Captain Amazing, the hometown hero of Metro City, is so busy catching criminals that he rarely has time for his pets — he hasn’t even noticed they’ve been developing superpowers of their own!
So when Captain Amazing announces he needs a sidekick, his eager pets — a dog, a hamster, and a chameleon — all decide to audition for the part and a chance for one-on-one time with the Captain. But while each pet is focused on winning the coveted sidekick spot, an even bigger battle in Metro City is about to unleash…
Story: Dan Santat Art: Dan Santat
Get your copy now! To find a comic shop near you, visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook or digitally and online with the links below.
Graphix provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we’ll receive a percentage of the sale. Graphic Policy does purchase items from this site. Making purchases through these links helps support the site
It’s an itty-bitty beaded bonanza! With over 3,500 seed beads in 9 different colors, you can make 24 oh-so-small designs, including: watermelon, mushroom, lizard, flamingo, rainbow, and one seriously small strawberry. Did we mention the rubber chicken? This kit comes with everything you need to turn your beadlings into charm bracelets, key chains, and more!
We check out this cute and fun art craft kit that seems like a nice starter kit for kids interesting in a beaded bonanza!
Klutz provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we’ll receive a percentage of the sale. Graphic Policy does purchase items from this site. Making purchases through these links helps support the site
The 25th anniversary Baltimore Comic-Con is this upcoming September 20-22 at the Inner Harbor’s Baltimore Convention Center! The Baltimore Comic-Con features Family Alley in 2024, sponsored by Scholastic at the 25th Anniversary event! Explore the convention website for information on ticketing, guests, cosplay events, gaming, and more!
This year, the Family Alley is sponsored by Scholastic. Scholastic’s Graphix imprint celebrates 20 years of graphic novels for kids. As the home of kid-favorite and best-selling graphic novels, including Dog Man, Amulet, and Smile, Graphix knows the power of comics to instill a love of reading in children that lasts a lifetime.
Carolyn Belefski creates and publishes original comics and illustrations, including her comic strip Curls. She is artist of the comic books Black Magic Tales, French Fry Club, and The Legettes. Her freelance projects range from working with BOOM! Studios on Cartoon Network’s Adventure Time comic book to commissioned comics for the Obama White House. Carolyn currently serves as Washington, DC chapter chair of the National Cartoonists Society and recently served on the Board of Directors. She has conceived and orchestrated the NCS Activity Book featuring over 50 creators with a cover by Sergio Aragonés, which she colored. She has also worked on a variety of anthology projects including Mine!, Magic Bullet, Rise: Comics Against Bullying, Cartoonists Draw Blood, and District Comics: An Unconventional History of Washington, DC. She was nominated for the Kim Yale New Talent Award from Friends of Lulu and was recognized as a runner-up for Best Visual Artist from Washington City Paper. Carolyn also designs and produces wearable art such as bandanas, enamel pins, and more.
Joe Carabeo is a writer and co-creator with Carolyn Belefski on comic properties The Legettes, French Fry Club, and Black Magic Tales. As Curls Studio, they have toured the convention scene with since 2007. He has also worked on a variety of anthology projects including Magic Bullet, Cartoonists Draw Blood, and District Comics: An Unconventional History of Washington, DC. Joe is a filmmaker with Astray Productions. In addition to his own work, he uses his directing and camera talent to work with The First Lady of the United States, Dr. Jill Biden, Madeline Albright, The Beach Boys, Olivia Jean from Third Man Records, My Kid Brother from Ruthless Records, Professional Wrestler Sonjay Dutt, U2’s Bono, ABC, NBC, Showtime, Epix, TLC, Bravo, DC Lottery, NASA, Under Armour, Papa John’s Pizza, Jerry’s Subs, Chef Spike Mendelsohn, Chef Carla Hall, Van Metre, Northwestern Mutual, and many more.
