Tag Archives: Featured Graphic Novel

The Color of Always: An LGBTQIA+ Love Anthology

By Featured Graphic Novels,

THE COLOR OF ALWAYS: AN LGBTQIA+ ANTHOLOGY

Published by A Wave Blue World

Written by: Various
Illustrated by: Various
ISBN: 9781949518245
Price: $19.99 USD, $26.50 CAD, £17.99 GBP
Ages: 16 and up
Genre(s): Comics & Graphic Novels / LGBTQ+ / Romance / Anthologies
Page Count: 144 pages
Format: Paperback 

On Sale: October 18, 2022

WHEREVER YOU ARE, THERE IS HOME.

The flutter of first dates, the thrill of a text-back, the heart-stopping seconds before coming out, and the rush when finally discovering who you truly are – all of these life-changing moments across the full spectrum of LGBTQIA+ experience are ready to explore in this bright and inspiring comics anthology! The Color of Always is a collection of personal stories, testimonies, heirlooms, evocations, and evangelisms for queer creators and readers that celebrates feeling good about who you are, and coming into your own at last.

Featuring stories and art from BRENT FISHER, MARIO CANDELARIA, PRIYA SAXENA, MICHELE ABOUNADER, JAZZLYN STONE, ELISA ROMBOLI, LAURA HELSBY, RACHEL DISTLER, KATIE HICKS, LIANA KANGAS, and many more!

CREATOR BIO(s)

Michele Abounader spent most of her early life reading and writing poetry while wandering around rural upstate New York. Now she’s made the move into creating comics as a way to bring her stories to life. Leaning into the editing side of comics creating, she loves to find ways to encourage other creators in telling their stories authentically, and to help them find their voice. In addition to The Color of Always, she is currently editing/curating Sharp Wit & the Company of Women, Everything is Different Now with Justin Richards, and Etheres with Anas Abdulhak and Dennis Menheere.

Brent Fisher is a published comics writer and editor. Their passion lies in using storytelling as a vehicle of empathy to bring disparate groups closer together. Their writing can be found in many comic anthologies including Project Big Hype, Femme Fatale, Off Into the Sunset, Amongst the Stars, From the Static, Containment Breach Vol. 3, and Color of Always. Their most recent work, “The Unseen,” was created in collaboration with artist Rachel Distler and is part of Dandy Presents Penny Dreadfuls, published by Source Point Press. Brent is also part of the Phoenix Comics Collective, a group of indie comics makers who share resources, advice, and encouragement to boost each other’s work and contribute to the independent comics-making scene.

FULL CREATOR LISTING: Michele Abounader, Susan Bridges, Tilly Bridges, Mario Candelaria, Rachel Distler, Brent Fisher, Jenny Fleming, Brittany “Briggsy” Gonzalez, Christa Harader, Laura Helsby, Katie Hicks, Lillian Hochwender, , Liana Kangas, Kaj E Kunstmann, Nathan Long, Elizabeth Malette, Gabe Martini, Julia Paiewonsky, Christie Porter, Alex Putprush, Elisa Romboli, Priya Saxena, Jazzlyn Stone, Tench, Alina Wahab

KEY SELLING POINTS

  • HOPEFUL & INSPIRING: While tackling some of life’s weighty and dramatic moments, the personal stories in COLOR OF ALWAYS are bright and light, authentically exploring the LGBTQIA+ experience in a way that makes you feel great about who you are.

  • MEANT FOR SHARING: Romantic but not explicit or erotic, THE COLOR OF ALWAYS is highly giftable and perfect for sharing with anyone on a journey of discovering their identity (or who loves someone who is!).

  • SLICE-OF-LIFE ROMANCE: While largely drawing on romantic themes, THE COLOR OF ALWAYS focuses on the slice-of-life aspects of first dates, meet-cutes, and waiting for that special person to text back, making an intriguing sub-genre of its own for romance readers interested in a new approach.

  • ENGAGED CREATIVE TEAM: Michelle and Brent are experienced anthology editors who are actively engaged in the LGBTQ comics community. Their crowdfund campaign for THE COLOR OF ALWAYS was fully funded in one week and doubled its goal. The book’s contributors collectively reach more than 100K fans across platforms.

