New Release: HOUSE OF THE BLACK SPOT

The Double+ gang discover that sometimes greed can extend beyond the grave, as they are thrust into a battle between revolting real estate developers and their ghoulish goon bent on destroying the idyllic Gear Town with ghastly gentrification and the most frightful sight of all… condos!

Select praise for HOUSE OF THE BLACK SPOT:

• The Comics Journal review: “Sears’ strength is absolutely as a visual storyteller, but there’s enough happening in his engaging characters, involving storylines, and light-fingered explorations of contemporary issues that [his] books are always something to look forward to, and the latest, House of the Black Spot, is a perfect example.”
  

• “Imagine Indiana Jones as told by Hayao Miyazaki.”
  - Zainab Akhtar, The Guardian
  

• “Sears creates comics that are easy for kids to enjoy with their crisp cartooning, bright colors, and clever sense of humor, but he also includes rich thematic content that makes his books a more substantial read for adults.”
  - Oliver Sava, The A.V. Club

HOUSE OF THE BLACK SPOT by Ben Sears (Koyama Press, May 2019)

New Release: SINCERELY, HARRIET

Harriet Flores struggles with boredom and an unrequited crush while learning to manage her chronic illness through a long, hot, 1990s summer in Chicago. She uses her imagination to cope, which sometimes gets her into trouble, as she makes up fantastical fibs and wonders if there are ghosts upstairs. One neighbor, Pearl, encourages Harriet to read and write, leading Harriet to have a breakthrough and discover the power of storytelling.

Select praise for SINCERELY, HARRIET:

• Booklist review: “Middle-grade readers will relate to Harriet’s anxiety about fitting in and making friends, while also exploring subjects like ableism and intersectionality, which Searle depicts with grace and empathy.”

• Kirkus starred review: "The pacing is masterful as the truth behind Harry’s many fears is slowly and poignantly revealed, maintaining the tension and mystery of each story thread until the tapestry is complete. Searle tackles Harry’s anxiety about her illness as well as common adolescent concerns about friendships, school, and family with an honesty and tenderness that will resonate with readers... Heartfelt and heartwarming."

• Publishers Weekly review: "Comics creator Searle slowly unspools the story of a middle schooler living with multiple sclerosis... In jewel-toned art, Searle successfully creates a claustrophobic, lonesome ambience."

• School Library Journal review: "The wide-eyed, expressive characters and reassuring art are well suited to this introspective narrative."

SINCERELY, HARRIET by Sarah Searle (Lerner Graphic Universe, May 2019)

New Release: WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE CASTLE

WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE CASTLE by Emily Carroll (Koyama Press, April 2019)

Emily Carroll has fashioned a rich gothic horror charged with eroticism that doesn’t just make your skin crawl, it crawls into it.

Like many before her that have never come back, she’s made it to the Countess’ castle determined to snuff out the horror, but she could never be prepared for what hides within its turrets… or what unfurls under its fluttering flags.

Select praise for WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE CASTLE:

• Paste Magazine review: “Her full-bleed pages and limited palette, her incongruous close-ups, her weird shading and her unexpected teeth all surgically peel back your skin.”

• Publishers Weekly review: “Carroll’s fans will best appreciate this slim poetic work, as it delivers on her standards, and envelops the reader in a world that’s tense, haunting, and genuinely scary.”

• Women Write About Comics review: “When I Arrived at the Castle feels like slipping into a rich velvet robe only to find that its red color is from centuries of bloodstains.”

New Release: THISBY THESTOOP AND THE WRETCHED SCRATTLE

Thisby Thestoop, gamekeeper and unlikely hero, would do anything to save her home - even enter the Wretched Scrattle, a death-defying race through the Black Mountain.

In the wake of their harrowing victory against the forces of the Darkwell, Thisby Thestoop, gamekeeper and sometime friend for all creatures gruesome, grotesque, and uncommon, has found herself in the usual position of running the Black Mountain dungeon. Under her watch, the resident monsters, from the hordes of merpeople to drooling trolls, are all well-fed, content, and far from the reach of other kingdoms - or so Thisby thinks.

With unrest growing between the Kingdom of Nth and Umberfall, rumors of a conspiracy have caught the ears of the king. And control of the dungeon has been wrenched from the hands of those who have cared for it best.

