylor and Jeremy Tinder. Assuming this first issue doesn’t completely bankrupt us, there are many future issues to come that will include some more of the Middle-West’s best and most interesting artists.

72 pages, all previously unpublished material.

“a sweet, square-cut collection of artists from Chicago. The printing quality is a little odd, but the contents are excellent. Longer, weird stories in a variety of styles.” – Arthur, Bull Tongue

Stevenson’s Herman Belquest is a darkly comic tale, told with very few words, about the gradual spiral descent of the titular character. Belquest, much like the biblical Job, loses one thing after another to an apathetic world. His life takes some cruel turns, and Belquest’s reactions are at once familiar and bewildering. This book manages to retain a sense of innocence and kindness even as events endeavor bring the main character to his very lowest point. 36 pages.

“It’s a great comic from somebody entirely new to me, and it keeps the track record of the Short Pants books at an even 100% for sheer entertainment value.  Well worth seeking out.” -Optical Sloth

The Bone Closet , by Robert Stevenson, is a set of three stories, chilling and charming at the same time, that will fill your head with visions of zombies, ghosts, and supernatural rock stars. Told with all the unmistakable sensationalism and logic of a preteen ghost story, this book calls to mind all the deliciously spooky fun of your fourth grade sleepovers. 39 pages.

“a possible heir apparent to the legacy of Edward Gorey… it’s already clear that he’s making his own mark on comics with these first two issues.  There are three stories in here, all various degrees of perfection.” -Optical Sloth

At turns cheerily whimsical and creepily serious, Neil Brideau’s Sock-Monster comic has been a favorite webcomic of Shortpants’ for a while now. Brideau’s quirkily hand-lettered panels are dark, charming and obsessively inked. His imaginative and expansive landscapes are populated with characters that run the gamut from the sweet and naive to the opportunistic and vicious. This first print collection of Sock-Monster comics contains fifty of Brideau’s favorites, punctuated by a handful of new mini illustrations. It comes with a free, limited edition pin, on which Old Skull informs Sock-Monster: “No one has ever wanted to be your friend.”

“Ah, if only all minis with one panel strips were like this… this is how it’s supposed to be done… It’s funny, that lettering is downright hypnotic, and there’s some serious inking going on… Neil clearly spends a solid chunk of time on each panel. This is well worth your time to seek out.” -Optical Sloth

4.25″ x 7″, 55 pages in a hand-serigraphed (and recycled, made from 100% post-consumer waste!) cover.

Originally created by Sarah for the second issue of Futurebomb, The Monkeynauts stands on its own pretty well as a mini. It’s 16 pages of 100% educational nonfiction! Impress your friends with your knowledge of all the primates they shot into space before they started sending human types up there!

“A breathtaking mix of Xeroxed silkscreen images and real pictures. Anyone who loves animals … would be moved by this mini, especially when reading the chilling last page. After reading this on Saturday, I’ve thought about it a lot since. It has stayed with me, a good test for any art form.” -Kate Nyland, Size Matters

Sarah originally wrote this one for the first issue of Futurebomb. ‘Why We Call Them Robots’ tells the story of writer Karel Capek and his revolutionary play R.U.R., without which we might never have called robots “robots.” 14 pages.

“a fascinating story and mostly new to me… if you check out this book you have an instant conversation starter for any occasion.” – Optical Sloth

The third issue of Sarah’s Shuteye series of stories about dreams and the nature of dreaming. Night and Day is the story of a young couple on an extended hiking trip through the northern Midwest who happen upon a strange, abandoned house in the middle of the forest, and find themselves entirely off the path. Simply drawn, elegantly told, it’s the longest Shuteye issue to date, 49 pages in a hand-silkscreened cover.

