All posts by Jarrett Samson

Hi! I'm Jarrett Evan Samson, currently the events and social media manager at The Beguiling, along with lots of other things that we all just naturally do. Uh, that's all? Hello.
Events, General

April 26th: Aaron Costain ENTROPY book launch & art show with special guest Zach Worton!

On Thursday, April 26th The Beguiling is pleased to welcome local artist AARON COSTAIN to launch his debut graphic novel from Secret Acres, ENTROPY!
“Aaron Costain’s Entropy follows a golem with a surprisingly modern sensibility, and an even more modern sense of style, as he backtracks through millennia to understand his own creation. Entropy takes place at the intersection of the world’s cultures. Mythologies and religions cross-pollinate, bleed into one another, and form a new soul from synthesis – or they will if our epic hero can outrun man-eating giants, a duplicitous raven, a mute doppelgänger, an angel and one very manipulative, slave-driving cat. Entropy delivers an all-time adventure.”
 
To coincide with the launch we will also be presenting a selection of pages from ENTROPY in our gallery space, available for purchase!
 
AND AS IF THAT ISN’T ENOUGH, ZACH WORTON will also be on-hand for the event as a very special guest! We will also be displaying a selection of work from Zach Worton in our gallery space! WOW!
 
This event starts at 7PM! Free to attend and open to all!
Original Art Store

NEW IN THE ART STORE: TOMMI PARRISH & SHINTARO KAGO!

We’ve added a bunch of new original art to our art store from two amazing & very disparate artists!

First, we have a selection of pages from three of Tommi Parrish’s newest releases, allowing the incredible range of their work to be on full display! This includes many pages from  from their debut book for Fantagraphics, The Lie and How We Told It!

Next, we have  a selection of affordably-priced works by renowned ero guro artist Shintaro Kago! Kago’s gorgeously realized horror artwork is not for the faint of heart but his surprisingly lighthearted (and off-kilter) sense of humour shines throughout this selection of pieces.

Head over to our art store to check out both of these artists and take some of their work home!

Original Art Store

NEW IN THE ART STORE: TOMMI PARRISH & SHINTARO KAGO

We’ve added a bunch of new original art to our art store from two amazing & very disparate artists!

First, we have a selection of pages from three of Tommi Parrish’s newest releases, allowing the incredible range of their work to be on full display! This includes many pages from  from their debut book for Fantagraphics, The Lie and How We Told It!

Next, we have  a selection of affordably-priced works by renowned ero guro artist Shintaro Kago! Kago’s gorgeously realized horror artwork is not for the faint of heart but his surprisingly lighthearted (and off-kilter) sense of humour shines throughout this selection of pieces.

Head over to our art store to check out both of these artists and take some of their work home!

Contest

TICKET GIVEAWAY for THE DEATH OF STALIN!

The Death of Stalin comes out this Friday, March 16, and to celebrate Elevation Pictures & Taro PR have kindly supplied us with three sets of double passes for the theatrical run of the movie– and what’s even better, we’re giving ’em away to YOU!

Based on the graphic novel by Fabien Nury and Thierry Robin, the internal political landscape of 1950’s Soviet Russia takes on darkly comic form in a new film by Emmy award-winning and Oscar-nominated writer/director Armando Iannucci. In the days following Stalin’s collapse, his core team of ministers tussle for control;  some want positive change in the Soviet Union, others have more sinister motives. Their one common trait? They’re all just desperately trying to remain alive.

To enter, just send an email to us at beguilingcontests@gmail.com with the subject line STALIN IS DEAD and we’ll pick three winners this Friday!

Thanks again to Elevation Pictures and Taro PR for the tickets!

Events

MARCH 7TH: IMAGE COMICS Double Launch for FIREBUG & GIDEON FALLS with JOHNNIE CHRISTMAS & JEFF LEMIRE!

Wednesday March 7th sees the release of two great new titles from Image Comics, so we’re welcoming creators from both of them to the store for a double-signing to end all double-signings!!*

JOHNNIE CHRISTMAS will be here signing copies of the FIREBUG trade paperback, collecting the entirety of the series first serialized in the ISLAND anthology!

JEFF LEMIRE will also be here!!! Jeff will be signing copies of GIDEON FALLS #1, his brand-new ongoing series with artist Andrea Sorrentino!

