My name is Juan Santapau and I live in Santiago de Chile. I started posting these single page comics on a blog, in 2005. The name of the series comes from something Athanasius Kircher wrote once: “The world is bound with secret knots” which I find somehow connected to the tag line I’ve been using: “comics about things we do without knowing why“. (even though Kircher was talking about magnetism…) Most of the comics are self conclusive stories, although if you look closely you may find some hints and connections pointing to a shared world. You can assume all these people live in the same ‘canon’, perhaps in the same imaginary city.

Jhayne Holmes kindly edits the language in the comics. Nevertheless there are mistakes and typos (all mine) so feel free to point them if you catch one.

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Some excerpts about The Secret Knots:

“what comes through in even the most mundane of Santapau’s stories is the sense that he is finding the magic in the world, exploring the ordinary things that could bring us to madness or enlightenment, that connect us to other people, and the extraordinary things that seem almost possible.”
Io9

“Juan Santapau’s collection of short stories in comics form, THE SECRET KNOTS, is gently, sublimely mental. Quite, quite mad. Wonderful.”
Warren Ellis

“The spare composition reminds me in many ways of fiction writing; it is somehow reminiscent of Haruki Murakami’s style, of how graceful language can become in the hands of someone working very hard to capture the perfect word and all its nuances. “
Fleen

“Santapau chases down the fleeting thoughts that flit through the backs of our brains — childish notions, invented superstitions, and half-remembered games — and bolsters them with his wry illustrations.”
Storming the Tower

“quietly beautiful, unusual comics.”
Phantasmaphile

“Make sure you have some free time before starting The Secret Knots, you won’t want to stop reading until the very end. One of the best wecbomics around, without question.”
Comics Alliance

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More:

Guest post at the Lovecraft is Missing blog where I explain some things
My Influence Map, a meme about creative influences.

You can contact me at my gmail address which is gemeloperverso
befriend me at Livejournal or Tumblr
ask me anything on Formspring
or follow me in in Twitter (santapau) where I’m notifying of new comics.

The Secret Knots is part of Koala Wallop.

I’m available for commissioned artwork and illustration. Contact me through the email address.

I hope you like the stories!

Photo by Okimus