Story of Rebellious Korean Students was Banned in Some U.S. Schools
Iron Circus Comics will publish a color edition of Banned Book Club, a graphic novel written by the husband-and-wife team of Kim Hyun Sook and Ryan Estrada that is based on Hyun Sook’s experiences as member of a clandestine book club when she was a college student in Korea in the 1990s. The original was published in black and white, with art by Hyung-Ju Ko, and Amanda Lefrenais is the colorist for the new edition, which includes a 25-page epilogue comic. The new edition will be released on September 22, 2026, as a 225-page paperback with an MSRP of $20.00.
Ironically, the book, which is rated for readers 13 and up, was challenged and removed from schools in Clay County, Florida, after a complaint that it included “anti-police sentiment” and encouraged anarchy. It was restored after an appeal.
Estrada and Hyun Sook, who live in Korea, had planned to return to the U.S. in 2025 to promote their new book but cancelled out of concern for Hyun Sook’s safety as an immigrant traveling on a visa (see “Exclusive: ‘Banned Book Club’ Creators Speak Out“).
Source: ICv2
