Kel Mcdonald – författare

"Incredibly fascinating." — BOOKLIST Starred ReviewNot all dreams come true! While history is written by the winners, the full story of humanity is built on the moments when things went completely sideways; the spectacular screw-ups, monumental mistakes, and explosive errors that paved the way for the bright and shiny achievements we normally celebrate. Today, the losers get their due as we honor the speed bumps we had to hit on the road to progress!In this entertaining tour of ill-fated futures, some of comics’ brightest talents relate the historical failure they’re most passionate about, bringing each moment to life in a hopeful and inspiring short story anthology. Some of these dreams were too big for their time, some were unfairly stopped by forces beyond their control, and some were best left on the cutting room floor, but all are windows to a world of possibility that’s still — for now — just beyond the horizon.Features work by RYAN NORTH, HARRY “HBOMBERGUY” BREWIS, EVAN DAHM, BLUE DELLIQUANTI, RYAN ESTRADA, and many more!

"The talent on this tome is stacked." — FREAK SUGAR"The romps, cautionary tales, and clearly clever crimes create a book to visit in any mood." — BOOKLISTWho's up for some crime? We've drawn up our plans and got all the pieces in place. Dare we say it, we could even get away with muuuurder. So get in, loser! We've got crimes to commit!Packed with campy whodunits, cozy mysteries, elaborate heists, noble civil disobedience, and plenty of regular old teen high jinks, a thrilling collection of lighthearted criminality awaits in these meticulously plotted pages from a host of the most devious minds in comics.If you've been daydreaming about getting away with it, you're invited to the Perfect Crime Party! Features a cover by Jeff Smith with criminally good stories by David Brothers, Amy Chase, Van Jensen, Mariah McCourt, Ryan Estrada, Tango, Cat Farris, Henry Barajas, and many more!

"A must for myth-loving middle schoolers." — SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL“And they lived happily ever after . . . I assume.”Vengeful spirits, flying ogres, helpful teapots, ghost pepper ghosts, and trickster tigers? That’s just the start of this lively collection of Asian folktales, reimagined and retold in comics! This second volume of the "Cautionary Fables and Fairy Tales" graphic novel series is a thrilling, funny, and totally unexpected take on stories spanning the entirety of the Asian continent, with loads of lesser-known myths and legends from Tibet, India, Indonesia, and beyond. Featuring the work of GENE LUEN YANG, NICK DRAGOTTA, BLUE DELLIQUANTI, CARLA SPEED MCNEIL, NINA MATSUMOTO, and many more!

“Wait until the full moon rises, sit at the bank and play a beautiful tune. Then you will see what happens.”Giant beanstalks, trickster cats, magic pipers, royal werewolves, marauding trolls, and wooden battle spoons? You may think you know where these are going but take another look; your favorite European folktales are refreshed, rebooted, and totally reimagined in this high-spirited and hilarious comics collection! This third volume of the "Cautionary Fables and Fairytales" graphic novel series is a wildly unexpected romp through some of Europe’s most famous fables and lesser known favorites, spanning the realm from sly humor to dark fireside tales and everything in between. Featuring the work of CARLA SPEED McNEIL, MARY CAGLE, K.C. GREEN, KATIE SHANAHAN, and more!

"Embraces death as a concept with due complexity." — PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, Starred Review"A very powerful collection that aims right for the heart, and is strongly recommended." — CEMETERY DANCE,Death — the one aspect of life we all have in common — is waiting for everyone, yet our practices, beliefs, myths, and stories about it are as diverse as we are. YOU DIED celebrates these vibrant cultural expressions of the great equalizer in a thrilling, life-affirming whirlwind of a book, an inspirational volume to be treasured through times of both loss and abundance (and every day in between).At turns both brazen and insightful, morose and optimistic, YOU DIED asks a wide array of cartoonist newbloods and all-stars to relate their most unforgettable tales of death and what comes next. Filled with beautifully illustrated accounts of grief and mourning, ancient myths, memorial rites around the globe, afterlife in the far reaches of space, and the simple and touching ways both the living and the dead carry on, this lively collection starts a comforting and much-needed dialogue about death as a natural part of life.Featuring an introduction by death positivity movement pioneer and activist mortician CAITLIN DOUGHTY and a murderer’s row of comics talent including RAINA TELGEMEIER, SHAE BEAGLE, and LISA STERLE.

"An enthralling, spooky, diverse collection." -- KIRKUS"An intriguing portal to folklore." -- SHELF AWARENESS"Readers will want to revisit this collection." -- SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL“Do you hear them? Never go outside when you hear THAT sound.”Ghostly warriors, angry gods, and monstrous tyrants? That's just the start of this collection of folklore from the Pacific, retold in comics!The fourth volume of the “Cautionary Fables & Fairytales” graphic novel series is a thrilling, funny, and totally new take on stories spanning the entirety of the region, with loads of lesser known myths and legends from the Philippines, New Zealand, Hawaii, and beyond. Featuring the work of TINTIN PANTOJA, PAOLO CHIKIAMCO, ROB CHAM, TOKERAU WILSON, and more!

"A resonant graphic novel about the price of growing up—or avoiding it." — FOREWORD"McDonald's tale blends elements of realism and fantasy into a distinctly modern take on the supernatural." — NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO"Strongly recommended for fans of dark fantasy and YA graphic novels." — CEMETERY DANCEAndrea and Darra have just started high school in their dead-end Massachusetts hometown with no clear idea of life after graduation. But a chance encounter with a spirit named Carmen promises to make sure their future is bright. However, a strange boy named Liam warns the magic comes at a price. Now the future they want is in reach, but are they willing to sacrifice their friendship?

The first three books in the "Cautionary Fables and Fairy Tales" series from Iron Circus Comics is now available in an attractive box set! Including The Girl Who Married A Skull, The Nixie of the Mill-Pond, and Tamamo the Fox Maiden, the Cautionary Fables and Fairy Tales Box Set contains over 600 pages of comics chronicling traditional folk tales from Africa, Europe, and Asia, both the well-known and the obscure. A fantastic present for the young reader in your life, eager to learn about traditional stories from around the world.Features work by a plethora of well-known creators, including CARLA SPEED MCNEIL, NILAH MAGRUDER, JOSE PIMIENTA, and GENE LUEN YANG.

"Enjoyable for reading aloud or sharing around a campfire." -- KIRKUS“Be careful of what you accept from spirits.”Loup Garrou, trickster rabbits, and spirits with names that can’t be spoken — the plains and forests of North America are alive with characters like these, all waiting to meet you in this collection of folklore retold in comics!This fifth volume of the “Cautionary Fables and Fairytales” anthology series features updated takes on ancient stories from tribes spanning the continent, bursting with bedside tales that are thrilling, chilling, and most of all inspiring. Featuring the work of JORDAAN ARLEDGE, MAIJA AMBROSE PLAMONDON, MILO APPLEJOHN, and more!

"By turns gripping, haunting, and tender, this collection is a winner." — KIRKUS Starred Review“They say a couple lines written on a piece of paper can seal your fate. I think they might be right.”Cursed princes, haunted rivers, fanciful pineapple wishes, and a fateful nighttime visit from a legendary sorcerer—these are just a few of the ancient tales whispered in the forests of South America, retold in this beautifully drawn comics treasury!This sixth volume of the “Cautionary Fables & Fairytales” anthology series features modern takes on folklore from across the continent, for a wide-ranging fireside collection of thrills and spooky chills. Featuring the work of SHADIA AMIN, CONI YOVANINIZ, VERÓNICA ALVARADO, and more!