Giant Beasts Run Rampant While Misfits and Warriors Form an Unlikely Bond in this Whimsical Fantasy Epic – Out This May!
RISING STARS FROM FRANCE PRESENT A FANTASTIC FABLE FOR FANS OF MIYAZAKI! Oni Press and Magnetic Press – the Eisner Award-winning publisher celebrating prestige graphic novels from around the globe since 2013 – are proud to reveal HANA AND TARU, the graphic novel debut of writer Léo Schilling and artist Motteux (Diplômé). This beautifully drawn graphic novel will transport readers to a fantastical world of giant beasts, ancient warriors, and stubborn troublemakers on May 12th.
Deep in an ancient forest, young Taru feels like a misfit among her tribe of hunter-warriors. As she tries to make her mark in the adult world, she finds herself marginalized as much for her naïveté as for her radical ideas, which are dismissed by her mother and peers as nonsense. She is responsible for watching a prisoner—Hana, a young human with a mysterious past who has been captured by Taru’s tribe. Hana provides Taru with both solace and an opportunity to find her own way. When Taru’s village is once again attacked by giant rampaging forest beasts, the unlikely pair will work together to try to understand the uncontrollable and deadly force that threatens them.
“This ecological fable will appeal to fans of Miyazaki’s tales of nature, such as Princess Mononoke and Nausicaa, as well as folkloric classics such as The Borrowers and The Last Unicorn,” said Magnetic Press’ Director of Publishing Mike Kennedy. “This ecological fantasy tale by writer Leo Schilling and cartoonist Motteux unravels an exciting fantasy tale about finding your own purpose and a responsible balance with nature in a fresh and unique tribal fantasy setting. Schilling and Matteux have created a truly wondrous new world with this story.”
Writer Léo Schilling and artist Motteux both made their graphic novel debut with the French release of HANA AND TARU, and English-speaking audiences are sure to be clamoring for more from this dynamic duo as they explore this heartfelt celebration of nature, friendship, and imagination when HANA AND TARU arrives in bookstores and comic shops on May 12th.
HANA AND TARU SC
WRITTEN BY LEO SCHILLING
ART BY MOTTEUX
COVER BY MOTTEUX
ON SALE MAY 12, 2026 | $24.99 | 224 PGS. | TPB
FOC: 4/20/2026
About the Creators
Léo Schilling is a French comic book writer born in 1991 in Narbonne, a region rich in vineyards, culture, and storytelling traditions that deeply influenced his creative path. He studied at the École européenne supérieure de l’image in Angoulême, graduating from the comics program. Alongside his artistic training, he worked extensively with children as an education assistant and youth animator—experiences he considers essential to shaping his narratives. His debut graphic novel, Hana et Taru, illustrated by Motteux, explores themes of friendship, identity, and the wild unpredictability of nature.
Motteux is a French illustrator born in 1993 in Normandy, where his love for drawing took root early in childhood. He honed his craft at a comics-focused art school and developed a distinctive style shaped by a wide range of influences, including manga, animation, video games, and traditional bande dessinée. His work often features lush natural environments, which he renders with both precision and emotional depth. Before stepping into the world of graphic novels, Motteux contributed to youth publications like J’aime lire and Image Doc, and worked in visual development for animation and advertising at Mikros Image. Hana et Taru, created with writer Léo Schilling, marks his debut in long-form comics.