A coming-of-age story goes great with robot fights according to the upcoming original graphic novel from Image/Skybound, Everyday Hero Machine Boy. This story aimed at Middle Grade (Ages 8-12) readers is written by Tri Vuong, who is also writing the official LEGO Ninjago Garmadon comic book. She is joined by artist Irma Kniivila, who previously worked on Boom! Studios' Joyride and Marvel's X-Men: Blue.
Everyday Hero Machine Boy will be part of Image/Skybound's new imprint Skybound Comet. This graphic novel imprint launches in June starting with Clementine Book One, which will be expanding The Walking Dead universe through the eyes of Clementine, who first appeared and quickly became a fan-favorite in Telltale’s Walking Dead video game franchise. Distinguishing itself from the rest of The Walking Dead franchise, Clementine Book One will appeal to the audience the Skybound Comet imprint is geared towards, which is specifically Middle Grade and Young Adult (Ages 12+), with Clementine falling into the latter YA demographic.
The official Image Comics website shared the cover image of Everyday Hero Machine Boy as well as twelve interior preview pages to give readers an extensive look at the original graphic novel, which marks the first Middle-Grade release from the Skybound Comet imprint. Faith Erin Hicks (The Nameless City Trilogy, Avatar: The Last Airbender) says that Everday Hero Machine Boy is "Astro Boy meets The Iron Giant, a sweet, funny, action-packed story for every sci-fi loving young reader!" Vuong and Kniivila share the story of Machine Boy, who fell to the city of Mega 416 and caused massive destruction before Karate Grandpa stopped him by turning on his heart. Now, Machine Boy is looking to find the best way to help people and become a hero but finds himself conflicted about whether his powers can truly be used for good when they react harmfully with debris from space.
The vibrantly colored world in the preview pages for Everyday Hero Machine Boy shows a city populated by both human beings and anthropomorphized characters living seemingly in harmony, but Machine Boy himself is met with screaming kids running away in fear and a distrustful look from a mother despite his good deeds. The struggles Machine Boy faces already feel remarkably relatable for kids who may feel ostracized themselves. But the graphic novel doesn't appear to dwell on serious moments for too long, instead layering them throughout the visuals. The preview demonstrates the graphic novel's sense of humor as well with some comedic dialogue playing with words as well as some great visual comedy with Machine Boy planking on the floor in despair over missing out on his favorite boy band. Machine Boy is already a pretty lovable robot judging by this preview alone.
The Everyday Hero Machine Boy graphic novel will be released in comic book stores and online through websites like Google Play on September 7, 2022, followed by appearing in bookstores on September 13, 2022. This will be after the release of Tillie Walden's (The Walking Dead Deluxe) Clementine Book One in June 2022 and before the release of Mairghread Scott (Star Wars: Resistance) and Pablo Tunica's (TMNT Universe) Sea Serpent’s Heir Book One in October 2022 through the Skybound Comet imprint. It will be interesting to see how this new imprint, which focuses solely on graphic novels and Middle Grade and Young Adult audiences, will fair in its first year out, especially considering the current state of the world. But it's nice to see a growing number of books aimed at younger audiences with the creation of imprints like Skybound Comet and Seismic Press and the publication of books like Everyday Hero Machine Boy.
Source: Image Comics