Portage & Main Press
When exploring Brandon Mitchell’s Adventures of the Pugulatmu’j graphic novel series for young readers, it’s best to begin with the first volume. I had to find a copy to understand how it all started before diving into volume two, The Search for Gluscap, which came out last month (May 5). In particular, I wanted to learn how Mali first met Puug, a guardian of the woods. Without that context, jumping in with a later volume is not quite the same as watching a film series, where important events are often recounted early in the narrative.
What makes this series appealing is how naturally it presents Mi’gmaw culture and daily life in New Brunswick, where the tale takes place. Rather than treating tradition as something distant or historical, Mitchell shows a living world where ancient beliefs remain intertwined with the present. The series also trusts that readers have been following the story since book one rather than pausing to repeat key details. Once I realized that within the first few pages, I knew I had to stop, find the first volume at a local library, or simply buy it.
Continue reading “The Search for Gluscap Proves Not Every Giant Is Paul Bunyan”
For those living outside of China, no, 
Before electric light banished the shadows, winter across the colder reaches of Asia was a time for vigilance and reverence. The 
To the Yakut people of Siberia, Chysh Khan—the “Bull of Winter”—emerges from the Arctic Ocean as the cold’s living spirit. His breath freezes rivers, his hooves mark the frost, and his retreat brings spring. Even the horns have meaning: his first horn represents the great frost and second the deep cold.
No list can ever be complete without mention of the first entry who—at least in terms of media appeal—pulls the reins. Out of all the darker Winter Solstice Legends, Krampus has become the most acknowledged in modern Western pop culture! Whether he is parodied or turned into a true icon of terror, the purpose varies.
Often hidden in plain sight, the Caganer turns the act of searching into part of the ritual; finding him is said to bring luck, while failing to include him invites misfortune or poor crops. His origins likely trace back to 17th- and 18th-century Catalonia, when peasant realism and earthy humour seeped into religious art as a quiet counterbalance to idealised piety.
Alex suffers from a strange case of parasomnia in the movie Dream Eater, and he’s headed to the woods with his girlfriend to assist in his therapy. Their plan is to live in a cabin while she records his moments. The hope is that someone can study the footage and understand why this is happening. With