Deans Family Productions (Robert / Sam Kidlet / Elinda)
Deans Family Productions (DFP) is a family-owned and operated company creating children’s books, comics, artwork, and toys. Started by Robert Deans in 2014 with the debut of Robert’s Shakes The Cow in the book Moo Thousand and Pun, DFP has quickly developed a reputation for quality all-ages products, all with a dash of “Dad Humor.” Following Moo Thousand, a second series for young readers, The Bear from AUNT spy adventures featuring Stanley The Bear was created. More series, including soft-boiled noir serials, “Choose Your Own” solo gamebooks, and picture books featuring original creations The MooseLambs have since followed. Robert’s wife Elinda has since created a line of handmade toys of DFP characters, including some in “cowsplay.” DFP also publishes an exclusive line of comics – The Mighty Hippofartamus – featuring a superhero co-created by Robert and his then-nine-year-old Kidlet! DFP strives to make books, toys, and more that will delight children and adults alike. Find them online at grandpunwick.com and dfplinks.com.
Christopher Eliopoulos began his career as a letterer, working on thousands of comics. He’s also written and drawn many comics, including Franklin Richards: Son of a Genius, Lockjaw and the Pet Avengers, and the Eisner-nominated Cow Boy. He’s also written and drawn the graphic novels Cosmic Commandos and Monster Mayhem.
Along with Brad Meltzer, he’s illustrated the Ordinary People Change the World book series which they adapted to the PBSKids show, Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum.
He also wrote and drew the picture books The Yawns Are Coming!, The Giggles Are Coming!, A Little Emotional, and The Imaginoodles.
Chris Flick is a professional illustrator, cartoonist, caricaturist, and UI/UX web and graphic designer working in the Washington, DC area.
In 2007, he created the webcomic Capes & Babes featuring Roy the Werewolf. You can read all 1,200+ strips at www.capesnbabes.com. Chris has also collected those 12 years of strips into five trade paperback books and created three all ages coloring books on amazon.com.
Chris attends several conventions throughout the year where he primarily draws caricatures of people as werewolves and other monsters, sells mash-up posters, coloring books, stickers, and so much more. He also recently published a guide to tabling at conventions called Conventional Wisdom.
Franco created the Dino-Mike book series and worked on various comic properties, including the critically acclaimed Superman Family Adventures, Young Justice, Billy Batson and the Magic of Shazam, Superpowers, Akrhamaniacs,and the New York Times bestseller, multi-Eisner and Harvey Award-winning series Tiny Titans for DC Comics, as well as Grimiss Island and the Eisner Award-winning Itty Bitty Hellboy with Dark Horse Comics, and Little Archie for Archie Comics.
His latest work include Teen Titans Go to the Library, Deadman Tells the Spooky Tales (DC Comics), and his original Fae and the Moon (Little Bee).
Dawn Griffin is an illustrator/cartoonist specializing in kids and young adult material, with a flair for being “cute, funny, quirky, & inclusive”. She created the all-ages sci-fi/humor webcomic Zorphbert & Fred, boasting 4 books. She illustrated the kids books Abby’s Adventures published by Eifrig Publishing, and Ida Finds her Voice, which helps children and parents discuss tough topics together. She is currently working on a YA supernatural mystery graphic novel Watch, of which issue #1 was just released. Dawn has also contributed to multiple anthologies for Andrews McMeel Publishing, and Northwest Press. Her tagline “Creative Workhorse” may be an understatement.
Dan Parent is an American comic book artist and writer best known for his work for Archie Comics. A graduate of The Kubert School, Dan began working for Archie immediately after graduation. His writing of the Love Showdown series from 1994 received widespread attention. Dan has also illustrated Felix the Cat, Barbie, and co-created the comic series Die Kitty Die, and has worked for Disney Adventures, Dynamite, DC, and Valiant.
In 2010, Parent introduced the first openly gay character in Archie Comics when he created Kevin Keller in Veronica #202, which he wrote and drew. Kevin Keller got his own title with the publication of Kevin Keller #1 in 2012.
In May 2013, Parent was presented with the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comic Book. Dan was nominated for a 2013 Harvey Award for Special Award for Humor in Comics, and nominated again in 2014 and 2015 as a cover artist.
