This September, SelfMadeHero will be publishing My Dad Fight Demons!, a diverse Young Adult graphic novel that brings together writer Bobby Joseph, the UK Comics Laureate, with the first full-length graphic novel from breakout illustrator, Abbigayle Bircham.
My Dad Fights Demons! presents the misadventures of Rye, a down-on-their-luck teenager and the dimension-hopping, demon-battling sorcerer, the Magical Mr Mantrikz, who just happens to be their absentee father. Whilst this is a tale of magical realism, it also tackles the very real social issue of absentee dads and parental separation.
This is the first new graphic novel by Bobby Joseph since being named the UK Comics Laureate in 2023. The acclaimed South London comic creator, whose early work includes the creation of cult comic classic Skank magazine, in which his best-known strip, “Scotland Yardie”, originated. He has written for The Guardian, Dazed and Confused, and Vice. A long-standing advocate for diversity and representation in comic books, his graphic novel, Scotland Yardie (Knockabout Comics, 2017), was the first diverse graphic novel to be studied as a module on an English Literature MA course. He is the fifth incumbent to be appointed the UK’s Comics Laureate.
The illustrator is Abbigayle Bircham, a graduate of the Lakes International Comic Art Festival) Breakthrough Initiative programme. Based in Norwich, she has a penchant for the weird and wonderful, and this is her first full-length graphic novel.
• My Dad Fights Demons! is published on 25th September in the UK and 30th September in USA by Abram books | Preorder it here from your favoured books shop (uk.bookshop.org Affiliate Link) | Preorder from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: British Comics, British Comics - Current British Publishers, British Comics - Graphic Novels, Comic Previews, Comics, downthetubes Comics News
Avery Hill Publishing announces new books for Autumn 
Coming Soon: “Acid Box”, a darkly comic adventure through club culture 
The Panharmonion Chronicles continues with “Ghosts of Sound” 
Winter is coming – three graphic novels on the way from award-winning writer Andy Winter!