Samuel Edme

Hate is love, As much as war is peace, And ignorance is strength.

Welcome, I, your dictator. For I am here to stay.

Damned be the conscientious, Damned be the allies, And DAMNED be the questioning!

Embrace my wrath, Or face it.

Take a dose of enmity, And brew enemies.

Blessed are the mean, For they inherit this world.

Welcome, I, Your Dictator, Coming to a place near you, To bring you redefined freedom.

Blacks, beware! Queers, beware! Immigrants, beware!

For I, your dictator, beckon an era of change, Pledge allegiance to the fascist flag.

One nation under Me, Divisible, with injustice and inhumanity, For all but some.

I, Your Dictator

This was the first comic poem I made over 2 years ago. Like many abominations, it's more relevant than ever. I'll share more of my general thoughts on this in the newsletter tomorrow.

Ahh! Pear Shape, a good old fashioned underground comic for our current times by Nick Thorburn, is out 6/16! https://ow.ly/CCei50Yt57W

On Sunday's edition of the Sam's Studios newsletter, I discuss @tonymillionaire.bsky.social's comic Sock Monkey and its themes of nostalgic whimsy:

samsstudios.substack.com/p/week-of-32...

Last Saturday on the Sam's Studios newsletter, I reviewed Gawk #1 by Brooklyn-based cartoonist Naz and Royalty Report by Brandon Graham and published by @livingtheline.bsky.social!

samsstudios.substack.com/p/week-of-32...

Panel 1 -- Round's eyes are bloodshot red, obsessively watching an auction livestream. Livestreamer: I see nerdz4life betting $70 on the mystery CGC-graded issue. Rorschach86's betting $90 while finally CollectorDan bets $101. Let's see who's coming home with a comic today. Panel 2 -- Livestreamer: OH MY! It looks like this time the bid winner is... Panel 3 -- Livestreamer: Round27! Congratulations, pal, you're coming home with a variant sketch cover of Edgelord/Vigilman #1 at a $120 bid. Round: YES, in your fucking face, CollectorDan!! You thought you would be the lucky bastard boarding all the comic book bids to yourself, but not this time byatch! Panel 4 -- Late Rent Notice Email: Dear Round, Where's my goddamn rent, man!! I ain't running no charity house here, so you better not be fucking around. My last tenant did this shit for, what, 6 months saying he'll pay, but never did, so I had to kick his ass out the window I... Panel 5 -- Round: [close-up] Fuck me.

Consumerist Vanity

The Shapes is going on a 2-3 month hiatus after this as I prepare for some major upcoming events and build up to my next story arc. I'll be posting comic poems here and there in the meantime.

#auctions #bids

Alex has The Shapes #4 and #5 stocked at The Word is Change in Bedstuy!

Thank you, @boredpanda.com, for doing a slideshow about The Shapes!

www.boredpanda.com/humor-modern...

In my newest newsletter update, I review Rosie Robin Troise's minicomic The Parable of Snake Dick. You know you're in for a time with a title like that!

samsstudios.substack.com/p/week-of-21...

Panel 1 -- The Tragic Tales of Tammy Tabby title card Panel 2 -- Tammy is riding a bike. Panel 3 -- A motorcycle races past her, ripping off her tail. Panel 4 -- Tammy's bleeding sends her flying in the air. Panel 5 -- She crashes into a beehive. Panel 6 -- Cut to blood-stained Pooh bear plushie sitting beside a jar of blood, saying Blood N' Hunny. Panel 7 -- Pinky: Still a better concept than The Twisted Childhood Universe. Kathy: Rhys Frake-Waterfield, eat your heart out.

Bikes vs. Motorcycles

#poohbear #beehive #bloodandhoney

Panel 1 -- Paper Boy: EXTRA, EXTRA, read all about it!!! Panel 2 -- Newspaper Headline: SAM'S STUDIOS DISCORD SERVER & MESSAGE BOARD LAUNCHED TO MIXED RECEPTION Newspaper Body: Early this Wednesday, The Shapes cartoonist, Samuel S. Edme, officially launched a community discussion forum on instant-messaging app Discord and a message board hosted by ProBoards. This comes amid controversy with the former platform's upcoming age verification bla, bla, yada, ya, yada, bla, bla, laaame... Panel 3 -- Me: That's right, folks, I made the poorly-timed decision to launch a fandom Discord server for The Shapes and any other work I'm up to. Panel 4 -- But why? Panel 5 -- Me: Cause I don't give a flying fuck about vicissitudes! Panel 6 -- I look at my fingerless hand. Panel 7 -- Me: Goddamnit! If I only drew myself with fingers. Panel 8 -- Me: [pointing to ProBoards screenshot] That's why I created an internet message board! Panel 9 -- So whatcha waitin' for? Be part of the fan community! Link in the bio.

That's right! I launched a Discord server and discussion forum for The Shapes and more!!

samsstudios.proboards.com
discord.gg/tYeDqV7b

Let me know what platforms people are flocking to if Discord is still drinking stupid juice by next month.

On Saturday's update of the Sam's Studios newsletter, I reviewed Pacific Northwest-based cartoonists Steve Willis's and Lily O'Donnell's respective newsletters (getting meta here):

samsstudios.substack.com/p/week-of-29...

