Exclusive: Children of the Phoenix | News and Preview

Today is the release date for Children of the Phoenix: The Eye of the Storm, the first volume of a new prose/comics hybrid series by writer Oskar Källner and artist Karl Johnsson, and we have both a preview of that book and some new info on the next volume, Children of the Phoenix: The Iron Rose.

Children of the Phoenix: The Eye of the Storm is published by Papercutz, and it’s the publisher’s first illustrated children’s book (their specialty is middle-grade graphic novels). The series is a mix of prose and comics, and it is rated for ages 7-12. Here’s the blurb for the first volume:

When Elias and Alice’s mother disappears in a nearby forest, the siblings quickly embark on a journey to find her. But nothing can prepare them for what lies ahead. Arriving in the forest, they come face-to-face with a crew of aliens who whisk them away on a space journey riddled with terrifying monsters, dangerous kidnappers, and a secret that changes all Alice and Elias have known. Amid the mayhem, will Elias and Alice be able to traverse through the stars and find their mother?

The second volume, Children of the Phoenix: The Iron Rose, will be released on June 2, 2024, and here’s the publisher’s blurb:

Alice and Elias have left earth and are aboard a spaceship called The Phoenix, traveling through the galaxy with a crew of beings they never imagined existed until they were rescued by them while searching for their mother. Now they are in pursuit of the Krao ship that has taken their mother prisoner and find the enemy vessel docked at the space station known as The Iron Rose. The only problem is that it’s guarded by hundreds of Krao warriors. A rescue mission is planned, but just when they are about to execute it, everything takes an unexpected turn…”

Papercutz publishes middle-grade graphic novels, so we asked them how this series fits into their publishing program. Mark Irwin, Senior Vice President of PaperCutz’ parent company Mad Cave, responded, “PaperCutz has always been a market leader in bringing different types of all ages material into the market. COTP fits that model in that it has an educational AND graphic storytelling component, accompanied by prose. We plan to create more illustrated novels, as long as they fit the aforementioned model.”

We also asked for some thoughts from the creators, who sent us this joint statement:

Children of the Phoenix is a passion project, a love letter to the stories we grew up with. We both come from a childhood marinated in comics, science fiction books, video games and anime films. Now we set out to make this series as fun and as engaging as possible, combining the imaginary power of comics with the immersing depths of novels. We have seen in the reception of these books what we hoped for, that they are indeed books that both parents and children can gather around and appreciate, that the series has become a gateway to the entire science fiction genre. We love this because we cherish that SF sense of wonder, and want to share that feeling and this abounding universe that we have created with readers everywhere. So please join us on this grand adventure as Alice and Elias of Earth are thrown out into a fallen galaxy, making new friends among strange aliens, fighting unforgiving malevolent forces and uncovering earth shattering secrets to who they truly are, and their place among the stars.

And now, without further ado, here’s a preview of the first volume, Children of the Phoenix: The Eye of the Storm. Click the images to embiggen and open the preview reader. Enjoy!

Filed under: All Ages