Karen Czap
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charmgardens.com
Karen Czap
@charmgardens.com
4K followers 750 following 2.6K posts
Cartoonist, X-Men Fan, Sunfly Believer, Tall Cool Vulnerable & Luscious, FFG, Greatest of All Taurus (*they*)
🌸🌷🌼
https://linktr.ee/charmgardens
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charmgardens.com
Karen Czap @charmgardens.com · Nov 8
Hi Bluesky, I'm Karen, sometimes working professionally as K Czap. My two books are the queer utopian mixtape that is Fütchi Perf (Uncivilized Books, 2017) and Four Years (Czap Books, 2024), a comic that tries to cure trauma with friendship. I like making work about friendship and transcendence
Cover to Fütchi Perf, futuristic people sitting underneath dark blue waves in the shape of the Lake Erie coastline Interior page from Fütchi Perf, with two young future punks finding Perf House for the first time Cover to Four Years, Betty Yaris sitting, surrounded by yellow flowers Interior page from Four Years where Betty and Vivvie are getting into a white truck to drive around Providence
Reposted by Karen Czap
cathygjohn.bsky.social
My 2026 calendar is now available! Featuring Risograph print designs from previous posters, as well as a few new and unreleased illustrations. I've wanted to make a calendar for yeeaarrrsss so happy to have finally done it! I hope you like it! www.cathygjohn.net/store/2026-c...
November 25, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Reposted by Karen Czap
cathygjohn.bsky.social
I also have a new second edition of my two-headed dog screenprint, "Bite the Chains"! www.cathygjohn.net/store/bite-t...
November 25, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Reposted by Karen Czap
cathygjohn.bsky.social
My other new print is this guy, "Fire in My Belly." This is a design idea I've been trying to make for years, so happy to have finally gotten to make it! www.cathygjohn.net/store/fire-i...
November 25, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Reposted by Karen Czap
cathygjohn.bsky.social
Oh and I made these stupid stickers lol I love them www.cathygjohn.net/store/dog-fo...
November 25, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Reposted by Karen Czap
galegalligan.bsky.social
Early drawings of Ollie! The first two are for a different pitch about a girl who adopts a hedgehog. I wanted her design and personality to also be hedgie-like.

I shared that with my agent alongside an autobio idea that wasn't quite working. She said, "well, what if you combined them?"
Development sketches of Ollie from FRESH START with handwritten notes. Character silhouette with simple face and big fluffy hoodie. Note: Maybe a feeling like the hoodie is swallowing her up? Like it's a shell/protective. Note: Too BIG LMAO Note: Maybe starts off less expressive - shows big feelings w/hedgie & new friends (parents worry) Sketch of the character's face with half-closed eyes and a judgmental expression. A doodled character to the side heckles: "Brush your hair!" Note: Aloof? Note: Not spiky but messy/fluffy Sketch of the character wearing a Tetris shirt and leggings. Note: Owns a lot of video game shirts probably. Note by hair: Fluffy. Note: Big shirt + leggings Drawing of the character sitting in profile. Note: Figure out profile. Drawing of the character in casual wear. Note: Layers, pockets. Sketch of Ollie from FRESH START lying on a couch with a curious hedgehog on her chest, sniffing her face. Sketches of Ollie from FRESH START, a tween with short brown hair and overemotive facial acting. She wears a sleeveless hoodie, black t-shirt, choker, fingerless gloves, cargo shorts, and chunky sneakers -- except for the sketch of her in a dress, where she looks miserable.
November 25, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Reposted by Karen Czap
galegalligan.bsky.social
I'll add that I happen to be in a position where I am currently making a living off of graphic novel work. It's a split between royalties, advances, and school visits.

I think that comics would be so much healthier if publishers could look forward and invest in our FUTURE.
November 25, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Reposted by Karen Czap
claremontrun.bsky.social
Got asked my opinion on the current Magik storyline and, in response, thought it best to just repost this to provide historical context for the ongoing debate: Magik as a Symbol of Sexual Trauma #magik
Magik as a Symbol of Sexual Trauma
YouTube video by Jonathon Deman
youtu.be
November 25, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Reposted by Karen Czap
cathygjohn.bsky.social
The second Horse the Band poster I did this year is up in the store now, I only have a few copies! I also have art print versions of this design without the event text, that's going up tomorrow. So this listing is just for the hardcore Horse fans www.cathygjohn.net/store/horse-...
Horse the Band (Fire), Print — Cathy G. Johnson
RARE! Only a few of these available! Horse the Band show poster for their gig at Furnace Fest in Birmingham, AL on October 5, 2025. 4-layer handmade screenprint on French Construction 100lb paper, 1...
www.cathygjohn.net
November 24, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Reposted by Karen Czap
mirandaharmon.bsky.social
I’m obsessed with this wedding gift from @ignatzhaderach.bsky.social look at it!!! Beautiful amazing!!!
November 23, 2025 at 11:29 PM
charmgardens.com
We had so many hats at this Fleet game
November 23, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Reposted by Karen Czap
cathygjohn.bsky.social
We're having fun! Great first game of the season, keep Poulin in jail #pwhl
November 23, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Reposted by Karen Czap
marjulia.bsky.social
datura will be right next to bestie @cathygjohn.bsky.social and catch @saint-vagrant.bsky.social and @aatmajapandya.bsky.social at MICE too!

