Chocolate Cheeks

In Chocolate Cheeks (2010–present, Fantagraphics), Steven Weissman's singular, deadpan cartooning brings a cast of deceptively simple-looking kids to life in a world where childhood whimsy collides with quiet menace. This single-issue comic distills Weissman's signature style—a blend of retro-cute character designs and off-kilter, darkly humorous storytelling—into a compact, self-contained gem. A prime example of his long-running fascination with the strange undercurrents of innocence, it matters as a concentrated dose of the distinctive voice that has made Weissman a cult figure in alternative comics.