Mad Cave Studios has carved an interesting niche for itself as an independent publisher of comics and graphic novels, and last year it launched its young adult imprint, Maverick. They have just announced their 2022 catalog of comics and graphic novels; here’s a look:
Speed Republic, by writer Ryan K Lindsay and artist Emanuele Parascandolo: The Great Race is more than just a car race across Europe: It’s a distraction from the misery of everyday life in a world where one man, the Autocrat, rules the continent, capitalism runs rampant, and conformity is enforced from above. The grand prize is a life of luxury, but the race can have only one winner, and this story follows a contestant who has high hopes but, as the story goes on, graver and graver doubts as well. (February 2022)
Obsidian Tomb, by writer Anthony Cleveland and artist Daniel Jimeno: Daniel Bracken, one of the undercover staff in a supermax prison changes status to inmate after a violent incident. This backfires on the prison administration when Bracken, stripped of any connection to the outside world, turns around and begins to destroy the prison from within. (April 2022)
Potions, Inc., by writer Erik Burnham and artist Stelladia: Three siblings, Ran, Asteria, and Astreus Jones, travel from their home planet of Primaterra to Earth in a last-ditch attempt to save both planets from destruction. Arriving in Seattle in 1992, they team up with an FBI agent to track down Kanavan Goras, the evil genius who holds both worlds in his thrall. (June 2022)
The Tiger’s Tongue, by writer Olivia Stephens and artist Diansakhu Banton-Perry: The birth of twin princesses begins a sequence of events foretold in a secret prophecy: War will come to the kingdom, and the princesses will be tested with three trials that will hold the key to the future of the country and the ruling family. Stephens is the writer and artist of the YA graphic novel Artie and the Wolf Moon, which was just published by Lerner. (August 2022)
Nottingham: A King’s Ransom, by writer David Hazan and artist Shane Connery: The Sheriff of Nottingham reluctantly sets off to rescue Richard the Lionhearted, who has been kidnapped by Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI, and pay his ransom. Reluctantly, in this case, means under the pain of death, and in order to ensure his success, he takes on an unlikely partner: Robin Hood. And while the boys are off waving their swords, Maid Marion starts up some shenanigans of her own in Nottingham. This appears to be a serialized comic. (November 2022)
Two of the 2022 titles in the Maverick line were announced last year: World Class, a soccer story by writer Jay Sandlin and artist Patrick Mulholland, due out in February, and Good Game, Well Played, by writer Rachael Smith and artist Katherine Lobo, scheduled for May (see “Mad Cave Studios Announces YA Graphic Novel Imprint”). The third is In the Shadow of the Throne, by writer Kate Sheridan and artist Gaia Cardinali, a fantasy tale about a teen who is mysteriously transported to an Elven Kingdom, where he gets caught up in a magical battle between different factions. (July 2022) Source: ICv2
