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Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King
Deep underground, Zicky plunges into the lair of the Rat King—a tyrant amassing an army of rodents to invade the real world. A mysterious supervillain lurks in the shadows, and the fate of both worlds hangs in the balance. But just as the battle begins, Zicky wakes up... back in his bedroom, surrounded by his siblings who tease him for believing his adventures are more than a dream.
Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King bursts with monsters, mayhem, and heart — a vivid journey into a world of thematic depth where reality bends, and friendships are tested. Join Zicky on his first adventure where he will need all of his persistence, humor and ninja skills to survive.
Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King bursts with monsters, mayhem, and heart — a vivid journey into a world of thematic depth where reality bends, and friendships are tested. Join Zicky on his first adventure where he will need all of his persistence, humor and ninja skills to survive.
- GenresGraphic NovelsFantasy
160 pages, Paperback
Published April 14, 2026
About the author
Darin S. Cape
8 books10 followersShawn Hainsworth, AKA Darin S. Cape, is the founder of SHP Comics. He writes and publishes comic books, novellas & shortstories and screenplays, and is a documentary filmmaker. The Disciple is the first volume of The Hand of God. This story is an expansion of the comic book series, The Killing Machine: Book One of The Hand of God.
Other comic book series include Woodstake and EroTech.
Woodstake: Three Days of Peace, Music and Blood
When a vampire descends on the Woodstock Festival in 1969, hippies, anti-war protesters and music lovers try to survive three days of peace, music and blood in this comedy of horrors. The first novella in this story will be released in January, 2024
EroTech: Bad Bosses, Crazy Coworkers, and Sex Robots. What could go wrong?
Join Samantha Jenkins as she rallies her team of misfit engineers and out of touch managers to release a new sex robot on time. The only problem is that the robot doesn't know when to quit.
Darin is also the author of a number of award-winning screenplays, including an adaptation of EroTech as the short film, Technical Support starring Courtney Pauroso, Davey Johnson and Aparna Nancherla.
Other comic book series include Woodstake and EroTech.
Woodstake: Three Days of Peace, Music and Blood
When a vampire descends on the Woodstock Festival in 1969, hippies, anti-war protesters and music lovers try to survive three days of peace, music and blood in this comedy of horrors. The first novella in this story will be released in January, 2024
EroTech: Bad Bosses, Crazy Coworkers, and Sex Robots. What could go wrong?
Join Samantha Jenkins as she rallies her team of misfit engineers and out of touch managers to release a new sex robot on time. The only problem is that the robot doesn't know when to quit.
Darin is also the author of a number of award-winning screenplays, including an adaptation of EroTech as the short film, Technical Support starring Courtney Pauroso, Davey Johnson and Aparna Nancherla.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 8, 2026
This one is intriguing, really. I love the idea of Zicky’s imagination being real life and like you’d expect nobody believes it.
It’s very fun, full of action and original. I read it today in less than an hour so I have to admit you’ll want to know what’s going to happen when turn to the next page of Zicky.
Can’t forget to mention that I loved the art, really amazing. The concept is playful but it makes this book an all ages kinda of book, so make sure to check it out when it comes out April 14.
It was a quickly but not short read because it’s on my mind. So thank you NetGalley and SHP Comics for the arc.
It’s very fun, full of action and original. I read it today in less than an hour so I have to admit you’ll want to know what’s going to happen when turn to the next page of Zicky.
Can’t forget to mention that I loved the art, really amazing. The concept is playful but it makes this book an all ages kinda of book, so make sure to check it out when it comes out April 14.
It was a quickly but not short read because it’s on my mind. So thank you NetGalley and SHP Comics for the arc.
May 4, 2026
This story follows a young boy who can teleport to another world—transforming into an older version of himself—by sucking on a binky. In this other world, he encounters a kid who is trying to steal the magical object so he can escape to the boy’s world and take over. However, things don’t go as planned when he almost succeeds.
One thing I struggled with was how the mom didn’t notice the changes in her son sooner, but I suppose that’s part of the suspension of disbelief.
The art fits the story really well, and overall, this is a fun read for younger kids who enjoy adventure and action-packed stories.
One thing I struggled with was how the mom didn’t notice the changes in her son sooner, but I suppose that’s part of the suspension of disbelief.
The art fits the story really well, and overall, this is a fun read for younger kids who enjoy adventure and action-packed stories.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy of this graphic novel for an honest review
this was silly but also fun to read but didn't keep me interested in it the full srory.
we have a little boy who has dreams about being a hero which was fun.
this was silly but also fun to read but didn't keep me interested in it the full srory.
we have a little boy who has dreams about being a hero which was fun.
