Richard Van Camp working on new horror graphic novel, Roth
Jane van Koeverden | | Posted: July 14, 2021 2:00 PM | Last Updated: July 15, 2021
Roth will be published in 2023
Richard Van Camp, the acclaimed author of books like The Lesser Blessed and Moccasin Square Gardens, is at work on his seventh graphic novel, Roth.
The Tłı̨chǫ Nation storyteller said the comic has been a "10 year journey" for him. It was recently picked up by publisher Renegade Arts Entertainment.
Van Camp's graphic novel follows a local hero named Ross, who is bitten by a Wheetago at his cabin in northern Edmonton. The province of Alberta is crawling with the deadly monsters and Ross must form an alliance with escaped prisoners in order to reach his family, who are trapped in the city.
Half-transformed, Ross holds onto his humanity with the help of his family medicine. But the Wheetago are not discouraged — they've already renamed him "Roth" and wait for him to join their "gruesome crusade."
The new graphic novel is related to the Wheetago stories in Van Camp's previous writing. He also wrote about a Wheetago invasion in the award-winning short story collection Moccasin Square Gardens.
Van Camp grew up in Fort Smith, N.W.T. and now lives in Edmonton. He has published 26 books, including the Eisner Award nominee A Blanket of Butterflies, illustrated by Scott B. Henderson. He is also a contributor to the graphic novel anthology This Place, which is being adapted into a CBC podcast hosted by Rosanna Deerchild.
Roth will be drawn by Christopher Shy, an American artist, book cover designer and film poster artist. His graphic novel work includes Dead Space, I Sleep in Stone and The Mummy.
Renegade Arts Entertainment hopes to publish Roth in spring 2023.