Barney and his best friend Norma are just trying to get by and keep their jobs, but working at the Dead End theme park also means battling demonic forces, time traveling wizards, and scariest of all--their love lives!
Follow the lives of this diverse group of employees of a haunted house, which may or may not also serve as a portal to hell, in this hilarious and moving graphic novel, complete with talking pugs, vengeful ghosts and LBGTQIA love!
Hamish Steele is a freelance animation director and illustrator who grew up in Somerset surrounded by legends, myths and folktales. Since graduating from Kingston University in 2013, Hamish has worked for the BBC, Cartoon Network, Disney, Nickelodeon, among others. Hamish currently lives in London.
Texas Library Association 2020 Texas Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List pick!
“DeadEndia is immediately appealing with its colorful art, unique setting, and funny jokes, but I especially loved the complicated emotional arcs of the characters and the weird, spooky magic underlying everything!”
—Molly Knox Ostertag, creator of The Witch Boy
“Heart-warming, heartbreaking, heart-pounding, and heartfelt!"
—Marika McCoola, The New York Times bestselling author of Baba Yaga’s Assistant
"Steele’s playful, cartoonish style and beautiful colors create a world that will get you instantly hooked. The character designs are refreshing and Barney in particular is a delight; it’s great to see a trans masc character not on the hypermasculine end of the gender spectrum and not drawn as perfectly passing at all times."
—Paste Magazine, "The 20 Best Kids Comics of 2018"
“Eventually the slice-of-life adventures morph into a crazy time-travel plot that ends on a cliff-hanger.”
—School Library Journal'
"Award-winning comic book artist and animation director Hamish Steele, has been lauded for its art, touching tales of adolescence, and inclusion of LGBTQ storylines. Now, Steele and his creation are looking to break new ground in a different medium."
—Entertainment Weekly
“With a madcap pace, off-kilter jokes, and an LGBTQ cast, this is perfect for teens who love macabre humor and heartfelt friendship.”
—Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
“The art is imaginative and engaging, with rich, evocative color schemes. […] A wild ride.”
—Kirkus Reviews
"This quirky, heartwarming adventure by Steele (Pantheon) captures the awkwardness of early adulthood and the idiosyncrasies of power-hungry demons. [...] A Steven Universe–like aesthetic and a full palette of bold, contrasting colors grace a diverse cast of characters"
—Publishers Weekly
“Complicated emotions, strong friendship, demons, and plenty of LGBTQIA+ representation. All that and bright, bold illustrations AND great writing? Total win. Sweet, funny, and enjoyably, delightfully weird.”
—School Library Journal's Teen Librarian Toolbox
"DeadEndia is an engaging, entertaining saga with memorable characters, and it works wonderfully as comedy, drama, and romance."
—Foreword Reviews
“DeadEndia is utterly delightful and truly unique. With his characteristic sarcasm and humor, subtle homages to pop culture, and sincere exploration of human connection, Steele takes you on a whirlwind rollercoaster of time travel, demons, angels, mysterious portals, magical talking dogs, and LBGTQIA love!”
—Clarissa Murphy, Bookseller, Wellesley Books, Wellesley, MA
"Joyful and weird, Hamish Steele's DeadEndia is a delight. The boundaries of Steele's colorfully crafted universe are as unlimited as his imagination."
—Niki Marion, Bookseller, Third Place Books, Seattle, WA
“This could easily become the next generation's Scooby-Doo. Steele's cast of characters are fresh, witty, and carry a sense of humor that will resonate with today's readers. Even the villains are lovable! Are they selling season passes to Pollywood yet? I'm sold!”
—Garrett Pinder, Librarian, Kent Memorial Library, Suffield, CT
