Toonstack Gift Guide
Buy funny, buy weird
Ah, Capitalism. We could wax on and on (and I’m sure at some point we will.) And gift giving culture - what a double-edged sword. Or perhaps not a sword, but an itty bitty baby porcupine. So cute, so delightful, you think. And then wham, it sticks you with its quills and you have to run out to some random store at the last minute and spend money on something your friend’s kid probably won’t like anyway. Is the world perfect? No, certainly not. But if you’re the type to spend money on things and give them to your friends and family, we think you might as well give them gorgeous, funny, sharp, weird, quirky, thoughtful gifts made by gorgeous, funny, sharp, weird people like us.
Is it buying local? Definitely not (thanks, internet). But is it buying personal? Specific? Buying so your dollars support future weird, beautiful cultural critiques and keen insights into the messy maze that is human nature?
Yes. Absolutely. And while you’re here, you might as well stock up for all those pesky birthdays and anniversaries coming up this year (at least one person you know must be having a birthday this year) and you’ll already be prepared with something they won’t be able to just buy themselves on Amazon.
-Kendra and the Toonstack Crew
Note: Some of these stores close on December 1st. And if this beautiful, big gift guide gets clipped off in your email, there should be a place to click at the end of the email to view the entire message.
Jason Chatfield
Put something funny on your wall. Or your friend’s wall. Look, you’re going to need something to cover up that dent anyway, it may as well be a cartoon. Oh, and hey, Free shipping! Take a peruse.
Jeremy Nguyen:
Select prints from Jeremy Nguyen come signed and numbered, and captions are hand-lettered. As always FREE SHIPPING within the US only. Hang them somewhere all your guests can ooh and aah over it. Available here. Store closes December 1st, 2021.
Zoe Si:
Zoe has fun, vibrant prints for every occasion, and TWO children’s books coming out in January about a magical Asian-American girl! Purchase prints until December 1, and pre-order the books, right here.
Kendra Allenby
Buy a gift so good that you desperately want to keep it for yourself. Better yet, buy two and do.
Amy Kurzweil
How did I get into this mess we call cartooning? Once upon a time, I decided to write a book. Ten million years later, it was published. Flying Couch is the story of some badass women in my family. As my Bubbe says of herself in the book: “I’m a hit!”
Buy a copy for your mom, grandma, or maternal figure today!
Carolita Johnson
habitually sends her holiday greetings late, if at all. Consider a greeting card that mercifully evokes the cozy, humdrum day after the hubbub, making you look clever as well as funny long after everyone else has busted their butts sending theirs on time:
- “December 26th” greeting card 20-pack of 5 x 7 in. (blank inside): $30
- Commission a 8.5” x 11” print with your own caption on one of her New Yorker cartoons: $30.
- Or buy an original piece of art, here!
Tom Chitty
Do you know someone who likes goofy stuff? Of course you do! Well then, please consider prodding this link: Tom’s goofy merch-merch.
Suerynn Lee
If you feel like it's time to let go of something this holiday season, give yourself permission with a Bird in Hand Print:
Natalie Dupille
Cartoons for all occasions! But especially cartoons on mugs (and other varying items) to give as gifts for the holidays.
Ali Solomon
This book is for anyone who feels like they’re aging like that villain at the end of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade who drank from the wrong Holy Grail cup. Perfect for holidays, birthdays, first-date icebreakers, etc.
Felipe Galindo Feggo
Humorous Books for all seasons, all ages and ageless people! They all fit under the Xmas tree or any tree and look very cute on your coffee/tea/drinks table, bookshelf, etc. Guaranteed to raise smiles or your mo…never mind. But seriously, discount if buying more than one. Plus free shipping! And personalized. Available here
Sara Lautman
Prints to help your friends and family work on puzzles conflict-free, cartoon books, and official stickers repping the grassroots positivity movement BNTP (move over, PLUR!) all available here.
Hilary Campbell
Y’all… I’m here to say once again, buy MURDER BOOK for literally every woman in your life this holiday season. Heck, buy it for the men! I mean it’s kind of low-key totally for women, but don’t quote me on that.
Ellis Rosen
If you like cartoons, Why not buy SEND HELP! An anthology of Desert Island Cartoons featuring work from tons of great cartoonists!
Jared Nangle
With any luck, by next year
I'll be dating the girl i drew above
But for now, let me say,
without hope or agenda,
just because it's Christmas—
(and at Christmas you tell the truth)
to me, you are in desperate need of risograph comics that also hold your place in a book, risograph posters that cover up holes in the wall, and a zine i worked really hard on.
Happy Hanukkah
-jared
Jon Adams
For all your New Yorker cartoon and cereal mascot mandala needs. Also some Star Trek stuff. Prints, stickers, shirts, mugs, and more.
Amy Hwang
It’s easy to start shopping for the holidays, but it’s awfully hard to finish. May I suggest rounding out your purchases here?
Sophie Lucido Johnson
Do you like birds? Or have a friend who likes birds? Or hate birds but are trying to face your fears more through art? Buy all your bird-related holiday (fowl-iday? Does that work as a pun?) wares here.
Colin Tom
A mug with a little dose of nihilism to go with your coffee. Don’t you dare add almond milk. Embrace the void of black bean water. Get it from this cute, lesser known, Conde Nast Store.
Joe Dator
I can wrote a book! And it’s called “INKED: Cartoons, Confessions, Rejected ideas and Secret Sketches.” It’s mostly pictures and there are funny bits, so it makes a fine gift. Get it wherever books are sold and also here, where only this one book is sold: https://joedator.com/buy