SPX Spotlight 2024: Some Debut Books Deserving of your Dough

Let's see if I remember how to do this!

Welcome to the first SPX Spotlight on Panel Patter since 2018 (yikes). The SPX Spotlight is where we highlight creators, publishers, or books of note that you can find at the Small Press Expo, being held this weekend, September 14th and 15th, in Bethesda, Maryland.

I may not be at the show this year, but that won't stop me from encouraging you to go and spend some money with quality creators. In this spotlight, I'll be focusing on debut books, namely comics that should be making their first public appearance this weekend.

What would be on my shopping list if I still lived within driving distance of one of the best conventions of the planet? Let's take a look!

Ceek'r

Written and Dawn by Rafter Roberts

Plastic Farm Press

While it's been great to see long-time Panel Pal Rafter Roberts get published by folks like Valiant and Albatross, its his self-published work, whether it's Plastic Farm or Nightmare the Rat, that's my all-time favorites, all of which have a permanent place in my ever-shifting bookshelves. Now Rafer has a new book, Ceek'r, which he describes as "It’s new! It’s fun to stare at!"  That's no surprise, given Roberts' intricate linework and penchant for the bizarre. He does add that "An idea goes in search of a story, traversing a vast lumpy landscape of brain noodles in this wordless exploration of the comic form." So basically it's Rafter drawing broad pictures that will make you linger over ever panel? I'm sold, and hopefully you will be, too. 

Chad in Amsterdam

Written by Chad Bilyeu

Illustrated by Multiple Creators

Published by Scratch Books

Around the time I was starting to need to take a break from the site, Chad sent me over digital copies of the the single issues that make up this collection. So I'm gonna try to right a bit of a wrong timing issue by highlighting it here. This series features Chad's experiences in the titular city, with each issue featuring a series of short stories. It very much reminds me of Jonathan Baylis's So Buttons, where there's a central theme and a variety of creators chosen to match their style to the story. These comics are a lot of fun and it's cool they're collected together in a nicely bound hardcover. Chad in Amsterdam is a perfect pick up for autobio comics fans. 

Dummy Issue 1

by John Kelly

Published by The Dummy Corporation

A mix of interviews and illustrations, Kelly talks to the creators of Pee-Wee's Playhouse, one of my favorite TV shows as a kid (and one that holds up fairly well as an adult, too). Per the promo text, "The debut issue of John Kelly’s new publication Dummy looks at the extraordinary cartoonists who designed the visual landscape of the late Paul Reubens ‘ pioneering television program Pee-Wee’s Playhouse." The real gem here is the promise of "never before-seen artwork" which makes me extremely intrigued. This won't have the wider appeal of some of the debut books at SPX, but man, if you're just the right age, Dummy Issue 1 is a must have. The secret word is "fun!"

Fielder #3

Written, Illustrated, and Published by Kevin Huizenga

Fielder #3 is the newest book from Kevin Huizenga book. You should get it. You will thank me later.

Just the Good Bits

Written, Illustrated and Published by Carey Pietsch

It seems like only yesterday that I was picking up hand-copied comic anthologies co-edited by Carey, who's gone on to do the Adventure Zone books, which I read despite having no knowledge or strong interest in their source material. Like many creators I follow, Carey does autobio comics. In fact, she did about 150 of them. But instead of putting them all together, she's opted to go for the ones she liked the best, giving readers a 52-strip sampling of the larger work called, appropriately enough, Just the Good Bits. Carey promises they're "pretty good" and I have a feeling that's selling herself pretty short. Another autobio book to look out for.

Kids are Still Weird and More Observations from Parenthood

by Jeffrey Brown

Published by NBM

I swear I had no idea Jeffrey Brown had a new autobio book out when I mentioned him in my intro post, but I am delighted that Kids are Still Weird exists. Brown's amazing at whatever he opts to do, and getting an inside look at some of his time as a parent is a real treat. The title is a nod to his Cats are Weird book, which is one of my favorites of his books. Brown opens up his private life for us once again, this time promising a look at what happens when you have a growing brain and a mouth without a filter. Can't wait to add this one to my collection.

Knots

By Colleen Frakes

Published by Harper Collins

Another Panel Pal with a debut book! Knots is about a young woman heading into middle school who thinks that she can handle everything, but, well, we all know how that works out in a middle grade comic, right? Dealing with changes to her family and changes she wishes she could make to herself, Norah gets in over her head and needs help - but will she ask for it? Frakes has been doing some great work in the world of all ages for several years now and this looks to be no exception.

There's even more great debut books on the list, but I want to make sure this gets posted. Make sure you check out the complete list here and have an amazing time at SPX!