Dan has worked on many crossover titles, including team-ups with KISS, the B-52’s, Blondie, Batman ‘66, Glee, Sharknado, Predator, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, Vampirella, and Red Sonja.
In 2016, Dan published Die Kitty Die, which was funded through Kickstarter and subsequently published by Chapterhouse Comics. Three series have since followed.
Dan is currently working on titles celebrating Archie Comics’ 80th Anniversary, including special projects for the 60th Anniversaries of Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Josie and the Pussycats.
Tim Probert is an author and illustrator whose work is made of equal parts wonder, magic, and adventure, with a dose of monsters and the occasional dinosaur. In addition to making books, he is an art director at Aardman Nathan Love, working on projects for Nickelodeon, Kellogg’s, Coca-Cola, Candy Crush, and more. Tim lives in New York City with his wife and two cats.
Yale Stewart is a cartoonist, best known for his award-winning all-ages webcomic JL8. Outside of JL8, he’s worked for Marvel, Image, Dynamite, BOOM! Studios, and DC, most notably on the Amazing Adventures of Superman children’s books. He lives in his hometown of St. Louis with his wife and two pups.
This year’s confirmed guests for the show include: Arthur Adams (Longshot), Rodney Barnes (Killadelphia), Jeremy Bastian (Cursed Pirate Girl), John Beatty (Marvel Super Heroes: Secret Wars), Rose Besch (Miles Morales: Spider-Man), Russ Braun (The Boys), Brett Breeding (Superman), Tom Brevoort (courtesy of Hero Initiative, FCBD 2023: Avengers/X-Men), Mark Brooks (Immoral X-Men), Mark Buckingham (Fables), Jim Calafiore (NED, Lord of the Pit), Chris Campana (Amazing Spider-Man), Richard Case (Doom Patrol), Castillo Studios, Keith Champagne (Stranger Things), Howard Chaykin (Time Squared), Sean Chen (Genesis), Cliff Chiang (Paper Girls), Frank Cho (Harley Quinn), Michael Cho (Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories–Qui-Gon Jinn), Amy Chu (KISS: The End), Matthew Clark (Adventures of Superman, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Steve Conley (The Middle Age), Katie Cook (Nothing Special), Joe Corallo (King Arthur and the Knights of Justice, courtesy of Mad Cave Studios), Vito Delsante (Stray), Todd Dezago (The Perhapanauts), Rich Douek (A Phone Call Away, courtesy of Mad Cave Studios), Scott Dunbier (Jim Lee’s X-Men Artist’s Edition, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Danny Earls (The Incredible Hulk), Ben Edlund (The Tick), Chris Eliopoulos (Ordinary People Change the World), Steve Epting (New Avengers), David Finch (Moon Knight), Trish Forstner (Feral), Franco (Teen Titans Go to the Library), Sam Freeman (Hound, courtesy of Mad Cave Studios), Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (DC Nation), Ron Garney (BZRKR), Mitch Gerads (Mister Miracle), John Giang (courtesy of Macmancomics, Spider-Man), Sanford Greene (Bitter Root), Gene Ha (Mae), Garrett Gunn (courtesy of CBCS, Good Boy), Bob Hall (West Coast Avengers), Cully Hamner (Blue Beetle), Bo Hampton (Batman: Castle of the Bat), Scott Hanna (Amazing Spider-Man), Tony Harris (The Whistling Skull), Dean Haspiel (The Red Hook), Glenn Hauman (They Keep Killing Glenn), Mike Hawthorne (Deadpool), Marc Hempel (Sandman), Kyle Higgins (Radiant Black), Derek Hunter (Walking Dead: Small Bites), Jamie Jameson (American Gods), Nikkol Jelenic (Midnight Rose), J.G. Jones (Wanted), Dan Jurgens (Action Comics), Jamal Igle (Superman), Klaus