Tag Archives: graphic novels

Squalo & Mage vs. The Rage of The Bakunawa is a Middle Grade Graphic Novel Chock-Full of Video Game References, Filipino Folklore, and Fun, Funky Friendship

After losing her father in an attack by the evil Tikbalang, Mage and her best friend, Squalo (a shark), set off an important quest far from home to honor her father’s last wish—find the Bakunawa, the guardian of the sea.  But Mage and Squalo don’t know where to find the Bakunawa. And they’re being hunted by the minions of Ventrolio, the nightmare maker, who’s determined to find Mage no matter what. When their search leads them to tales of an angry bakunawa that would rather destroy ships and attack sailors than help them, they’re confused. Why would Mage’s father send them to someone so dangerous? And can Mage and Squalo uncover the truth before the Bakunawa unleashes her wrath and plunges all of Mundo into chaos?

By Kara Bodegón-Hikino, Squalo & Mage vs. The Rage of The Bakunawa is an epic, middle grade graphic novel debut chock-full of video game references, Filipino folklore, and fun, funky friendship. It comes to stores May 26, 2026. Order your copy from Bookshop, Amazon, your local comic shop or bookstore, and more!

Squalo & Mage vs. The Rage of The Bakunawa

One Path Book Two, The White King, a Breakneck Prehistoric Pursuit Across Forest, Valley, and Bone

The 2026 Independent Press Award–winning One Path Book 1 introduced readers to a brutal prehistory where survival is law and mercy is weakness. Now, Mad Cave Studios returns to that savage landscape with One Path Book Two, The White King, a 208-page descent into obsession and vengeance to protect what the world has condemned!

From acclaimed writer and artist Greg Broadmore and writer Andy Lanning, the saga deepens into a relentless pursuit, tightening the chase and stripping survival down to instinct.

In a brutal, breathtaking prehistory where cavegirls fight desperately to survive and dinosaurs rule the valleys, One Path flees her tribe with a “cursed” infant, which she refuses to abandon. With a fierce young Runtling at her side, she drives toward the mythic Towers – vast, earthen spires said to hold life-saving sap, a treacle rich enough to keep the starving child alive.

Behind them, love twists into pursuit. Una, One Path’s sister, leads a relentless war-band – driving three subjugated T-Rexes, they are determined to uphold their brutal laws and destroy the child they scorned. Worse still, Una’s desperate gambit has roused an older terror: the White King, an ancient albino T-Rex that rises from hibernation to claim its tribute. Drawn by the infant’s vital scent and the promise of renewed power, the White King cuts a path of ruin across forest and plain, devouring anything that stands between it and the child.

Part chase, part odyssey, One Path: The White King hurtles through a landscape where hope is hunted and trust runs thin. As the Towers loom and the hunters close, One Path must choose what to risk, and who to become if she’s to save the condemned child.

Lushly illustrated and cinematic, One Path Book Two, The White King, deepens the emotional and moral terrain established from the acclaimed first book, pushing its heroine further from the world she knew and closer to the mythological unknown.

Perfect for readers who gravitate toward primal survival epics and odysseys, this is a savage wonder of a dinosaur-driven spectacle. Mature in tone and relentless in pacing, it is a series built for readers who want high-stakes storytelling without compromise.

One Path Book Two, The White King, goes on sale June 2, 2026, in paperback and hardcover formats, with Final Order Cut-off May 11.

One Path Book Two, The White King

Scott Hoffman Returns to Mad Cave Studios with Wag

Following the critically acclaimed title NostalgiaMad Cave Studios has announced Wag, the second graphic novel from writer Scott Hoffman (co-founder and member of the multi-platinum group Scissor Sisters). 

Designed by award-winning graphic designer Rian Hughes and illustrated by Juan BobilloWag pairs genuine collectible appeal with a character-driven sci-fi story brought to life by expressive, clear-eyed artwork that connects across generations.

Wag, a loner in a post-apocalyptic world, hears voices in his head. It could be remnants of ancient technology (“old magic”), or he might just be crazy. With the aid of an ever-growing band of oddballs, Wag sets out on a quest to discover the source of his troubles—confronting strange and deadly enemies along the way—and ultimately fight an epic battle with the evil forces responsible for the collapse of civilization!

For fans of character-driven sci-fi, design-forward graphic novels, and post-apocalyptic stories that center on empathy, found family, and hope amid collapse, Wag is a natural pull-list pick!

The 144-page paperback arrives in comic shops and bookstores on July 21, 2026, with a Direct Market FOC of June 29.

Wag: The Collected Edition

Top Shelf to Release Kloud 9 —​A Love Story Written in the Stars

Welcome to Kloud 9!​ Kal and Cosmo are teen boys in love. It should be simple—except that Cosmo’s an alien deserter on the run from an intergalactic peacekeeping force! Kloud 9: The Star Soldier is the Top Shelf YA sci-fi debut graphic novel from author ​AJ O. Mason and illustrator ​Dominic Bustamante, releasing July 7, 2026Kloud 9: The Star Soldier follows teenager Kal, an Earthling without much purpose in life. Cosmot’urr Col Al’neyr, or Cosmo for short, is an alien struggling to find his place in the galaxy. Sparks fly when the two meet—but when Cosmo’s past catches up with him, Kal is forced to make a choice: remain on Earth or follow his crush into the great unknown. Easy choice, right? Now they just have to navigate the dangers of outer space, a megalomaniac pseudoparent, and their growing feelings for each other. Yeah. It’s complicated.

