Article by Chris Foti
In the world of literature, Young Adult novels are there to appease to adolescent readers. DC Comics announced at New York Comic Con last week that they’ll be taking a stab at this market with more Young Adult Graphic Novels. Cassandra Cain (Batgirl), Beast Boy and Zatanna will be getting this treatment, starting in 2020:
Creative Teams Behind Shadow of the Batgirl and Teen Titans: Beast Boy
Reveal New Artwork for Upcoming Graphic NovelsSurprise Guest Author Alys Arden Gives Sneak Peek at Concept Imagery
for Zatanna: The Jewel of GravesendAt the Super-Powered YA: DC Reads for Your #TBR Pile panel at New York Comic Con, DC surprised fans with special advance looks at upcoming young adult graphic novels hitting stores in 2020 and beyond.
Making their first public appearance as a creative team, Shadow of the Batgirl author Sarah Kuhn and artist Nicole Goux spoke in-depth about their original take on one of Gotham’s City’s fiercest heroines, Cassandra Cain. The discussion highlighted the importance of neurodiversity in fiction and Kuhn and Goux explained the creative process behind telling Cassandra’s journey from having difficulty speaking to becoming a vocal character. Panel attendees were also treated to a first look at new artwork for the upcoming graphic novel which is slated to hit stores February 4, 2020.
Fellow panelists Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo also gave fans something to cheer about when they revealed an expansive look at next year’s highly anticipated Teen Titans: Beast Boy. Teen Titans: Beast Boy is the second installment of Garcia and Picolo’s multi-part series and follows this year’s USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling Teen Titans: Raven graphic novel. Told in a similar style to Raven, Teen Titans: Beast Boy will explore Garfield’s teen years before he became the shape-shifting superhero. The graphic novel is set to debut in 2020.
Rounding out the panel’s surprises, acclaimed YA author Alys Arden stopped by the discussion to chat with fans for the first time about her upcoming Zatanna: The Jewel of Gravesend project with artist Jacquelin De Leon and teased some fun concept imagery of the main characters.
Also on hand at today’s panel to discuss their DC graphic novels were author Danielle Paige (Mera: Tidebreaker), artist Isaac Goodhart (Under the Moon: A Catwoman Tale) and the creative team behind Marie Lu’s Batman: Nightwalker graphic novel adaptation, Stuart Moore and Chris Wildgoose.
Will you be giving any of these books a try? If so, which one(s)? Let us know!
