Kids Comics Pitchfest 2025 Showcase

Generation X

Maverick has always felt out of place. At home, he has a twin brother who can run faster than a cheetah, a sister who can transform into anything she desires, and a father who rarely has time for him. His mother, the only person who made him feel wanted, has passed on. In his desperation for attention, he acts out, earning a reputation in the school district as the lone delinquent.
When he and his brother enroll in a new school, Maverick meets Zanyah, a cheerful girl who also struggles to fit in and fails to pick up on social cues. Despite annoying him, she helps him open his heart to others. Can Maverick learn to navigate his grief without resorting to anger, or will he crash and burn?

Story comparisons: Unordinary, Twins, IDW Sonic

My Why:

Growing up as the shy youngest child, I often felt overshadowed by my brother, known simply as his younger sister or my parents’ daughter. I never felt like I was truly myself.

My main character, Maverick, reflects my experiences to the extreme. He feels forgotten and longs for people to see him as an individual rather than just the sibling of more prominent family members. Maverick’s battle with grief is also significant to me, particularly because I recently lost my grandfather and stepfather. I have struggled to cope with my emotions in the face of these new changes in my life after losing someone important.

Through my comics, I want to teach others how to handle their grief and emotions so they know they are not alone.