Emi Gennis is a comics creator to keep an eye on. I enjoyed her previous self-published minicomics as well as Unknown Origins & Untimely Ends, a collection she edited and contributed to that revolves around bizarre deaths and weird occurrences. Her edutainment approach has become her trademark, while her thick black lines pleasantly resemble that of Gilbert Hernandez sans the voluptuous ladies. The theme this time around is trepanation. There’s nothing like holes in the head to pique your interest! As Gennis documents through research and interviews, the motivations for drilling into your skull wildly vary from attempts to cure physical and mental ailments, release bad mojo, and to get high. I find it infinitely fascinating that white people always find a way to appropriate indigenous practices in hopes of getting fucked up. The zine acknowledges contemporary trepanation converts who vehemently believe that the incisions have drastically improved their lives. I guess I can’t argue with results. If you want to open your skull, then that’s your own prerogative, right? To each their own and such. Gennis always has me thinking this way, which is a sign of an effective storyteller. I’m hoping one day to be the proud owner of an Emi Gennis graphic novel or omnibus. Until then, I suggest snatching up her other minicomics. –Sean Arenas (Emi Gennis, emigennis.com)