 

ERIC GLICKMAN TALKS CAMP POCK-A-WOCKNEE

By Uncategorized,

Combining the nostalgic mood of The Wonder Years, the raucousness of Superbad, and the adolescent angst of Pen15, this 300-page graphic novel juxtaposes classic, black and white, comic strip art with stories that capture the tension created when the innocence of childhood crashes into the messiness of adolescence.

Eric Glickman is part of his family’s three generations that all went to the same Jewish sleepaway camp. Following in his parents’ footsteps, Eric spent 10 summers there as a camper, waiter, and counselor. Later, his three children also went there for many summers. In this interview, Glickman discusses CAMP POCK-A-WOCKNEE AND THE DYNOMITE SUMMER OF ’77.

DIAMOND: What is CAMP POCK-A-WOCKNEE AND THE DYNOMITE SUMMER OF ’77?

ERIC GLICKMAN: Camp Pock-a-Wocknee and the DYN-O-MITE Summer of ’77 is a 300-page coming-of-age graphic novel a celebrating all of the magic, memories, and mishegas that make up summers at Jewish sleepaway camp. Mashing up a nostalgic mood similar to The Wonder Years with the teenage rambunctiousness of a Superbad, Camp Pock-a-Wocknee combines cute, black & white, comic strip-style art with an R-rated story to capture the tension created when the innocence of childhood crashes into the messiness of adolescence. 

How did this graphic novel come about as a project?

I am one of three generations that all went to the same Jewish sleepaway camp in Pennsylvania – my parents met there, my brothers and I went there, and all three of my kids went there. I went to camp for ten summers (5 as a camper, 2 as a waiter, and 3 as a counselor) and like many Jewish kids, I had some of the most memorable times of my life there. I really wanted to create a story based on those amazing memories. I worked for 8 years, writing, drawing, rewriting, redrawing and eventually inking the story of a dorky 15-year-old boy who wants to hang out with his best friends, and find a girlfriend, fall in love, and maybe, finally get to 2nd base. Andrew Benteau at Black Panel Press loved my art and my story… and the rest is history!

Tell us about Jewish sleepaway camp. Why set the story there?

Jewish sleepaway camp has all so many fantastic elements for a coming-of-age story: living in a cabin with your best friends, the ever-present possibility of a summer romance, quirky adult characters, time-honored traditions, myths & legends, and tons of activities. When I went to camp, the 8 weeks always felt like it had this great dramatic arc to them – almost like we were in a movie. And because Jewish sleepawy camp is this unique, insular world, I felt like I could share a story that was nostalgic and timeless at the same time.

Is this the first creator-owned book for you?

Yes.

Is this a kids book?

Well, I put a little burst on the cover that says “WARNING! This is NOT a book for kids”

Looking forward, what can readers expect from CAMP POCK-A-WOCKNEE AND THE DYNOMITE SUMMER OF ’77?

Right now, I just want to share this story with as many people as possible. But who knows, maybe I’ll create a sequel –  Camp Pock-a-Wocknee: The Waiter Years

In terms of audience, who is this book for?

Obviously, it is for anyone who ever went to Jewish sleepaway camp. But honestly, I think this book is for anyone who loves coming-of-age stories, the 70s, needs a good laugh, or was ever 15-years-old.         

RODNEY BARNES TALKS BLACULA: RETURN OF THE KING

By Uncategorized,

Los Angeles – the City of Angels. Two souls. One is looking for vengeance and one is looking for the truth. They have one thing in common: they are both searching for the legendary vampire Blacula. But Blacula is also on a mission…

In this interview, wrtier RODNEY BARNES discusses the first book coming from Zombie Love Studios Blacula: Return of the King.

DIAMOND: For those who aren’t familiar, can you tell us about Zombie Love Studios (ZLOS)? What are the goals and direction of your company?

RODNEY BARNES: As I started to venture more into creator-owned work, I found myself looking for the right home. Image has been terrific, but I didn’t think that they—or any publisher for that matter—would be open to publishing the sheer volume of stories I had in my head. As well, certain titles—say Blacula for instance, were so nuanced that I couldn’t figure out a pitch that would speak to all of my goals. So I decided to create my own studio where I could develop horror, mystery, and science fiction books that embodied the tone I was bringing to Blacula.

 

Tell us about embarking on your publishing journey. What led to the decision to launch a publishing house?

