After exploring global pandemics (both fictitious and the very real), horrific happenings at the US-Mexico border, and the human toll of the zombie apocalypse, AWA Studios is ready for its next big story: an all-ages one. Harkening back to such 1980s classics as E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Gremlins, and Batteries Not Included – stories in which small creatures turn average, everyday folks’ lives upside down – AWA’s four-issue Byte-Sized tells the story of two pre-teen siblings accidentally receiving “military-grade” robots for Christmas.
It’s not long before the scientists who created the sentient AIs have tracked them down to the family’s quaint suburban home, resulting in one wild night filled with confusion, mayhem, fun, and, even, hope, tolerance, and compassion.
The story of Byte-Sized is said to be “something we all need these days,” according to Chief Creative Officer Axel Alonso. And with writer Cullen Bunn at the helm, fans are in for an unforgettable story:
“It’s a story of two very different families coming together in very unusual circumstances. It’s a story about understanding and forgiveness and hope. It’s meant to lift spirits and bring a smile to the reader’s face.”
Axel Alonso, for his part, compares Byte-Sized to a Pixar film, citing its appeal to children but its shrewd and “challenging” narrative for teenagers and adults. This would seem to refer to the publisher’s not-so-sly description of one of the robots – who are dealing with some sort of post-traumatic stress disorder from their military ordeal – “breaking bad,” complicating the situation for them, their newfound human friends, and their family dog (who’s inadvertently come along for the night’s adventure).
The art is kid-friendly while still being emotional and evocative. It certainly fits the premise and tone of the book, but it may also come as a surprise given the artist behind it: Nelson Blake II, an illustrator who has powered such older-skewing titles as Luke Cage and Ms. Marvel for Marvel and Witchblade and The Magdalena for Top Cow. Explaining this change in tack, Blake states:
“Even though I've spent my career doing fairly serious, violent books, I've always wanted to do something for the kid that picks up a comic for the first time. I was one of those kids that got a box of comics from their parents, and as much as I love some of the wonderful mature work that's out there, it means a lot to me to be able to do a book that I know families can read and enjoy together.”
More than the universal appeal, however, all the creators involved seem to be most excited about one narrative facet in particular: the worldbuilding that’s shrewdly done in the background, possibly setting up future stories that can spin out of this one-off adventure. This is how Bunn sets it up:
“While the story is focused on the events of one very wild night, there is a lot going on in the background that will hopefully spark the imagination of old and young readers alike. There’s a world I’m building here, and I think readers will be very interested with where this could go. […] It’s the ground floor of a much larger and more exciting world!”
Seeing as how AWA is keen to point out that this could act as the perfect jumping-on point for comics newbies – and seeing as how it ships only a few weeks before Christmas – this just may end up being a great gift for that special someone in your life.
Byte-Sized #1 will arrive on December 9, 2020, for a suggested price of $3.99.