Indie Squid Kid

Victory Through Air Power is a WWII propaganda film made by Disney in 1943. This clip of the film’s final sequence shows American forces, represented by an eagle, fighting (and defeating) Imperial Japan, which is depicted as a giant evil octopus.

(via Vulgar Army)

What happens to the poor fish of the seven seas who become injured or ill? Are they left to float and flounder on the choppy waters, unattended and uncared for? Not if Aquaman can help it! For the Sea Sovereign operates an unusual underwater shelter and clinic for his finny friends—and they get all the medical attention they need by…CALLING DR. AQUAMAN!

The above panel (and quote) is from Adventure Comics #188, published by DC Comics in May, 1953. This injured octopus is probably Topo, Aquaman’s constant cephalopod companion during the Golden Age. (One day I’ll write up a full profile on Topo…one day). I’m not sure what kind of injury he could have sustained that would require treatment with splint, but he sure doesn’t look happy!

I can relate, actually. It is one month today since I had surgery on my thumb, and I am still unable to use my right hand for much of anything. Sure, there has been some improvement over the past four weeks—for example, I was able to tie my shoes last week!—but I don’t even have all the stitches out yet. It can barely bend at the knuckle, and I can’t grasp or pick anything up with that hand. And, worst of all, I have to type left-handed! Maybe it is time to call Dr. Aquaman…

I’ve previously addressed the issue of the proper pluralization of “octopus,” but it’s good to see independent confirmation from no less than the editorial staff of Mirriam-Webster!

Sighted by Able.

design by thedansterwashere

You will believe a cephalopod can fly!

Hey, remember how the government said that 75% of oil spilled in the Gulf of Mexico had magically vanished in a puff of rainbow pixie dust? Well…it turns out that 70-79% of the oil is still there. You know, UNDER THE WATER. So yeah, if I were a jet-propelled, ink-producing invertebrate, I’m pretty sure I would try to figure out a way to get airborne and give surface-dwellers a taste of their own black, gloopy medicine.

“Air Defense” is $15.00 and comes in Mens, Womens, and Kids sizes. Buy it now from Shirt.Woot!

©DC Comics

This image was posted recently on the Tumblr site Octopus Watch, but no info on the original source was included. So far, I haven’t been able figure out exactly which comic and issue this panel is from, but I do know that the characters here are Green Lantern Kyle Rayner and super villain Major Force. Unlike Earth’s other Green Lanterns, Kyle doesn’t have a military background. Instead, he is an artist whose power ring constructs are a bit more creative than giant baseball mitts or hammers. Exhibit A: this monstrous octopus.

I’ll keep trying to figure out which comic this comes from (that’s just the kind of completist nerd I am), but if anyone out there happens to know, please leave a comment!

design by BeeryMethod

That surfer dude is totally staring at this lady’s chest. Or maybe he’s just noticed that they are both wearing the same shirt and he’s trying to decide if he should go home and change…

“Octo Coal” features a giant octopus lurking in the inky darkness of a Black 50/50 DBH Perfect Tee. It seems like those suckers should glow in the dark, but I don’t think they do.

The shirt is $19 and is, at present, sold out in all sizes but Mens XL. If that works for you, buy it now from DesignByHümans.

(via Cephalolove, via Pretend Parades)

I had surgery on my right thumb last week, and, since it’s my dominant hand, I’ve been unable to do much of anything but watch movies and take naps. It looks like I’ll be living life as a lefty for at least another week, so updates to this blog will probably be a little sporadic for a while.

In the mean time, if you are jonesing for a cephalopod fix, check out any of the fine Internet-based publications in the Ika Maki list, page right.

(”Ika Maki” is, by the way, Japanese for “squid roll.” As in sushi. Sooo…it’s like a blog roll, but for squid! Get it?! Um, yeah..anyway…talk to you soon. I hope!)

Here are three delightful t-shirt designs by Hannah Moore via Kickstarter.com. They are named, respectively, “Secret Snail,” “Forbidden Love,” and “Inky Hearts.”

I would love to give you a link so you could buy them all right now, but there’s a catch—in order for these shirts to become a purchasable reality, a target funding goal needs to be met…and you can help make this happen!

The goal is to get at least $600 pledged by 2:59 am EDT on Monday, August 16. This amount covers the expense of getting a minimum order of each design printed and shipped. If that goal is met, all those that pledged will be rewarded for their generosity. Want a shirt? Pledge at least $20. Want all three shirts? Pledge $50. Basically, the more you give, the more cool stuff you get in return!

To back this project, click here.

To learn more about Kickstarter and how this all works, click here.

For more of Hannah’s art, visit Curious Zoology.

Neonomicon #1 ©Avatar Press

“In his house at R’lyeh dead Cthulhu waits dreaming.”
-H.P. Lovecraft, The Call of Cthulhu

This is Jacen Burrows’ wrap cover for Neonomicon #1. Written by Alan Moore and published by Avatar Press, this tale of modern Lovecraftian horror is the sequel to Moore’s earlier series The Courtyard. I think this book came out today, but I haven’t been getting out the comic shop as regularly as usual these days, so I could be wrong. Despite the amazing Cthulhu-licious cover, I didn’t pick it up today because I had a crap load of back issues waiting for me in my subscription folder. I’ll keep my eye out for the trade paperback compilation of the series, however.

Avatar Press is an independent American comics company that was, for many years, best known for publishing so-called “Bad Girl” comics. However, they’ve currently expanded their scope to include creator-owned titles by some of the biggest names in the field: Warren Ellis, Garth Ennis, Frank Miller, and, of course, Alan Moore. Find out more at AvatarPress.com.

Seriously, Alan Moore and Cthulhu..what else could you ask for in a comic?

Now for something completely different…

Also sighted today at Chapel Hill Comics, this giant plush octopus! I didn’t see a price or manufacturer on it, but it was at least two feet across and ridiculously soft. I’d like to imagine that Alan Moore snuggles up to one just like it when he’s writing his squelchy tales of cosmic horror.

UPDATE: reader CrisA identified the plush octopus! It is the Big Squishable Octopus, $44 from Squishable.com.