Janson (courtesy of Hero Initiative, Daredevil), Dave Johnson (100 Bullets), Phillip Kennedy Johnson (Aliens), Joëlle Jones (Lady Killer), Chris Kemple (Artist Alley Comics), Karl Kesel (Impossible Jones), Tom King (Wonder Woman), Barry Kitson (Amazing Spider-Man), Scott Kolins (The Flash), Dan Krall (House of Night), Emma Kubert (Inkblot), Greg Land (Symbiote Spider-Man), Jim Lee (Superman, Friday and Saturday only), Lucas Lee-Garza (Friday and Saturday only, Wallow), Greg Land (Symbiote Spider-Man), Jeph Loeb (Batman: The Long Halloween), Sam Maggs (Marvel Action: Captain Marvel), Anthony Marques (The Green Hornet), Laura Martin (Nubia: Queeno f the Amazons), Shawn Martinbrough (Friday and Saturday only, Red Hood: The Hill), Ron Marz (Silver Surfer), Whitney Matheson (Pandemix: Quarantine Comics in the Age of ‘Rona), Jeff McClelland (The Tick), Charlie McElvy (Spider-Squirrel), Mike McKone (Red Goblin), Bill McKay (courtesy of CBCS, Zombie Tramp), Bob McLeod (New Mutants), Carla Speed McNeil (Finder), Adriana Melo (Action Comics), Al Milgrom (Spectacular Spider-Man), Terry Moore (Strangers in Paradise), Mark Morales (Thor), Drew Moss (Thundercats), Ian Chase Nichols (The Tick), Fabian Nicieza (courtesy of Hero Initiative, Deadpool), Tom Nguyen (The Switch), Jerome Opena (Uncanny X-Force), Ryan Ottley (Invincible), Chas! Pangburn (Double Booking, courtesy of Mad Cave Studios), Dan Parent (Sabrina the Teenage Witch), Andrew Pepoy (Simone & Ajax), David Petersen (Mouse Guard), Brandon Peterson (Uncanny X-Men), Khoi Pham (Star Wars: Darth Vader), Nick Pitarra (Ax-Wielder Jon), Stephen Platt (Moon Knight), Andy Price (My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic), Tim Probert (Lightfall), Joe Pruett(Black-Eyed Kids), Ron Randall (Trekker), Tom Raney (Green Lantern), Mark Redfield (Vampire Hunters Incorporated), Amy Reeder (Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur), Rod Reis (C.O.W.L.), Afua Richardson (Omni), Sam Romesburg (Hound, courtesy of Mad Cave Studios), Don Rosa (Uncle $crooge), Peter Rostovsky (Damnation Diaries), Jennifer Rouse (Frankenstein Mobster), Craig Rousseau (The Perhapanauts), Ethan Sacks (A Haunted Girl), Alex Saviuk (Web of Spider-Man), Stuart Sayger (The Joker), Alex Segura (Secret Identity, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Liam Sharp (X-O Manowar Unconquered), Don Simpson (Megaton Man), Louise Simonson (The Death of Superman 30th Anniversary Special), Walter Simonson (Thor), Matt Slay (Equilibrium), Matt Slay (Equalibrium), John K. Snyder III (Suicide Squad), Mark Sparacio (Omega Paradox), Jim Starlin (Dreadstar), Joe Staton (Dick Tracy), Ryan Stegman (X-23), Brian Stelfreeze (Black Panther), Paul D. Storrie (Storm Kids: Stanley’s Ghost), Karl Story (The Mandalorian), Joshua “Swayart” Swaby (Star Wars), Babs Tarr (Batgirl of Burnside), Martha Thomases (Second-Hand Rose), Peter Tomasi (Batman and Robin), David Trustman (Gregor!), Gus Vazquez (Sunfire and Big Hero Six), Robert Venditti (Tankers), Wade von Grawbadger (Justice League), Lee Weeks (Batman/Catwoman Special), Mark Wheatley (Skultar), Jeremy Whitley (Navigating With You, courtesy of Mad Cave Studios), Matt Wieringo (Stargate Atlantis: Gateways), Keith Williams (Thor the Worthy), Stephanie Williams (Nubia: Queen of the Amazons), G. Willow Wilson (Ms. Marvel), Rich Woodall (Electric Black), John Workman (Wild Things), David Yardin (Daredevil: Woman Without Fear), Kelly Yates (Doctor Who), Leinil Francis Yu (Wolverine), Thom Zahler (Love and Capes).
