Sword of the Champion

An ordinary boy must find his inner hero in this hilarious, action-packed debut middle-grade graphic novel filled with jokes, friendship, incompetent villains, and lots of heart.

Orin’s life is uprooted when he discovers that he is the reincarnation of a great hero, destined to defeat the evil Fiendlord. And he just may have a shot because, in the years since he conquered the world, the Fiendlord has become lazy and complacent. He sees Orin’s appearance as motivation to finally get back in shape and relive his glory years, and hopefully regain the respect of his unimpressed teenage daughter. In need of a mystical sword if he’s to stand a chance against the Fiendlord, Orin teams up with a precocious, entrepreneurial sorceress who’s ready to launch Orin’s career as the Champion of Draeland--which would be much easier if he didn’t keep befriending the Fiends they’re supposed to destroy.

Perfect for fans of comic books for kids ages 9-12 and other middle grade books who love their fantasy with a side of humor, Sword of the Champion offers a fresh take on the chosen one narrative that will keep young readers giggling and guessing until the very end. Readers who enjoy kids graphic novels or fantasy books for kids that blend laughter and adventure will crack up as Orin navigates his unexpected destiny as a legendary hero in a world where the greatest challenge isn’t finding the magical sword--it’s dealing with a villain having a mid-life crisis.

Eric Lide is an African American cartoonist. He created the ongoing webcomics Station Square (2009) and Ozzie the Vampire (2013), and he worked as an inker on The Adventure Zone: The Crystal Kingdom (First Second, 2021). His work has also been featured in multiple comics anthologies, he is a cover artist for IDW’s Sonic the Hedgehogseries, and in 2018 he began contributing comics to The New Yorker’s ＂Daily Shouts＂ column. Eric graduated from the School of Visual Arts in 2008.