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A.C. Esguerra @blueludebar.com · 11h

aaa thank you! ⛓️✨

A.C. Esguerra @blueludebar.com · 13h

it's probably better to bump this sort of thing at night, huh. let's try it.

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Reposted by A.C. Esguerra

Maia Kobabe @redgoldsparks.bsky.social · 20h

It's Banned Books Week. If you are an author, please join @authorsabb.bsky.social! If you work in the publishing industry, please join @pubprosabb.bsky.social! Canadian authors, you can now join Canadian Authors & Illustrators Against Book bans: linktr.ee/caiabb. Working together feels good! 📚✍️👏

The black and white cover of a zine titled Do you make books? Yes? I want YOU to join Authors Against Book Bans! By Maia Kobabe. The image shows author Maia Kobabe holding a stack of books and pointing at the reader

WHAT IS AABB?
A coalition of writers, illustrators, editors & other book creators, standing united against the unconstitutional movement to limit the freedom to read. We support the availability of diverse voices in our libraries, in our schools, & in our culture. We pledge to band together against the oppression of literature, to speak when our voices are silenced, to go where our bodies are needed, & to fight to ensure this freedom.

Our concern is not only for the books, but for the children, families, educators,
librarians, & communities who suffer when the freedom to read is challenged and taken away.

WHAT CAN AABB OFFER YOU?
- Regional groups working on legislation to protect authors & the freedom to read state-by-state
- Online trainings on digital security, public speaking, & how to counter book challenges in your community
-Affinity groups for BIPOC authors, queer authors, authors with disabilities, indie, nonfiction, romance writers & more
-Support if your book is challenged or your school visit is canceled!
-A very active discord community

Maia: I’ve been facing intense challenges to my book since 2021. Knowing that I am not alone in the fight against censorship is what keeps my spirits up!

Watching the folks in AABB share information, co-write legislation, show up to library & school board meetings, & speak up to publishers about the need to protect diverse books & minority authors has been amazing!

This is a weird & scary time to be an author, but you are not alone! Join thousands of us fighting for the freedom to read, the freedom to write, the freedom to teach, the freedom to learn, & the freedom to share our stories!
-Maia Kobabe, 2025

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A.C. Esguerra @blueludebar.com · 1d

💖 it will be ready to go home to you very soon!!

A.C. Esguerra @blueludebar.com · 1d

painting day(s) ✌🏽 #art #commissions #watercolor

the initial wash of a traditional art ink and watercolor drawing on bristol paper. the color scheme is light shades of blue, pink and yellow. it depicts a somewhat birdseye view of an energetic, androgynous character in a lolita-like outfit with a billed cap, cape, ribboned dress and boots leaping toward the bottom right corner of the piece, a heart-shaped arrow in one hand and a love letter in the other.

a traditional art ink and watercolor drawing on bristol paper. the color scheme ranges from warm fiery yellow-orange and reds fading out to gentle grey-greens and ochres. it depicts two catboys, one a long-haired mage with a gentle expression, his arms bearing a fiery staff protectively around the other, a confident-looking swordsman in a long patterned coat with a high collar.

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A.C. Esguerra @blueludebar.com · 3d

late pledges close in one week 👯‍♂️ kck.st/41go1J7

A.C. Esguerra @blueludebar.com · May 29

aah it's official!! i heard about AMERICAN FUJO*, a new literary journal analyzing gender, sexuality, fandom and power--and realized i had a story to tell about Laurent of Vere. excited for this one.

a gilded frame contains a painting of Prince Laurent of Vere and myself sitting across from each other at a small table in a richly decorated bedchamber, playing chess. i am obviously losing. he holds a pawn in one hand and with the other, gestures for me to make a move. i lean on the table with an embarrassed, frustrated expression. Laurent and the room are painted in ink wash. myself and the frame around the scene are drawn roughly in pencil. behind the frame is a scannof marbled paper, giving a swirling red-and-black texture to the background.

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Reposted by A.C. Esguerra

A.C. Esguerra @blueludebar.com · Jun 20

mods are asleep post AMERICAN FUJO wip

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Reposted by A.C. Esguerra

𝔻𝕖𝕖𝕡 𝕋𝕙𝕠𝕥 @thatsgoodweb.bsky.social · 12d

Peter McCarty

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Reposted by A.C. Esguerra

ShortBox Comics Fair @shortboxcomicsfair.bsky.social · 8d

It's that time: ShortBox Comics Fair is here!

Over 140+ all-new, original comics created by artists from around the world, gathered exclusively in one place -for October only!