Well, it’s a lot tougher than I imagined lol. A lot more moving parts, and every day I’m educated on some new facet of the business. Let’s just say I’m a lot more empathetic to publishers these days. In regards to the decision, it was really about wanting the freedom to come up with an idea and immediately breathe life into it. Stories that some larger and more established publishers may not see as viable, but speak directly to my style of storytelling. That kind of freedom was what I was seeking. But freedom, as they say, costs.

 

Can you give us some insight into your upcoming title Blacula: Return of the King?

I loved the movie Blacula when I saw it way back when. As I got older and returned to it, I saw places where it was problematic. So I longed for the opportunity to not only fill those gaps, but to bring that character into the 21st century with the same elegance that Dracula and other classic monsters have been given. And in regard to the art, I can say with all honesty that Jason Shawn Alexander knocked the look of the character out of the park. And I’m pretty pleased with the story, so hopefully fans will feel the same.

 

What was it like working with the other creators on this title?

It was an honor. Jason is like a brother at this point. Our collaboration on Killadelphia and Nita Hawes Nightmare Blog has tied us together for life. He serves as creative director at Zombie Love, so when new artists and designers come through the door, I know they’re going to be great.

 

If readers could take one thing from Blacula: Return of the King, what would it be?

That stories grounded in themes of race, culture, and societal issues can be fun. Blacula: Return of the King is a labor of love. It’s brought to life by folks passionate about horror. As such, that spirit permeates every panel. This volume, Return of the King, is the first part of a trilogy, so readers will have the opportunity to become immersed in not only Prince Mamuwalde, but other monsters making their mark on a new world.

 

What other titles can we expect from ZLOS in the future?

ZLOS will be publishing:

Crownsville: A Ghost Story, set in an abandoned mental hospital.

The Butcher of Black Bottom – a mystery set in 1920s Detroit where a serial killer has set upon a small town.

Florence & Normandie – an alien attack extravaganza ignited on the infamous corner associated with the Rodney King riots.

 

All books are being published in both soft and hardcover trade editions.

The Golem of Venice Beach: Vol. 1

By Featured Graphic Novels,

THE GOLEM OF VENICE BEACH VOLUME 1

Published by Clover Press

Written by: Chanan Beizer
Illustrated by: Vanessa Cardinali, Bill Sienkiewicz, Jae Lee, Steve Bissette, Nick Pitarra, Michael Allred, Paul Pope, Laura Allred
ISBN: 9781951038601
Price: $40.00 USD, $53.00 CAD, £35.99 GBP
Ages: 16 and up
Genre(s): Comics & Graphic Novels / Horror 
Page Count: 152 pages
Format: Harcover

On Sale: November 15, 2022

Eisner-award winning artists Michael Allred, Stephen R. Bissette, Jae Lee, Paul Pope, and Bill Sienkiewicz, artist Nick Pitarra (co-creator of The Manhattan Projects), artist Vanessa Cardinali (Image Comics’ Slumber), letterer Clem Robins (Hellboy) and debut comic book writer Chanan Beizer have teamed up to create an all-new graphic novel, The Golem of Venice Beach. This 152-page epic about the adventures of a 400-year-old Golem spans from 16th century Europe to the horrors of World War II to modern day Venice Beach, where the Golem becomes entangled in a war between a gang and the police. The Golem of Venice Beach is both a riveting narrative and a celebration of Southern California.

The Golem of Venice Beach features a wrap-around cover and a seven-page prologue by artist Bill Sienkiewicz (Moon Knight) that showcases the Golem’s creation in the year 1580.

Jae Lee (The Inhumans) and colorist June Chung provide a ten-page flashback sequence that depicts how the Golem was resurrected during World War Two.

Award-winning artists Michael Allred and Laura Allred (Madman) have designed a visual map of Venice Beach that captures everything weird and wonderful about the bohemian spirit that permeates the neighborhood.

Paul Pope, Nick Pitarra, and (returning to comics!) Stephen R. Bissette provide amazing additional pages of art to round out this amazing hardcover from Clover Press.

KEY SELLING POINTS

  • AUTHENTIC VOICE. Story written by a Jewish writer well versed in Jewish history and literature.
  • DIVERSIFIES SHELVES. Broadens the typcial mythology found on shelves beyond the typical super-hero and horror fare.
  • QUALITY FORMAT. The book is printed on high grade paper in a durable hardcover format.
  • LEGENDARY ART TEAM. Bill Sienkiewicz, Nick Pitarra, Michael Allred, Stephen Bissette, Jae Lee, Paul Pope, Vanessa Cardinali — some of the most well known and popular artists in the comics industry!
 

