We love the written word here. I mean, you don’t publish as many books as we have, over as many years, without loving words. But from the very start, we’ve also loved images. Whether they are the whimsical black and white drawings found in books by Niki Daly or Bridget Krone, or the explosion of color in our first graphic novel release, Shaka Rising by Luke Molver, words and images together have also been a vital part of the stories we want to share. With Shaka Rising and its sequel King Shaka, we introduced the world to the African Graphic Novel Series, a collaboration with Jive Media Africa through our joint imprint Story Press Africa.
The Series gave us a way to tell rich, nuanced African histories through the pens and paintbrushes of African creators. We’re so proud of that work. “Wait,” you’re thinking. “Are you not doing graphic novels anymore?” No, nothing like that! The African Graphic Novel Series isn’t going anywhere. We hope that in the future we’ll be able to present more of those stories under that umbrella.
“So what’s this post all about, then?” is probably what you’re asking. Great question! This post is to introduce a sort-of sibling to the African Graphic Novel Series. Say hello to Panel & Page!
Panel & Page isn’t a replacement for the African Graphic Novel Series—think of it more as a companion. Going forward, most of our graphic novels and illustrated narratives will be published under the Panel & Page banner. It will continue our work of bringing illustrated narratives featuring everything from fantasy and history to science and adventure, and many points in between— all with an eye on rich storytelling found all around the globe. The first title under this new series name is Pearl of the Sea, a middle-grade graphic novel coming in 2023 centered on Pearl, a feisty girl who needs to summon all of her courage to save a new-found friend. Future releases include Kariba, a historical and mythology based eco-adventure story, and Chaos in Kinshasa, a crime story set during the famous 1974 bout “Rumble in the Jungle” between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman.
We hope that when you’re looking for a graphic novel that’s full of gorgeous illustrations and gripping storytelling, you’ll think about Panel & Page. We can’t wait to share everything we have planned for the future, including interviews with these talented creators, excerpts, and more. Take a look at our graphic novel offerings, and stay tuned for more!