Review of advance copy received from Author
As with any graphic novel these are best experienced in physical form. Immediately readers are drawn to the bright and bold cover of “Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King (Volume 1).” Even as readers peel back the cover, the inner pages gleam with original black and white drawings as we are given exclusive glimpses into how the sauce is made.
Instantly, “Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King (Volume 1)” kicks off with action. Readers enter the realm of the rat king only to find Zicky narrating his own stealth encounters, hilariously so, as we settle into the dark, comedic spy tone of the dream world within. In this dream world the rat lair is illustrated with crisp, bold lines and in your face colors, setting it apart from the real world of Zackary and his life awake on Earth. This dream state of Zicky is uniquely delineated from Zackary’s human world, not only by our character’s name but by the colors and illustrations present on the page. The natural world is characterized by earth tones, and the flaws of reality such as hairs out of place, lending to an obvious delineation between Zicky’s dream state and that of his life at home.
Author Darin S. Cape brings to the page an imaginative tale of a young boy as his dreams seep into reality and everyday life with his parents and older siblings. Keeping readers well entertained with teenage angst, sibling bickering and yes, the ever-present younger sibling energy and imagination, readers of all ages will enjoy the story within.
As one rat follows Zicky through the dream portal back to the human world, the skill of the illustrators to provide the rat’s point of view is exquisite, blurring out the humans as we take on the rat’s perspective adds a layer to the read that keeps even the youngest readers following along. Shadowing the rat king as he seeks to invade the human world and steal all the cheese, we are introduced to Zicky’s opposite, Zooky, the slow invasion of the rats, and the conquering of Zackary’s family as the rats slowly take over the house in the daylight.
Broken into five chapters, “Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King (Volume 1)” is exceptional, bringing one kid’s imagination vividly to life. Perfect for readers of all ages, as both young or old will effortlessly follow along with the phenomenal graphics and engaging story as it plays out across the page while Zicky faces a darned if you do, darned if you don’t situation.
Cape and the team of illustrators, Zeno Decrux and Hiorsh Gabotto, seamlessly bounce between Earth and the land beyond the portals as readers are taken through action sequences expertly illustrated with realms seeming to collide. “Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King (Volume 1)” offers a cinematic combination as fantasy meets reality and the world of rats meets Zicky/Zackary’s family in this funny, engaging, and vibrant adventure.
Instantly, “Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King (Volume 1)” kicks off with action. Readers enter the realm of the rat king only to find Zicky narrating his own stealth encounters, hilariously so, as we settle into the dark, comedic spy tone of the dream world within. In this dream world the rat lair is illustrated with crisp, bold lines and in your face colors, setting it apart from the real world of Zackary and his life awake on Earth. This dream state of Zicky is uniquely delineated from Zackary’s human world, not only by our character’s name but by the colors and illustrations present on the page. The natural world is characterized by earth tones, and the flaws of reality such as hairs out of place, lending to an obvious delineation between Zicky’s dream state and that of his life at home.
Author Darin S. Cape brings to the page an imaginative tale of a young boy as his dreams seep into reality and everyday life with his parents and older siblings. Keeping readers well entertained with teenage angst, sibling bickering and yes, the ever-present younger sibling energy and imagination, readers of all ages will enjoy the story within.
As one rat follows Zicky through the dream portal back to the human world, the skill of the illustrators to provide the rat’s point of view is exquisite, blurring out the humans as we take on the rat’s perspective adds a layer to the read that keeps even the youngest readers following along. Shadowing the rat king as he seeks to invade the human world and steal all the cheese, we are introduced to Zicky’s opposite, Zooky, the slow invasion of the rats, and the conquering of Zackary’s family as the rats slowly take over the house in the daylight.
Broken into five chapters, “Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King (Volume 1)” is exceptional, bringing one kid’s imagination vividly to life. Perfect for readers of all ages, as both young or old will effortlessly follow along with the phenomenal graphics and engaging story as it plays out across the page while Zicky faces a darned if you do, darned if you don’t situation.
Cape and the team of illustrators, Zeno Decrux and Hiorsh Gabotto, seamlessly bounce between Earth and the land beyond the portals as readers are taken through action sequences expertly illustrated with realms seeming to collide. “Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King (Volume 1)” offers a cinematic combination as fantasy meets reality and the world of rats meets Zicky/Zackary’s family in this funny, engaging, and vibrant adventure.
