Indie Squid Kid

Frozen giant squid, originally uploaded by Timmy Toucan.

Preserved Architeuthis dux at the Melbourne Aquarium.

Here are two surreal Star Wars/octopus mashups that were posted recently at Distracted by Star Wars, one of my favorite Tumblr sites.

Star Wars and cephalopods, two great tastes that taste great together!

"The Disorder is Me" ©Rubens Cantuni

See more by this artist at TokyoCandies.com.

"Octotrooper" ©Aaron Jasinski

Visit this artist at deviantArt for Octo-Fett, Octo-Vader, and more!

Timothy McSweeney’s Internet Concern is the cyber-arm of Dave Eggers’ hipster publishing empire. If you need one reason to pay this site a visit, that reason would be Notes on “Sweet Child O’ Mine” as delivered to Axl Rose by his editor. If you need a second reason, I reckon that would be this shirt here.

“Squid T-shirt” features the two largest living invertebrates: Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni (aka the Colossal Squid) and Architeuthis dux (aka the Giant Squid). While it is true that the Colossal Squid edges out the Giant Squid in both mass and length, “Mr. McSweeney” has perhaps misrepresented this size difference just a tad.

This American Apparel shirt is $22.00 and comes in men’s and women’s sizes. Be warned, however, these sizes run small. I have a men’s large, and, despite losing about 30 lbs in the past year, it still doesn’t quite look flattering on me (which is why I didn’t post a photo of myself wearing the shirt). That being said, you should still…

Buy it now from The McSweeney’s Store!

Dan Beard, 1887

Via Cephalolove (via finegarten)

“Bobtail squid with a handlebar moustache” by Nick Hobgood

Via Succeed Blog

For his senior thesis in the Illustration department at the University of the Arts, Philadelphia, Jim Tierney re-designed the dust jackets of four classic Jules Verne novels, including a particularly squid-tastic cover for 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. If these books were for sale I would totally buy them. With money!

Jules Verne cover designs by Jim Tierney from Jim Tierney on Vimeo.

Via Faceout Books

Visit www.jimtierneyart.com to find out more about the designer and his process, and for detailed views of these beautiful creations.

“Give me your tentacled, your beaked
Your writhing masses yearning to break free,
The eldrich recluse at your teeming shore,
Send these, of head-foot, sucker-hook to me
I lift my lamp, you lift your photophore!”
(with apologies to Emma Lazarus)

This poem is dedicated to Gama-Go, the Official Clothier of the Coming Cepalopocalypse.

“Squid Liberty” is $28, and it is available in Navy and Army. (But not Coast Guard, for some reason…)

Buy it now from Gama-Go

My wife makes her Indie Squid Kid debut!

Back in the end of December when I did my Xmas Roundup, I left out one important gift—Ryn’s nautilus necklace!

Ryn loves her nautilus!

You might recognize this necklace if you are familiar with the work of Sheryl Westleigh (aka Noadi) or if you saw my 2009 Holiday Shopping guide. While I was composing that post, Ryn saw the photo of the nautilus pendant and let out an excited SQUEEE! I knew then and there, that I couldn’t let anyone else buy it.

Brown Nautilus by Noadi

Speaking of Noadi’s fabulous cephalopod creations, check out this video showcasing her new line of steampunk-themed jewelery!

Mr. Sardonicus sent me this sighting of a super-detailed line of Japanese gashapon (aka capsule toys).

He says,

Produced by Takara/Tomy, the complete set includes 10 figures (3 octopi, 2 cuttlefish, 4 squid, and 1 “secret” argonaut) and runs upwards of $75, but it’s not too difficult to find individuals being sold on eBay for $10 or less.

I’ll definitely have to keep an eye out for these. Thanks Brian!