Wasting no time in ruining all of Thisby’s hard work, the royally appointed overseer throws the dungeon into chaos - the fire bats are out of their cave, the trolls are wide awake, and, most telling of all, the dire rats are acting strange. What’s worse is that every day more and more monsters - everything from tiny imps, to banshees, to a full-grown wyvern - are turning up dead and Thisby can’t discern any pattern to the fatal attacks. But there may be a way to put things back like they were - the Wretched Scrattle.

Beginning in the very deepest tunnels of the dungeon, the Wretched Scrattle’s tournament victor will claim the ultimate prize of becoming the new Master of the Black Mountain. No one knows the dungeons quite like Thisby, and if she wins she’ll have it back to running like dünkeldwarven automata—that is, if she can make it out alive.

Don’t miss the second installment in this rollicking fantasy-adventure series by Zac Gorman, contributor to the hilarious Rick and Morty comic series, with illustrations from award-winning artist Sam Bosma.

THISBY THESTOOP AND THE WRETCHED SCRATTLE by Zac Gorman, with art by Sam Bosma (Harper Children’s, April 2019)

New Release: GIRL TOWN

GIRL TOWN by Carolyn Nowak (Top Shelf / IDW, November 2018)

Ignatz Award-winning cartoonist Carolyn Nowak (Lumberjanes) finds powerful truths in fantasy worlds. Her solo debut collection celebrates the ascent of a rising star in comics.

Diana got hurt -- a lot -- and she's decided to deal with this fact by purchasing a life-sized robot boyfriend. Mary and La-La host a podcast about a movie no one's ever seen. Kelly has dragged her friend Beth out of her comfort zone -- and into a day at the fantasy market that neither of them will forget.

Carolyn Nowak's Girl Town collects the Ignatz Award-winning stories "Radishes" and "Diana's Electric Tongue" together with several other tales of young adulthood and the search for connection. Here are her most acclaimed mini-comics and anthology contributions, enhanced with new colors and joined by brand-new work.

Bold, infatuated, wounded, or lost, Nowak's girls shine with life and longing. Their stories -- depicted with remarkable charm and insight -- capture the spirit of our time.

Select praise for GIRL TOWN:

• Kirkus review: “Nowak creates raw female characters and, by spotlighting them, demands that they be seen.”

• Publishers Weekly review: "[Nowak's] art is consistently appealing, with relatable funny-faced characters inhabiting imaginatively detailed settings, all drenched in bright broad-paintbox colors... the full collection represents the emergence of a promising new comics talent."

New Release: THE HIDDEN WITCH

Every witch needs a family…

Aster's parents have finally agreed that he can learn witchery with the girls, but he has a lot of catching up to do. So when Grandmother offers her tutoring in exchange for a favor, Aster jumps at the chance, until she asks him to help his great-uncle, Mikasi. Family or no, Aster isn't ready to face the beast who nearly destroyed him and his cousins.

Across town, dark magic has attached itself to Aster's friend Charlie. Witches are taught never to create a "Fetch," a cruel shadow form that does only harm. But the thing following Charlie is a clear sign that someone is breaking the rules.

With the help of his family, Aster does everything he can to protect Charlie. But to discover who's making the Fetch, and to put a stop to it, he'll need darker, more powerful magic, from the most dangerous witch he knows...

Select praise for THE HIDDEN WITCH:

• Kirkus starred review: "Ostertag’s sophomore effort is every bit as wonderful as its predecessor, with continued strong worldbuilding, lovely large and bright illustrations, and its approachable and diverse cast that runs a true-to-life spectrum encompassing white-, tan-, and dark-skinned characters as well as same-sex relationships... An absolutely bewitching sequel."

• School Library Journal review: "An exciting continuation of Aster's supernatural journey, whose coming-of-age messages will resonate with middle graders."
  
  

THE HIDDEN WITCH by Molly Ostertag (Scholastic, October 2018)

New Release: CAVEBOY DAVE - NOT SO FABOO

CAVEBOY DAVE: NOT SO FABOO by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by Phil McAndrew (Viking Children’s, October 2018)

From New York Times bestselling author Aaron Reynolds comes the latest installment of Caveboy Dave, a middle grade graphic novel series perfect for fans of Captain Underpants.