Side Effects

By Featured Graphic Novels,

SIDE EFFECTS

Published by AfterShock

Written by: Ted Anderson
Illustrated by: Tara O’Connor
ISBN: 9781956731088
Price: $17.99 USD, $23.99 CAD, £15.99 GBP
Ages: 13 and up
Genre(s): Comics & Graphic Novels / Young Adult Fiction / Science Fiction / Coming Of Age / LGBTQ+
Page Count: 112 pages
Format: Paperback 

On Sale: October 18, 2022

HANNAH DOESN’T WANT TO BE A HERO. SHE JUST WANTS TO BE WELL.

It’s Hannah’s first year away at college – the first time she’s been away from home, without a support network. Within the first month, the combination of classes and socializing and adjusting to college life sends her into a full-on breakdown. Fortunately, her roommate finds her, Hannah goes to campus mental health, and they prescribe her therapy and meds – though with every new medication, you’ve got to watch out for unexpected side effects.

Every new medication Hannah tries comes with a new power and side effect. One makes her super-tough, and also makes her gain thirty pounds. Another gives her telepathy, while also completely screwing up her sleep schedule. Yet another gives her super-strength, as well as terrible constipation.

Nothing balances, but the powers are handy; Hannah even manages to save a few of her friends from mortal peril, or at least minor annoyances. And with the growing confidence from her powers and her therapy, Hannah even manages to ask out the cute girl she’s been eyeing!

Hannah doesn’t want to be a hero – she just wants to be well. But what does “well” even look like? What does it mean to be “healthy,” mentally speaking? How do you fix your brain when you’re living inside it? And can you really help other people if you can’t even help yourself?

CREATOR BIO(s)

Ted Anderson is a librarian, educator, and comics writer from Minnesota. He has written licensed and creator-owned comics for multiple publishers, including BOOM! Studios, IDW Publishing, and Aftershock Comics. He lives in Minneapolis with several plants and zero regrets. To the best of his knowledge, he is not an internationally renowned spy.

Tara O’Connor is comic maker and illustrator currently residing in Belfast. She was born in the year of the Highlander. When she’s not drawing comics or teaching comics, she’s probably working on an illustration of some sort.

KEY SELLING POINTS

  • FAMILIAR TONE: This story is a mix of Giant Days and Ben 10 and is similarly a slice of life dramedy with light magical realism.
  • MENTAL HEALTH: This story tackles mental health, medication, and therapy in a positive and supportive way and shows how someone’s life is improved by the medication they take.
  • RELATABLE: This story will be relatable to contemporary young adults.

Hakim’s Odyssey Trilogy

By Featured Graphic Novels,

A Remarkable Recounting of a Human Journey Through an Inhumane World

“[A] stupendous testimony of survival.”

                     ―starred review, Booklist

“An incredible story about maintaining hope despite facing overwhelming odds.”

                     ―starred review, Foreword Reviews

“This work powerfully brings home for readers the horrors of this global crisis and the impossible choices migrants must make.”

                     ―starred review, Publishers Weekly

Captivating and deeply moving, Hakim’s Odyssey is the critically acclaimed true story of one Syrian refugee’s flight from that war-torn country to what should be a new life in Europe. It lays bare the realities of war and the tremendous effects that the policies of wealthy nations and the attitudes of their people have on the lives of the displaced and dispossessed.

Alternately heart-warming and heart-wrenching, Hakim’s Odyssey is necessary reading for our times.

Make Hakim’s Odyssey Part of Your Collection Today!

HAKIM'S ODYSSEY TRILOGY

Published by GRAPHIC MUNDI

Written by: Fabien Toulme, Hanna Chute (translator)
Illustrated by: Fabien Toulme
ISBN: 9781637790311 / 9781637790083 / 9781637790007
Price: $29.95 USD, $39.99 CAD, £25.95 GBP, €30.95 EUR
Ages: 16 and up
Genre(s): Comics & Graphic Novels / Nonfiction / Biography & Memoir / Social Science / Emigration & Immigration
Page Count: 272 / 264 / 256 pages
Format: Hardcover

Volume 1 – 3 Available Now!

Creator Bio(s)

Fabien Toulmé (born 1980 in Orléans) is a French comic book writer and illustrator.

