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
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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
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
Want to support @torontocomics.bsky.social and get feedback on a comic pitch or script?? I'm offering to review your work and chat with you about it on a video call! There are also lots of other amazing prizes, like signed books and original art!! www.torontocomics.com/product-page...
Allison O’Toole: Review & Video Call | Toronto Comic Arts F
Are you looking to break into comics? Hoping to get published? Don’t miss this chance to hone your work with comics editor Allison O’Toole! Allison will read and give feedback on your comic outline, p...
www.torontocomics.com
December 5, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Want to support @torontocomics.bsky.social and get feedback on a comic pitch or script?? I'm offering to review your work and chat with you about it on a video call! There are also lots of other amazing prizes, like signed books and original art!! www.torontocomics.com/product-page...
Are there Spotify alternatives that have good libraries of Japanese music?? I'm trying out Qobuz, but half my workout playlist is j-rock bands and anime soundtracks and a lot of it isn't available on the platform, and I want to be able to make playlists, not just listen to albums.
December 7, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Are there Spotify alternatives that have good libraries of Japanese music?? I'm trying out Qobuz, but half my workout playlist is j-rock bands and anime soundtracks and a lot of it isn't available on the platform, and I want to be able to make playlists, not just listen to albums.
Reposted by Allison O'Toole
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
This is a great little PW piece about using comics in the classroom!
www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
Comics in the Classroom: Teachers and Librarians Share Their Best Practices
We spoke with three educators about the innovative ways they’re utilizing comics and graphic novels to teach visual literacy and create lifelong readers, one panel at a time.
www.publishersweekly.com
December 5, 2025 at 6:21 AM
This is a great little PW piece about using comics in the classroom!
www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
Reposted by Allison O'Toole
Well I can't let Grover down
December 5, 2025 at 3:15 AM
Well I can't let Grover down
Want to support @torontocomics.bsky.social and get feedback on a comic pitch or script?? I'm offering to review your work and chat with you about it on a video call! There are also lots of other amazing prizes, like signed books and original art!! www.torontocomics.com/product-page...
Allison O’Toole: Review & Video Call | Toronto Comic Arts F
Are you looking to break into comics? Hoping to get published? Don’t miss this chance to hone your work with comics editor Allison O’Toole! Allison will read and give feedback on your comic outline, p...
www.torontocomics.com
December 5, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Want to support @torontocomics.bsky.social and get feedback on a comic pitch or script?? I'm offering to review your work and chat with you about it on a video call! There are also lots of other amazing prizes, like signed books and original art!! www.torontocomics.com/product-page...
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~