Twig, Vol. 1

by Skottie Young, Kyle Strahm (Illustrator)

Overview

"A charming romp through a visually stunning world." —Kirkus

Meet Twig. He's about to start a new job. And nothing is going to be the same ever again.

After the death of his father, a funny little blue-haired creature named Twig inherits the role of Placeling and must embark on the quest of a lifetime to repair a magical gemstone before a terrible darkness descends on the world. Join Twig on the first day of his new job in this inspiring and imaginative tale of hope, heartache, and the determination to overcome insurmountable odds!

I HATE FAIRYLAND and MIDDLEWEST Eisner Award-winning writer SKOTTIE YOUNG and artist KYLE STRAHM (SPREAD, UNEARTH) come together for an all-new high fantasy adventure series for fans of Jeff Smith's Bone and The Dark Crystal.

Collects TWIG issues #1-5.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781534323469
Publisher:	Image Comics
Publication date:	11/15/2022
Series:	Twig
Pages:	128
Sales rank:	258,494
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.20(d)
Age Range:	8 - 18 Years

About the Author

Skottie Young got his start at Marvel on titles like Spider-Man: Legend of the Spider Clan, Human Torch, and Venom. He soon began adapting the L. Frank Baum Land of Oz novels at Marvel with Eric Shanower. He is best known for writing and drawing the hit series Rocket Raccoon, illustrating the children's book Fortunately, The Milk by Neil Gaiman, and the Young Marvel variant covers. He's also the cartoonist of I Hate Fairyland and writer/co-creator of Middlewest and The Me You Love in the Dark with artist/co-creator Jorge Corona, and artist/co-creator of Twig with writer Kyle Strahm.

Kyle Strahm has been a freelance comic book creator since 2006. In that time he has had work published by Image Comics, Marvel Comics, DC Entertainment, Aftershock, Todd McFarlane Productions, IDW Publishing, Dark Horse, Dynamite, Valiant Entertainment, Black Mask, and others. As an adjunct professor, Kyle teaches Illustration to seniors at the Kansas City Art Institute. He lives and works in Kansas City, Missouri.

Editorial Reviews

09/26/2022

After his father’s death, blue-furred, bipedal creature Twig is reluctantly designated the new Placeling, whom “this world and all the ones beyond are depending on,” in this lightly creepy graphic novel series opener by Young (The Me You Love in the Dark) and Strahm (Into Radness). After arriving late to his first assignment, Twig and his snarky, yellow slug-like companion Splat are given a glowing red gem and instructed to take it to the Pathsayer, a diviner of mystical objects’ origins. But when the pair show up at the Pathsayer’s residence, they find him dead. Using the Pathsayer’s tools, Twig determines the gem’s destination, severely damaging it in the process, and the duo embark on a series of side quests to repair it before a “darkness covering all things” descends upon the world. The narrative’s gentle tone smartly contrasts the art’s occasionally grotesque visuals; in brilliantly hued palettes, Strahm renders distorted landscapes populated by innovative technologies, anthropomorphic ruins, and softly rounded critters sporting an astounding array of teeth. While Young’s plot follows a well-trod quest trajectory, clever tweaks and subversions keep it feeling fresh. Ages 12–up. (Nov.)

Publishers Weekly

Twig may rank up among Image Comics' best series of all time.

ScreenRant

"Concocts a beautiful assembly of colors, ranging from calming magenta to creepy absinthe, to depict the ever-changing topography...ends on a wild note, taking a simple journey to cosmic heights."

Comic Book Resources

A richly detailed fantasy land in the vein of The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, or Jeff Smith's beloved Bone comics.

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Twig may rank up among Image Comics' best series of all time.” -ScreenRant

“A richly detailed fantasy land in the vein of The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, or Jeff Smith's beloved Bone comics.” -io9/Gizmodo

"The fantastical setting is brought to life by a vivid, enchanting art style with exquisite colors by Jean-Francois Beaulieu and clean, easy-to-read lettering by Nate Piekos... Twig’s journey provides plenty of daring escapades to please the adventurer at heart. A charming romp through a visually stunning world." —Kirkus Reviews

"Concocts a beautiful assembly of colors, ranging from calming magenta to creepy absinthe, to depict the ever-changing topography...ends on a wild note, taking a simple journey to cosmic heights." -Comic Book Resources

"The narrative’s gentle tone smartly contrasts the art’s occasionally grotesque visuals; in brilliantly hued palettes, Strahm renders distorted landscapes populated by innovative technologies, anthropomorphic ruins, and softly rounded critters sporting an astounding array of teeth. While Young’s plot follows a well-trod quest trajectory, clever tweaks and subversions keep it feeling fresh." —Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

2022-09-14
Twig nearly dooms the world on his first day as Placeling.

After his father dies without taking on an apprentice, Twig—an appealing, large-eyed, blue creature who wears a whimsical little branch with a sprouting leaf on his head—is chosen to become the new Placeling. Tasked with retrieving magical items and placing them for future heroes to find, Twig’s new role is of utmost importance. Unfortunately, not only is Twig late on his first day, he finds the Pathsayer dead. With no one to tell him where the gem he’s carrying must be placed, Twig attempts to use the Pathsayer’s equipment himself. This results in the gem losing all its nektar, becoming useless. The expert Nektarmancer sends Twig on his own heroic quest to find the ingredients necessary to restore the gem—which turns out to be the very last one—so it can be properly placed. If Twig fails, the world will be in terrible danger. The fantastical setting is brought to life by a vivid, enchanting art style with exquisite colors by Jean-Francois Beaulieu and clean, easy-to-read lettering by Nate Piekos. Twig explores the impact of following in someone else’s footsteps while being dogged by the fear of not being good enough. Despite not learning much about the hero Twig is placing his gem for, readers will be satisfied, as Twig’s journey provides plenty of daring escapades to please the adventurer at heart.

A charming romp through a visually stunning world. (Graphic fantasy. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews