A wild, time traveling thriller where nostalgia is a superpower
Presented by acclaimed and award-winning creators, writer Mat Johnson (Incognegro, Pym) and artist Steve Lieber (Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen, Whiteout ), Backflash tells the story of Devin whose life is spiraling out of control, until he discovers the impossible: with a random touch of an article of family memorabilia, he can travel back in time, mentally reliving the best moments of his past while escaping his problems of the present. But the more Devin “backflashes” he finds himself on a mysterious trail of family secrets and betrayal. On this hunt for a truth that was never supposed to come to light, Devin must come to terms with his past if he wants any chance at a future.
“I’ve been Steve Lieber’s number one fan since reading The Superior Foes of Spider-Man,” said Mat Johnson. “Not only are his illustrations gorgeous, but their mix of humor and heart are totally unique in the comics landscape. It was a bucket-list dream to team up with Steve, and even more special to do so on such a personal project, inspired as it is by the recent loss of my mom. Having the project benefit from the editing of the legendary Karen Berger made it all even more magical.”
“I’ve been a huge fan of Mat’s work since Pym and Incognegro, and it’s been a tremendous privilege to work with him on Backflash,” said Steve Lieber. “Every moment of this story is full of humor and pathos and true-to-life observation.”
“It’s been a thrill working with Mat again, and Steve, for the first time — two masterful storytellers at the top of their game,” said editor, Karen Berger. “Together they deliver a delightfully strange and fresh take on time travel, full of emotional power and sly wit. It’s a hell of a ride!”
Colored by Lee Loughridge (Fables, Batman) and lettered by Clem Robins (Abe Sapien, Hellboy) be sure to look for Backflash on bookshelves in November 2024 from Berger Books and Dark Horse.
Presented in paperback (6.625″ x 9″), spanning 104 pages, Backflash appears in bookstores on November 12, 2024, and in comic shops on November 13, 2024. Pre-order at your local comic shop, bookstore, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, TFAW, and more for $22.99.
Praise for Incognegro
”A talented writer of both fiction and creative non-fiction, Johnson’s publications have established him as an important new voice in the African- American tradition.”—Walter Mosley
“(An) engrossing graphic novel, with… smart dialogue and sharp images.” – The New York Times
“A series well deserving of further exploration… Just hop on. Period.” – Black Nerd Problems
Brian Isaacs - Executive Editor / Publisher