Review of advance copy
Action remains key as this hero dashes from one problem into the next and flips between worlds to form a dizzying pace.
Zicky is a kid by day and a hero by night. When everyone else is sleeping, he teleports to other worlds to defeat those with evil plans. Right now, he's dealing with the Rat King, who is planning on taking over the real world as soon as he gets a chance. Luckily, Zicky's child-self transformers into a powerful fighter whenever he wears his magical ring. The ring is also the key to the transports. Unfortunately, the Rat King is determined to get its hands on this ring, and Zicky might just make the mistake which allows this to happen.
This read takes on the isekai manga style, especially when it comes to the action and other world scenes. The battles are intense, the graphics full of power, and the characters pack personality. So, action and fantasy fans are sure to enjoy it from the very first page...because this one slams with the action right away. But Zicky isn't just an action hero; he's a kid in the real world. And this juxtaposed duality adds an interesting twist. Zicky's magical ring it a pacifier, which he wears on a string around his neck. Add that he is by no means a baby, and it builds in an obviously problematic twist...which isn't addressed in this first novel too much, but definitely adds possibilities for bullying arcs and such later on in the series. Plus, Zicky has a very normal family, who cares for him, and carries the usual parent back-and-forth as well as sibling issues. Interestingly enough, Zicky doesn't try to hide his alter-ego life from his family, but they simply don't believe him and mark it off as dreams. So, there's an intriguing flip-flop in this book with so many possibilities still to come.
The illustrations pack color and personality. The illustrators let the other worlds shine not only in the details but in the entire, illustrative style. This makes it easy to decipher which realm is being displayed and keeps things from growing confusing. The text fits the middle grade audience nicely and is kept pointed and necessary. This allows for a nice balance between text and graphics to let the story flow smoothly.
It's an exciting read with tons of surprises, some silly moments, and villains, who are dangerous but carry a goofy edge to keep everything from growing too heavy, dark, or harsh. It's a fun read for action fans who enjoy quirky moments mixed in with the tension and are ready to root for an original hero, who is doing his best to deal with a odd and difficult situation.
Zicky is a kid by day and a hero by night. When everyone else is sleeping, he teleports to other worlds to defeat those with evil plans. Right now, he's dealing with the Rat King, who is planning on taking over the real world as soon as he gets a chance. Luckily, Zicky's child-self transformers into a powerful fighter whenever he wears his magical ring. The ring is also the key to the transports. Unfortunately, the Rat King is determined to get its hands on this ring, and Zicky might just make the mistake which allows this to happen.
This read takes on the isekai manga style, especially when it comes to the action and other world scenes. The battles are intense, the graphics full of power, and the characters pack personality. So, action and fantasy fans are sure to enjoy it from the very first page...because this one slams with the action right away. But Zicky isn't just an action hero; he's a kid in the real world. And this juxtaposed duality adds an interesting twist. Zicky's magical ring it a pacifier, which he wears on a string around his neck. Add that he is by no means a baby, and it builds in an obviously problematic twist...which isn't addressed in this first novel too much, but definitely adds possibilities for bullying arcs and such later on in the series. Plus, Zicky has a very normal family, who cares for him, and carries the usual parent back-and-forth as well as sibling issues. Interestingly enough, Zicky doesn't try to hide his alter-ego life from his family, but they simply don't believe him and mark it off as dreams. So, there's an intriguing flip-flop in this book with so many possibilities still to come.
The illustrations pack color and personality. The illustrators let the other worlds shine not only in the details but in the entire, illustrative style. This makes it easy to decipher which realm is being displayed and keeps things from growing confusing. The text fits the middle grade audience nicely and is kept pointed and necessary. This allows for a nice balance between text and graphics to let the story flow smoothly.
It's an exciting read with tons of surprises, some silly moments, and villains, who are dangerous but carry a goofy edge to keep everything from growing too heavy, dark, or harsh. It's a fun read for action fans who enjoy quirky moments mixed in with the tension and are ready to root for an original hero, who is doing his best to deal with a odd and difficult situation.
Read
May 16, 2026See my full review here: https://yabookscentral.com/zicky-wrat...
ZICKY: WRATH OF THE RAT KING is an engaging graphic novel about family dynamics and unexpected power. Zicky is a normal young boy by day, where he is teased by his siblings and frequently feels small, but by night, he is a hero, transporting to other realms to defeat bad guys - but maybe just in his dreams. However, when rats follow Zachary/Zicky back to the human world, things become dangerous, and Zicky's 2 worlds collide!
