DC Comics has provided release information on new original graphic novels by two creators with top-selling titles in their portfolios: Shannon Hale, whose latest title for First Second Books got a million-copy print run, and Jeffrey Brown, whose Star Wars titles were best-sellers.
The husband-and-wife team of Shannon and Dean Hale will write the middle-grade graphic novel Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld. Asiah Fulmore will be the artist and colorist for the book, which is geared toward readers ages 8-12 and scheduled for release on November 9, 2021 with an MSRP of $9.99.
In the graphic novel, Amethyst is a mischievous princess growing up in Gemworld until a practical joke goes too far and her parents send her to Earth to teach her a lesson. After three years, she has grown used to her life and her middle school, and she has pretty much forgotten Gemworld until a prince shows up to bring her back to reclaim her royal life.
The Hales are the co-authors of a number of graphic novels, including Diana: Princess of the Amazons and Rapunzel’s Revenge, as well as two Squirrel Girl novels. Shannon Hale’s graphic memoirs Real Friends and Best Friends, both illustrated by LeUyen Pham, are best-sellers, and First Second has just announced that the third book in the series, Friends Forever, will have a first printing of 1 million (see "First Second Summer-Fall 2021 Season").
DC also announced that Jeffrey Brown, the author and artist of the Star Wars: Jedi Academy and Vader and Friends books, is working on the middle-grade graphic novel Batman and Robin and Howard, which is scheduled for publication on November 9. In the story, Robin (Damian Wayne) transfers to a new middle school, where he faces a whole new set of challenges and soon strikes up a rivalry with another student, Howard. He has to deal with the high expectations he has because of his father, and Batman has to deal with being the father of a middle-schooler. As in his other books, Brown plans to bring out the personal side of a well-known story, illustrating it in a simple, kid-friendly style.

Shannon Hale, Jeffrey Brown
Posted by Brigid Alverson on February 5, 2021 @ 2:26 pm CT

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