KCU Pitchfest Showcase 2026 (Shortlist)
Entire 2026 Gallery | List of Judges | 2025 Showcase
Comics creators from around the world have submitted their unpublished projects to be previewed online by editors and agents. A panel of judges have selected the top pitches. The projects are archived here so that industry pros may view them and discover new talent.
Mud and the Lost Swamp Land
Okie Swamp Village is the last remaining place on earth where humans exist… or at least that is what orphaned sisters Mud and Dani have been taught all their lives. Living in a rapidly withering tree-top village, 9-year old Mud dreams of a day where she can live on dry land at the bottom of the swamp. The only problem is dry land has not been seen in over 70 years and only seems to exist in the old folktales told by the elders in the village. One day, after a fire destroys their childhood home, Mud, Dani, and their pet dog Puddles set out to search the wild swamp for a new home on dry land. Together the sisters brave the unknown, form new friendships, and discover that they can overcome the trauma that has devastated their village.
Age Range:
Middle Grade (approx ages 9-12)Genre:
Adventure, BIPOC, Fantasy, FictionPage Count Estimate:
180
My Why:
This is a story about sisterhood, family, societal issues, cultural storytelling, and adventure. It’s set against the backdrop of a fictional southern United States (U.S.) swamp with deep roots in African-American and Gullah-Geechee traditions, folklore, and beliefs. This is a story about all the things I love and all the things I grew up around being a young black woman from Georgia.
There are so many culturally rich stories that are shared from generation to generation. I wanted to highlight the beauty of African-American culture in the south.
Comp Titles:
Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia, Lightfall: The Girl and the Galdurian by Tim Probert, City of Secrets by Victoria YingMegan Green
Megan is a comic artist and illustrator who earned her B.F.A in Sequential Art from SCAD in 2015. Her love for art began as a kid after watching Blue's Clues. She has worked several years in the library field (both public and academic). She loved her time as a Librarian and hopes to one day return to working in that field.
For now she is working in a different field and traveling the world as a military spouse. She hopes to tell inspiring stories about adventure, family, and culture.