Well, this year certainly has been a giving one, hasn’t it! Pandemic, murder hornets, sacks of deranged politicians, people taking up arms because of bad hair days…Every month just giving and giving!
Clearly, giving is not always a gift.
But here at Narazu, we’ve got you. You are always in our minds. You, your loved ones, their loved ones: What do you need? What art, goods, sites, or organizations do you need to pass much-needed sparks of life to others?
That’s where our annual Gift Giving Guide comes in. We look for the things that will slow you down during the bustle of holidays and life in general. Things that allow you to catch your breath, or maybe gasp in wonder. Gifts you won’t find advertised every 5 minutes during your favorite TV show. We know that when you give something, you want it to matter.
You want it to shine. Because if we’re not sharing the good stuff, what are we here for?
Best Always!
Team Narazu
All Indie. All Awesome.
FOR THE FILM BUFF
by Leo Faierman
As holidays fast approach and normalcy remains an item optimistically wishlisted while absolutely unpromised, we think to friends, family, and our joint escapes into the burgeoning dimensions of screens to connect us. Feeding this growing 2020 need is much less a lark than an essential, as vital as toilet paper but rarely requiring a facemask and a fistfight to obtain. Hence why we set our eyes this month on some curious video gifts to align with year’s end, with three disparate and diverse, daunting yet delicious media collections; one of which comes fresh from the ’80s while relatively new to me, another a reliable old anime friend, and the third a completely unhinged–while compelling and rare–historic treat of intergalactic experimentation. Come with us and keep an open mind and line of credit.
At 11:30AM EST on Saturdays and Sundays every week you’ll find the #BlackComicsChat crew – myself included, shameless plug armed and ready – streaming silly cartoons from the 80s and 90s, with riffs and commentary throughout. Cartoons & Cereal kicked off on our Twitch channel early this year as an incidental self-care project, but has evolved into a rigid weekly appointment, complete with a regularly attendant and supportive community who often gets to vote for our programming of the day. Early on, an audience member recommended we try out Jem, Christy Marx’s 1987 glam-rock girl-power series about the rocky rock’n’roll path of the titular singer and her band, The Holograms, along with sullen manager and romantic interest Rio Pacheco and the ever-relentless enemy band The Misfits. It’s a beautiful blend of sci-fi, action, and high fashion, judiciously mixed with heavy-duty melodrama, romance, and relationship nonsense. As a child, I admit that I never really stopped to give the show a shot, dismissing it in my formative idiotic sense of mimicked machismo – “It’s a show for girls” was the sentiment – but I really missed out on something special. Jem also features some kicking tunes, usually two or three short songs an episode that fill out a fantastic collection of could-have-been singles. Beyond that, it also manages to be wildly diverse and inclusive, featuring more characters of color than most any other cartoon series from the late 80s that comes to mind, even within the Holograms roster itself. I’ve been told to ignore the recent live-action film by most fans, but our stream is already caught up to episode 15, with Sundays always a lock for another episode, as well as a communal admiration and devotion to Christy Marx’s work in general (her name graces the credits of a slew of other cartoons). The only issue with a good Jem collection is the specificity of the box set you’re looking for, with contemporary reissues of the series apparently skimping on the extras. Instead, look for this specific set, which includes the copious bonus features fans deserve (but expect to cough up $100+). Even if you do opt for the cheaper Rhino sets, that’s fine too, so long as you don’t sleep on Jem – it’s outrageous!
Anyone who knows me knows the name of my favorite anime filmmaker, the great and sorely-missed talent and visionary Satoshi Kon. Lesser known than his feature-length masterpieces like Perfect Blue, Paprika, and Tokyo Godfathers is his single-season original series Paranoia Agent, a menacingly dark and provocative psychological thriller about a terrifying young boy (deity? Homunculus? Vengeful spirit?) nicknamed Lil’ Slugger, and the effects of his sudden violence on a collection of characters in Tokyo. The series draws cues from David Lynch, David Fincher, and Kon’s own maniacally creative framing and animated storytelling techniques, delivering a surreal, disturbing, but grounded city of brilliantly-drawn personalities converging at the meeting point between pop culture and urban legend. Paranoia Agent demands repeat viewings, a behavior served wonderfully in its currently-out-of-print-expensive DVD box set, but Kon’s far-reaching imagination and devoted fanbase is the reason for an upcoming affordable Blu-ray set to release on December 15, perfectly timed for Christmas. Ask an anime fan in your life if they’ve ever seen it, and seek to correct those blindspots where found.