Twelve-year-old Dave Unga-Bunga is having a great year: he survived his deadly Baby-Go-Boom ceremony, he’s earned the respect of the villagers of Bleccchh, and he just invented ice cream and summer vacation. Before the ice cream melts, Dave and his friends spot a plume of smoke on the horizon (could there be others nearby?) and suddenly Shaman Faboo–the glue that holds the community together–goes missing. With no one to tell them what to do or how to think, the village panics and elects Dave as their new leader. If Dave can’t find Shaman Faboo and bring him back, he’ll be doomed to a life of boredom and something much worse: public service!

Not So Faboo, the second book in the Caveboy Dave series, delivers irresistible characters, big thrills, and even bigger laughs.

Select praise for NOT SO FABOO:

• Kirkus review: "Such easily accessible themes as the importance of teamwork, dealing with loss, and the power of friendship wind through a tale distinguished by fast pacing and an abundance of knee-slapping middle-grade humor."

New Release: MEAL

MEAL by Blue Delliquanti with Soleil Ho (Iron Circus Comics, October 2018)

"You moved cross-country to work at a bug restaurant. There's no way I'm gonna miss what happens next."

Yarrow is a young chef determined to make her mark on the cutting edge of cookery with her insect-based creations. Though her enthusiasm is infectious, it rubs some of her fellow cooks the wrong way, especially Chanda Flores, Yarrow's personal hero and executive chef of an exciting new restaurant. Her people have been eating bugs for centuries, and she's deeply suspicious of this newbie's attempt to turn her traditions into the next foodie trend. While Chanda and her scrappy team of talented devotees struggle to open on time, Yarrow must win over Chanda - and Milani, the neighbor she's been crushing on for weeks - or lose this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to achieve her dreams.

Co-written with chef and food writer Soleil Ho (Edible Manhattan, Bitch), Blue Delliquanti's sweet coming-of-age story takes us deep into a world of art, mystery, and memory on the culinary frontier.

Select praise for MEAL:

• School Library Journal starred review: "The creators infuse the sophisticated narrative with knowledge of restaurant politics, food history, and cultural views about insect-eating around the world. The bright-eyed energy of Delliquanti's clean, solidly inked cartoons engages the senses. Snapshots of chopped vegetables and simmering sauces will remind readers of their own powerful experiences discovering new flavors and foods. The final result is a delicious feast steeped in a rich combination of a diverse cast, queer romance, and culinary delight."

• Publishers Weekly review: "This fresh and tasty comic provides an enticing introduction to a less-traveled area of cuisine."

New Release: BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER - NEW SCHOOL NIGHTMARE

An exciting and hilarious new middle grade story for anyone who likes (or doesn't like) vampires!

Buffy Summers is just like any other student... except for the part where she's also a secret vampire slayer. In every generation, one girl is granted great strength to stand against the forces of darkness. Of course, power doesn't matter when it comes to eating lunch alone, getting picked on by the popular kids, or having way too much homework.

Luckily, Buffy finds her way with a can-do attitude, a weird Watcher, and new besties, Sarafina and Alvaro - who might just have powers of their own. But will any of it be enough to turn the tide when an army of villainous vampires invade town? Can Buffy save herself, let alone the world?

Like Star Wars: Jedi Academy and DC Comics's Secret Hero Society, this action-packed and fun-filled story is told through comics, journal entries, class notes, doodles, text messages, and other in-world artifacts.

Select praise for NEW SCHOOL NIGHTMARE:

• Kirkus review: “With a light touch and a fast pace, this mix of fizzy journal entries, playful comics panels, and OMG-laden text messages is sure to please fans of both epistolary novels and vampire fare... This breezy re-envisioning will prime the younger set for the real thing.”

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER: NEW SCHOOL NIGHTMARE by Carolyn Nowak (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, September 2018)

New Release: HEARTSEEKER

HEARTSEEKER by Melinda Beatty (Putnam Children’s, June 2018)

You’re a Fallow of the Orchard. You’re as tough as a green apple in summer.

