Allison O'Toole
@allisonmotoole.bsky.social
Editor of Ignatz & Eisner award-winning books. Publisher of @balustradepress.bsky.social. Kickstarter Community Advisory Council Member. She/her.
icon by @sophiepaaslang.bsky.social, banner art by @mkchibs.bsky.social | learn more: www.allisonotoole.com
icon by @sophiepaaslang.bsky.social, banner art by @mkchibs.bsky.social | learn more: www.allisonotoole.com
Pinned
Hi, I'm Allison O'Toole, I edit comics! I've done work in the small press and direct market comics spaces. I love to work with creators to make their comics the best they can be, and I love stories in any setting that focus on character & empathy.
Reposted by Allison O'Toole
If you're buying gifts for spirited 12 year olds who have read most of the middle grade graphic novel canon, can I recommend my book The Legend of Auntie Po? It's multi-awarded, and well reviewed, but hasn't entirely found its commercial footing.
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/601780...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/601780...
The Legend of Auntie Po by Shing Yin Khor: 9780525554882 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books
A NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST Part historical fiction, part fable, and 100 percent adventure. Thirteen-year-old Mei reimagines the myths of Paul Bunyan as starring a Chinese heroine while she works ...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com
December 3, 2025 at 5:33 PM
If you're buying gifts for spirited 12 year olds who have read most of the middle grade graphic novel canon, can I recommend my book The Legend of Auntie Po? It's multi-awarded, and well reviewed, but hasn't entirely found its commercial footing.
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/601780...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/601780...
Reposted by Allison O'Toole
YURI VAMPIRE COMIC HELLLO GET ON THIS
We're still raising money to print THE CANNIBALS - here's artist Tinguu with the proof copy - check out the @kickstarter.com campaign to find out more: www.kickstarter.com/projects/fie...
December 2, 2025 at 3:18 AM
YURI VAMPIRE COMIC HELLLO GET ON THIS
Reposted by Allison O'Toole
for World AIDS Day, a 1988 cartoon from the Advocate's Gerald Donelan
December 1, 2025 at 4:20 PM
for World AIDS Day, a 1988 cartoon from the Advocate's Gerald Donelan
There's some fantastic stuff in here you can bid on to help support TCAF 2026!! I'm offering a pitch or script review, but there's lots of other cool stuff on the table, like signed books, original art, and a behind-the-scenes tour/shopping spree at The Beguiling!!
Snag a one-of-a-kind item for the indie comics fan in your life!
Our Winter Auction features art and experiences from top publishers and comics icons like Junji Ito, @ryannorth.ca, Jillian Tamaki, @laufman.bsky.social, @faitherinhicks.bsky.social & more.
www.torontocomics.com/winter-auction
Our Winter Auction features art and experiences from top publishers and comics icons like Junji Ito, @ryannorth.ca, Jillian Tamaki, @laufman.bsky.social, @faitherinhicks.bsky.social & more.
www.torontocomics.com/winter-auction
December 2, 2025 at 12:11 AM
There's some fantastic stuff in here you can bid on to help support TCAF 2026!! I'm offering a pitch or script review, but there's lots of other cool stuff on the table, like signed books, original art, and a behind-the-scenes tour/shopping spree at The Beguiling!!
Reposted by Allison O'Toole
Canadians! I donated an original watercolour painting of Ripley from Alien to the TCAF auction! Bid on it here! (Unfortunately shipping is only available to Canada.)
Snag a one-of-a-kind item for the indie comics fan in your life!
Our Winter Auction features art and experiences from top publishers and comics icons like Junji Ito, @ryannorth.ca, Jillian Tamaki, @laufman.bsky.social, @faitherinhicks.bsky.social & more.
www.torontocomics.com/winter-auction
Our Winter Auction features art and experiences from top publishers and comics icons like Junji Ito, @ryannorth.ca, Jillian Tamaki, @laufman.bsky.social, @faitherinhicks.bsky.social & more.
www.torontocomics.com/winter-auction
December 1, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Canadians! I donated an original watercolour painting of Ripley from Alien to the TCAF auction! Bid on it here! (Unfortunately shipping is only available to Canada.)
Abdullah has lost his home, as he wasn't able to pay rent. Please share his campaign!
Sham and Zain need money for school and for food; please share and donate to their father's campaign if you can. Abdullah was a professional soccer player and his career has obviously been derailed www.gofundme.com/f/save-me-an...
November 30, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Abdullah has lost his home, as he wasn't able to pay rent. Please share his campaign!
Reposted by Allison O'Toole
Gotta rattle my tin cup again. While things are going well on the Dad front, it's still not over, and I also need to make up for lost time at work.
Incredibly grateful to everyone who's given their support already ❤️ Every little bit helps.
ko-fi.com/O4O8CAE3
Incredibly grateful to everyone who's given their support already ❤️ Every little bit helps.
ko-fi.com/O4O8CAE3
Buy Huth a Coffee
Become a supporter of Huth today!
ko-fi.com
November 29, 2025 at 3:53 AM
Gotta rattle my tin cup again. While things are going well on the Dad front, it's still not over, and I also need to make up for lost time at work.
