The Little Red Fish
Published on 14. September 2023
Book
Paperback/Softback
168 pages
979-8-9866146-2-5 (ISBN)
Description
An aquatic
reef held down by an oppressive regime of blood-thirsty herons
struggles to rise up in this harrowing tale of self-discovery,
heritage, and revolution.
We
follow The Little Red Fish as they journey deep into themselves and
blossom into the leader they were meant to be. Guided by a magical
orb and the will of the people, our hero strives to help a small reef
in the Persian Gulf regain its freedom. The
Little Red Fish is
a creative retelling of the events of the Iranian Revolution from the
perspective of those actually involved. A stunning mixture of
political allegory and magical realism, The
Little Red Fish collects
the 6 part comic book series into one trade, including artist
features and process notes. The
Little Red Fish vividly
captures an often-overlooked part of history, channeling folk
history, oral histories from first-hand accounts, and academic
research.
reef held down by an oppressive regime of blood-thirsty herons
struggles to rise up in this harrowing tale of self-discovery,
heritage, and revolution.
We
follow The Little Red Fish as they journey deep into themselves and
blossom into the leader they were meant to be. Guided by a magical
orb and the will of the people, our hero strives to help a small reef
in the Persian Gulf regain its freedom. The
Little Red Fish is
a creative retelling of the events of the Iranian Revolution from the
perspective of those actually involved. A stunning mixture of
political allegory and magical realism, The
Little Red Fish collects
the 6 part comic book series into one trade, including artist
features and process notes. The
Little Red Fish vividly
captures an often-overlooked part of history, channeling folk
history, oral histories from first-hand accounts, and academic
research.
Reviews / Votes
"A powerful tale of resistance,told in the most unexpected way. The fish, no matter how small,
demonstrate our own fight for freedom. A fight that never ends. This
story will break your heart, and immediately mend it through the
spirit of revolution."
-Aimee
de Jongh, author of Days
of Sand
"The Little Red Fish is an
elegantly crafted and profound comic book experience."
-Farel Dalrymple, creator of PopGun
War, Wrenchies, and Omega the Unknown
"The
Little Red Fish story
is anything but little. This stunning visual narrative shows the
reader everything comics can do and then some. Khodabandeh and
Moffitt take the classic fish out of water trope (literally) to
depths we never knew possible with pictures and words."
-Henry
Barajas, author of Gil
Thorp, Batman:
Urban Legends,
and Creepshow
"The Little Red Fish
reminds us all of the power of storytelling and its ability to
showcase the human condition and the inhumane conditions that we
as a society and a species perpetuate upon one another.
The amalgamation of words and art asks us to never forget what a real
story can tell or inform us about the world."
-Alverne Ball, author of Across
The Tracks: Remembering Black Wall Street, Greenwood, and the Tulsa
Race Massacre
"A visual feast with an enduring
story-a real coup for the team behind The Little Red Fish."
-Navid
Khonsari, creator of 1979 Revolution: Black Friday
"A
beautiful, ornately detailed story where every panel is a work
of art."
-Theodore
Taylor III, creator of Off The Wall and illustrator of
Garvey's Choice
"With an allegorical nod to modern Iran's turbulent political
history, Moffitt and Khodabandeh's The Little Red Fish
captures the sacrifice, betrayal, and heroism at the heart of every
struggle for freedom. Khodabandeh's graphic design
sensibilities and obsessively detailed illustrations transform every
page and panel into a stained glass window of dazzling colors and
deft composition. Like the resistance tracts concealed in the fish merchant's algae kabobs, the story is delightfully layered with
hidden meanings and symbolism that rewards the curious reader."
-Dara Naraghi, author of Persia Blues, Vol.1: Leaving Home
"James Moffitt and Bizhan
Khodabandeh have crafted a subtle yet multilayered story that keeps
you gripped to the page. And just when you think you know where
things are going-Wham!-an unexpected turn emerges. You're sure
to return to these pages to peel the layers and gaze at the beautiful
illustrations."
-Matt Dembicki, creator of Trickster, Wild
Ocean, and Xoc: The Journey of a Great White
"Reminiscent of Watership
Down, The Little Red Fish is a multilayered look at
the complexities of humanity and survival, offering a glimpse into
what the will to live means for a society and the heavy price to pay.
Its allegorical storytelling, along with the engaging art, assures
that this is a comic that will endure."
