The Witch’s Egg

Todd (Buttertubs) infuses this cryptic yet cutesy modern feminist folktale with an outsider-art vibe. Urfi, a “witchcat” drawn with big eyes like Garfield, defies magical law and summons Urbina, a birdlike angel, to help her have a child. The two fall in love and produce eggs, though Urbina warns her, “If you break my heart, the world will end.” The pressures of impending motherhood turn Urbina neurotic, insane, and destructive, forcing Urfi to flee and raise their three magically gifted daughters alone. The girls secretly befriend the Worm King, a child born of Urbina’s madness and vengeance, but even these family bonds dissolve as an apocalyptic conflict brews. Some readers may find the narrative leaps confusing, but those willing to set aside logic will happily follow along as Todd creates an original mythos out of historical magical practices, patchwork scraps of fairy tales, and dreamlike visions. The naive art is sometimes awkward but other times disarmingly beautiful, especially in page layouts inspired by illuminated manuscripts. Like Junko Mizuno, Todd is fond of visual symbols (rainbows, mushrooms, cats, etc.) that signify both psychedelic mysticism and dolled-up femininity. Rough around the edges and impenetrable to its core, this will appeal to lovers of esoteric cartoonists like Ron Regé Jr. (Oct.)