Incredibly grateful to everyone who's given their support already ❤️ Every little bit helps.
ko-fi.com/O4O8CAE3
Incredibly grateful to everyone who's given their support already ❤️ Every little bit helps.
ko-fi.com/O4O8CAE3
Reposted by Allison O'Toole
Reposted by Allison O'Toole
It's time for the 2026 Comics Criticism Mini Grant!
My family and I are awarding four $250 grants to active comics critics. The application is simple, just your name, email, and two recent clips. Deadline for submissions is January 1st.
forms.gle/Cy8FtCcqVSWa...
My family and I are awarding four $250 grants to active comics critics. The application is simple, just your name, email, and two recent clips. Deadline for submissions is January 1st.
forms.gle/Cy8FtCcqVSWa...
2026 Comics Criticism Mini Grant
This project will be awarding four mini grants of $250 to comics critics.
To apply, please provide 2 links to comics criticism work of at least 500 words published within the last year (blogs and YouT...
forms.gle
November 26, 2025 at 7:03 PM
It's time for the 2026 Comics Criticism Mini Grant!
My family and I are awarding four $250 grants to active comics critics. The application is simple, just your name, email, and two recent clips. Deadline for submissions is January 1st.
forms.gle/Cy8FtCcqVSWa...
My family and I are awarding four $250 grants to active comics critics. The application is simple, just your name, email, and two recent clips. Deadline for submissions is January 1st.
forms.gle/Cy8FtCcqVSWa...
Reposted by Allison O'Toole
These guys are great! I donate every year and may I suggest that some of the crafts they sell on behalf of the elders make great Christmas presents?
Time once again to rep my favorite place for giving: anelder.org - they supply food, firewood and supplies for traditional crafting to Navajo Elders. If you have the cash, please give these folks a hand.
November 27, 2025 at 9:41 PM
These guys are great! I donate every year and may I suggest that some of the crafts they sell on behalf of the elders make great Christmas presents?
Reposted by Allison O'Toole
I'm once again available for work! If you'd like some weird, whacky and unique looking art, HIRE ME!! 🥰
DM for enquiry!
DM for enquiry!
November 25, 2025 at 4:59 PM
I'm once again available for work! If you'd like some weird, whacky and unique looking art, HIRE ME!! 🥰
DM for enquiry!
DM for enquiry!
Reposted by Allison O'Toole
How we all create art and find meaning in it is as unique as a fingerprint.
In visual art, that fingerprint impression is called having "a style". It develops in 3 parts:
1) your influences
2) what you enjoy
3) your special brand of laziness
In visual art, that fingerprint impression is called having "a style". It develops in 3 parts:
1) your influences
2) what you enjoy
3) your special brand of laziness
November 26, 2025 at 5:40 PM
How we all create art and find meaning in it is as unique as a fingerprint.
In visual art, that fingerprint impression is called having "a style". It develops in 3 parts:
1) your influences
2) what you enjoy
3) your special brand of laziness
In visual art, that fingerprint impression is called having "a style". It develops in 3 parts:
1) your influences
2) what you enjoy
3) your special brand of laziness
Reposted by Allison O'Toole
November 17, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Sham and Zain need money for school and for food; please share and donate to their father's campaign if you can. Abdullah was a professional soccer player and his career has obviously been derailed www.gofundme.com/f/save-me-an...
November 25, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Sham and Zain need money for school and for food; please share and donate to their father's campaign if you can. Abdullah was a professional soccer player and his career has obviously been derailed www.gofundme.com/f/save-me-an...
Reposted by Allison O'Toole
For graphic novels, especially adult genre fiction, it's incredibly helpful to review it online, talk about it, recommend it to a friend—adult fiction in the graphic novel space is difficult to place, and nothing convinces readers that they'll like a book more than the personal testimonial.
If you like an author's work, the best thing you can do is buy it. The second best thing you can do is ask your local library to buy it. Or, do both!
A reminder that the median book deal for a debut author in the UK is £7000, paid over 12-18 months. (from 2022 Society of Authors report). Some of your favourite writers are struggling. societyofauthors.org/2022/12/06/a....
November 24, 2025 at 6:04 PM
For graphic novels, especially adult genre fiction, it's incredibly helpful to review it online, talk about it, recommend it to a friend—adult fiction in the graphic novel space is difficult to place, and nothing convinces readers that they'll like a book more than the personal testimonial.
Reposted by Allison O'Toole
This one really is useful because you won’t see a more clear demonstration of one of the most damaging political phenomena of the era: the reactionary professional mind rejecting unacceptable reality, only able to process and comprehend it via something close to conspiracy theory.
Former Obama speechwriter Sarah Hurwitz says Jewish students shouldn’t have smartphones until they finish high school — so they don’t see the “carnage” Israel and the U.S. have carried out in Gaza.
Video: Mel via X (@Villgecrazylady)
Video: Mel via X (@Villgecrazylady)
November 24, 2025 at 9:06 AM
This one really is useful because you won’t see a more clear demonstration of one of the most damaging political phenomena of the era: the reactionary professional mind rejecting unacceptable reality, only able to process and comprehend it via something close to conspiracy theory.