Originally trained as an engineer, he became known to the wider public for his autobiographical graphic novel, Ce n’est pas toi que j’attendais (“It’s not you I was waiting for”), in which he describes his personal struggle with his second daughter being born with Down Syndrome.

He is also know for his work Les Deux Vies de Baudouin and has published the Hakim’s Odyssey trilogy, translations of which are forthcoming from Graphic Mundi.

You can read Foreword Reviews interview with Fabien HERE.

TORONTO COMIC ARTS FESTIVAL: Family Ties -- Personal and Global Conflicts in Comics

Whether it’s a deeply personal issue like facing an eating disorder, or a global issue like war or immigration, it will affect not only you but also your family. How do personal and global conflicts impact our own identities and our family relationships? Join Maggie Edkins Willis (Smaller Sister), Fabien Toulmé (Hakim’s Odyssey), and Dave Ortega (Días de Consuelo) as they explore family relationships and identity in comics.

Watch here

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MINE!: A Celebration of Liberty and Freedom for All Benefitting Planned Parenthood

By Featured Graphic Novels,

MINE!: A Celebration of Liberty and Freedom for All Benefitting Planned Parenthood

Published by Comicmix

Written by: Various
Illustrated by: Various
ISBN: 9781939888655
Price: $24.95 USD, $33.50 CAD
Ages: 13 and up
Genre(s): Comics & Graphic Novels / Anthologies / Contemporary Women
Page Count: 304 pages
Format: Paperback

Available Now!

Planned Parenthood, and the millions of people they help each year, need every bit of help they can get. Mine! is a comics anthology with the proceeds going to Planned Parenthood. Join Eisner, Harvey, Oscar, and Emmy award winning creators for stories about trailblazing women, civil rights leaders, a person’s first time going to a PP clinic, debunking myths about sex, STI screenings, HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention, fantastical stories with superheroes, Greek mythology, and a future both with and without Planned Parenthood.

Preview Pages

Elle(s) Volume 1: The New Girl

By Featured Graphic Novels,

ELLE(S) VOLUME 1: THE NEW GIRL

Published by Ablaze

Written by: Kid Toussaint
Illustrated by: Aveline Stokart
ISBN: 9781684970933
Price: $10.99 USD, $14.99 CAD, £9.99 GBP
Ages: 12 and up
Genre(s): Comics & Graphic Novels / Young Adult Fiction / Coming Of Age / LGBTQ+ / Mental Health / Science Fiction
Page Count: 120 pages
Format: Paperback

On Sale: November 15, 2022

Elle is just another teenage girl… most of the time. Bubbly and good-natured, she wastes no time making friends on her first day at her new school. But Elle has a secret: she hasn’t come alone.
 
She’s brought with her a colorful mix of personalities, which come out when she least expects it… Who is Elle, really? And will her new friends stand by her when they find out the truth?

ABLAZE proudly presents Elle(s), a vibrant, imaginative new series. Featuring brilliant, Pixar-esque art from Aveline Stokart, and an engaging story by Kid Toussaint that brings moments of real emotion, mystery, intrigue and humor together during the epic highs and lows of high school.

Key Selling Point(s)

QUEST FOR IDENTITY: Follow Elle on her quest to find out where she came from and why she’s experiencing all these different personalities, which also touches on mental health awareness.

GORGEOUS “PIXAR-ESQUE” ART: Aveline Stokart’s art truly shines in this series. Facial expressions depicting character’s emotions are displayed brilliantly (and often humorously). There is a very strong use of color and a beautiful style used throughout the series.

MIX OF SCIFI/FANTASY, COMING OF AGE & COMEDY: Elles combines a mix of genres, to create something new, wholly refreshing and entertaining.

POPULAR CREATOR: Artist Aveline Stokart has over 325K+ Instagram followers. https://www.instagram.com/aveline_stokart/?hl=en
More work can be viewed on her website: https://www.avelinestokart.com/

RELATABLE MOMENTS: Through Elle’s interactions with her school mates, relatable moments include the awkwardness of first love, the terrors that accompany giving a presentation in front of the whole class and more.

FRIENDSHIPS WITH DEPTH: See Elle and her friends having fun and enjoying events like Halloween, New Year, and sleepovers…wholesome and heart-warming interactions that give a new depth and longevity to Elle’s friendships with her peers.

EMOTIONAL PAYOFF: An incredible story of self-exploration, friendship, and internal struggle. Containing moments of genuine mystery and intrigue throughout.