“…another perfect example of what mini-comics can do so well. In just over 50 pages, Becan creates a tight, engrossing story of love and insecurity. … stands alone as one of the finest story-based minis I’ve read in some time.” – Shawn Hoke, Size Matters

The second issue of Sarah’s “Shuteye” series. Another one based on a story by Sarah’s brother David, it’s a meditative and disturbing little tale about a self-loathing traveler who stops in a provincial neighborhood bar and starts spinning lies for the bartender, lies which end up having surprising consequences. 36 pages with hand-silkscreened covers.
“Becan withholds Shuteye‘s secrets so as not to deny you the pleasure of spending long, rewarding hours solving them for yourself.” – PopMatters
“Simple, but very well told, and the art (as well as the silkscreened covers) is quite bonus.” -Bull Tongue, Arthur no.25
“You might need to pick up Shuteye more than once before the subterfuge comes to light.” – Punk Planet, #76

In the first issue of the Shuteye series, a soldier deserts his company of explorers and finds himself adopted by a native tribe of the Banda Oriental. His new friends, however, harbor a mysterious secret. Why does the landscape appear different each morning? How does the village reorder itself every night? And why can’t he seem to find anyone who recognizes him from one day to the next? A tale of doubt, disorientation and dreams. 23 pages with a hand-silkscreened cover.

“Shuteye #1 is a quick read, and a cliffhanger at that. This is a story that makes you want to read more.” -Lost at Sea
“It is rare that someone can tell a story that truly creates in the reader a need to keep thinking once the story has ended.” -PopMatters

Described by readers as “intense” and “compelling”, the fourth installment in the Ouija Interviews series is the longest and most ambitious Ouija to date. It’s sadder and more complex than the first three, but just as creepily beautiful. Or beautifully creepy. 48 pages in a hand-serigraphed cover; it’s a run of 250, and each copy is signed and numbered by Sarah.

“This is a bit bigger than the other issues and it’s nothing short of a thoroughly entertaining read.  If this was all taken verbatim from a ouija session that must have been one creepy session…” -Optical Sloth

“My affection for Sarah Becan’s Ouija Interview series from Shortpants Press therefore implies either a softening on my part, or considerable talent on hers. Having already read, enjoyed and reviewed Becan’s Shuteye, I like to think it’s the latter.” – PopMatters

2005 Ignatz nominee! Taken from an actual session with the ouija board, Naomi was a sweet little 10 year old spook who claimed to be in love with Sarah’s brother. 25 pages, and for a limited time, you can get copies with hand-serigraphed covers.

“This was a great story … I don’t think I’m adequately conveying what a blast this comic was” -Whitey, Optical Sloth

“Totally cute, totally creepy.” -Rachel, Atomic Books

Sarah’s second ouija interview, taken from an actual session with the ouija board: Chip was a complete smartass ghostie who even told us a joke. Do you dare buy this title to see what the joke was? 32 pages. For a limited time, you can get copies with hand-serigraphed covers.
“These are some of those mythical books that you can show to people who don’t read comics and win them over, and we all know how hard those are to come by.” -Optical Sloth

The first of the Ouija Interviews! All four interview minicomics are from ACTUAL sessions with an ACTUAL glow-in-the-dark ouija board. Way creepy! Also really funny. Theo is 20 pages long and utterly charming, and for a limited time we’re offering copies with hand-serigraphed covers.

“This comic is so adorable I just want to carry it around with me wherever I go.” -Brooke Young, Best Zine Ever, Issue 4

The fifth story in Sarah’s ambitious series about disorientation and the nature of dreams. Castling is the story of a college student and her estranged father, and their tenuous reconnection after they swap dreams one night.

The fourth story in Sarah’s ambitious series about disorientation and the nature of dreams, Carrefour is the story of an isolated man who finds himself drifting uncontrollably in and out of a chilling recurring nightmare, haunted by a menacing figure who traverses both his dreams and his waking life. 44 pages in a hand-silkscreened cover.

“This is another solid issue in this series, a bit different this time out because the tone has changed to one of constant terror … I’m looking forward to one day putting these all together and making sense of the whole thing.” -Optical Sloth

“the story is a wholly original and interesting take on comic-book horror. Overall this book is a dark but seemingly innocuous comic that’s poised to win fans, especially from the DIY crowd.” -PlaybackSTL