Shrub: The Collected Edition, Fanbase Press‘ latest Kickstarter campaign, collects the Graphic Medicine series exploring grief and connection, featuring all-new contributions from some of the biggest names in entertainment and the field of mental health. We have the exclusive reveal that  Dr. David J. Schonfeld, MD, FAAP (Director, National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles) will be contributing an all-new resource guide on processing grief.

In this middle grade adventure, readers will join Shrub who is, well… a shrub… for a cross-country road trip to Hollywood! Join Shrub and a grieving brother and sister as they head out in search of connection. On their journey, pit stops, wacky plant enthusiasts, uprooting, and re-routing abound.

The series was created and written by Emmy Award nominee Shane Portman, illustrated by Andy Alves, colored by Sophia Du and Celia FitzGerald, lettered by Oceano Ransford, and with consultation from comics librarian Moni Barrette.


Shrub explores the various ways that we allow grief to take root, inspired by writer Shane Portman’s experience with the loss of his father. The series features “Letting Grief Take Root” essays written by individuals with a personal and/or professional connection to grief who relate Shrub’s story to their own lived experience. Essayists include Shane Portman and his family, as well as grief doula Kat Primeau and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Ariel Landrum (Geek Therapy).

Additionally, every issue of the series includes a fold-out page within the story’s narrative.

Striving to destigmatize loss and promote understanding of the diverse ways that people of all ages grieve, the expanded print edition will also feature a study guide by literacy advocate Creators, Assemble! Inc., an informational essay by clinical psychologist and media consultant Dr. Drea Letamendi, and much more.

Check out a preview of Schrub: The Collected Edition below and back it on Kickstarter today!