Originally published at: https://geektherapy.org/review-a-graphic-peek-into-tomorrows-stories-avery-hill-publishings-march-21-2025-zoom-webinar/
Author: Bianca Kisselburg
Hosted by Ricky Miller, Gina Gagliano, and Kat Chapman, featuring a special interview with Kit Anderson
On March 21, 2025, Avery Hill Publishing hosted an intimate and engaging 45-minute webinar via Zoom, offering fans, booksellers, and press a first look at their upcoming lineup of graphic novels. Despite the digital format, the event—hosted by Ricky Miller, Gina Gagliano, and Kat Chapman—felt personal, energized, and rich with creative insight. It was a thoughtful and tightly packed preview that showcased why Avery Hill continues to stand out in the UK and global comics publishing scenes.
A Brief History, A Clear Mission
Ricky Miller kicked things off with a brief but impactful overview of Avery Hill’s journey since its founding in 2012. He emphasized the publisher’s mission of discovering rising talent— often before they break out—and focusing on adult fiction and nonfiction graphic novels that challenge, comfort, and reflect the complexity of modern life. Their goal, as Ricky put it, is to support creators with distinct voices and help bring emotionally resonant stories into the world.
1. Second Shift by Kit Anderson (July 2025)
Kat Chapman introduced the first of the five new titles: Second Shift by Ignatz Award- nominated Kit Anderson. Following her 2024 success with Safer Places, Anderson returns with a psychological sci-fi story that probes the boundaries between mind and machine, perception and reality.
The art is disorienting in the best way—atmospheric, moody, and fragmented, mimicking the instability of a protagonist navigating inner and outer worlds in flux. Themes of AI, media saturation, and human dependency on technology pulse beneath the surface, making it one of the most socially timely releases of the year.
2. Acid Box by Sara Kenney, James Devlin, Emma Vieceli, and Ria Grix (September 2025)
Ricky rejoined to announce Acid Box, an energetic time-travel rave through ‘90s nostalgia. A love letter to youth culture, it follows a protagonist who finds herself back in the past, trying to change the future using music and memory.
Visually, it’s a technicolor explosion—saturated with neon hues, lo-fi glitches, and immersive artwork that feels like flipping through a dusty mixtape. It’s not just a sci-fi romp, but a reflection on freedom, joy, and identity.
3. Who Killed Nessie? by Paul Cornell and Rachael Smith (September 2025)
Kat returned to introduce Who Killed Nessie?, a delightfully bizarre mystery set in a remote hotel near Loch Ness. On her first day as hotel manager, the protagonist is left to run things solo when the staff vanishes—and then Nessie turns up dead.
With a playful “whimsy noir” aesthetic, the art mixes cozy character design with shadowy suspense. Beneath the fantastical plot lies a very real exploration of imposter syndrome, self-reliance, and the messiness of adulthood, giving it crossover appeal to both YA and adult readers.
4. The Corus Wave by Karenza Sparks (October 2025)
Ricky’s final presentation was The Corus Wave, a black-and-white epic filled with geological intrigue, architectural wonder, and philosophical reflection. Described as a “geological treasure hunt,” this novel connects themes of ancient history with modern mindfulness.
The stark, grayscale art emphasizes scale and stillness, giving the book a meditative rhythm. It’s a rare kind of adventure story—less about chasing treasure and more about unearthing meaning.
5. The Witch’s Egg by Donya Todd (October 2025)
Kat closed the title presentations with The Witch’s Egg by Donya Todd, a haunting, surreal folktale centered on motherhood, intergenerational trauma, and mental health. Described as a story blending the poetic and the modern, it follows a quest of parenthood that is as emotional as it is mystical. With themes of power, love, and resilience, this book is firmly aimed at adult readers.
Of all the titles previewed, this is the one that intrigued me the most. Its rich emotional undercurrent and mythic structure speak to a deeper exploration of what it means to nurture, to inherit pain, and to break cycles. The art leans toward pop surrealism, with nods to Alice in Wonderland in its whimsical yet unsettling imagery. Todd’s visual style is lush, strange, and utterly captivating—a perfect mirror to the book’s darkly poetic heart.
Spotlight Interview: Kit Anderson on Second Shift
The webinar ended with an insightful interview between Kat and Kit Anderson. Discussing Second Shift, Kit shared her inspiration—from a lifelong love of sci-fi to current conversations around AI and media curation. She expressed concern over how algorithms mediate our experiences, shaping what we consume before we even choose it, and how that unease became central to the novel’s themes.
Kit described the creation of the book as “chaotic,” admitting she had to abandon any illusion of structure and lean into intuition. The story evolved over nine drafts, with panels coming first and dialogue added later. She emphasized how comics allow for atmospheric contrast—juxtaposing fantasy with grounded emotion, like a campaign of Dungeons & Dragons against the harshness of reality.
She also reflected on the challenge of moving from short-form stories to long-form storytelling, saying she originally believed she could apply the same process but quickly realized that long-form narratives demand a different mindset entirely. On naming characters like Birdie and Heck, Kit said she loves nature-based names that feel old and distinct—perfectly suited to characters who may not even question what their names mean.
Though still recovering from the creative demands of Second Shift, Kit hinted that ideas for new short stories are already taking shape.
Essential Avery Hill Titles
Ricky closed the webinar with a reminder of Avery Hill’s “10 Essential Titles”—a curated list of books that embody their ethos:
- The Hard Switch by Owen D. Pomery
- Alone in Space by Tillie Walden
- Adrift on a Painted Sea by Tim Bird, with paintings by Sue Bird
- Sleeping While Standing by Taki Soma
- Safer Places by Kit Anderson
- The Impending Blindness of Billie Scott by Zoe Thorogood
- 2120 by George Wylesol
- Sennen by Shanti Rai
- Lights Planets People! by Molly Naylor and Lizzy Stewart
• Barking by Lucy Sullivan
Each of these titles touches on issues of mental health, identity, and the emotional landscapes we navigate daily. Whether it’s anxiety, disconnection, grief, or personal discovery, these stories don’t shy away from complexity—they lean into it with vulnerability, humor, and courage.
Final Thoughts
This 45-minute webinar proved that digital spaces can still deliver depth, connection, and inspiration. Avery Hill’s 2025 preview showcased the kind of comics that matter—not just because they look good (though they really do), but because they speak to the real things we’re wrestling with as individuals and as a society. These are books for the thinkers, the feelers, and the seekers—and for anyone who still believes stories can change how we see the world.