TODAY: Punch ecological despair right in the face! Lima & Aquilani present UNDERGROWTH.

After Red and her friends are killed by invaders from beyond, they’re revived inside massive organic battle-mechs. Now it’s time to take their planet back!

With Undergrowth, writer Ricky Lima and artist Daniele Aquilani team up for a jaw-dropping graphic novel about planetary crisis, mental health, and giant monsters.

Packed with captivating character designs, epic-scale battle scenes, and thorny questions, it’s a story about kids who are trying to do the impossible... and who just might pull it off.

“A gripping meld of vivid worldbuilding, ecological folklore, and action sequences that challenges and enthralls.” — Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)

"In the midst of our current climate crisis, [this] imaginative wish-fulfillment fantasy will be relished by teen readers in particular... The detail of every fight scene is extraordinary, making every punch feel real and impactful. Big robots, big feelings, big fun." — Booklist

"Bursting with ideas and jagged adolescent aggression." — School Library Journal

“Wild, weird, and strangely heart-wrenching, Undergrowth is a lot of fun… a tale of terror and obsession, told with great empathy and off-the-charts excellent mech violence.” — Zander Cannon (Kaijumax, Heck)

Undergrowth by Ricky Lima & Daniele Aquilani
ISBN 978-1-60309-544-0 | Diamond Code: JUN241250
$24.99 (US) | 304 pages | Full color paperback | 6.625 x 10.125"
Browse preview pages | Grab it now from your favorite shop!

In 9 days... Top Shelf's SPX is a tri-continental crew!

We're approaching that most special of weekends, the Small Press Expo (SPX)! Join us September 14-15, 2024, at the Marriott in North Bethesda, Maryland, for a glimpse into the beating heart of the indie comics community. 

First, visit SPX Special Guest Chris Gooch (In Utero, Under-Earth, Deep Breaths, Bottled) who’s traveled all the way from Australia to meet you at table M10B!

Visit the Top Shelf booth (W56-W59) to meet three more outstanding creators:

And get your hands on all our other hot new releases from this year: Jimmy’s Elbow by James Kochalka, Belzebubs (Vol 2): No Rest for the Wicked by JP Ahonen, Wolfpitch by Balazs Lorinczi, Korgi: The Complete Tale by Christian Slade, In Perpetuity by Maria & Peter Hoey, Mary Tyler MooreHawk by Dave Baker, and You Wish by Jeff Victor!

Plus, catch many more Top Shelf authors around the floor — including Jeffrey Brown, Jess Fink, Jennifer Hayden, Maria Hoey, Casey Nowak, Nate Powell, and Hannah Templer!

And don't miss these great panel discussions:

  • Saturday 4pm: “Queer In All Universes” in the White Oak room, with Hannah Templer (Cosmoknights) and more!
  • Saturday 5:30pm: “Teen Apocalypse” in the White Flint Amphitheater, featuring A TON OF TOP SHELF TALENT: Chris Gooch (In Utero), Ricky Lima (Undergrowth), Julian Hanshaw (Space Junk), and more!
  • Sunday 1pm: “The Pitfalls of Time Travel” in the White Flint Amphitheater, with Jess Fink (We Can Fix It!) and more!
  • Sunday 2pm: “Altered Realities” in the White Flint Amphitheater, with Nate Powell (Swallow Me Whole, Come Again) and more!
  • Sunday 3:30pm: “Big Concepts in Non-Fiction” in the White Oak Room, with Nate Powell (March, You Don’t Say) and more!

Last but not least, Hannah Templer is nominated for an Ignatz Award for Cosmoknights! Voting is open to the online public — just register here!

Chris Gooch brings IN UTERO to New York City!

To celebrate Chris Gooch's fastest-selling and most acclaimed graphic novel to date, In Utero, Chris is not only an international Special Guest of the SPX, he's also sticking around our continent afterwards for two appearances in New York City!

  • Wednesday, September 18th from 5-7pm: Chris will be signing at Forbidden Planet NYC! Details on Instagram, RSVP at this Facebook event.
  • Friday, September 20th from 6:15-8pm: Chris will be featured in conversation with Top Shelf's own Leigh Walton at the 53rd Street branch of the New York Public Library, folllowed by a book signing! Details at NYPL.

Come get to know the brilliant mind behind Bottled, Deep Breaths, Under-Earth, and now In Utero! Our thanks to Creative Australia for making Chris's trip possible.