the cala crew is stacked with sunnmi, @leighlunacomics.bsky.social, @charmgardens.com, @emmajaynecomics.bsky.social and @hirosemary.bsky.social 💜😮‍💨
November 22, 2025 at 1:03 AM
charmgardens.com
Kendall Coyne Schofield!!
November 22, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Reposted by Karen Czap
mackdistrict6.bsky.social
The House just voted to “denounce the horrors of socialism” while people can’t afford rent, groceries, or a doctor’s visit.

Gabe Amo and Seth Magaziner voted with Republicans.

You don’t get to campaign on helping working people then go to DC and condemn the ideas that make our lives affordable.
November 21, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Reposted by Karen Czap
sloanesloane.bsky.social
so excited to finally announce @lesliehung.bsky.social and I are doing a book together!! keeping it intentionally vague but I’m so thrilled, Leslie is the best and collabing is something we’ve wanted to do for years! Get ready for LEILA 🥹✨
November 21, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Reposted by Karen Czap
galegalligan.bsky.social
Here are some pages from this semiautobiographical book, which "[b]eautifully ­tackles ­complex ­friendships, sibling ­dynamics, racial identity, and gender expression", thank you School Library Journal,,,
Excerpt from FRESH START by Gale Galligan. A regular comic panel overlays an imaginary sequence drawn in a more childlike style. IMAGINARY PANEL 1 A monster sucks up a human soul. IMAGINARY PANEL 2 The monster is interrupted. It looks up in surprise. SFX: shwiing!! IMAGINARY PANEL 3 Ollie and Cat's alter egos pose like Sailor Moon. They're wearing cool superhero outfits. Their dialogue is handwritten. OLLIE: Your shape-shifting can't fool us!!!! CAT: Yeah! Go back to your own planet! IMAGINARY PANEL 4 Close on Ollie's determined smile. IMAGINARY PANEL 5 OLLIE: Perennial Blooms Blast!!! Fwoooooosh!!! REAL PANEL 1 Back in reality, Cat and Ollie are walking through an airport. Cat grumbles. CAT: Hang on. I thought this was a stealth mission. Find the bad guys without giving away our secret identities? OLLIE: Uh... Excerpt continues. PANEL 1 Ollie gestures to one side. OLLIE: No, it's fine, because we're space royals. Our type of magic... it's... like infrared. Human eyes can't see it. PANEL 2 Cat crosses her arms. Ollie rolls her eyes. CAT: Okaaaay, but you yelled out your attack and the shape-shifter disintegrated. You're telling me -- OLLIE: You're an illusionist, Cat! Put up a cloaking field! PANEL 3 Cat harrumphs. Ollie grins. Cat: The name is Princess Sylphonaria. SFX: hmph PANEL 4 Cat looks serious. Ollie is surprised. CAT: But anyway... are you all right? OLLIE: What? PANEL 5 Close on Ollie's wide-eyed reaction as Cat continues. CAT: You know, uh, with moving... and not getting to say goodbye to Rebecca. PANEL 6 Ollie looks down. PANEL 7 Wide on the airport hallway that Ollie and Cat are walking through. OLLIE: Pff, yeah. Why wouldn't I be? We do this all the time. CAT: Oh... okay. PANEL 8 Cat looks sad. Ollie is distracted by something off-panel. CAT: Because I feel like I finally found this great group of friends, and now -- Excerpt continues. PANEL 1 Ollie presses her hands against the window of an airport bookshop. A manga series named QUILL!! is on prominent display, standee and all. PANEL 2 Ollie grins widely at Cat, who backs away in distress. PANEL 3 Ollie zooms into the bookstore; Cat sighs. Excerpt continues. PANEL 1 Volumes of QUILL!! line a bookshelf. OLLIE (off-panel): They have the German editions! PANEL 2 Cat frowns. Ollie is undeterred. CAT: You can't read German. OLLIE: They're bigger and the cover design is so much better. And look at this! PANEL 3 Ollie has a big, horrible smile. She is not well. Cat is not impressed. OLLIE: French flaps. CAT: You can't read French, either. PANEL 4 Cat protests. CAT: Mom and Dad sent us to buy snacks. OLLIE: What is this, if not a snack for the soul. PANEL 5 Cat is frustrated; Ollie is a fool. OLLIE: If we pool our money, we can get two volumes. CAT: You can't eat manga. OLLIE: They hand out snacks on the plane. Pleeease, Cat. PANEL 6 Ollie pushes her face right up against Cat's; Cat intercedes with a hand. OLLIE: Please, please, pleaseeee. SFX: smoosh
November 19, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Reposted by Karen Czap
galegalligan.bsky.social
AND this book is in FULL COLOR, COURTESY OF INDOMITABLE COMICS GENIUS @charmgardens.com !!!!

