The Things Artist's Book by Angel Bomb
This artist’s book is featured in the 2022 & 2023 McKnight Fellowship Exhibition, on display in MCBA’s Main Gallery from January 21st, 2025 to March 30th, 2025. They will ship on April 5th, 2025, after the exhibition has closed.
This piece is featured in the February 2025 issue of The Fore Edge, a quarterly newsletter from MCBA that highlights new artist’s books and zines for collections, universities, and libraries. If you are interested in receiving this newsletter, there is a sign up available here. Past featured pieces can be viewed here.
“I’ve selected this story as a companion to my recent edition of Who Goes There? by John W. Campbell, continuing themes of exploration, isolation, ‘fear of the other’, and survival. The Things is a horrifying story about an alien creature, thawed from the ice, who tries to understand the limitations and violent nature of the humans it experiences upon awakening. This creature, a hive-mind and mutable biomass views the universe through a different lens which is why I chose to print its thoughts and struggles in a totally unique way. Throughout the story, the creature is trying to understand its surroundings; by viewing the book with the aid of a UV flashlight you see these thoughts and see the world through the eyes of an alien being.
Limited, hardbound book, available in two elaborate editions, richly illustrated and letterpress printed with custom-made ultraviolet (UV) ink. Each book comes with either a sculpted or standard UV flashlight to experience the surprising layers on the printed page fully. The sculpted saucer is a recreation of the spaceship seen in the early frames of The Thing and later frozen in the ice. It is designed and 3D printed, then individually wired with UV bulbs and replaceable AAA batteries. Finally, it is painted by hand. The sculpture comes in a hand-made box matching the book and includes a display stand.
Afterword features an interview with Peter Watts discussing this story and additional concept illustrations. All designs and illustrations created by Todd Thyberg.
All editions are numbered and signed.” -Todd Thyberg
Book w/ slipcase - 11.75” x 9” x 0.75”
Book w/o slipcase - 11.25” x 8.75” x 0.5”
Deluxe Box w/ saucer flashlight - 6.75” x 6” x 2.75”
*Consignment item. Not eligible for 10% membership discount. All consignment purchases are final and non-refundable once shipped.
This artist’s book is featured in the 2022 & 2023 McKnight Fellowship Exhibition, on display in MCBA’s Main Gallery from January 21st, 2025 to March 30th, 2025. They will ship on April 5th, 2025, after the exhibition has closed.
This piece is featured in the February 2025 issue of The Fore Edge, a quarterly newsletter from MCBA that highlights new artist’s books and zines for collections, universities, and libraries. If you are interested in receiving this newsletter, there is a sign up available here. Past featured pieces can be viewed here.
“I’ve selected this story as a companion to my recent edition of Who Goes There? by John W. Campbell, continuing themes of exploration, isolation, ‘fear of the other’, and survival. The Things is a horrifying story about an alien creature, thawed from the ice, who tries to understand the limitations and violent nature of the humans it experiences upon awakening. This creature, a hive-mind and mutable biomass views the universe through a different lens which is why I chose to print its thoughts and struggles in a totally unique way. Throughout the story, the creature is trying to understand its surroundings; by viewing the book with the aid of a UV flashlight you see these thoughts and see the world through the eyes of an alien being.
Limited, hardbound book, available in two elaborate editions, richly illustrated and letterpress printed with custom-made ultraviolet (UV) ink. Each book comes with either a sculpted or standard UV flashlight to experience the surprising layers on the printed page fully. The sculpted saucer is a recreation of the spaceship seen in the early frames of The Thing and later frozen in the ice. It is designed and 3D printed, then individually wired with UV bulbs and replaceable AAA batteries. Finally, it is painted by hand. The sculpture comes in a hand-made box matching the book and includes a display stand.
Afterword features an interview with Peter Watts discussing this story and additional concept illustrations. All designs and illustrations created by Todd Thyberg.
All editions are numbered and signed.” -Todd Thyberg
Book w/ slipcase - 11.75” x 9” x 0.75”
Book w/o slipcase - 11.25” x 8.75” x 0.5”
Deluxe Box w/ saucer flashlight - 6.75” x 6” x 2.75”
*Consignment item. Not eligible for 10% membership discount. All consignment purchases are final and non-refundable once shipped.
This artist’s book is featured in the 2022 & 2023 McKnight Fellowship Exhibition, on display in MCBA’s Main Gallery from January 21st, 2025 to March 30th, 2025. They will ship on April 5th, 2025, after the exhibition has closed.
This piece is featured in the February 2025 issue of The Fore Edge, a quarterly newsletter from MCBA that highlights new artist’s books and zines for collections, universities, and libraries. If you are interested in receiving this newsletter, there is a sign up available here. Past featured pieces can be viewed here.
“I’ve selected this story as a companion to my recent edition of Who Goes There? by John W. Campbell, continuing themes of exploration, isolation, ‘fear of the other’, and survival. The Things is a horrifying story about an alien creature, thawed from the ice, who tries to understand the limitations and violent nature of the humans it experiences upon awakening. This creature, a hive-mind and mutable biomass views the universe through a different lens which is why I chose to print its thoughts and struggles in a totally unique way. Throughout the story, the creature is trying to understand its surroundings; by viewing the book with the aid of a UV flashlight you see these thoughts and see the world through the eyes of an alien being.
Limited, hardbound book, available in two elaborate editions, richly illustrated and letterpress printed with custom-made ultraviolet (UV) ink. Each book comes with either a sculpted or standard UV flashlight to experience the surprising layers on the printed page fully. The sculpted saucer is a recreation of the spaceship seen in the early frames of The Thing and later frozen in the ice. It is designed and 3D printed, then individually wired with UV bulbs and replaceable AAA batteries. Finally, it is painted by hand. The sculpture comes in a hand-made box matching the book and includes a display stand.
Afterword features an interview with Peter Watts discussing this story and additional concept illustrations. All designs and illustrations created by Todd Thyberg.
All editions are numbered and signed.” -Todd Thyberg
Book w/ slipcase - 11.75” x 9” x 0.75”
Book w/o slipcase - 11.25” x 8.75” x 0.5”
Deluxe Box w/ saucer flashlight - 6.75” x 6” x 2.75”
*Consignment item. Not eligible for 10% membership discount. All consignment purchases are final and non-refundable once shipped.
Ever since Todd Thyberg (he/him) was a kid, he loved books and wanted to tell stories. Books were an escape from the tedium of small town life and a creative inspiration that stuck with him for life. For him, books opened up the world and exposed a wider canvas for him to explore.
Todd studied commercial art and creative writing at the University of Minnesota and eventually started Angel Bomb to provide clients with graphic design and letterpress printing. With a focus on package design, he since has taken this skill and uses it to create books that encourage the reader to explore the object as well as what it means to them. His first two books were assisted in part through an MCBA/Jerome Book Arts Fellowship Grant and MN State Arts Board Artist Initiative Grant. These paved the way for a change in focus from client work to book arts and have allowed Todd to refine his practice. He was Master Printer for Minnesota Center for Book Arts’ Winter Books in 2014 and 2016. Todd’s work is in the collections of nearly 50 special collections including Yale University, Wesleyan University, Savannah College of Art & Design, Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, and Duke University.
