Age of The Nerd
David Dastmalchian (Late Night with the Devil, The Suicide Squad, Murderbot) has partnered with Z2 to release a powerful new original graphic novel telling the astonishing story of Alix, a young woman driven by a compulsive need to control the world around her. After a near-death experience, she’s thrust into a labyrinthine realm cloaked in shadows and populated by fantastical creatures, where she is stunned to discover that this mysterious land has been constructed solely for her… A kingdom to rule? Or a prison? As danger closes in, threatening complete obliteration, she must decipher the clues that reveal the true nature of this realm in order to save both the land… and herself.
While this is a modern fantasy tale in the tradition of the iconic Vertigo comics from the 1990s, it is a story rooted in a very personal point of origin for David: “THROUGH is a story inspired by an idea that a dear friend and I hatched when I was living in Chicago and fascinated by outsider artists like Vertigo comics . Over the years the story evolved into a labyrinthine mystery that overlapped with my own ongoing struggle for mental wellness. As I dove into the challenging but healing therapeutic work of understanding the myriad parts of myself, this story began to flourish. While fighting for my life, THROUGH became the book I needed to write and the most important tale I’ve ever attempted to tell.”
The radically different visual styles of the gritty world of urban Chicago, and the mystically surreal land of Ananda Apastan are brought to life by acclaimed artist Cat Staggs who says “Getting to work on Through has been both fun and challenging, involving the depiction of Chicago’s cold winter and an imaginative ‘other world,’ along with exploring different art styles, and DC Alonso brings them together with his colors. David’s wonderful story makes this journey even more exciting, and I look forward to everyone reading it.”
As part of the promotion and launch of THROUGH, David will be appearing at a number of exciting events during the 2025 San Diego Comic Con, including a panel on Thursday, July 24th at 5:45 in Room 6DE alongside artists Cat Staggs, David Mack and editor Rantz Hoseley, as they talk about the story’s development and secrets. Following the panel, he is a featured guest later that night at Z2 & Fandom’s party at the Hard Rock Cafe. For those who want to get up close and personal, David will be signing at the Z2 booth (#1529) at 1pm on Friday. And finally, David’s SDCC promotion of THROUGH will wrap as a presenter at the 2025 Eisner Awards.
The 140 page book is available in a Deluxe Edition as well as a signed Platinum Edition, which comes with art prints, a set of Focus Cards, and a metal pin featuring the needle that serves as Alix’s doorway to the world of Ananda Apastan. Deluxe and platinum editions are available exclusively at Z2’s website HERE, while a standard trade-sized edition is available via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, as well as other independent retailers and fine comic shops worldwide.
