Short stories aren’t easy to pull off in comics—the writing and art has to impress in only a limited number of pages. A creator walks a fine line to make sure the comic doesn’t end up too light or too bogged down. These individuals and teams know how to get the job done right.

“Freaks,” by Laura Park, in Superior Showcase #3 (AdHouse)

The short story “Freaks” by Laura Park erupts with a string of flavorful curse words and a schoolyard fight when someone calls Calum and his sister Ada freaks. Although the ten pages mostly show panels with watered-down dialogue, the little the characters do say makes a surprisingly profound impact.

Calum’s sister assumes the role of the mother, whose unfortunate absence is never truly explained—but considering the more grim reality of the world we live in, we can probably take a guess. In order to allow Calum to grow up and savor his childhood, Ada protects him from the responsibility she now faces as she steps out of the carefree flip-flops of youth and into the larger, uncomfortable work shoes of responsibility and adulthood. Ada must fill in for their missing parents. She takes care of the housework, cooks her and her brother dinner, and teaches Calum something which all of us need to be reminded of from time to time—a valuable lesson about what truly matters in life: the people who love you and believing in yourself. Best of all, “Freaks” closes with a priceless ending that will make you smile. –WITA

“Chechen War, Chechen Women,” by Joe Sacco, in I Live Here (Pantheon)

“Chechen War, Chechen Women,” along with the other stories collected in I Live Here, isn’t an easy read. The compilation, comprised of four sizable books, is told through journals, photos and illustration, depicting both fact and fictional tales of refugees around the globe. Spanning the war in Chechnya, ethnic cleansing in Burma, globalization in Mexico and the spread of AIDS in Malawi, the stories are woven together by first-hand encounters of actress Mia Kirshner. Kirshner employs collaborations with noted authors and illustrators to help depict what can’t be told through words alone. Joe Sacco, most famously known for his 2001 landmark work Palestine, is one such collaborator.

Known as a “cartoon journalist” by many, Sacco uses his tried and true formula in “Chechen War, Chechen Women”—illustrating himself into the story as he recounts his experiences in a Chechen camp for internationally displaced persons. His trademark art style does nothing to disillusion the reader about those left squatting in abandoned buildings or sub-par tent colonies due to situations vastly out of their control. At first, the story reads like a history paper on the Chechen war, breaking down the conflict between Chechnya and Russia. But after the history lesson, the human stories begin. Sacco tells of his encounters with IDPs who try to return to their homes in Chechnya and are met with shelled cities, unlivable rations and hidden landmines. Others talk about their loss in the war, many now single mothers—one working seventeen-hour days to feed her six children.

So don’t pick up “Chechen War, Chechen Women” if you are looking for a light read. Instead, sit down with it if you want to read a story of struggle and survival, and perhaps if you are looking to gain a bit of perspective on your own life. –VirtualGirl

“Murder He Wrote,” by Ian Boothby, Nina Matsumoto, and Andrew Pepoy, in The Simpsons’ Treehouse of Horror #14 (Bongo)

Bart Simpson is at it again. That boy usually can’t stay out of trouble for more than a few minutes, but this time it’s serious. Bart gets his hands on a very special book that has the power to kill anyone whose name is written in it. Almost sounds too scary for The Simpsons, doesn’t it? Don’t worry, it’s not. Writer Ian Boothby lays this horror tale on us with classic Simpson humor. At one point Marge rips a page out of the book for a grocery list and winds up killing Betty Crocker and Uncle Ben. The hilarious gag involving Principle Skinner and his mother needs to be seen for itself. Similar to the Halloween specials on the TV show, “Murder He Wrote” is one of three stories told in The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror #14. The art, in black and white, has our favorite characters looking very different from the show. Penciller Nina Matsumoto and inker Andrew Peppy succeed in making Krusty the Clown one of the most frightening characters I’ve ever seen on page. Homer and Marge actually resemble real people, and Lisa looks adorable while Sideshow Bob remains fairly close to his normal depiction.

I think “Murder He Wrote” should be considered as an addition to this year’s Halloween episode. It has everything you could want: comical situations, gruesome murders, and Flanders in a dress. –Jill aka TheNerdyBird

“Glenn Ganges in ‘Pulverize,’” by Kevin Huizenga, in Ganges #2 (Fantagraphics)

Kevin Huizenga introduces a relatable and unusual story with his quirky sequel to the first Ganges in the “Ignatz” series from Fantagraphics. A tale about morality, realism, and video games, Ganges spins a web of confusion for those universal questions that lurk at the edge of our minds.

Starring a common-place man by the name of Glenn, the story wavers between Glenn’s fantasy and real-world situations involving his everyday work routine and gaming hours. Though jumping from one reality to the next, the story doesn’t feel forced and actually fits together quite nicely. Seemingly innocent at first, the symbolism in his images become more meaningful and intricate as the story spans out, all helping to clarify the message Huizenga is attempting to make: the effect of video games on one’s self as well as the world around them.

Huizenga deals with the ever present dot com era and comments on the effects gaming has on personal relationships and one’s own morality. Even those old issues like religion surface in between his FPSing time intervals as well as during them. Who would have thought that the story’s emotional climax would actually occur within the game and have a profoundly moving effect on the story as a whole?

“Pulverize” makes a bold attempt to portray how living in a technological age can confuse as well as enlighten you to great lengths. Touching and unique, Huizenga creates a quirky story for the win. –Melissa Kay

Best Short Story - “Actual Size” by Chris Ware, in Kramers Ergot 7 (Buenaventura Press)

Within the collection of short stories titled Kramers Ergot 7, Chris Ware presents a graphical masterpiece called “Actual Size.” This individual tale within the massive 22″x 31″ coffee table graphic anthology is a two-page spread with an unadulterated color palette, simple line inking and a clear flowchart quality.

A single mom returns to the family home to live with her widowed mother. The story easily balances current time to flashbacks of when the unnamed protagonist was a little girl who faces challenges of having a prosthetic leg and being short on friends. She finds comfort in the magical environment of her home surrounded by infiltrating shrubbery and trees; later she’s devastated when the scraping branches scare off her only friend during a sleepover. Her father aggressively removes all the botanical growth, leaving the exposed house looking bare, pathetic and resembling the child-scale playhouse she had in the backyard. But even with the recantations of sad childhood moments, the point of the story is finding happiness with what you have, no matter how small your family or mundane your house. The story exudes a feeling of, “Aww, that’s so sweet,” which sadly might not be enough to topple the competition in this category; however, it is being honored with a nomination.

Chris Ware’s talents are also being recognized for his other creation, The ACME Novelty Library, which has been nominated in the Best Writer/Artist category. –Amber Love

Related Posts:

• Best Writer/Artist
• Best Coloring
• Best Cover Artist
• Best Penciller/Inker
• Best Writer