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House of Sugar

house of sugar

I am transfixed by Rebecca Kraatz’s on-line comic, House of Sugar. The strips are quirky, hilarious, and touching, but always fresh and inventive.

The strips are being compiled into a book by Hope Larson’s Tulip Tree Press and will be released in November.

But hang on, kids, you won’t necessarily be able to find the book in your local comic shops. Last month, HOS was famously infamously rejected by Diamond Comics Distributors for not being “up to comic industry standards.” Diamond, which distributes most of the comics you see in your local comic shop, has a monopoly on the male-centric comic book direct market here in North America. I personally think it’s shameful that they’re overlooking this book, (a comic that is consistently entertaining and saleable – which was proven by a two-year run in Halifax’s arts weekly, The Coast). It seems like this was a missed opportunity to make inroads into a female readership which has largely eluded (or, rather, avoided) North American comics since the 60s.

Previously: Hope Larson articles


Update: Hope Larson writes to say, “Update as of just a couple hours ago: Diamond has reconsidered and WILL be distributing House of Sugar. Hurray! ” Awesome!

  • http://www.hopelarson.com/ Hope Larson

    Update as of just a couple hours ago: Diamond has reconsidered and WILL be distributing House of Sugar. Hurray! I don’t have all the details yet, but as soon as I do they’ll be available on my website (hopelarson.com) and Livejournal.

  • http://www.hopelarson.com Hope Larson

    Update as of just a couple hours ago: Diamond has reconsidered and WILL be distributing House of Sugar. Hurray! I don’t have all the details yet, but as soon as I do they’ll be available on my website (hopelarson.com) and Livejournal.

  • http://www.hopelarson.com/ Hope Larson

    And thank you, Matt and Drawn! You rock.

  • http://www.hopelarson.com Hope Larson

    And thank you, Matt and Drawn! You rock.

  • http://www.comingupforair.net/ Matt

    awesome! that’s great news.

  • http://www.comingupforair.net Matt

    awesome! that’s great news.

  • Steve Wolfhard

    Man, I love House of Sugar!

  • Steve Wolfhard

    Man, I love House of Sugar!

  • http://jedalexander.blogspot.com/ Jed Alexander

    That is good news! Looking at this excellent work I’m really surprised there was any question that it would be picked up by Diamond. Diamond does have a monopoly by any definition–there simply is no direct sales distributor that can remotely be said to compete with them. Still, to be fair to Diamond, there’s a ton of really amateurish stuff that they filter out of the market that needs to stay in people’s garages. This, obviously, does not belong among it, and I’m glad they thought better of it.

  • http://jedalexander.blogspot.com Jed Alexander

    That is good news! Looking at this excellent work I’m really surprised there was any question that it would be picked up by Diamond. Diamond does have a monopoly by any definition–there simply is no direct sales distributor that can remotely be said to compete with them. Still, to be fair to Diamond, there’s a ton of really amateurish stuff that they filter out of the market that needs to stay in people’s garages. This, obviously, does not belong among it, and I’m glad they thought better of it.

  • http://skronked.com/ andy ristaino

    reading the new episode of house of suger is one of my favorite morning rituals.

  • http://skronked.com andy ristaino

    reading the new episode of house of suger is one of my favorite morning rituals.

  • http://www.coandco.ca/ray/ Ray Fenwick

    Oh, gosh, I love this comic so much, and loved being able to read it weekly here in Halifax. Congrats on getting it published, guys, I can’t wait to get a copy!

  • http://www.coandco.ca/ray/ Ray Fenwick

    Oh, gosh, I love this comic so much, and loved being able to read it weekly here in Halifax. Congrats on getting it published, guys, I can’t wait to get a copy!

  • http://www.movingarden.com/blog alyssa

    I’m so happy to hear this. Way to go, Hope! I love “House of Sugar,” it’s so brilliant and it makes me happy everyday that I look at it. I think it’s one of the best things out there right now.

  • http://www.movingarden.com/blog alyssa

    I’m so happy to hear this. Way to go, Hope! I love “House of Sugar,” it’s so brilliant and it makes me happy everyday that I look at it. I think it’s one of the best things out there right now.