Image Comics will publish a collection of The Haunted Girl, a YA graphic novel that explores real-world mental health struggles through a fantastical lens, in May.
Co-writers and father-daughter team Ethan Sacks (Star Wars: Bounty Hunters) and Naomi Sacks joined forces with Marco Lorenzana (The Incredible Hulk) for this much-praised story, first published as as a four-issue series.
The collection, available to preorder now, will contain an American Foundation of Suicide Prevention guide to suicide prevention resources, as well as a guide from the American Psychiatric Association on free therapy access options. Both organisations contributed sensitivity reading to ensure the depictions of mental health were authentic.
In A Haunted Girl, readers meet Cleo, a 16-year-old adopted Japanese-American whose anxiety and depression drives her to suicidal thoughts, is fresh out of the hospital and trying unsuccessfully to reintegrate back into her old life. What she doesn’t know is that her real struggles are just beginning as she finds herself encountering an increasingly terrifying succession of ghosts. Is she losing her grip on reality… or is the explanation much, much worse? A Haunted Girl channels terrors – both otherworldly and real-life – that come with anxiety and depression.
This thought-provoking story has garnered early buzz for its hard-hitting themes and in-depth exploration of anxiety and trauma.
“A beautiful book in every sense of the word,” enthuses New York Times bestselling author and writer of The High Republic and Tales of Vader’s Castle comics, Cavan Scott.”The art. The story. The emotion. Haunting and heartfelt, Ethan and Naomi Sacks’s extremely personal story is perfectly matched in Marco Lorenzana’s gorgeous art. You can’t help but ache for Cleo’s plight or feel the ache of a father desperately wanting to help his beloved daughter. A supernatural thrill that will touch your heart and soul.”
“A Haunted Girl is a beautiful story that tackles hard subjects with a deft touch,” says Chip Zdarsky, writer of Daredevil, Batman, Public Domain. “Ethan, Naomi and Marco blend real-world issues with a perfect amount of fantasy and horror.”
A Haunted Girlwill be available from Local Comic Shops and bookshops from Wednesday, 22nd May 2024 and online from Tuesday 21st May | Order your copy here from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)
Ethan Sacks is best known in comics as the writer of Marvel’s Old Man Hawkeye, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and Star Wars: Bounty Hunters. He also wrote the acclaimed nonfiction comics, COVID Chronicles and Climate Crisis Chronicles for AWA Studios, as well as several stories for DC Comics. Before comics, he was a 20-year veteran at the New York Daily News, covering film and geek culture. He also contributes to NBC News.
• Follow Ethan Sacks on X at @ethanjsacks
Naomi Sacks may just be 19 years old, but she already has notched professional clips from the New York Daily News, TODAY, and AM New York, interviewing the likes of Steven Spielberg, Ava Duvernay and Lin-Manuel Miranda. She is currently a college student majoring in Environmental Studies.
Marco Lorenzana, a Mexico-based illustrator and designer, began his career in Heavy Metal (#263). He has as drawn strips for Aspen Comics, for their Overtaken series, Awaken Skies and Bubble Gun, among others, and created covers for several of their titles, such as Lola Xoxo, Fathom, Santeria and Soulfire.
Lorenzana has also worked with for Marvel, on titles such as Secret Empire – Brave New World #3, and illustrated three pages for Ultimates 3 #100. He also had the opportunity to draw the full title of The Incredible Hulk #716.
While creating art for Marvel’s custom comics, he had the opportunity to share credits with Tom Grummet on The Prox Transmissions for the rock band, Starset.
His latest projects include Intrusion, from Magma Comix, and Eternal Descent, from Opus Comics.
• Marco Lorenzana is online on ArtStation | Agent – Radebu: Comic Book Author Agency | Facebook | Instagram | X
• A Haunted Girl (ISBN: 978-1534397774) will be available from Local Comic Shops and bookshops from Wednesday, 22nd May 2024 and online from Tuesday 21st May | Order your copy here from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)
The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “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: Comic Previews, Comics, Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, US Comics
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