Next week will see the release of Malcolm Kid and the Perfect Song. The young adult graphic novel from Oni Press is written by Austin Paramore, illustrated by Sarah Bollinger, inked and colored by Marika Cresta, and lettered by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou. The book tells the story of a young musician who discovers a supernatural keyboard. Today The Beat is pleased to offer an exclusive excerpt from the graphic novel.
Here’s how Oni Press describes Malcolm Kid and the Perfect Song:
What does the perfect song sound like?
Normally, Malcolm Kid wouldn’t give this type of question the time of day. As a straight B-student with a heart of copper, he is far more concerned with overcoming mediocrity than he is with achieving perfection. But that all changes when he stumbles across the LK-2000—a strange keyboard cursed with the soul of an old jazz musician.
Malcolm soon learns that the only way to free this musician’s soul is by performing the perfect song. With much hesitation, and the help of his lifelong friend January Young, Malcolm embarks on a musical journey across the city of New Bronzeville in the hopes of discovering the perfect song and finding himself as a musician along the way.
Malcolm Kid and the Perfect Song is the first book from Austin Paramore, a scriptwriter and director who has previously done work for Nintendo, Samsung, and The Field Museum. It’s the first Oni Press book for Sarah Bollinger. The artist previously illustrated the WEBTOON series Girls Have a Blog with writer Thorn Kurtzhals, which is set to come to print from Rocketship Entertainment next month.
Check out the exclusive five-page excerpt from Malcolm Kid and the Perfect Song below. The graphic novel is due out in bookstores next Tuesday, August 1st, and in comic shops on Wednesday, August 2nd.
