Bestselling cookbook author Kim-Joy is re-teaming with artist Alti Firmansyah on another graphic novel for Comixology titled Quiet. The pair are joined by letterer Sara Linsley and editor Allison O’Toole.
Quiet is about a girl, Mary, with selective mutism, an anxiety disorder that causes a person to not be able to speak in certain social settings like school or work. After enduring bullying from her classmates, she’s assigned a mental health support robot that she then uses to get revenge on her bullies.
“So much of my work has mental health themes,” Kim-Joy said. “It’s something I care about deeply and return to again and again, because I think stories are one of the best ways we have of making people feel less alone – and I hope that anyone who reads it feels that. And maybe wants their very own robot!”
This is the second graphic novel from the duo, following 2023’s Turtle Bread: A Graphic Novel About Baking, Fitting In, and the Power of Friendship, which was about a baker overcoming social anxieties.
“From the moment I learned about the project I knew I wanted to work with Kim-Joy again,” Firmansyah said. “Bringing her cookies and cakes and other creations to the page is a treat. I really feel a connection to Mary and have always wanted a sidekick, so designing and bringing the robot ‘to life’ was not only fun, but a great way for me to get to experience what that might be like. Throughout the story I would allow my imagination to flourish and was able to express my emotions in Mary’s facial expressions and body language, as well as in the other characters.”
Quiet will debut on Comixology later this fall, and Mad Cave will publish a print edition in the summer of 2027. Kim-Joy will be signing at Mad Cave Studios’ booth #2806 at the San Diego Comic-Con, on Saturday, July 25, at noon Pacific.