Marketing Campaign

  • National review coverage through major outlets
  • National press release coverage promoting Aveline Stokart and Kid Toussaint
  • Targeted outreach to booksellers through the American Booksellers Association and other major outlets
  • Social media shareables including Facebook banners and profile avatars, Twitter banners and avatars, Instagram post and story assets (see below for download)
  • Promotional Items: book trailer, posters, tote bags for giveaway at key trade shows (see below to download)
  • Facebook and Instagram advertising targeting parents of middle-graders 
  • Cross promote with creators on social media 
  • Spotlight on creator websites 
  • Email campaign featuring promotional assets, information about the book, and more to independent booksellers, wholesaler buyers, librarians, and consumers through preorder, on sale, and follow through
  • Social media campaign of bi-weekly posts through preorder, on sale, and follow through
  • Promotional influencer campaign targeting graphic novel enthusiasts, middle grade parents, and more
  • Cross promote through back of book ads in print comics and trades
  • Online trade advertising campaign to independent booksellers, wholesaler buyers, librarians, and consumers through preorder, on sale, and follow through
  • Edelweiss Title Banner Inserts

Creator Bio(s)

AVELINE STOKART is visual development artist and comic book artist living in Belgium. From an early age, she showed a particular interest in drawing, a natural fit, as she is highly curious and observant, quite sensitive, and marvels at the beauty held within the simplest of things. 

Fascinated by character design and creating universes for them, she develops a unique dimension to her creations by studying 3D Animation at the Haute Ecole Albert Jacquard in Belgium, where she graduated in 2011. 

Then, she continues her journey alone, since it’s in self-taught that she continues to learn more, having the will to deepen her knowledge in visual development. 

She currently works as a freelancer for various clients in the field of publishing and animation.

When she’s not drawing, Aveline likes to express herself musically, by singing, and playing the guitar, piano and the ukulele.

Website | Instagram | Facebook | Pintrest | YouTube 

KID TOUSSAINT, born in Belgium, is an author and translator who has also worked in the audiovisual sector. His specialty, it’s safe to say, is comics, with an impressive and quickly growing collection of successful series. 
 
His portfolio includes the collaborative project Magic 7 as well as Télémaque, a Homerian reboot created alongside Kenny Ruiz. And in 2019, this list grew further with Kid Noize, about the Belgian DJ phenom of the same name, and Animal Jack, bringing to life a young boy who just happens to be a shape-shifter.
 
His most recent work includes the groundbreaking Elle(s) alongside artist Aveline Stokart.
 

Promotional Assets

Download Sell Sheet
Coming November 2022 Poster Printable
Available Now Poster Printable
Coming November 2022 Social Post

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Blitz Volume 1

By Featured Graphic Novels,

BLITZ VOLUME 1

Published by Ablaze

Written by: Cédric Biscay, Harumo Sanazaki
Illustrated by: Daitaro Nishihara
ISBN: 9781684970766
Price: $12.99 USD, $17.50 CAD, £11.99 GBP
Ages: 12 and up
Genre(s): Comics & Graphic Novels / Manga / Sports / School Life
Page Count: 224 pages
Format: Paperback

On Sale: September 27, 2022

As seen in the pages of Shonen Jump, BLITZ is a new shonen manga exploring the elite world of chess!

Immerse yourself into the world of chess, where intuition and mental agility are precious assets on the way to victory!

Tom, a young high school student, has a crush on his classmate Harmony. When he learns about her passion for chess, Tom quickly decides to sign up for the school’s chess club.But he doesn’t even know the rules! To impress Harmony, he is left with no choice: he must learn quickly and train seriously.

Soon Tom discovers the existence of Garry Kasparov, the greatest player in the history of chess. He stumbles upon a virtual reality machine that promises to help him analyze the most legendary matches of the master!

In an unexpected twist of event, Tom soon is granted access to the highest echelons of the chess…

Bonus material included:
In each volume, chess games are explained move by move to allow you to better understand the strategy. To facilitate further understanding, a chess lexicon and annotations are included.

Key Selling Point(s)

EDUCATIONAL CROSS-OVER: In each volume, chess games are explained move by move to allow readers to better understand the strategy of the game. To facilitate understanding, a chess lexicon and annotations are also supplied.

CELEBRITY ENDORSEMENT/CONSULTANT: One of the greatest chess players of all time, Gary Kasparov consults and helps oversee development on the series.

