T.J. Hanscum and their original character Buttman are KC Zine Con mainstays. Amongst the sea of tablers, you can almost always spot a cardboard cut-out of Buttman — tall and pink, with their iconic, heart-shaped face — beckoning you to come visit T.J.’s table and explore their weird, weird world. This year, I took home a souvenir: issue one of “Tales From the Gutter”, a comix featuring Buttman and his roommates, Gwen and Mothman. After ordering a pizza and finding it covered in live mushrooms, the gang goes on a quest in their apartment complex to discover the source of the mycelia. New friends are made, dank kush is acquired, and there’s even a fun “Ask Buttman” column smack dab in the centerfold. This zine made me wish I could get my hands on issue 2 and beyond for more of Buttman’s zany antics. And honestly, someone should give T.J. an animation deal to bring Buttman to life on TV, as “Tales from the Gutter” would make for a perfectly-bingeable, Saturday morning cartoon.