SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Pearl's & Ruby's
  • Politics in Practice
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Manga
  • All Ages
  • Young Adult
  • Interviews
  • News

November 4, 2021 by Brigid Alverson

Detail of cover of The Airless Year

The Airless Year | Graphic Novel News

November 4, 2021 by Brigid Alverson   Leave a Comment

Cover of The Airless Year

We’re breaking some news this morning with the announcement of a new YA graphic novel, The Airless Year, by writer Adam P. Knave (The Once and Future Queen), artist Valentine Barker, and letterer Frank Cvetkovic. Here’s the executive summary:

For Kacee, a queer Black girl in middle school, everything feels like a struggle. When she fails a class as a result of her stress and ends up in summer school, she starts to wonder why she even bothers trying–and ultimately begins to discover her own power to improve the things in her life she can control, and try to let go of what she can’t.

Dark Horse will publish The Airless Year on June 8, 2022. Here are some preview pages, followed by the full press release.

You’re never truly powerless. 

THE AIRLESS YEAR

As kids, there are some things we just can’t change—but discovering autonomy and how to face the world against life’s challenges signifies growth.

NOV. 4, 2021, (SEATTLE, WA) —  From Eisner and Harvey Award-winning editor and writer Adam P. Knave (Amelia Cole, The Once and Future Queen), celebrated Portland-based artist Valentine Barker (Wartechs, Shelby Stone and the Temple of Ta’aora), with letters by Frank Cvetkovic (Count Crowley: Reluctant Midnight Monster Hunter, Cyberpunk 2077: Trauma Team), comes an all-new LGBTQ+ story for young adults, The Airless Year! A story of self-discovery and empowerment about taking control where you can, and learning to let the rest go. 

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

For Kacee, a queer Black girl in middle school, everything feels like a struggle. When she fails a class as a result of her stress and ends up in summer school, she starts to wonder why she even bothers trying–and ultimately begins to discover her own power to improve the things in her life she can control, and try to let go of what she can’t.

“This was a collaboration deeper than any I’ve experienced in comics. Valentine, Frank, and I worked closer than I ever have while making a comic, we each nudged the plots and the script around, and had a say in art composition and lettering style,” said Adam Knave. “The Airless Year is a story about the period in your life just before High School, which is a time fraught with deep, personal challenges. It’s the first time you really get to consider redefining yourself. When you’re younger, you have even more external forces pressing down and influencing those choices.”

“Middle school is the beginning of a life-long journey of self discovery,” said Valentine Barker. “You need to constantly evaluate and re-evaluate the world around you and find time to have a life. It isn’t easy. It’s what begins forging people into those they’ll become. I wouldn’t have been able to tackle such a weighty topic without the patience and support of my collaborators Adam and Frank. We all brought insight and wisdom to the table.”

The Airless Year is out from Dark Horse Comics June 8, 2022. For additional press queries, please contact Don’t Hide PR Publicity Director, Melissa Meszaros: melissa@donthidepr.com.

Filed under: All Ages

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments

About Brigid Alverson

Brigid Alverson, the editor of the Good Comics for Kids blog, has been reading comics since she was 4. She has an MFA in printmaking and has worked as a book editor, a newspaper reporter, and assistant to the mayor of a small city. In addition to editing GC4K, she is a regular columnist for SLJ, a contributing editor at ICv2, an editor at Smash Pages, and a writer for Publishers Weekly. Brigid is married to a physicist and has two daughters. She was a judge for the 2012 Eisner Awards.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

Name That LEGO Book Cover! (#63)

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Review of the Day: The Reel Wish by Yamile Saied Méndez

by Betsy Bird

Heavy Medal

Nine More Titles: May Mock Newbery 2026 Suggestion Titles

by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Politics in Practice

When Book Bans are a Form of Discrimination, What is the Path to Justice?

by John Chrastka

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Boost teen reading with digital comics – start with these 5 recs! (Sponsored)

by Karen Jensen, MLS

The Yarn

Pably Cartaya visits The Yarn

by Colby Sharp

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

Best Graphic Novels 2020 | SLJ Best Books

Graphic Novel Series Updates for Both Die-Hard Fans and New Readers

Best Manga 2024 | SLJ Best Books

Top 10 Manga of 2023

Grandparents Play a Key Role in These Graphic Novels | Stellar Panels

Commenting for all posts is disabled after 30 days.

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

Follow This Blog

Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

Primary Sidebar

  • News & Features
  • Reviews+
  • Technology
  • School Libraries
  • Public Libraries
  • Blogs
  • Classroom
  • Diversity
  • People
  • Job Zone

Reviews+

  • Book Lists
  • Best Books 2024
  • 2024 Stars So Far
  • Media
  • Reference
  • Series Made Simple
  • Tech
  • Review for SLJ
  • Review Submissions

SLJ Blog Network

  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal
  • Pearls & Rubys
  • Politics in Practice
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Yarn

Resources

  • Reasons to Love Libraries
  • 2025 Youth Media Awards
  • Defending the Canon:SLJ & NCTE Review 15 Banned Classics
  • Refreshing the Canon Booklist
  • School Librarian of the Year
  • Read Free Poster
  • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
  • Research
  • White Papers / Case Studies

Events & PD

  • In-Person Events
  • Online Courses
  • Virtual Events
  • Webcasts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Media Inquiries
  • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Content Submissions
  • Data Privacy
  • Terms of Use
  • Terms of Sale
  • FAQs
  • Diversity Policy
  • Careers at MSI


COPYRIGHT © 2025


COPYRIGHT © 2025