Book Trailer

Thunderous

By Featured Graphic Novels,

THUNDEROUS

Published by Dynamite Entertainment

Written by: M.L. Smoker, Natalie Peeterse
Illustrated by: Dale Ray Deforest
ISBN: 9781948206464
Price: $16.99 USD, $22.99 CAD, £14.99 GBP
Ages: 8 and up
Genre(s): Juvenile Fiction / Legends, Myths, Fables / Indigenous Peoples of the Americas / Comics & Graphic Novels / Action & Adventure / Fantasy
Page Count: 96 pages
Format: Paperback

On Sale: April 26, 2022

If Aiyana hears one more traditional Lakota story, she’ll scream! More interested in her social media presence than her Native American heritage, Aiyana is shocked when she suddenly finds herself in a magical world-with no cell coverage!

Pursued by the trickster Raven, Aiyana struggles to get back home, but is helped by friends and allies she meets along the way. Her dangerous journey through the Spirit World tests her fortitude and challenges her to embrace her Lakota heritage. But will it be enough to defeat the cruel and powerful Raven?

Key Selling Point(s)

AUTHENTIC VOICES: This story is told from the voices of Native American/First Nation artist and writer.

CELEBRATED AUTHORS: M.L. Smoker is a celebrated poet and Montana’s current Poet Laureate. Natalie Peeterse’s work Black Birds: Blue Horse and Elegy won the Gold Line Press Poetry Prize in 2011.

HIGH-INTEREST: A modern story of a young girl clashes with traditional indigenous storytelling.

VIBRANT ART: Dale Ray Deforest employs high-contrast and thick lines to convey bold imagery, matched with bright and vivid colors to express and captivate thought and expression.

THRILLING & EXHILARATING STORY: A girl bored of her grandmother’s traditional Lakota storytelling and more interested in her social media, is thrust into the magical Spirit World. It is an epic story of her journey back to her roots.

Creator Bio(s)

M.L. SMOKER belongs to the Assiniboine and Sioux tribes of the Fort Peck Reservation in north-eastern Montana. She is Montana’s current Poet Laureate. She holds an MFA from the University of Montana in Missoula, where she was the recipient of the Richard Hugo Fellowship. She is also a graduate of Pepperdine University, and attended UCLA and the University of Colorado. Smoker Broaddus currently works for the Office of Public Instruction as the Director of Indian Education. She has spent the past seven years overseeing the work of statewide Indian Education for All Efforts and the Schools of Promise initiative, which seeks to turnaround the states lowest performing schools. In 2015, she was named the Indian Educator of Year by the National Indian Education Association. She was also recently appointed to the National Advisory Council on Indian Education by President Barack Obama. She was formerly an administrator in her home community of Frazer, Montana for three years. She has taught courses at Fort Peck Community College and the University of Montana. She has published one collection of poems, Another Attempt at Rescue (Hanging Loose Press, 2005). She has also served as a writer and consultant on the PBS documentaries Before There Were Parks and Indian Relay (which earned her a regional Emmy award).

NATALIE PEETERSE has an MFA from the University of Montana. Her chapbook Black Birds : Blue Horse, An Elegy won the Gold Line Press Poetry Prize in 2011. A second chapbook, Dreadful : Luminosity, Letters, was published by Educe Press in the spring of 2017. She was included in I Go to the Ruined Place: Contemporary Poems in Defense of Global Human Rights (Lost Horse Press), and several other anthologies. She has been a fellow with the Arizona Commission on the Arts, a participant at the Squaw Valley Community of Writers, an artist in residence at the Caldera Institute, a participant in the 2018 US Poets in Mexico in Merida, Yucatan and most recently a Visiting Scholar at the University of Washington’s Whiteley Center at the Friday Harbor Laboratories. She is a recipient of the 2013 Artist Innovation Award by the Montana Arts Council. She lives in Helena, Montana.

DALE RAY DEFOREST grew up in the 4-Corners area of the Navajo Nation, around Shiprock and Farmington, New Mexico. He graduated High School from the Navajo Preparatory School in 1995 then studied 2-D Arts and Photography at the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe; also graduated IAIA in the summer of 2000. Dale’s primary practice is sequential and Digital Illustration. He employs high-contrast and thick lines to convey bold imagery matched with bright and vivid colors. Artwork that can be used to not only express, but captivate and manipulate thought and action has always been Dale’s goal as an artist.

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