The Young Adult Library Services Association reads and reviews titles each publishing year to curate a recommended list of titles perfect for Young Adult and Teen readers. This year, the list consisted of 126 titles selected from 145 official nominations and recommended for those aged 12-18. 

Of that list, Image Comic’s Outpost Zero Volume 3 was listed. 

Outpost Zero features the kind of strong ensemble cast that has remained a hallmark throughout creator Sean Kelly McKeever’s output: the aforementioned risk-taking lead, Alea, and her more cautious and empathetic friend, Steven, clear-eyed and pragmatic Lyss (whose career aptitude test marks her future in sanitation, much to her parents’ anger), arrogant Mitchell, and thoughtful, burdened Sam.

“It almost always starts with one character, the one who sets me off looking for a world for them to inhabit,” McKeever explains. “It’s all usually a very instinctive process, and whatever it is I write in their one-line character bios gets tweaked along the way as they reveal themselves to me.”

“Since the beginning, I’ve always followed my heart when choosing the stories I’d draw,” said artist Alexandre Tefenkgi. “To be able to feel involved, I need to be touched by the authenticity of the characters, by their personality, their aspirations and their contradictions. The first time I read OUTPOST ZERO, I knew it was a story I had to draw. The life of these humans in an alternative future simply captivated me. I’ve been lucky to be able to contribute to this comic with such a great team made of talented artists like Sean and Jean-François.”

For more information on Outpost Zero, see below.