Kloud 9: The Star Soldier will be available wherever books are sold, as a full-color softcover graphic novel (ISBN: 978-1-60309-594-5) as well as a digital edition, on July 7, 2026, for a list price of $19.99.

Kloud 9: The Star Soldier

The Hunt Has Just Begun with 13 Demons Dead

This teenage girl has just one year to defeat thirteen invisible demons… without flunking out of high school!13 Demons Dead is a graphic novel from video game writer/director Adam Tierney and Italian comic artist Saspy, releasing on August 4, 2026, via IDW Publishing13 Demons Dead is a high-octane, black-and-white, manga-inspired graphic novel featuring a regular teen armed with nothing but courage, grit, and a growing supernatural legacy requiring her to hunt creatures older than civilization while also dealing with family, homework, bullies, secrets, and the realization that she may be humanity’s last line of spiritual defense.

Fourteen-year-old Everly “Ev” Espada was walking home one night when she spotted her favorite teacher, Father Serrano, suspended in midair, choking and being ripped apart by something she couldn’t see. Acting on pure instinct, Ev swings a nearby pipe and shatters the illusion, exposing a monstrous demon in the middle of her school. With one lucky shot, the creature is dead. And so is Ev’s normal life.

By killing one of Earth’s Thirteen Hidden Demons, Ev has unknowingly triggered an ancient covenant. She’s been marked as the latest demon hunter, and the remaining twelve demons are already coming for her. The rules are simple and merciless: slay all thirteen within one year… or they will return more powerful, more vicious, and utterly unstoppable.

13 Demons Dead​ will be available wherever books are sold, as a b/w softcover (ISBN: 979-8-88724-446-4) on August 4, 2026, for a list price of $16.99.

13 Demons Dead

Top Shelf Uncovers the Secrets Beneath a Post-Apocalyptic Paradise with The Marsh Fellows

An Orphan. A Utopia. A Conspiracy. This is The Marsh Fellows, the captivating graphic novel debut from beloved online cartoonist Anna-Laura Sullivan, arriving May 19 via Top Shelf Productions!

After a nuclear war plunged the world into darkness, the last beacon of hope is the island utopia called Slumber City. In this rainy, happy town, one angst-filled urchin doesn’t see what there is to smile about. But after being taken in by the elderly Marvin and Pearl, Urchin is pulled into their quest to solve the dark, damp riddles lurking outside Slumber City—and uncover the plans of its mysterious mayor.  

The Marsh Fellows​ will be available wherever books are sold, as a full-color softcover graphic novel (ISBN: 978-1-60309-589-1) as well as a digital edition, on May 19, 2026, for a list price of $14.99.

The Marsh Fellows

Preview: Disney The Princess and the Frog: Tiana’s Adventure Journal

Disney The Princess and the Frog: Tiana’s Adventure Journal

(W) Rhona Cleary (A) Francesca Risoldi, Laura Guglielmo

Tiana sets off to New York City for an apprenticeship at the most celebrated restaurant in Harlem. While there, she juggles the dueling demands of her mentor, Chef Leroy, and Harlem’s exciting cultural scene.

Things are looking up when she’s named head chef for the restaurant’s annual gala, but then suddenly things spin out of her control…

An original graphic novel that stars Tiana from Disney’s The Princess and the Frog! Perfect for middle-grade readers who love graphic novels and the Disney Princesses!

Disney The Princess and the Frog: Tiana's Adventure Journal

Preview: Herobear and the Kid Vol. 2: Saving Time

Herobear and the Kid Vol. 2: Saving Time

(W) Mike Kunkel (A) Mike Kunkel

Two best friends. One timeline. Zero room for mistakes. Tyer and Herobear set off on a new adventure to save time. Part 1 of Saving Time. For fans of Herobear and the Kid Volume 1, Calvin and Hobbes and Superman for All Seasons.

“Who’s Henry really? And what has happened to him?? Thinking the days of magical surprises were behind him, Tyler is settling into life as a young hero with his red-caped, polar bear best friend, Herobear, when an unexpected event pulls him into his greatest adventure yet—Henry, the family’s loyal butler, has mysteriously vanished! With the added surprise help of Elmo, it’s up to Tyler and Herobear now to figure out what happened to their friend…only they might learn a lot more about Henry than they initially thought as their extraordinary quest takes them through the very fabric of time itself, only to find themselves face to face with Tyler’s heritage, beloved family members AND flying mechanical penguins with diabolical jack-in-the-boxes! For the villainous inventor Von Klon has everything to do with Henry’s disappearance. He wants revenge, and Tyler’s family and friends need Herobear and the kid to stop him! As they chase Von Klon into the unraveled past, Tyler faces powerful questions: What does it mean to carry a legacy? Can a kid shape the course of history? Is fruitcake a good alternate Christmas gift? With Herobear’s courage and his own heart guiding him, can Tyler defend his family’s legacy from being destroyed and ultimately save Time?”