-Marguerite Dabaie, author of The
Hookah Girl
"With
an evident deep appreciation for comics as an art form, Khodabandeh
and Moffitt have crafted a story which feels both grounded in history
and currently relevant, giving The
Little Red Fish
a supernatural quality of ever-presence."
-James
Callahan, illustrator of
The Auteur
and creator of Rotting
in Dirtville
"James
Moffitt and Bizhan Khodabandeh do more than tell an effective story
through an Orwellian lens. They launch the entertaining, gripping,
and effective plight of a school of fish struggling to live
peaceably. Don't let the cute underwater protagonists fool you: The
Little Red Fish
is allegory at its best."
-Christopher
Irving, author of Leaping
Tall Buildings
and Cliffhanger!
Cinematic Superheroes of the Serials
"Allegory
reminiscent of Animal
Farm,
action reminiscent of Watership
Down,
and a comics' craftsmanship on-par with Mouse
Guard,
Moffitt and Khodabandeh deliver an exciting and beautiful story about
oppression and the dream of peace, even when the dream leads to the
taking up of arms."
-Jason
Rodriguez, co-editor of APB:
Artists
Against Police Brutality
and creator of Colonial
Comics
"The
Little Red Fish
is a masterpiece of allegorical storytelling. Khodabandeh and Moffitt
have created a gorgeously stylized world that packs a powerful
punch."
-Noah
Scalin, creator of The
Skull A Day Project
and League
of Space Pirates performance
art project
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
MD
United States
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
Illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 226 mm
Width: 148 mm
Thickness: 14 mm
Weight
318 gr
ISBN-13
979-8-9866146-2-5 (9798986614625)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
James Moffitt is a writer and teacher
living in Richmond, Virginia. He holds an MA in Writing &
Rhetoric from Virginia Commonwealth University. He has published two
collections of short stories, Swamp Gospels and What
to Do When You Give Up. Moffitt has also been published in
several academic and fiction journals and as a freelance journalist.
James sees writing and teaching as a
means to facilitating social change at the structural level. His
publishing company Sink/Swim Press embraces a DIY ethic and strives
to remind people of the value of tangible art.
Bizhan Khodabandeh (The Day the Klan Came to Town) is a visual
communicator who moves freely across the professional boundaries as
designer, illustrator, artist, and activist. His works vary from
small graphic art projects to major public campaigns. Khodabandeh is
particularly fascinated by how art and design can catalyze social
change. He has received numerous international and national awards
for his work, including: a silver medal from the Society of
Illustrators, a silver medal from the International Design Awards, a
finalist in the Cross-Cultural Design Competition, and best in show
through the American Institute of Graphic Arts. He has received
numerous international and national awards for his work as both an
illustration and designer through various institutions such as: The
American Institute of Graphic Arts, Creativity International,
Adbusters, and Creative Quarterly. Khodabandeh has had work featured
in publications such as Print, Creativity
International, Adbusters, and Comic Bastards among
others. Currently Khodabandeh teaches full-time at VCU's Robertson
School of Media & Culture and freelances under the name, Mended
Arrow.
living in Richmond, Virginia. He holds an MA in Writing &
Rhetoric from Virginia Commonwealth University. He has published two
collections of short stories, Swamp Gospels and What
to Do When You Give Up. Moffitt has also been published in
several academic and fiction journals and as a freelance journalist.
James sees writing and teaching as a
means to facilitating social change at the structural level. His
publishing company Sink/Swim Press embraces a DIY ethic and strives
to remind people of the value of tangible art.
Bizhan Khodabandeh (The Day the Klan Came to Town) is a visual
communicator who moves freely across the professional boundaries as
designer, illustrator, artist, and activist. His works vary from
small graphic art projects to major public campaigns. Khodabandeh is
particularly fascinated by how art and design can catalyze social
change. He has received numerous international and national awards
for his work, including: a silver medal from the Society of
Illustrators, a silver medal from the International Design Awards, a
finalist in the Cross-Cultural Design Competition, and best in show
through the American Institute of Graphic Arts. He has received
numerous international and national awards for his work as both an
illustration and designer through various institutions such as: The
American Institute of Graphic Arts, Creativity International,
Adbusters, and Creative Quarterly. Khodabandeh has had work featured
in publications such as Print, Creativity
International, Adbusters, and Comic Bastards among
others. Currently Khodabandeh teaches full-time at VCU's Robertson
School of Media & Culture and freelances under the name, Mended
Arrow.