And it's all online, with all digital comics: no shipping, no waiting, no travelling.

www.shortboxcomicsfair.com

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Reposted by A.C. Esguerra

Rowan @runefruit.bsky.social · 6d

You can follow / browse through all the lovely Shortbox comic artists here: go.bsky.app/ERmC5SX
Very honoured to be a part of this goated lineup :]

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A.C. Esguerra @blueludebar.com · 7d

happy october 🖤🍂🍁

A.C. Esguerra @blueludebar.com · Jun 6

witch desks [2/5]

the cook / the weaver

a light wooden oval table against a warm orange background. it's covered with cooking implements: a cast iron cauldron with something bright green inside, a molcajete, a spice rack, a cookbook propped open, a checkered dishcloth, bottles of oils, a sugar bowl, a sprig of herbs. floating above the table are salt and pepper shakers, a bunch of garlic and peppers tied together on a string, small measuring cups and spoons. on the floor under the table are bulk-size containers of soy sauce and lao gan ma spicy chili crisp, a cheerful woven rug and a cartoony scorpion holding a fork and spoon in its claws.

a round table draped with a magenta cloth against a dark purple background. on the table are tarot cards in a fan spread, a danish butter cookie tin containing sewing supplies, a crystal ball held by a claw-shaped mount of brass, and a stack of embroidery hoops. floating above the table are stars, needle and thread, antique sewing scissors and various gilt frames around paintings of eyes. on a fringed green rug the floor is a purple velvet stool, bundles of yarn and a sleeping, curled up tortoiseshell cat.

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Reposted by A.C. Esguerra

✦ maddy ✦ @madeofline.bsky.social · 10d

Every person you are a fan of you only know exist because they said fuck it and did their projects anyway

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Reposted by A.C. Esguerra

Laura Knetzger @lauraknetzger.bsky.social · 9d

I want to keep in mind that I have many years of making art ahead of me, even if getting it in front of readers is a struggle. I can make the stories to my satisfaction. That's in my power. And yours.

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Reposted by A.C. Esguerra

Athenaeum Comic Art @athenaeumcomicart.bsky.social · 9d

We are excited that we will be posting new @blueludebar.com Rook & Rose fantasy oracle deck illustrations soon! These small originals are perfect gifts for loved ones and yourself. More details soon!

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A.C. Esguerra @blueludebar.com · 13d

thanks so much, mel 🥲🖤 you hang in there too!

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A.C. Esguerra @blueludebar.com · 14d

nothing in this life is promised or guaranteed. that feels especially true now. but i hope i can keep making comics.

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A.C. Esguerra @blueludebar.com · 14d

[today in positivity] looking at some of my comic page samples from 2-3+ years ago and you know what. these still go pretty hard

A.C. Esguerra @blueludebar.com · 14d

hey arielle! congrats on your new role. nice to see you around again (i remember you from ham fanzine + cons long ago) 🖤

website: blueludebar.com
availability: late jan/early feb 2026
sequential samples + information in alt text:

four pages from a nonfiction Amelia Earhart comic book for middle-grade and young readers. traditional ink and brush + digital color. Penguin Workshop Books, 2022.

four pages from Witch Crossing, a fantasy, all-ages short comic story about witches who cast ink and space magic in a surreal world. traditional graphite pencil. Shortbox Comics Fair, 2022.

four pages from Eighty Days, an original graphic novel about pilots in an alternate-1930s world for adult and/or young adult readers. traditional black and white ink + brush. Archaia, 2021.

two pages from The City of Poets - Pat Parker, part of a public art poster series interpreting the writing of local poet-activists of color and presenting brief biographies of their lives as one-page comics. traditional ink + digital color. commissioned by the City of San Francisco, 2022-2023.

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Reposted by A.C. Esguerra

Arielle Jovellanos ✨ NYCC AA C-32 @joviellety.bsky.social · 16d

💖 Hi~ I've recently been hired as Illustration & Creative Lead at The Story Division, helping publishers with graphic novel projects. I'm currently updating our artist database & looking for a wider range of art styles.

Cartoonists: post sequentials, website, availability below. No DMs/emails plz!

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A.C. Esguerra @blueludebar.com · 14d

hey arielle! congrats on your new role. nice to see you around again (i remember you from ham fanzine + cons long ago) 🖤

website: blueludebar.com
availability: late jan/early feb 2026
sequential samples + information in alt text:

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Reposted by A.C. Esguerra

Maria Capelle Frantz @mariacfrantz.bsky.social · 16d

☁️💫

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Reposted by A.C. Esguerra

Athenaeum Comic Art @athenaeumcomicart.bsky.social · Sep 5

It is always an amazing day when new @blueludebar.com original art comes in the mail!

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Reposted by A.C. Esguerra

Keith Friedlander @friedkeith.bsky.social · 19d

Support a queer/trans/comics business!!

Outsider Comics @outsidercomics.com · 19d

Hey, um, we need help. Moving is costing us at least $10k more than we planned for and we may need to close down the shop for a short while so... we're running our first ever fundraiser. outsidercomics.com/moving-updat... You can also help by shopping our moving sale this weekend.

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A.C. Esguerra @blueludebar.com · 19d

hehehe excellent 🕶️

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A.C. Esguerra @blueludebar.com · 20d

inking day

a traditional art ink and brush drawing on bristol paper. it depicts a somewhat birdseye view of an energetic, androgynous character in a lolita-like outfit with a billed cap, cape, ribboned dress and boots leaping toward the bottom right corner of the piece, a heart-shaped arrow in one hand and a love letter in the other.

a traditional art ink and brush drawing on bristol paper. it depicts two catboys, one a long-haired mage with a gentle expression, his arms bearing a fiery staff protectively around the other, a confident-looking swordsman in a long patterned coat with a high collar.

1 7

A.C. Esguerra @blueludebar.com · 28d

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

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