Unico awakes in a mysterious land and is befriended by a resourceful watch cat, Chloe, who feels protective of the young unicorn. When they find themselves near a small village in the forest, they take refuge with a kindly, but helpless, old woman. To take care of her, Chloe begs Unico to turn her into a human girl, but that act of kindness has unforeseen consequences: Unico’s love has awakened Venus and her minion, Byron, who want to destroy them both!
Created by: Osamu Tezuka Story: Samuel Sattin Art: Gurihiru
Get your copy in comic shops! To find a comic shop near you, visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook or digitally and online with the links below.
Graphix provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we’ll receive a percentage of the sale. Graphic Policy does purchase items from this site. Making purchases through these links helps support the site
Gurihiru and Samuel Sattin’s fantastic reimagining of Osamu Tezuka’s Unico, Unico Awakening, comes out from Scholastic tomorrow! Tezuka’s Unico tells the story of a fierce young unicorn who inspires with his hope and positivity. Unico is banished from the heavens by the envious goddess Venus and forgets all he once was, only to be saved from oblivion again and again by the kindhearted West Wind.
Written by Sattin with art by Gurihiru, Unico: Awakening marks the first ever manga publication from Scholastic. It’s the first volume of the highly anticipated, multi-volume publishing event will be released in 12 languages.
In Unico: Awakening, Unico awakens on Earth and is befriended by a resourceful cat named Chloe, who feels protective of the young unicorn. When they find themselves near a small village in the forest, they take refuge with a kind, but lonely, old woman. Chloe begs Unico to turn her into a human girl so she can help the old woman, but that act of kindness has unforeseen consequences: Unico’s use of his power alerts Venus to his location, and now she wants to destroy them both!
Sattin provided an exclusive quote as to his thoughts re-imagining a creation from Tezuka who is referred to as the “God of Manga.”
Unico’s story is propelled by the power of friendship. Wherever Unico goes, he meets new friends; it’s almost as if they’re drawn to him. And as he continues to help them, his power grows. Chloe’s relationship with Unico is one of the most powerful. She initially saves Unico when he wakes up in an unfamiliar city and is put in harm’s way. Soon after, she is abandoned by her beloved owner, and stops trusting humans as a result. So much so that she wants to become a human, in order to have the power to protect herself from them. Unico understands Chloe’s fears and agrees to help her…but becoming something that you’re not doesn’t come without consequences.
No matter what Chloe does, however, Unico will be there for her. And Chloe will in turn be there for Unico. The two of them have a friendship that transcends immediate wants and needs. Both abandoned in a way, they find a new family in each other’s company.
– Samuel Sattin
Get a look at some art from Unico: Awakening and get it at bookstores starting tomorrow and comic shops starting Wednesday!
The Eisner Award-winning artist team Gurihiru and the Eisner-nominated writer Samuel Sattin are reinventing creator Osamu Tezuka’s beloved character Unico for a new generation of readers. Beginning with Unico: Awakening, an all-new, 224 page manga with striking full color artwork, Gurihiru and Sattin are embarking on a multi-part adventure to be published by Scholastic.
Osamu Tezuka’s Unico tells the story of a fierce young unicorn who inspires with his hope and positivity. Unico is banished from the heavens by the envious goddess Venus and forgets all he once was, only to be saved from oblivion again and again by the kindhearted West Wind.
In Unico: Awakening, Unico awakens on Earth and is befriended by a resourceful cat named Chloe, who feels protective of the young unicorn. When they find themselves near a small village in the forest, they take refuge with a kind, but lonely, old woman. Chloe begs Unico to turn her into a human girl so she can help the old woman, but that act of kindness has unforeseen consequences: Unico’s use of his power alerts Venus to his location, and now she wants to destroy them both!
Unico: Awakeningmarks the first ever manga publication from Scholastic. The first volume of the highly anticipated, multi-volume publishing event will be released in 12 languages, reading left to right in the Western comics style to match the original manga.
