Editor's Note: The holidays are still going, folks! Keep wearing those ugly sweaters. Post originally published on December 12/18/15.
The ugly Christmas sweater. Once the bane of any child’s existence, it has now become a chic throwback. Perhaps it can be traced to Leslie Hall’s epic “Gem Sweater.” Or perhaps it was inspired by simple irony – everything can be connected to irony. But not for us. We’ve always been fans of the bizarre garment.
In any case, what are rebellious geeks to do when everyone else has co-opted their look? Why, look even geekier! We are here to help, with our top 10 geeky ugly Christmas sweaters.
We don't need House Stark to tell us that winter is coming. For some of us (sorry, Midwest) it’s already here. Which means it’s time to examine our cold weather clothing options: namely, the winter coat. Taking our inspiration from some of our favorite literary characters, here’s how you can stay warm and toasty when it feels like north of the Wall outside. We’ve also included handy personality summations so you can figure out which character – and coat - fits you best.
Book trends come and go, and no list is more indicative of the times than the school-mandated Summer Reading List. Those of us (young, fresh-faced) bookworms who came of age in the '90s will see some familar gems in this nostalgia-packed list. Share your favorites with us on Twitter at @QuirkBooks!
For those who scoff: “A comic book could never scare me!” - there’s something about the way good writers and illustrators use the space on the page and in the frames that can make comics and graphic novels absolutely chilling. It’s the anticipation, the quietness, the occasional first-person perspective.
It’s the way your mind fills in the blanks, maybe by adding sound – the click of heels on an empty, dark street, the sound of something crawling across the attic floor - or allowing one scene to bleed into another.
Since Halloween is right around the corner, what better time to test your mettle than with these classic horror comics and graphic novels?
Recipe for traditional Gothic literature: take one part decay (of surroundings, society) and add a heaping dose of repression. Next? A few dashes of melodrama, a sprinkling (or, in some instances, a whole cup) of romance, and one fall from grace. Shake well, top with a floater of eeeevil, and imbibe on a Scottish moor.