You can buy it from your favorite independent bookstore or on the INTERNET!

bookshop.org/p/books/fres...
Four panels from FRESH START by Gale Galligan, colors by K Czap. PANEL 1 Cat, Mom, and Ollie stare in horror as a hedgehog (Quilly) anoints itself, turning its head backwards to deposit frothy spit on its quills. PANEL 2 Ollie panics. Cat holds a hand out to Mom. OLLIE: I fed him some banana, it was just a little bit, I don't know what - CAT: Mom. Gimme your phone. PANEL 3 Cat looks at Mom's phone. CAT: Okay... here we go. "Hedgehogs will occasionally self-anoint after smelling or eating something unusual. They froth up their spit and lick themselves all over..." PANEL 4 Cat continues, and so does the hedgehog. CAT: "Presumably to cover themselves in the interesting scent, though nobody can say for sure." OLLIE: Ew. QUILLY: fthpththth
November 19, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Reposted by Karen Czap
galegalligan.bsky.social
HELLO!! 2025 is drawing to a close, people are buying gifts for the tweens in their lives, and DID YOU KNOW that a graphic novel named Fresh Start came out THIS YEAR?

⭐THREE starred reviews!
⭐about a kid who moves around a lot AND THEN HAS TO STAY IN ONE PLACE OH NO
⭐VERY FUNNY, LOTS OF DRAWINGS
Author Gale Galligan executing a years-too-late kneeling dab next to a standee of the cover for FRESH START (2025).
November 19, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Reposted by Karen Czap
aldondo.bsky.social
With three weeks left, we’re a little more than halfway to our funding goal :D

Your support means an independent comic and worldwide team of creatives gets to continue working on this story!!

Please consider backing!! ⬇️
www.kickstarter.com/projects/the...
November 19, 2025 at 3:16 PM
charmgardens.com
@jonathanlovesx-men.bsky.social are you aware of these??
November 19, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Reposted by Karen Czap
alsopurp.bsky.social
Just re-upped my episodes on Wicked (Part 1) with Ms Sundi!

Two of my all time favourite REFERENTIAL episodes so far and I highly recommend you give them a (re)listen while we wait for #WickedForGood ✨

open.spotify.com/episode/1F2E...

open.spotify.com/episode/7fp4...
November 18, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Reposted by Karen Czap
aldondo.bsky.social
The cast grows in Season 2 of [THE CAGES]!!

Get to know more characters in the Battle Round, as they all continue fighting for their lives to be recognized.
Support the campaign for Season 2!
Link ⬇️
www.kickstarter.com/projects/the...

Art by @addrianodivino.bsky.social
November 17, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Reposted by Karen Czap
cathygjohn.bsky.social
you'll all find out soon, but I have luckily structured my life where professionally it is important for me to google "baby opossum" often, because I am a genius
November 17, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Reposted by Karen Czap
marjulia.bsky.social
theyve been around and increasingly so in the fall, but various signs have been pointing to a more noticeable surge. look out for one another please 💜 www.wypr.org/wypr-news/20...
Contract proposals show possible increase in ICE presence coming to Baltimore
ICE is looking for office space and food services.
www.wypr.org
November 15, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Reposted by Karen Czap
aldondo.bsky.social
Check out @addrianodivino.bsky.social on the Bonus Episodes of [THE CAGES]!!

Addriano does such a great job with action and movement. All of his panels really have such a great attention to detail!

Check out Addriano’s episodes and support his page!
November 14, 2025 at 3:02 PM