Panel 1 -- Cordate: I met this cute guy on set today. I think I might be in love with him. Panel 2 -- Daymond: Did you try talking with him and learning about his background, let alone his name or phone number? Cordate: I just know he's a director of some sorts, but besides that, no. Panel 3 -- Daymond: If you are attracted to someone solely based on their external features, you are not "in love" but "in lust" with them, a petty facet of love that's not mutually exclusive to it. Panel 4 -- Cordate: Ok, I might be in lust with him. Daymond: On the alternative, "concupiscent" sounds more palatable.

Lust Me, Lust Me Nots

#valentinesday #comic

This Valentine's Day, I'm tabling at Pop Up Gallery's NY market at Wild East Brewing from 1-5 PM. It might be the only market I'm doing this month!

#vday #gowanus

A rejected New Yorker cartoon is now running @oddballmagazine.bsky.social's website:

oddballmagazine.com/comics-spotl...

Geist is seeking NON-FICTION and COMICS submissions, as well as ART & PHOTOGRAPHY.

We love innovative, thoughtfully researched and emotionally resonant narrative non-fiction in all its forms.

Deadline: March 12, 2026 at 11:59 pm PT 🐠

Submission guidelines: geist.com/submit

In Saturday's newsletter update, I reviewed @jtwilkins.bsky.social's solo comix anthology Wild, which is just as self-explanatory as you think it is:

samsstudios.substack.com/p/week-of-22...

Hell yes to that bonkers cover!!

Panel 1 -- Bob and another guy are waiting for the bus. Guy: I really dislike these Stand Your Ground laws because people can use "self-defense" to justify shooting someone over a petty-- Panel 2 -- Bob shoots the guy with a laser gun. Panel 3 -- Bob: My intuitive defense mechanisms forced me to shoot you due to the ideologically threatening nature of your freedom-stifling speech.

Right to Kill

#2ndamendment #standyourground

On the last Sunday edition of the Sam's Studios newsletter, I reviewed #1 of Kitchen Sink Press's premier anthology, Snarf!

samsstudios.substack.com/p/week-of-12...

Last Saturday on the Sam's Studios newsletter, I reviewed the wordless steampunk/cyberpunk hybrid comic Mabel & Francine by Pierre Lloca and published by @strangers.bsky.social!

samsstudios.substack.com/p/week-of-12...

Panel 1 -- Lil Ove: [weeping] Mom, Big Ove murdered my best friend. Panel 2 -- Mom: SWEET MOTHER OF JESUS CHRIST!!! I knew he was a rascal, but I never thought he would be driven to murder. I should have listened when Pastor Glenwood advised I exorcise the boy. Satan really is among us. Panel 3 -- Mom: [sniffing] Tell me, son. Who did he kill? Lil Ove: [crying] HE DECAPITATED MR. CUDDLY HUGGLES AFTER I BROKE HIS SCIENCE PROJECT!!! Panel 4 -- Mom: I know someone who's in for a good spanking for nearly traumatizing his mother because he didn't know the difference between being "killed" and "destroyed." Lil Ove: Big Ove?

Death of a Friend

#webcomics #darkhumor

Panel 1 -- Triangle: Hiya, Round! How's-- Panel 2 -- Triangle: [slipping on a banana peel] TRIICKS Panel 3 -- Rect: Hi guys. How's-- Panel 4 -- Triangle falls off-panel with a THUMP. Rect: Oh... Panel 5 -- Rect: I can't pinpoint exactly what it is, but something about this picture seems very smutty. Triangle's head is struck in Round's mouth.

Practical Innuendos

#visualgag

Valentine’s Day print, 8x10

Available on my online shop!

f256fc-4d.myshopify.com

In last Saturday's newsletter, I reviewed @ephk.bsky.social's cyberpunk mystery graphic novel Harpy published by @livingtheline.bsky.social!

samsstudios.substack.com/p/week-of-11...

Panel 1 -- Lil Ove is approached by the school bully. Bully: Hey, Lil' Ove. Gimmie all your lunch, or I'll clobber the living zest out of you. Panel 2 -- Lil' Ove: Bully, no bullying. Bully, no bullying! BULLY, NO BULLYING!! Panel 3 -- Lil' Ove: [beated up bloody] And they say those children's shows are "educational."

School Lunch Special

#doratheexplorer #schoolbully

Panel 1 -- Triangle: Oh, Pinky, the caffeine of my coffee, the roots and stems of my tree, the roof of my domicile, the flour of my bread, the fuel of my vehicle, the-- Panel 2 -- Pinky: UNWITTINGLY SACCHARINE MOLLYCODDLER OF MY ROMANCE... Panel 3 -- Pinky: Could you please wash the dishes while I'm in the toilet? Triangle: Sure!

Platitudes Everlasting

#cutecouple #forgetmenots

Missed the opening reception of the Just Black show at Smush Gallery? You still have time to see my works displayed until February 15!

#jcarts #groupshow

In my Sunday newsletter edition, I reviewed @fantagraphics.bsky.social's archival collection of Guy Colwell's socially conscious underground comic book series, Inner City Romance:

samsstudios.substack.com/p/week-of-11...