Let’s now leave the animation realm and turn to another deceased creative whose works reverberate along time, with Sun Ra’s madcap addictive Space is the Place. I admit that I’m hardly the Sun Ra completionist, with the prolific virtuoso turning in a stunning 100+ full-length records and projects during his time on this blue marble. As for the film, it’s a one-off project directed by John Coney (who would never direct another feature) and a glorious collection of low-rent sci-fi effects, bawdy humor, powerful jazz anthems, and free-wheeling Blackness and verve. Sun Ra plays himself, of course, an intergalactic bandleader traveling the stars with his Arkestra and landing on earth, soon locked into a contest for the souls of Black humanity with the Overseer, a smooth-talking celestial with pimp flair. It’s hard to categorize Space is the Place precisely, as its amoebic form molds around polemic, parody, and psychedelic playfulness throughout the experience, despite the fact that its heart is never not centered on Black empowerment. It has a plethora of critiques and things to say about the status quo, and its limited budget does little to deter the quality in which those statements are made, leading to a coherent and satisfying film experience, despite the comments of those who treat the project as essentially nonsense. Ignore them. Last year, the best-ever DVD release of the film manifested as a German reissue, presumably available in limited quantity. Luckily, Amazon continues to sell copies, inclusive of bonus features and what will probably amount to the highest-quality DVD transfer of the film itself we’ll ever get, though it does contain a few rough visual patches. Hit HBO series Lovecraft Country recently referenced Space is the Place in an episode, so it’s encouraging to see Sun Ra’s presence vibrantly persists in this struggling era. “The earth cannot move without music.”
FOR YOUR COMICS AFICIONADO
If you’re reading this, odds are you’re a geek, have a loved one who is, or want to share your love of geekdom… and your Google search brought you here (as the Holidays are right around the corner). And in the year that is 2020, what we do here at Narazu is even more important as, like you, independent creators have been struggling to stay afloat or make ends meet, so before you give the big-box companies your money, please take these recommendations to heart, as they can be more warming and intimate than any (ill-advised) rush to a department store.
Youneek African Heroes – An All Ages Coloring & Activity Book
(+ Crayons while supplies last)
This book is the mashed cauliflower of activity books, as it is more than a simple coloring book. By using the characters of the Youneek Universe as guides to their real-world inspirations, creator Roye Okupe showcases the actual science behind the fiction which is great for S.T.E.M. learning with the young ones. Bottom line: this is a great stocking stuffer for younger readers that parents can help with as needed, and just a good looking book.
Fit to a Tee!
Don’t want to just get them more comics? Don’t worry! Geeks love to show off their nerdiness, and there are plenty of creatives out there putting their work on t-shirts. There are loads of sites to search from! You can find shirts like Black or Tuskegee Heirs that have a few of their covers or artwork on t-shirts. Want something more offbeat, the podcast For All Nerds has some great original t-shirts that give praise to various things geeky, with t-shirts that range from “Thanos was Right” to their Lovecraft Country’s “Nawi Is A Great Warrior,” you’ll find something fun and meaningful to rock at any con.
Never let it be said that geeks aren’t practical, and there are practical geek gifts to be had this holiday season! I have commissioned several scarves for people in my life from comics writer/creator Regine Sawyer’s side gig Stitches and Yarn Shop. Each piece is customized to order, meaning recipients will appreciate them for keeping them warm, while others can look on as they rock Star Trek colors. As this is completely handmade by her, it takes time, so maybe file this away for next year. More practically, 2020-21 will still have issues, so you can get nerdy facemasks from most creator sites to help with keeping you and your loved ones safe, stylish, and in the nerd zone.
FOR THE BOOK LOVER IN YOUR LIFE
The thing about book lovers is they have great peripheral vision. They love the add-ons, the ooh-look-at-thats, the accessories that permit reading in bed, the bathtub, undisturbed in a crowd, or stuck in traffic. Good books require good reading spaces. To that end, I’m not solely going to suggest excellent books for you to gift to your loved ones (and yourself, let’s be honest); we’re gonna take a look at various life-giving whatsits and doodads that put the lover in book lover.
