Good Trouble Comics announces the Appalachia Comics Project aiming to spotlight the devastation of Hurricane Helene and history of the region

Good Trouble Comics, the publisher behind numerous educational comics spotlighting American history and civics, has announced the Appalachia Comics Project (ACP). As first reported by Smoky Mountain News, The Appalachia Comics Project aims to:

1. create a nonfiction graphic history of the Hurricane Helene disaster in southern Appalachia, and
2. partner with area journalists, storytellers, and artist to reach an underserved–and often intentionally misunderstood–audience where the loss of local news infrastructure and institutions has led to rampant mis- and disinformation.

Initially launching in June with a Kickstarter, the project is multifaceted that includes multiple comic projects and various goals but most importantly help contribute to the rebuilding of the Southern Appalachian economy and community. Three steps it’s taking are:

1. Putting affected creators and journalists back to work, giving survivors paid story-telling work, and allowing locals control over their own narrative,
2. Providing no-cost copies of the Helene graphic history and subsequent Appalachia Comics, to local Appalachian bookstores to sell and public/school libraries to help rebuild their collections, and
3. Establish a vetted history of the disaster as well as a regular source for community news.

Part of its initial goal is to donate 1000+ graphic history copies, and ongoing free distribution of Appalachia Comics issues, to local bookstores, schools, and public libraries.

Planned for release are:

● Quarterly 64-page comics/magazine hybrid inspired by the “Foxfire” project of the 1970s and The Bitter Southerner today, blending folklore, history, fiction, and nonfiction comics with a focus on Appalachia. Here we can explore environmentalism through shared experiences like growing a garden, changes in weather, and land management, as well as innovative explorations of foodways including comic-style recipes.

● Quarterly 32-page comics profiling the people of Appalachia; subverting stereotypes and delving into the real life of “Mountain Folk”.

The first issue of Appalachia Comics is set to be released Winter 2025 and then quarterly after with the graphic history getting a release Summer 2026.

Good Trouble Comics produces works of creative nonfiction in the form of comics and visual media. It was founded in 2019 by Andrew Aydin, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Valentine De Landro, Matt Fraction, and Vaughn Shinall.

Source: Graphic Policy