Both creators will be here from 6-8PM Wednesday, March 7th so head on down here, pick up your copies and get them signed or regret it eternally! **

 

About FIREBUG:

“A volcano goddess named Keegan is loose in the world, and the prophecies are unclear whether her coming will bring humanity’s destruction or its salvation.

In the shadow of a sacred volcano, from which Keegan derives her powers, lies the ancient city of Azar. To unravel the mysteries of her past, Keegan and her friends must get to Azar before it is overrun by a horde of forest monsters. Meanwhile, the nefarious Cult of the Goddess has plans to summon forces as old as time to extinguish Keegan’s flame permanently. ”

About GIDEON FALLS:

“A brand-new ongoing series from the acclaimed bestselling creative team of Old Man Logan and Green Arrow! The lives of a reclusive young man obsessed with a conspiracy in the city’s trash, and a washed-up Catholic priest arriving in a small town full of dark secrets, become intertwined around the mysterious legend of The Black Barn, an otherworldly building that is alleged to have appeared in both the city and the small town, throughout history, bringing death and madness in its wake. Rural mystery and urban horror collide in this character-driven meditation on obsession, mental illness, and faith.”

 

*this will not end  future double-signings.

** you’ll get over it. Eventually.

General

The Grand Re-Opening of LITTLE ISLAND COMICS!!

Art by Steve Manale

The Beguiling Books & Art is proud to announce the return of

LITTLE ISLAND COMICS

The world’s first and only comic shop exclusively for kids!

Little Island Comics is BACK!!! Offering the widest possible array of graphic novels, manga, and comics for people 12 years old and younger, Little Island celebrates its Grand Re-Opening during March Break 2018 with a slate of creator appearances, refreshments and activities– with a sale to jumpstart your library of great comics for kids!

 

When it opened in 2011, Little Island served thousands of young readers, grateful parents, enthusiastic educators, and cool aunts and uncles for five years until the original Mirvish Village location closed due to redevelopment. During that time Little Island was more than a retail destination — it was a local hub: a venue for comics-making classes and teacher/librarian sessions, and hosted many book launches and events with kid-lit luminaries like Tomi Ungerer (The Three Robbers), Kate Beaton (The Princess and the Pony), Kazu Kibuishi (Amulet) and Jon Klassen (We Found a Hat).

“Little Island has proven to be a key part of The Beguiling’s business overall,” says proprietor Peter Birkemoe. “I’m thrilled to once again devote space where kids and parents can learn, read and start loving comics. And we really missed giving our youngest customers the specific attention they deserve.”

“Little Island Comics responded to the public’s continuing need for specialized books shops as points of discovery, interaction, and creative community,” Little Island Comics manager Andrew Woodrow-Butcher adds. “It’s a bricks-and-mortar success story!”

A year after closing its previous Mirvish Village location, Little Island Comics re-opens in March next door to its parent shop The Beguiling’s newly expanded location at the top of Toronto’s vibrant Kensington Market neighbourhood. As The Beguiling enters its fourth decade as North America’s premier comic book retailer, the move to College Street has allowed it to add a gallery and events space, which Little Island will share.

Little Island Comics will be staffed by the same team that worked at the previous location, who also work for The Beguiling’s Library Services business, which has been helping school and  public libraries curate their comics collections for more than 15 years. Comics as a medium has become a mainstay of educational library collections in the last decade, and parents and educators will appreciate the expert help in selecting titles that address curriculum objectives, learning challenges, and a wide variety of reading levels. Kids will appreciate the engaging visual storytelling in some of today’s most popular books for young people!

Little Island will offer a 20% discount on all in-print kids comics, picture books, and graphic novels throughout March Break (March 10-18, 2018) to encourage families to dig into graphic novels! The week will culminate in a Grand Re-Opening Party on Saturday, March 17th, with refreshments, drop-in activities, story time, and appearances by such creators as:

  • Scott Chantler (The Three Thieves series)
  • Naseem Hrab (Ira Crumb Makes a Pretty Good Friend)
  • Brian McLachlan (Draw Out the Story)
  • Ryan North (Adventure Time, The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl)
  • Kean Soo (March: Grand Prix, Jellaby)
  • Britt Wilson (Cat Dad, King of the Goblins)
  • Tory Woollcott (Mirror Mind, Science Comics: The Brain)

…and more! For details on the line-up for the Grand Re-Opening, please follow Little Island Comics on Facebook and Twitter (@littleislandcmx) and visit our website: http://littleislandcomics.com

We’re VERY HAPPY ABOUT THIS and we hope you are too!!

