A Can’t-Miss Crowdfunding Campaign with Seven Wildly Inventive Volumes of Superpowered Stories, Plus An Awesome Artbook and A Limited Edition “Dorm Footlocker” Storage Box
Magnetic Press – the Eisner Award-winning publisher of groundbreaking comics and graphic novels from around the world since 2013 – is bringing Florent Maudoux’s manga-inspired and darkly stylish action adventure series FREAKS’ SQUEELE to Kickstarter with an ambitious and artful crowdfunding campaign. Florent Maudoux’s critically acclaimed, seven-volume series has gained legions of fans around the world since its debut in 2008 by drawing inspiration from RPGs, Hong Kong cinema, and classical art to create awildly inventive comic saga that brings manga flair, western comic grit, and Franco-Belgian charm into one gloriously chaotic universe.
Fans can now support FREAKS’ SQUEELE on Kickstarter.
“Whether you’re into supernatural school drama, genre-bending art, or just want to see a werewolf fight a bear for dorm territory, FREAKS’ SQUEELE delivers the goods—with claws, swords, and sarcasm,” said Magnetic Publisher Mike Kennedy. “Think Jujitsu Kisiren meets X-Men by way of Scott Pilgrim, with a dash of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and a heavy pour of French irreverence.”
In FREAKS’ SQUEELE, the world is populated by demons, werewolves, gods, and mutants, many of whom are descendants of ancient mythological beings, and super-heroism is a regulated profession, like being a lawyer or doctor. Aspiring heroes must attend accredited universities, where they study combat and ethics and compete in duels and tournaments, often with lethal consequences. These events are broadcast and monetized, turning heroism into spectacle. The series follows three freshmen students — Chance, Li Xiong Mao, and Shadow — who must navigate these trials and tribulations while uncovering conspiracies, surviving sabotage, and managing the popularity of their identities.
“The world of FREAKS’ SQUEELE is a critique of power structures disguised as a superhero romp, where every sword swing, spell, and sarcastic quip is loaded with history, trauma, and rebellion,” said Kennedy. “It is deeply addictive storytelling.”
Originally published by Ankama Éditions in France, Magnetic Press’ publication of FREAKS’ SQUEELE marks the series’ American debut. The Kickstarter campaign features over 1,000 pages of story in seven FREAKS’ SQUEELE hardcovers, as well as an artbook and a limited edition “Dorm Footlocker” storage box for collectors. Fans can support FREAKS’ SQUEELE on Kickstarter now.
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About the Creator
Florent Maudoux is a French comic book creator born on July 3, 1979, best known for his genre-blending series FREAKS’ SQUEELE. His artistic journey began with a passion for comics in childhood, but he initially pursued mathematics before pivoting to visual storytelling. He studied animation at the prestigious Gobelins school in Paris and interned at Disney before working in 3D animation and video game design at Eden Games. From 2004 to 2007, he designed figurines at Rackham, honing his visual style.
In 2005, Maudoux began developing FREAKS’ SQUEELE as a satirical and emotionally rich series about misfit students at a superhero academy. The first volume was published in 2008 by Ankama under Label 619, where Maudoux became a leading figure. His work is known for its fusion of manga, European comics, pop culture, and mythic symbolism, often drawing inspiration from RPGs, Hong Kong cinema, and classical art.
He expanded the FREAKS’ SQUEELE universe with spin-offs like ROUGE, FUNÉRAILLES, MASIKO, and CLOVD, each exploring different facets of his richly imagined world. In 2022, he illustrated A Short Story: The True Story of the Black Dahlia, a documentary-style graphic novel based on FBI files, written by Label 619 founder Guillaume “Run” Renard. Maudoux lives in the Lyon region and continues to push the boundaries of visual storytelling with bold, genre-defying narratives.