Beautiful Stories for Ugly Children #2

Beautiful Stories for Ugly Children was a satirical, dark-humored anthology comic series published by Piranha Press, an imprint of DC Comics, starting in 1989. Conceived during a period when DC was experimenting with more mature, avant-garde storytelling, the series was designed to subvert traditional fairy tales and morality plays. The second issue continued the series' signature blend of cynicism and black comedy, utilizing a revolving door of underground-style illustrators to challenge the conventional expectations of the comic book medium.

The creative direction for the series was heavily influenced by the counter-cultural aesthetic of late eighties alternative comics, often leaning into grotesque imagery and irony. The design and narrative style were intended to appeal to a more cynical, adult demographic that found mainstream superhero narratives tired or uninteresting. While the series struggled to find a lasting foothold in the competitive market of its time, it remains a notable example of the experimental editorial freedom present at Piranha Press during its short-lived existence.