Only Fallow was just six harvests old when she realized that not everyone sees lies. For Only, seeing lies is as beautiful as looking through a kaleidoscope, but telling them is as painful as gnawing on cut glass. Only’s family warns her to keep her cunning hidden, but secrets are seldom content to stay secret.

When word of Only’s ability makes its way to the King, she’s plucked from her home at the orchard and brought to the castle at Bellskeep. There she learns that the kingdom is plagued by traitors, and that her task is to help the King distinguish between friend and foe. But being able to see lies doesn’t necessarily mean that others aren’t able to disguise their dishonesty with cunnings of their own.

In the duplicitous, power-hungry court, the truth is Only’s greatest weapon… and her greatest weakness.

Select Praise for HEARTSEEKER:

• Booklist review: "A smart, captivating fantasy-adventure that will leave readers hungry for more."

• Kirkus review: “This series opener dances compellingly along the border separating its young, naïve heroine from harsh political realities.”

• Publishers Weekly review: “Beatty creates a cast of memorable characters and entrancingly vivid settings, immersing readers in a magical realm worth revisiting.”

• School Library Journal review: “"In this stunning debut novel, Beatty crafts a world rich with its own mythology and filled with strong heroes. This well-developed and original fantasy is a must-have for any middle grade collection."

New Release: THISBY THESTOOP AND THE BLACK MOUNTAIN

THISBY THESTOOP AND THE BLACK MOUNTAIN
by Zac Gorman, art by Sam Bosma (HarperCollins, Apr 2018)

Surrounded by all creatures gruesome and grotesque, Thisby Thestoop, the gamekeeper for the Black Mountain Dungeon, is getting roped into another job -saving the princess’s skin - in the debut fantasy-adventure series by Zac Gorman, contributor to the hilarious Rick and Morty comic series.

In the absurd land of Nth, Thisby Thestoop can be found within the forlorn walls of Castle Grimstone, down the precarious steps of the Black Mountain dungeon, up to her nose in griffon toenails, gnoll spittle, and troll meat (to give to them, not made of them).

When the prince and princess arrive for a Royal Inspection, the much too good-looking Princess Iphigenia winds up lost in the tunnels of the dungeon - without her guards, her staff, or her younger twin brother - and it’s up to Thisby to guide the princess safely past the hoards of minotaurs, wyverns, ghouls, and who-knows-what-else that would love nothing more than to nosh the royal highness for dinner.

Thisby Thestoop and Princess Iphigenia have a dangerous adventure ahead of them. If they’re going to a rescue the missing prince, stop a mounting war, and keep safe all the creatures who call the mountain dungeon home, they’ll have to learn how to trust each other.

Select Praise for THISBY THESTOOP:

- Kirkus review: “A proper adventure story.”

- School Library Journal review: “Tweens will instantly connect with innovative, hardworking Thisby and cheer her on. ... The story is an intriguing page-turner.”

- Publishers Weekly review: “Gorman makes a strong children’s book debut ... delivering a fast-paced, high-stakes adventure. Clever Thisby and forceful Iphigenia make a delightfully odd pairing as they form an unlikely friendship amid the chaos and danger, and Bosma’s ghoulish b&w illustrations further help bring the characters and creatures to life.” 

- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books review: “The strength of this first novel of a planned series is certainly its menagerie of familiar and unfamiliar monsters, which Thisby helms as a young and extraordinary zookeeper.”

New Release: SPEAK: The Graphic Novel

SPEAK: The Graphic Novel (FSG, Feb 2018)
by Laurie Halse Anderson, art by Emily Carroll

The critically acclaimed, award-winning, modern classic SPEAK is now a stunning graphic novel.

"Speak up for yourself - we want to know what you have to say."

From the first moment of her freshman year at Merryweather High, Melinda knows this is a big fat lie, part of the nonsense of high school. She is friendless - an outcast - because she busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops, so now nobody will talk to her, let alone listen to her.

Through her work on an art project, she is finally able to face what really happened that night: she was raped by an upperclassman, a guy who still attends Merryweather and is still a threat to her.

With powerful illustrations by Emily Carroll, Laurie Halse Anderson's SPEAK comes alive for new audiences and fans of the classic novel.

