In January 2025, Oni Press, GLAAD Media Award nominee Ben Kahn (Renegade Rule, Elle Campbell Wins Their Weekend) and illustrator Georgeo Brooks (Immortals Fenyx Rising: From Great Beginnings) are heading to the stars–all while exploring the connections humans and their pets share with one another.
Mr. Muffins: Defender of the Stars cover
In their upcoming graphic novel Mr. Muffins: Defender of the Stars, Kahn and Brooks use the framework of a galaxy-spanning war to examine how humans relate to their pets and how those relationships mold, change, and strengthen us all. How far will human and pet friends go to save both themselves and the galaxy? Mr. Muffins will answer these questions all while bringing readers on a wild ride. Based only on the preview pages, I am so ready for this book. It looks to hit those fun, tender, and action notes that are 100% my jam. I’m betting they’ll be yours, too. I mean, just look at those pages:
Ahead of the book’s release, FreakSugar has an exclusive look at a Spotify playlist Kahn put together for the captivating book. Titled “Mr. Muffins,” the playlist includes songs from artists such as The Jonas Brothers, Cold War Kids, and the Baha Men. Check out the full list of songs here and listed below below:
1. Sucker by Jonas Brothers
2. Always by Panama
3. Rock the Dragon (recorded by Remember the Themes)
4. Hands Open by Snow Patrol
5. HandClap by Fitz and the Tantrums
6. Love is Mystical by Cold War Kids
7. Feel it Still by Portugal. The Man
8. We Can Make the World Stop by The Glitch Mob
9. What’s Up Danger by Blackway with Black Caviar
10. Who Let the Dogs Out by Baha Men
Mr. Muffins: Defender of the Stars goes on sale January 21, 2025, from Oni Press.
From the official graphic novel description:
Defender of the cosmos! Vanquisher of evil! Failure at frisbee??
Corgi shenanigans, epic space battles, and intergalactic heroes abound in this uplifting, action-packed adventure about the powerful connection between humans and their pets from GLAAD Media Award nominee Ben Kahn (Renegade Rule, Elle Campbell Wins Their Weekend) and illustrator Georgeo Brooks (Immortals Fenyx Rising: From Great Beginnings).
Eleven-year-old Reuben Mahmud just wants a break. When he takes his pet corgi, Mr. Muffins, to the park, he expects to get just that—a break. But what he gets instead is an alien invasion right smack dab in the middle of his neighborhood! Oh! And apparently Mr. Muffins is the chosen one destined to save the galaxy? This should be interesting . . .
Dragged into the middle of an epic space war, Reuben learns that the fate of the entire galaxy rests in Mr. Muffins’s adorable corgi paws. It’s going to take a lot more than tail wagging and butt waddling to end this war. To turn the tide of the conflict, intergalactic soldier Cassara must show Mr. Muffins how to tap into his cosmic power and be the hero the galaxy needs him to be. But when Mr. Muffins is separated from Reuben and a formidable giant mech-corgi arrives to conquer the world, Mr. Muffins’s powers are put to the test. Will Reuben be able to rise to the occasion to help his fluffy best friend? Do Cassara, Reuben, and Mr. Muffins have what it takes to end this war once and for all?