Under Kingdom: Dark Horse Brings a Modern LGBTQ-Friendly Fantasy Adventure in New YA Graphic Novel

Under Kingdom: Dark Horse Brings a Modern LGBTQ-Friendly Fantasy Adventure in New YA Graphic Novel

Dark Horse Books has a new young adult graphic novel, Under Kingdom, coming your way. This LGBTQ-friendly fantasy was written by Christof Bogacs with art by Marie Enger. If you’re a fan of Adventure Time or Critical Role this promises to be right up your alley. Under Kingdom follows a high school freshman who gets charged with saving his mom and the citizens of Under Kingdom while trying to solve things peacefully.

Dark Horse‘s description of Under Kingdom reads:

“After the sudden disappearance of his mom, high school freshman Shay is thrust into a secret world of monsters that exist underneath his small West-Virginian town of Humble Valley. With the help of his shapeshifting aunt Sa’Belle, he must search for his mother while doing what he can to safeguard the citizens of the ‘Under Kingdom’ and try to maintain his normal high school life. If that wasn’t enough, Shay is a strict pacifist in a world that is demanding he go to war to protect it.”

Bogacs praises Enger and shares that he would happily continue their collaboration forever, saying:

“I felt like I’ve been working, and could continue to work, with Marie forever. Their work is absolutely undeniable and every panel explodes with personality. Half the time they would shoot me a completed character design with a name and I would just work it into the script! We hope readers come away from Under Kingdom realizing the power of kindness. It’s not naive to try and see the best in people, look out for others and find non-violent solutions to problems. It’s our only way forward.” 

Enger added:

“The whole process has been yes, and how about THIS TOO?! From start to finish, we had a blast, and I think it shows. Moldin’ the minds of the youth today is serious business – and even though we packed the book with fart jokes and fun times, I hope that the folks who read this (alone and together) are inspired towards active empathy and understanding in their own lives! …And to draw lots and LOTS of fanart!” 

Under Kingdom will be available to purchase at your favorite local comic shop on April 5, 2023.

Check out the preview below:

Source: Dark Horse