Makes sense that Justin Long directed “Fur Babies”. Not a dig, just…Tusk.

Updated/corrected: Yes, Kazuo Umezz has more well known titles in English, but I wanna talk about this little curiosity. This collection centers on reptiles, from people giving birth to lizards to snake ladies. The snake lady story was actually adapted twice!

Sorry about that! I meant no offense by it.

Upgrade Soul by Ezra Claytan Daniels makes you sit with the cold, clinical approach to living forever. When we can leave an aging body behind, what else do we leave? This one got under my skin in a good way.

THE ART OF SHIGERU MIZUKI is coming Oct. 15. I cannot tell you what a labor of love this is for me. Entries from Mizuki's famous Mujyara series, showcasing his work as an artist and a folklorist and anthropologist. I selected and translated the entries, and wrote an essay on Shigeru Mizuki: Artist.

More people need to read Hillbilly. You like The Goon? Eric Powell loosely ties this into it. You ever think “what if Vampire Hunter D but in Appalachia?”? Boom. The majority of it is illustrated in Powell’s trademark pencils, giving it a worn, ethereal look. Plus he has a monster bear as a pal.

Kanako Inuki deserves more exposure in the west. A collection of tales that are on the same wavelength of Creepy/Eerie’s best, albeit cuter. She’s also responsible for School Zone and Presents, both wildly out of print.

Aliens Salvation by Dave Gibbons, Mike Mignola, and Kevin Nowlan. Mignola does what he does best here: broodingly quiet moments punctuated by violence. Explores how religion bumps up against a world where brutally efficient killing machines lurk in the corners of space.

Ojo, written/illustrated by Sam Kieth, with help from Alex Pardee and Chris Wisnia. A little girl who’s lost every pet she’s ever had finds something lurking in a storm drain and decides to care for it. This one has a lot of heart.

Mizuki is a man of taste!