Need I say more? Well, just this: it’s always a good idea to visit the Narazu store!
Trays for e-readers? Check. Oh, but did you mean bed tray, bath tray, sofa tray, standing tray, tray with cupholders, tray of wood, metal tray, combination tray and writing desk? One word: Etsy. This link alone takes you to an array of reading accessories, but there’s so many variations on that particular search theme you owe it to yourself to spend the proper amount of unrushed time wandering the possibilities.
We know a lot of you are writers/creators. Ok. While you’re getting gifts for others…TREAT YO SELF. Personally, I’m a huge proponent of writing while in the tub. A hot soak is nature’s mental menthol. Two more words: Bath flippin’ trays. That’s three words but you won’t fault me after checking out this link HERE. You are flippin’ welcome.
Point is, Etsy should stay in your mind year-round as a source of unique, intriguing, gifts of a more personal nature than Bed, Bath & Beyond usually attains. Etsy’s vendors know gift-giving schedules, so remember to order earlier than whatever event/occasion you’re giving for.
BOOKS, BOOKS, AND MORE BOOKS
Just click and gift-buy. Trust.
The Adventures of Captain Zeal by F T Catton, Wordeater Publishing – For the kids and the kid in you. A sly, humorous, tale of hedgehog captains and krakens. I had the pleasure of an advance read and was immediately delighted…and I don’t even have kids!
Every River Runs To Salt by Rachael K. Jones, Fireside Fiction – A story about gods, friends, and a woman who steals an entire ocean–and that’s just in the first couple lines! If you love stories that give you a wink over their shoulder, making sure you’re holding on tight, before taking off, this novella is the one. Inventive, expansive, and all-out fun.
The Honey Month by Amal El-Mohtar, Mythic Delirium – There’s so much beauty in this slender treasure I feel like the most delicious thief every time I read a page, which is not often because I want the experience to last. Written as descriptions of various honeys accompanied by fantasy poems or prose, this early work of El-Mohtar shouldn’t be missed. If you became a fan after This Is How You Lose The Time War, this one cements her as the word genius you need over and over again.
Immortal Clay by Michael Warren Lucas, Tilted Windmill Press – What’s a holiday without a little creepy in our stockings? It worked for Dickens, it’ll work for you. If you’re a fan of the Evil Dead franchise but wonder how those scenarios would play out over a sci fi apocalyptic hellscape, snap this up before the first ghost comes to visit you, Ebenezer. Matter of fact, do the same with the next book suggestion. The last suggestion, Hellborn, is more fun than macabre, but so worth a jaunt down fun, weird lane!
Necropolis: Case Files of the Undead by James Silverstein, Bureau of Necromantic Affairs Publishing
Hell Born: The Guild of Shadows, book 1 by Marie Bilodeau, S&G Publishing
…and what kind of indie writer would I be if I released a book just now and didn’t trumpet that Dizzy Gillespie with a full breath of air? The sequel to The Brothers Jetstream: Leviathan is out, is fabulous, and is available at the big places and through indie bookstores everywhere. Afro Puffs Are The Antennae Of The Universe, being the adventure of Captain Desiree Quicho and her crew of amazing women to destroy capitalism, battle for the fate of Atlantis, and get home in time to finally catch a break, from Obsidian Sky Books.
DONATIONS & OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST
This year has pointedly shown us that we make a difference when we shout down all the evils that creep from the cracks and fissures. Keep lifting your voice toward betterment, not battering. Consider making a donation in someone’s name as a truly lasting gift.
Here are 4 organizations and initiatives that contribute to the creative good.
THE PIXEL PROJECT – dedicated to educating all genre communities about all forms of online violence committed against women, and the eradication of same.
FARM THE WORLD – dedicated to the nutrition of the self, soul, and world. “That which nourishes you is a farm in the making.”
THE GIFTS OF TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY (OR YOURSELF):
- Google Arts & Culture: Updates daily with virtual learning experiences
- Exploration of the Day: Charming and creative daily “assignments” for your inner artist
- Explore London Galleries from home: A guide to online access of London’s top art galleries
FOOD BANKS & SHELTERS in your area.