Springfield, MA– SHP Comics will release its debut title this March. For readers 9 and older, “Zicky” bursts with monsters, mayhem, and heart. With its expressive visual style, cheeky humor, and emotionally grounded characters, Zicky puts a fresh spin on classic kai (portal fantasy) storytelling. Zicky is ideal for readers who love fast-moving fantasy with heart. A coming-of-age story set in a strange and dangerous world, this graphic novel delivers a unique voice and a vivid, unforgettable journey.
“Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King”
Darin S. Cape | April 14, 2026 | Children’s, Graphic Novel
Paperback | ISBN: 979-8-9927499-3-9 | $18.99 | Ages 9+
Illustrators: Zeno Decrux and Hiorsh Gabotto
Following “Zicky,” SHP will release “Woodstake”–a wickedly clever spin on the Dracula legend set during the iconic Woodstock festival of 1969, for readers 16 and older. When a vampire descends on the summer of love, a generation of hippies must survive three days of peace, music and blood in this darkly funny, genre-bending thrill ride. A razor-sharp blend of satire, horror, and ‘60s nostalgia, “Woodstake” is a must-read for fans of classic rock, genre mashups, and blood-soaked fun.
Interview:
What inspired you to start writing, and how did your journey as an author begin?
Storytelling has always been my passion. I’ve explored storytelling in many forms, from short stories and screenplays to stage plays and partially completed novels. In 2021, my screenplay Woodstake was accepted into the Austin Film Festival, which was an incredible honor. But being there also made me realize that selling the script would mean giving up creative control and ownership of the story. What I really wanted to take full ownership of my creative work. I’ve always loved comics and graphic novels, so it suddenly clicked that Woodstake was a perfect fit for that medium. All I needed was the right artist to bring the story to life. I couldn’t have asked for a better collaborator than Felipe Kroll. His evocative, painterly style captured the atmosphere of the story perfectly. That experience was so creatively fulfilling that it quickly led to additional projects—and before long, SHP Comics was born as an independent publisher.
Can you share a little about your latest book and what readers can expect from it?
My latest book is my first all-ages title, a fantasy combining both manga and western style storytelling entitled, Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King. I love the imagination of children. They’re not yet patterned into the way stories are supposed to work and will happily throw anything into the mix. When my kids were little, I used to pretend to be a character named Zicky, a super-secret ninja that went on adventures while they were asleep. They loved making fun of Zicky, but also hearing about, and contributing to, his adventures. They’re now screenagers, and I miss the days of our freewheeling games and storytelling, so I decided to bring Zicky to life. One of my favorite books as a child was In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak, and one of the first things I imagined was Zicky falling out of the manga world back into bed as Mickey does when he returns from the night kitchen. I later learned that Maurice Sendak was inspired by Winsor McKay’s Little Nemo in Slumberland, and I was thrilled to dive into Little Nemo for more inspiration. At its heart, Zicky is meant to be fun. It has a cheeky underdog hero, fantasy adventure, and a few quirky nods that adults will catch. But it’s also grounded in real-world experiences—growing up, navigating family dynamics, and figuring out how to get along with others. I hope readers come away entertained, but also thinking about the role imagination plays in our lives, and how important it is to support one another, especially when things feel difficult or uncertain.
Which character has been the most challenging (or rewarding) for you to write, and why?
Zicky was the most challenging, and ultimately the most rewarding, character for me to write. Since the character originally came out of playing and telling stories with my kids, had a strong sense of his voice, his attitude, and his sense of humor. What proved difficult was translating that playful energy into a fully realized character who could exist convincingly in two worlds. On one hand, Zicky needed to feel grounded and believable in the real world, with recognizable family dynamics, frustrations, and growing pains. On the other, he had to function as a heroic figure in a manga-inspired fantasy world, capable of taking on monsters and larger-than-life threats. Balancing those two sides, keeping him human while still letting him rise to the level of a hero, was a real creative challenge. But that tension is also what makes Zicky special. Seeing him come to life on the page, and reading his story with my kids has been incredibly rewarding.
Are there any authors or books that have especially influenced your work?
I read very broadly, moving easily from epic poetry to graphic novels, with a particular affection for the classics. My favorite novel is Don Quixote, the original genre mashup, and a book that, centuries after it was written, still manages to make me laugh out loud. From the Victorian era, I return time and again to George Eliot’s Middlemarch and Bram Stoker’s Dracula. I’m also a devoted reader of Edith Wharton, particularly The House of Mirth, and I find myself revisiting works like Paradise Lost and the novels of Jane Austen regularly. Add to that a love of classic cinema, along with samurai films and spaghetti westerns, as well as landmark graphic novels like Maus and Watchmen, and you have some sense of what is rattling around inside my brain. Somehow, these influences converge in the stories I tell. What excites me most is finding ways for these traditions to collide, creating something that feels both familiar and unexpected.
What do you hope readers take away from your stories?
As with Zicky, my primary goal is always for readers to have fun and to feel genuinely surprised as they read our graphic novels. I want the experience to feel playful, unpredictable, and engaging, whether you’re a younger reader discovering comics for the first time or an adult who’s been reading graphic novels for years. I’m also drawn to blending genres, breaking rules, and taking creative risks. By combining elements that don’t traditionally sit together such as fantasy with humor, horror with satire, or manga-inspired action with Western storytelling, I try to create books that feel distinct. I want each title to stand on its own while still feeling part of a broader creative philosophy at SHP Comics. At the same time, I always try to layer in meaningful themes, family, identity, imagination, power, responsibility, etc. so the stories resonate more deeply. Ideally, readers finish the books entertained, but also with something to think about, talk about, or revisit. For me, the most fulfilling stories are the ones that reward multiple readings and grow with the reader over time.
Can you give us a sneak peek at what you’re working on next?
We have so many titles in progress at SHP Comics, both titles I am writing, but also some exciting titles by other authors. I am currently writing the next Zicky adventure entitled, Zicky: The Cursed Blade, and also working on the sequel, and conclusion, to Woodstake, entitled Woodstake ’99, combining vampires, mosh pits and the trainwreck that was Woodstock ’99. I am also working on a reimagining of Beowulf set in medieval Europe and the 1980s, entitled B.O. Wolf. SHP just acquired the English rights to a marvelous collection of classics tales of the macabre, including stories by H.P. Lovecraft, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Franz Kafka by the extraordinary Spanish artist Joan Boix. We are also thrilled to announce that Frank Spotnitz (The X Files, The Man in the High Castle) has authored an upcoming release.