Select praise for SPEAK: The Graphic Novel:

- Kirkus starred review: "A masterful graphic novel transformation... this visual adaptation takes readers outside Melinda’s head and sits them alongside her, seeing what she sees and feeling the importance and power of her desire to create art and express herself. Carroll’s stark black-and-white illustrations are exquisitely rendered, capturing the mood through a perfectly calibrated lens. With the rise of women finding their voices and speaking out about sexual assault in the media, this reworking of the enduring 1999 classic should be on everyone’s radar. Powerful, necessary, and essential."

- School Library Journal starred review: "This potent retelling of the modern classic SPEAK blends words and images to create magic: a new representation of a teen whose voice is ripped from her, the battles she must wage to find it again, and the triumph of finally being able to speak out. Carroll’s grayscale artwork perfectly depicts the starkness of Melinda’s depression...This gripping, powerful work will introduce SPEAK to a brand-new audience and enthrall longtime fans."

- Booklist starred review: "Carroll, well-known for her horror comics, does an excellent job of bringing the vignettes of Anderson’s novel to the graphic format...Carroll powerfully evokes moods with creeping, smudgy shadows; faces with missing eyes and mouths; and jagged panel borders. Grasping hands reach down from tree branches until trees and hands are tumbled together in a juddering haystack of overlapping lines. Those moments are striking, but they’re even more striking when set against scenes of Melinda’s quiet, isolated day-to-day reality, as well as her gradual growth and steps toward recovery. Carroll strikes a deft balance, gracefully juggling the acute terror of Melinda’s rape, the pernicious paranoia that follows her in its wake, the swirling rumors and bullying surrounding her, and glimmering moments of hope and comfort. With spellbinding artwork, this exceptional adaptation masterfully does justice to its source material while adding new depth and nuance." 

- Horn Book starred review: "In this new graphic novel adaptation of Anderson’s SPEAK - a powerful narrative of a freshman’s year of self-preservation after a brutal sexual assault - artist Carroll starkly renders protagonist Melinda’s pain and healing in black and white, expertly deploying visual perspective and tension to sharpen the emotional impact."

- Shelf Awareness starred review: "The entire graphic novel is illustrated in grayscale, allowing the work to be as visually dark as its content. Strong lines, overlapping panels and clever use of blank space show Carroll's skill in creating Melinda's stifling, near-silent world. SPEAK: The Graphic Novel is hypnotizing and heart-breaking, with the kind of empowering finish that unshackles protagonist and readers alike."

New Release: THE WITCH BOY

THE WITCH BOY by Molly Knox Ostertag (Scholastic, Oct 2017)

Even magic has rules...

In thirteen-year-old Aster's family, all the girls are raised to be witches, while boys grow up to be shapeshifters. Anyone who dares cross those lines is exiled. Unfortunately for Aster, he still hasn't shifted . . . and he's still fascinated by witchery, no matter how forbidden it might be.

When a mysterious danger threatens the other boys, Aster knows he can help -- as a witch. It will take the encouragement of a new friend, the non-magical and non-conforming Charlie, to convince Aster to try practicing his skills. And it will require even more courage to save his family . . . and be truly himself.

Select praise for THE WITCH BOY:
- Kirkus starred review: "With charming artwork, interesting supporting characters, natural-feeling diversity, and peeks of a richly developed world, this book leaves readers wishing for more."
- School Library Journal starred review: "Ostertag’s bright, gentle, cartoonlike artwork brims with life and adds extra appeal to this fast-moving story."

New Release: SHATTERED WARRIOR

SHATTERED WARRIOR
by Sharon Shinn, illustrated by Molly Ostertag (First Second, May 2017)

It is eight years after Colleen Cavanaugh's home world was invaded by the Derichets, a tyrannical alien race bent on exploiting the planet's mineral resources.

Most of her family died in the war, and she now lives alone in the city. Aside from her acquaintances at the factory where she toils for the Derichets, Colleen makes a single friend in Jann, a member of the violent group of rebels known as the Chromatti. One day Colleen receives shocking news: her niece Lucy is alive and in need of her help. Together, Colleen, Jann, and Lucy create their own tenuous family.

But Colleen must decide if it's worth risking all of their survival to join a growing underground revolution against the Derichets.

