Pow Pow Press

12/11/2025

🎁 Gifts for the literature lovers, horror film buffs, and sci-fi fans today! Including the English-language debut of , a colab between and , and an experimental cosmic comedy from !

Don't forget to check our stories for even more suggestions for everyone on your list!

🪴 For the reader who loves to get into a character’s mind:
THE MONGOOSE by Joana Mosi
Do you have a friend who loves a doing a deep dive in the life of a fictional character? Think of folks who dig authors like Elena Ferrante, and Ottessa Moshfegh... Writers who slowly peel away the layers of their protagonist’s personality and emotional defenses to get at the core of their being. Joana Mosi’s THE MONGOOSE is a literary, quietly powerful exploration of grief and interiority: After an unspoken tragedy, Julia unravels, haunted by a creature only she can see. It’s a slow, meticulous dive into a damaged psyche — ideal for readers who adore character studies that keep them thinking long after the last page.

🩸 For your cousin who loves old-school horror movies:
VAMPIRE COUSINS by Alexandre Fontaine Rousseau and Cathon
Headed to a big family gathering this holiday season? Looking for the perfect gift for your beloved cousin who’s a bit goth... Or maybe it’s you who has the dark side? Equal parts cozy homage and bloody cute comedy, VAMPIRE COUSINS riffs on classic horror tropes with warmth and wit. It’s a loving, extremely funny tribute to vintage scares — perfect for your cousin (or anyone) who loves to binge old horror movie marathons, the campier the better. For bonus points pair this with a screening of The Brides of Dracula (1960) or The Lost Boys (1987)!

🛸 For the sci-fi fan who loves to laugh:
ART WARS by Francis Desharnais
A sharp, imaginative satire about culture and creativity, ART WARS is built on a bold formal experiment (less than 10 individual panels are used to tell a wild story of an epic war in space and a creative crisis on Earth) and an off-kilter sense of humour. If your giftee likes their sci-fi with a wink and a clever conceptual twist, this is a neat, brainy pick. A great choice for fans of Tom Gauld’s work.

12/10/2025

🎁 From Gen X dads to Gen Z teens, we've got you covered this holiday season! Today we've got a collection of wry comics from and a binge-able YA series from !

💭 For the adorably awkward dad in your life:
PASTIMES by Pascal Girard
Do you have a dad in your life who instinctively notices the awkward, the tender, and the quietly hilarious moments that fill our days? Who doesn’t have all the answers, but tries their best to make it thru, one day at a time? Pascal Girard’s Pastimes is tailor-made for them. With his signature mix of dry wit and gentle self-deprecation, Girard captures snapshots of modern life that feel instantly relatable — whether you’re cringing, smiling, or both at once. It’s the perfect gift for readers who appreciate a good chuckle and the kind of comic that feels like listening to a friend tell a very good story.

❤️‍🩹 For the teen (or former teen) who is here for the drama:
ALMOST SUMMER by Sophie Bédard
If you know someone who is immersed in the chaos of high school — the friendships, the crushes, the heartbreaks, the questionable decisions — Sophie Bédard’s Almost Summer will hit the spot. This YA-friendly series captures the rollercoaster emotions of adolescence with warmth, humour, and an honesty that never talks down to its readers. Whether you’re gifting it to an actual teenager or someone who still vividly remembers being one, this book offers a pitch- perfect blend of comedy, sincerity, and that unmistakable “everything feels huge at this age” energy.

12/10/2025

What better way to celebrate 15 years of the best graphic novels from Quebec and beyond than with a 15-book Pow Pow Press bundle! With all proceeds going to support the TCAF - The Toronto Comic Arts Festival , this is what we call a win-win!

You've only got until 12 December 2025 at 9:00 PM to get your bid in... The current bid is $̶5̶0̶ $75... And this set of books would set you back over $350! Wow!

Fruit Salad by Cathon
Pastimes by Pascal Girard
The Adventures of Sgoobidoo by Cathon
The Jellyfish by Boum
Almost Summer 1 by Sophie Bédard
Nunavik by Michel Hellman
Little Russia by Francis Desharnais
Vile and Miserable by Samuel Cantin
Earthbound by Blonk
Going Under by Zviane
Naked: The Confessions of a Normal Woman by Éloïse Marseille
Gary: King of the Pickup Artists by Alexandre Simard and Luc Bossé
Tsunami by Ned Wenlock
Lonely Boys by Sophie Bédard
The Pineapples of Wrath by Cathon

12/09/2025

🎁 Looking for the perfect book for a loved one? Try out these two bold graphic novels from Ned Wenlock and Thom:

🐈‍⬛ For the one who’s finally ready to process their adolescence:
TSUNAMI by Ned Wenlock
Looking back at youth can be funny, painful, and strangely beautiful all at once — and TSUNAMI holds those contradictions with sharp humour and real heart. Ned Wenlock’s debut rides the messy waves of adolescence: Bullying and violence are faced directly, but there are also tender friendships, quiet small-life moments, and the electricity of firsts. Give this to someone who’s been carrying their teenage years around in their pocket — it’ll hit them in the gut and then quietly change the way they think about the past.