To celebrate the release of Unico: Awakening, San Diego Comic-Con International 2024 will host a panel entitled “Discover the Magic of Osamu Tezuka: New Adventures for a New Generation!” The panel will celebrate the legacy of Osamu Tezuka, the creator of Astro Boy, who is known around the world as the God of Manga. Samuel Sattin will join manga editor/journalist Deb Aoki (Mangasplaining and Comics Beat), and manga translator Ben Applegate at San Diego Comic-Con International for a discussion of Tezuka’s enduring legacy and share an exclusive first look at Unico’s next adventure. The panel will take place on Thursday, July 25 from 2:00PM – 3:00PM in Room 28DE.
Some howling good news to readers and moviegoers alike. Scholastic has announced that a new book in the global publishing phenomenon Dog Man by Dav Pilkey will be published on December 3rd. DreamWorks Animation and Universal Pictures recently revealed that Dog Man, an animated feature film adaptation based on the blockbuster hit graphic novel series will be released in theaters worldwide in January 2025.
Dog Man: Big Jim Begins, the thirteenth book in the series, explores the origin story of Pilkey’s beloved Dog Man characters, and will land in stores in time for the holiday season and weeks before the global theatrical release of the movie. The announcement comes on the heels of the success of Dog Man: The Scarlet Shedder released in March of this year and seized the #1 spot as the bestselling book overall (adult and children’s books combined) for five straight weeks* in North America and topped bestseller lists around the world. Since the series launched to critical acclaim in August 2016, there are more than 60 million Dog Man books in print to date with translations in 47 languages.
With Dav Pilkey’s trademark humor and heart, the Dog Man series celebrates creativity and imagination and explores universally positive messages including the importance of doing good and striving to become a better version of one’s self, while it also tackles more complex themes including loss, redemption, and forgiveness. Most recently with Dog Man: The Scarlet Shedder, Dav Pilkey delved into the world of artificial intelligence while making a gripping and comical commentary about the impact of social media.
Cecil Hall and his family have just moved from Florida to Massachusetts, near Boston. Cecil is anxious about making friends because he doesn’t know where he’ll fit in. His older sister, Leah, thinks he should befriend the other black kids at his new school, but Cecil isn’t sure how he’d go about doing that. He wants to be known for his comics-making talent, anyway. But the few kids who are impressed by Cecil’s art aren’t always nice to him. When one of his drawings is misused and gets him into serious trouble, can Cecil stand up for himself and figure out who his real friends are?
Story: Jonathan Todd Art: Jonathan Todd Color: Dominique Ramsey
Get your copy now! To find a comic shop near you, visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook or digitally and online with the links below.
Scholastic provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we’ll receive a percentage of the sale. Graphic Policy does purchase items from this site. Making purchases through these links helps support the site
Aspiring artist Kacie spends most of her time on Mercer Street with her best friend, Nisha, people-watching and doodling whatever is happening in their neighborhood. But when she comes back from a summer away, the local corner store is boarded up, the adults in town are all on edge, and Nisha is nowhere to be found! Everything is changing, and Kacie’s not sure what to do about it. Especially without Nisha to help her.
Story: Booki Vivat Art: Booki Vivat Color: Joan Wirolinggo
Get your copy now! To find a comic shop near you, visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook or digitally and online with the links below.
Scholastic provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we’ll receive a percentage of the sale. Graphic Policy does purchase items from this site. Making purchases through these links helps support the site
There are a lot of comics coming out every week to be covered. Check out some of what we’ll be reviewing and this is only the beginning!
This week’s reviews include:
All is Nat Lost (Scholastic)
Absolute Zeros (Little Brown and Company)
The Baker and the Bard (Feiwel and Friends)
Feeding Ghosts (Farrar Straus and Giroux)
Forsynthia: Rise of the Cupcakes (Paw Prints Publishing)
Making Friends: Together Forever (Scholastic)
Table Titans Club (Holiday House)
Feiwel and Friends, Scholastic, Little Brown and Company, Farrar Straus and Giroux, Paw Prints Publishing, Holiday House provided Graphic Policy with FREE copies for review