Select praise for Shattered Warrior:

-Booklist review: "Perfect for fans of dystopian sci-fi and books with strong female leads."
-School Library Journal review: "Ostertag’s art supports Shinn’s storytelling beautifully. ...This is a strong choice for sci-fi graphic novel collections, especially those seeking representation in genre fiction."

New Release: CAVEBOY DAVE

CAVEBOY DAVE: MORE SCRAWNY THAN BRAWNY
by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by Phil McAndrew (Viking Children's, Nov. 2016)

His grandpa invented fire. His dad invented the wheel. How will Caveboy Dave leave his mark?

Dave Unga-Bunga has always been more scrawny than brawny. This is a major problem when your village expects you to become a meat-bringer. At age twelve, all young cave-people must stalk through the eerie mushroom forests for a prehistoric beast the village can feast on. But Dave would much rather invent stuff for a better life—like underwear to make loincloths less itchy and cutlery to make eating less filthy. Can Dave save his group by inventing the perfect defense against a bloodthirsty pokeyhorn? Or will he MEET HIS DOOM?  

Select praise for CAVEBOY DAVE:
-Amazon Best Book of the Month, November 2016
-School Library Journal review: "Put this on the shelf between Jorge Aguirre’s Chronicles of Claudette series and Ben Hatke’s Zita the Spacegirl books." 
-PW review: "...a delightfully entertaining tale about discovering one’s true calling...it mixes meaningful character growth with alarming threats to life and limb."
-Kirkus review: "Bright colors and animated, exaggeratedly doofy characters buoy the rollicking action, mixing intrigue and lots of giggles... A lively series opener." 

"Caveboy Dave is a hilarious new graphic novel series...imagine a prehistoric version of Wimpy Kid meets Captain Underpants."
—Boys' Life

"Nonstop action, belly laughs, and stabby cats. What's not to love?"
—Victoria Jamieson, author and illustrator of the NYT-bestselling and Newbery Honor–winning Roller Girl

"Fast-paced and funny." 
—Mo O’Hara, author of the NYT-bestselling Zombie Goldfish series
 

New Release: THE HAUNTED HOUSE PROJECT

THE HAUNTED HOUSE PROJECT by Tricia Clasen
Sky Pony Press, October 2016

Since her mom died, Andie’s family has crumbled. Instead of working, her dad gambles away insurance money, while her sister, Paige, has put her future on hold in order to pick up extra waitressing shifts. Andie’s afraid of what will happen if people find out just how bad things are. She’s not sure how long she can hide the fact that there’s no food or money in the house...or adults, for that matter.

When her science partner suggests they study paranormal activity, Andie gets an idea. She wants a sign from her mom—anything to tell her it’s going to be okay. Maybe the rest of her family does too. So she starts a project of her own. Pretending to be her mother’s ghost, Andie sprays perfume, changes TV channels, and moves pictures. Haunting her house is Andie’s last hope to bring her family back into the land of the living.

Select praise for THE HAUNTED HOUSE PROJECT:
Kirkus review: "A touching story that explores grief and the bravery necessary to come out of it."
PW review:  "A heartrending portrait of a family coping with sudden and enormous loss...with authentic characters and emotions."

"Real magic exists in how this story lingers long after the last page... As Andie realizes her own strength by accepting the unthinkable, readers’ awareness and compassion for others will flourish, too."
- Beth Vrabel, author of A Blind Guide to Stinkville

 

New Release: THE HYPNOTIC CITY

THE HYPNOTIC CITY by Andrea Berthot
Curiosity Quills Press, August 2016

Philomena Blackwell survived a city plagued with monsters, the gilded cage of high society, and the rule of a heartless man... and she aims to leave it all behind.

It's 1905, and London has finally been freed from Henry Jekyll's terrible legacy - its people cured, its thirteen-year quarantine lifted. The world is waiting, and for a girl who dreams of being its most dazzling star, what could be more enticing than the bright lights of New York City?

She is drawn across the ocean like a moth to a flame, her heart set on proving that while she may be small on the outside, her soaring talent eclipses even Manhattan’s towering skyline. When she lands a big break, it seems as if the city is ready to fall under her spell - just as she seems to be falling for a handsome young stage manager. But is it her stage presence mesmerizing the audience, or something more sinister behind the scenes?