Herobear and the Kid Vol. 2: Saving Time

Preview: The Shadower

The Shadower

Maria and Peter Hoey

Readers will lose themselves in this surreal spy thriller…and may find it impossible to find themselves again.

Nadia is a quiet drama student in a country divided by a brutal civil war. Amid the steady tension of armed men, checkpoints, and random violence, the theater is her one escape. One evening, after an Ibsen performance, she is given an opportunity to serve her people. Nadia bears a strong resemblance to a waitress in the next district whose café is frequented by enemy agents. Would she be willing to take her place for a week and plant recording devices? It’s a dangerous mission that will take all her acting skills to disappear into this role…but she knows that she has no choice. As Nadia settles into the other woman’s apartment and life, she becomes more immersed in this character than she ever imagined. And as one week drags into two, she realizes this isn’t going to end the way she hoped…

The Shadower

Crowdfunding Corner: G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero gets a Compendium and HAUNTED: Mary Shelley and the Creation of Frankenstein

Welcome to our revamped “Crowdfunding Corner” rounding up some of the latest crowdfunding news. We’re going beyond just announcement projects, we’ll be tracking to make sure these projects get delivered as well as what we think the “risk” of backing them are.

We’ll be updating the format as we get a better handle of the needs of this sort of coverage, so stay tuned and check out the first round of projects!


G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Compendium Sets 1 + 2

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Compendium Sets 1 + 2

Publisher: Skybound
Creative Team: (w) Larry Hama (a) Andy Kubert, Chris Mooneyham
Launch Date: Currently funding – ends Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at 12 p.m. PT. 
Risk: Low – Skybound has run and delivered multiple crowdfunding campaigns before and delivered with few issues.

Skybound and Hasbro have launched a new campaign for Kickstarter-exclusive G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero Compendium Sets 1+2. Expertly designed and presented in reading order, the premium, faux leather hardcover editions that won’t be available anywhere else.  

These new compendium sets, including a total of eight volumes, feature new key art by the legendary Andy Kubert (X-Men) and collect over 300 issues from both Marvel and IDW eras of G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero spanning from 1994-2022, expanding on the previous Kickstarter that shattered crowdfunding records and dominated headlines worldwide.

Featuring the iconic series writer Larry Hama (Wolverine) and an all-star lineup of series artists, the new G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero Compendium Sets 1+2 present the incredible heroes of G.I. JOE, the terrifying villains of Cobra, and the unforgettable stories that set them on a collision course.  

Now collecting over 300 issues of A Real American Hero, these new hardcover compendiums collect the most iconic moments in G.I. JOE history, from Cobra Commander’s seemingly successful world domination to the unforgettable introduction of Dawn Moreno, the all-new Snake-Eyes. 

Fans who backed the first G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero Compendium Set campaign can select a tier to purchase the new set of hardcovers, collecting issues #155 ½ to #300, along with all the annuals, specials, and more. Like that first campaign, you must choose a side – will you stand with G.I. Joe or rule the world with Cobra? Either way, these deluxe hardcovers will look perfect alongside the original compendium set, presenting the iconic G.I. JOE series in the highest quality collections of all time. 

Collectors won’t want to miss backing the campaign to secure all the limited-edition tiers and exclusive rewards: Kickstarter-exclusive Larry Hama signed bookplates, faux leather hardcovers, spot gloss, foil finish and gilded edges on all books, satin ribbons, patches, pins, stickers, individual issue reprints, two source books featuring art from previous trading cards, vehicles, and more. 


HAUNTED: Mary Shelley and the Creation of Frankenstein

HAUNTED: Mary Shelley and the Creation of Frankenstein

Publisher: Humanoids
Creative Team: (w/a) Koren Shadmi
Launch Date: Soon – March 25
Risk: Medium/High – While they have run and delivered previous campaigns, there are currently two that have been funded and yet to be fulfilled and will not for many months. This can be a warning sign.

Humanoids has announced a forthcoming Kickstarter for Haunted: a brand new bio-comic on Mary Shelley, the visionary young woman who penned Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus at eighteen and changed the world.

After critically-acclaimed releases such as The Twilight Man: Rod Serling and the Birth of TelevisionLugosi: The Rise and Fall of Hollywood’s Dracula, and All Tomorrow’s Parties: The Velvet Underground Story, Humanoids and writer-artist Koren Shadmi wanted to focus on a critical female figure in the pop culture zeitgeist.

Timed to Women’s History Month, this project sheds light on Shelley’s upbringing and does not shy away from her strained marriage to Percy Shelley which was colored by tragedy, multiple miscarriages and poverty. That said, it focuses predominantly on her creative conception of the seminal work, even featuring the monster himself as a recurring character in the graphic novel as seen in the below preview pages. 

Years in the making, the campaign is set to go live on Kickstarter on March 25, as a quieter, yet triumphant finale to this past year’s mania catalyzed by Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein and Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Bride

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