On July 20 Fantagraphics will publish CELESTIA, the highly anticipated new graphic novel from Manuele Fior (The Interview and 5,000 KM Per Second) which Jeff Lemire (Sweet Tooth) called “a revelation and one of the best books I’ve read this year.”

The book is set on a mysterious concrete island called Celestia, built over a thousand years ago as a refuge and now cut off from the mainland entirely. Celestia has since become an outpost for criminals and other misfits, as well as a refuge for a group of young telepaths. Events push two of them, Dora and Pierrot, to flee the island and set sail to the mainland, where they discover a world on the precipice of a metamorphosis. On the mainland the adults are prisoners of their own fortresses, unintentionally preserving the “old world” at a time when a new generation could guide society towards a better humanity.

CELESTIA is the most ambitious and successful graphic novel to date by one of the world’s most exciting storytellers, showcasing his singular talents as a once-in-a-generation visual artist and a deeply empathetic writer who uses science fiction to look to the future of humanity.

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Here’s what folks are saying about CELESTIA:

 

Celestia is a revelation and one of the best books I’ve read this year. Manuele Fior’s expressive and beautifully human artwork brings the ancient city of Celestia and its many fascinating residents to life in ways that will stay with you long after you’ve finished the book.”

Jeff Lemire (Sweet Tooth)

 

“A haunting story of a cabal of telepaths, prophetic poets, and beautifully empty cities. Where shared dreams can both connect and isolate. Boldly painted and utterly moving. Every panel is a work of art.”

Matt Kindt (MIND MGMT, Grass Kings)

 

“An imaginative and skillfully told story about characters and a world reeling from trauma but poised for a new beginning. Fior’s talent for conveying emotion evokes both heartache and awe.”

Library Journal

 

“Through his narrative restraint and graphic acuity, Fior makes the experiences of a single man seem as important as the fate of mankind.”

Booklist

“With a prevailing aura of mystery, and unanswered questions about the details of the Great Invasion, the story is rich, satisfying, and complex. The book features striking, haunting visuals…Celestia is a thoughtful, beautiful graphic novel.” — Foreword Reviews