Philomena has always relied on her fierce will and fiery heart, but a new and more terrible danger lurks in the shadows of Broadway's bright lights, and even a mind as determined as hers may not be immune to its seductive, insidious pull...

Both fans of The Heartless City and new readers alike will enjoy this stand-alone / spin-off tale of Philomena’s adventures on stage - and in love - in NYC.

New Release: KARMA PATROL

KARMA PATROL by Kate Miller
Curiosity Quills Press, April 2016

As a karmic account enforcer, Jade Bailey makes sure that what goes around comes around. Jade has dedicated her life to Karma Division, and in return she's expecting her own personal fairytale, complete with her dream job and love at first sight with a tall, dark, and handsome soulmate.

After more than a decade of waiting, her destined soulmate still hasn't turned up, but a stellar annual performance review from the Powers That Be puts Jade at the top of the promotion list. All she has to do is maintain her territory's karmic balance until the selection process is over. Naturally, a deranged shooter picks the next day to start a rampage that threatens to destroy the karmic balance of Midtown West - and, incidentally, any chance Jade has of earning that long-awaited promotion.

Unwilling to give up despite warnings from her boss, who knows the shadowy Destiny Division won't appreciate Jade's interference, Jade starts her own investigation. In the next shooting, she nearly becomes a victim herself, but she can't prove her near-death experience is anything but a coincidence. Detective Luke Jackson, Jade's unwitting and extremely unwilling soulmate, arrives on the scene to investigate. Instead of falling head over heels in love with her, Luke suspects her of being involved in the murders.

If Jade wants her fairytale ending, she’ll have to convince her soulmate she isn’t a killer while trying to catch the real culprit, a task made more difficult and infinitely more dangerous when Jade becomes the killer’s next target.

New Release: CURVEBALL

CURVEBALL by Jeremy Sorese
Nobrow Press, November 2015

CURVEBALL is an epic, sci-fi graphic novel about a waiter named Avery coping with the ending of a difficult relationship. Having spent years attempting to build something substantial with an indecisive sailor named Christophe, Avery stubbornly holds on despite the mounting evidence against him. The idea of the relationship has eclipsed its reality, and in Avery's already troubled life, the allure of something dependable is a powerful force.

Curveball focuses on the duality of hope and delusion - how ignorance is integral to surviving our day to day lives, but can be incredibly destructive if allowed to blossom into 'optimism'. It is the most universal of tales: a love story.

Select praise for CURVEBALL:
- Library Journal review: "This story truly intrigues in its visual riot—pages splattered with a wild neon orange, electrical surges literally full of emotion, crowds rushing past skyscrapers and scurrying across ship decks, bringing an exotic new world to life."
- Sequential State review: "Curveball is the nightcap of 2015’s sci-fi comics, the grand finale; a gorgeous comic, beautifully illustrated, full of heart. Recommended."

New Release: THE HEARTLESS CITY

THE HEARTLESS CITY by Andrea Berthot
Curiosity Quills Press, August 2015

Henry Jekyll was a brilliant doctor, a passionate idealist who aimed to free mankind of selfishness and vice. He’s also the man who carelessly created a race of monsters.

Once shared secretly among the good doctor’s inner circle, the Hyde drug was smuggled into mass-production - but in pill form, it corrupted its users at the genetic level, leaving them liable to transform without warning. A quarter of the population are now clandestine killers - ticking bombs that could detonate at any given moment.

It’s 1903, and London has been quarantined for thirteen years.

Son of the city’s most prominent physician and cure-seeker, seventeen-year-old Elliot Morrissey has had his own devastating brush with science, downing a potion meant to remove his human weaknesses and strengthen him against the Hydes - and finding instead he’s become an empath, leveled by the emotions of a dying city.

He finds an unlikely ally in Iris Faye, a waitress at one of the city’s rowdier music halls, whose emotions nearly blind him; her fearlessness is a beacon in a city rife with terror. Iris, however, is more than what she seems, and reveals a mission to bring down the establishment that has crippled the people of London.

Together, they aim to discover who’s really pulling the strings in Jekyll’s wake, and why citizens are waking up in the street infected, with no memory of ever having taken the Hyde drug…

Heart-eating monsters, it turns out, are not the greatest evil they must face.