General, Important

The Grand Re-Opening of LITTLE ISLAND COMICS!!

Art by Steve Manale

The Beguiling Books & Art is proud to announce the return of

LITTLE ISLAND COMICS

The world’s first and only comic shop exclusively for kids!

Little Island Comics is BACK!!! Offering the widest possible array of graphic novels, manga, and comics for people 12 years old and younger, Little Island celebrates its Grand Re-Opening during March Break 2018 with a slate of creator appearances, refreshments and activities– with a sale to jumpstart your library of great comics for kids!

 

When it opened in 2011, Little Island served thousands of young readers, grateful parents, enthusiastic educators, and cool aunts and uncles for five years until the original Mirvish Village location closed due to redevelopment. During that time Little Island was more than a retail destination — it was a local hub: a venue for comics-making classes and teacher/librarian sessions, and hosted many book launches and events with kid-lit luminaries like Tomi Ungerer (The Three Robbers), Kate Beaton (The Princess and the Pony), Kazu Kibuishi (Amulet) and Jon Klassen (We Found a Hat).

“Little Island has proven to be a key part of The Beguiling’s business overall,” says proprietor Peter Birkemoe. “I’m thrilled to once again devote space where kids and parents can learn, read and start loving comics. And we really missed giving our youngest customers the specific attention they deserve.”

“Little Island Comics responded to the public’s continuing need for specialized books shops as points of discovery, interaction, and creative community,” Little Island Comics manager Andrew Woodrow-Butcher adds. “It’s a bricks-and-mortar success story!”

A year after closing its previous Mirvish Village location, Little Island Comics re-opens in March next door to its parent shop The Beguiling’s newly expanded location at the top of Toronto’s vibrant Kensington Market neighbourhood. As The Beguiling enters its fourth decade as North America’s premier comic book retailer, the move to College Street has allowed it to add a gallery and events space, which Little Island will share.

Little Island Comics will be staffed by the same team that worked at the previous location, who also work for The Beguiling’s Library Services business, which has been helping school and  public libraries curate their comics collections for more than 15 years. Comics as a medium has become a mainstay of educational library collections in the last decade, and parents and educators will appreciate the expert help in selecting titles that address curriculum objectives, learning challenges, and a wide variety of reading levels. Kids will appreciate the engaging visual storytelling in some of today’s most popular books for young people!

Little Island will offer a 20% discount on all in-print kids comics, picture books, and graphic novels throughout March Break (March 10-18, 2018) to encourage families to dig into graphic novels! The week will culminate in a Grand Re-Opening Party on Saturday, March 17th, with refreshments, drop-in activities, story time, and appearances by such creators as:

  • Scott Chantler (The Three Thieves series)
  • Naseem Hrab (Ira Crumb Makes a Pretty Good Friend)
  • Brian McLachlan (Draw Out the Story)
  • Ryan North (Adventure Time, The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl)
  • Kean Soo (March: Grand Prix, Jellaby)
  • Britt Wilson (Cat Dad, King of the Goblins)
  • Tory Woollcott (Mirror Mind, Science Comics: The Brain)

…and more! For details on the line-up for the Grand Re-Opening, please follow Little Island Comics on Facebook and Twitter (@littleislandcmx) and visit our website: http://littleislandcomics.com

We’re VERY HAPPY ABOUT THIS and we hope you are too!!

Events

March 9: Eleanor Davis “Why Art?” Book Launch

We’re really starting off this year strong with our in-store events and now we have another amazing launch set for March!

Friday, March 9th we welcome artist Eleanor Davis to our new in-house event space in support of her new book Why Art? from Fantagraphics Books!

Eleanor Davis will be doing a performance of Why Art? starting at 7:30, followed by a Q&A with Beguiling owner Peter Birkemoe and a chance to get your copies signed!