Reposted by Allison O'Toole
Hey anyone got any K-Pop Demon Hunters or Percy Jackson merch in their online stores? Shopping for our niblings right now and buying from artists and not dropshippers is important to us 🎉
Bonus points if you're Canadian!
Drop your shop link below~
Bonus points if you're Canadian!
Drop your shop link below~
November 22, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Hey anyone got any K-Pop Demon Hunters or Percy Jackson merch in their online stores? Shopping for our niblings right now and buying from artists and not dropshippers is important to us 🎉
Bonus points if you're Canadian!
Drop your shop link below~
Bonus points if you're Canadian!
Drop your shop link below~
Reposted by Allison O'Toole
Bonedust Press in the news!✨
Her love of ‘what if’ stories turns into reality of publishing the way she and her friends kept talking about
Jasmine Walls is the owner of Bonedust Press, a new publishing company in San Diego focused on speculative fiction with a mission to pay creators from the very first sale.
www.sandiegouniontribune.com
November 22, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Bonedust Press in the news!✨
Reposted by Allison O'Toole
It’s widely known (and, I think, pretty uncontroversial) that learning requires effort — specifically, if you don’t have to work at getting the knowledge, it won’t stick.
Even if an LLM could be trusted to give you correct information 100% of the time, it would be an inferior method of learning it.
Even if an LLM could be trusted to give you correct information 100% of the time, it would be an inferior method of learning it.
Relying on ChatGPT to teach you about a topic leaves you with shallower knowledge than Googling and reading about it, according to new research that compared what more than 10,000 people knew after using one method or the other.
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
November 21, 2025 at 12:49 PM
It’s widely known (and, I think, pretty uncontroversial) that learning requires effort — specifically, if you don’t have to work at getting the knowledge, it won’t stick.
Even if an LLM could be trusted to give you correct information 100% of the time, it would be an inferior method of learning it.
Even if an LLM could be trusted to give you correct information 100% of the time, it would be an inferior method of learning it.
Reposted by Allison O'Toole
Sharing the opening pages of Strange Bedfellows to convince you to buy it day one:
November 17, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Sharing the opening pages of Strange Bedfellows to convince you to buy it day one:
Reposted by Allison O'Toole
This BATVEMBER, Dumpster Raccoon is DELIRIOUSLY PROUD to reprise the legal hot-potato parody that became a searing cult phenomenon, THE PEOPLE’S JOKER – now on a BRAND NEW, FRESHLY STRUCK 35mm print!
November 22nd - and BONUS SUNDAY SCREENING ADDED NOVEMBER 23rd! revuecinema.ca/films/dumpst...
November 22nd - and BONUS SUNDAY SCREENING ADDED NOVEMBER 23rd! revuecinema.ca/films/dumpst...
October 28, 2025 at 7:13 PM
This BATVEMBER, Dumpster Raccoon is DELIRIOUSLY PROUD to reprise the legal hot-potato parody that became a searing cult phenomenon, THE PEOPLE’S JOKER – now on a BRAND NEW, FRESHLY STRUCK 35mm print!
November 22nd - and BONUS SUNDAY SCREENING ADDED NOVEMBER 23rd! revuecinema.ca/films/dumpst...
November 22nd - and BONUS SUNDAY SCREENING ADDED NOVEMBER 23rd! revuecinema.ca/films/dumpst...
Reposted by Allison O'Toole
News! The Six Creators Shortlisted for the 2025 First Graphic Novel Competition Revealed!. @firstgraphicnovel.bsky.social @selfmadehero.bsky.social
www.brokenfrontier.com/first-graphi...
www.brokenfrontier.com/first-graphi...
The Six Creators Shortlisted for the 2025 First Graphic Novel Award Revealed! – Broken Frontier
The six names on the shortlist for the First Graphic Novel Competition are revealed to the world this week.
www.brokenfrontier.com
November 17, 2025 at 5:38 PM
News! The Six Creators Shortlisted for the 2025 First Graphic Novel Competition Revealed!. @firstgraphicnovel.bsky.social @selfmadehero.bsky.social
www.brokenfrontier.com/first-graphi...
www.brokenfrontier.com/first-graphi...
Reposted by Allison O'Toole
Nothing is a better demonstration of the anti-scientific nature of banning trans women from sports than the fact that the IOC's OWN STUDY found no evidence trans women have any advantage over cis women in sports, but they're planning on going ahead with banning us anyways
IOC edges closer to ban on transgender women in female Olympic events
IOC edges closer to ban on transgender women in female Olympic events
*
Sources expect ban within next six to 12 months
*
IOC president wants to protect the female category
The International Olympic Committee is edging closer towards implementing a ban on transgender women competing in the female category in time for the Los Angeles Olympics.
Multiple sources expect such a ban to come into effect over the next six to 12 months with the new IOC president, Kirsty Coventry, making clear she wants to drive through her campaign pledge to protect the female category. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Nothing is a better demonstration of the anti-scientific nature of banning trans women from sports than the fact that the IOC's OWN STUDY found no evidence trans women have any advantage over cis women in sports, but they're planning on going ahead with banning us anyways