🤫 For the one who thinks a picture is worth a 1000 words:
CASA RODEO by Thom
Thom’s wordless slapstick is deceptively simple: CASA RODEO uses visual gags and precise, Looney-Tunes-style choreography to explore existential themes. It’s a brilliant pick for anyone who loves comics that speak through image and timing rather than text. In this volume, Thom’s crazy animal roommates get booted by their hows, when it decides it has had enough of their shenanigans, grows legs, and runs off! Fans of Jim Woodring and Hiayo Miyazaki will love this wild, magical adventure!

12/09/2025

Is there any better gift than a great book? We think not. If you’re still scrambling to find holiday gifts for the folks on your list (or you’re thinking of getting someone a little token of your affection any time of year), might we suggest a graphic novel from Pow Pow Press?

Click the link to see our picks for History Buffs, Armchair Travellers, Horror Movie Fans, Gossip Girls, and everyone else on your list!

Is there any better gift than a great book? We think not. If you’re still scrambling to find holiday gifts for the folks on your list (or you’re thinking of getting someone a little token of your affection any time of year), might we suggest a graphic novel from Pow Pow Press? We’ve got over t...

12/08/2025

🎁 Gift Guide time! If you're looking for some great ideas for your holiday shopping we've got some great picks for you! All this week we'll be giving you suggestions for your friends, family, and loved ones. Today we have two very different but equally wonderful titles: The latest collection from Cathon • Bande dessinée et illustration and vintage Zviane!

🍓 For your gal pal who loves food, friends, and fun:
FRUIT SALAD by Cathon
We all know someone who lights up whenever they see bold colours, silly jokes, or anything that leans delightfully absurd. If you’re shopping for a pal who prefers their stories playful rather than serious — the kind of person who still giggles at sight gags and unexpected asides — Cathon’s FRUIT SALAD is a pure treat. Bursting with charm, quirky humour, and that unmistakable Cathon energy, this book blends sweetness with just enough weirdness to keep things interesting. A perfect pick-me-up for anyone who could use a bright, happy little comic in their life.

💧 For the friend who’s ready to plunge into all the feels:
GOING UNDER by Zviane
GOING UNDER is a blunt, powerful account of depression and the aftermath of a breakdown — visceral, honest, and emotionally potent. It’s the kind of book you give when you want to say “I see you” — for someone who prefers literature that confronts feelings head-on. Just don’t forget to give them a hug along with this devastating look at depression.

12/05/2025

Words Without Borders is a wonderful source for the latest in literature in translation, including comics! Tobias Carroll catches up with FRUIT SALAD from Cathon:

"As a reader who embraces absurdist and slice-of-life humor, I found plenty to savor here, with Cathon’s sense of timing making for a host of memorable payoffs and punch lines. There’s one recurring bit involving banana bread that I especially enjoyed, and an image of Cathon covered in sunscreen and resembling the Batman villain Clayface is also surreal and memorable. Dreams and dream logic crop up here as well, and the arrival of a poodle late in the book further accentuates the deadpan tone."

Looking for something new to read? Look no further: Tobias Carroll has picked four fresh book releases for you to check out. In the November Watchlist, Carroll recommends a novel set in Turkish-occupied Kurdistan, a graphic novel about a cartoonist in Montreal, a Guyanese poetry chapbook that covers everything from Frank Bowling to a Yoruba deity, and Italian nonfiction that covers the story of Harry Brass and Nick LaRocca, members of the the Original Dixieland Jazz Band.

Support Words Without Borders through your purchase of these books:

THE COMPETITION OF UNFINISHED STORIES by Sener Ozmen, translated from the Kurdish by Nicholas Glastonbury: https://buff.ly/XMNQZyN
Sandorf

FRUIT SALAD by Cathon, translated from the French by Robin Lang and Helge Dascher: https://buff.ly/FkDchgh
Pow Pow Press

JOMBII JAMBORII by Joan Cambridge-Mayfield and Jeremy Jacob Peretz, translated from the Guyanese Creole by the authors: https://buff.ly/zduYyHe
Ugly Duckling Presse

LIVERY STABLE BLUES: NICK LAROCCA, THE ORIGINAL DIXIELAND JAZZ BAND, AND THE FIRST JAZZ RECORDING by Salvatore Mugno, translated from the Italian by Carlo Massimo: https://buff.ly/F7aWflQ
Bordighera Press

12/04/2025

🆚 Thank you to everyone who joined us for the first (annual?!) Cathon vs Sophie Week! These arch rival cartoonists are straight up always beefing, so expect more snide remarks, emotional sabotage, and straight up violence in your feed... Including a special return engagement this month to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Pow Pow Press!

Until next time, take a bow Sophie Bédard and Cathon 👯‍♀️

12/03/2025

The girls are fighting!
Cathon vs Sophie VI
Sophie Bédard Cathon