What I loved: The art in this is really fantastic with a manga style that includes very expressive faces and many details. The art shifts with the setting, easily giving clues as to which world Zicky is in and showing his passion for the other realms/his dreams where he is powerful and so much bigger/cooler than he seems in the waking world.
Much of the story focuses on family dynamics. With older siblings, Zicky is often feeling small and his dreams are discounted. There is much bickering and challenges in these interactions, and he struggles with what he knows and what his family believes as well as how they treat him. As things escalate, Zicky gets a chance to prove himself to his family - but at the end, he knows they won't be allowed to remember.
The story is broken up into smaller chapters that lead into one another, but help to break up the text with natural stopping points that work well.
What left me wanting more: This can be a challenging book to place in terms of reader age. The main character is five and feels very young, but the scenes can be a bit intense/scary. The scenes/fighting sequences will work better for older kids, but they may also have a harder time relating to the young main character.
Final verdict: ZICKY: WRATH OF THE RAT KING is an interesting manga-style graphic novel with an underdog story and themes around family dynamics. This may work best for older readers who can appreciate the art and not be too bothered by the scary figures and scenes in places.
Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
ZICKY: WRATH OF THE RAT KING is an engaging graphic novel about family dynamics and unexpected power. Zicky is a normal young boy by day, where he is teased by his siblings and frequently feels small, but by night, he is a hero, transporting to other realms to defeat bad guys - but maybe just in his dreams. However, when rats follow Zachary/Zicky back to the human world, things become dangerous, and Zicky's 2 worlds collide!
What I loved: The art in this is really fantastic with a manga style that includes very expressive faces and many details. The art shifts with the setting, easily giving clues as to which world Zicky is in and showing his passion for the other realms/his dreams where he is powerful and so much bigger/cooler than he seems in the waking world.
Much of the story focuses on family dynamics. With older siblings, Zicky is often feeling small and his dreams are discounted. There is much bickering and challenges in these interactions, and he struggles with what he knows and what his family believes as well as how they treat him. As things escalate, Zicky gets a chance to prove himself to his family - but at the end, he knows they won't be allowed to remember.
The story is broken up into smaller chapters that lead into one another, but help to break up the text with natural stopping points that work well.
What left me wanting more: This can be a challenging book to place in terms of reader age. The main character is five and feels very young, but the scenes can be a bit intense/scary. The scenes/fighting sequences will work better for older kids, but they may also have a harder time relating to the young main character.
Final verdict: ZICKY: WRATH OF THE RAT KING is an interesting manga-style graphic novel with an underdog story and themes around family dynamics. This may work best for older readers who can appreciate the art and not be too bothered by the scary figures and scenes in places.
Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Copy provided by the publisher
Zachary is almost five years old and lives with his parents and older brother and sister. He has a very active imagination, and spends his nighttime and nap hours fighting the Rat King in a fantasy world where he is an older character called Zicky. When he goes missing one morning and the police have to be called, it's clear that his two worlds are mixing. He has rats in his bedroom, and a dog he has in the imaginary world appears and his sister adopts it. The Rat King wants his ring (actually a binky), and there's lots of fighting. The rats eventually come in to other parts of town in the real world. An exterminator is called, but he is no match for giant rats. Zachary has a potion that will make the rats larger and even turn him into Zicky in the real world. When his family experiences the giant rats and Zicky, they are suitably alarmed, but when Zachary is done having the Rat King in his real life, a Deus ex machina called The Ghost in the Machine comes in and cleans up all of the messes so that Zachary can go back to his regular life.
This was a rather trippy, comic book style graphic novel that was a bit like Kochalka's The Glorkian Warrior books or Angleberger's The First Cat in Space; I just don't get the humor. The rats kicked me out, and the Manga style Rat King world was deeply unpleasant as well. Readers who aren't grossed out by Savage's Laser Moose and Rabbit Boy might pick this up. Even though SHP Comics is an independent publisher, this is available through Follett Titlewave and was reviewed by Kirkus. I'll put this copy in my library (I don't put all books I receive in my library!), but I don't know that I would have purchased it. I'm not afraid of rats in general, but THESE rats require a warning! I'll have to see how this one does with my students.
Zachary is almost five years old and lives with his parents and older brother and sister. He has a very active imagination, and spends his nighttime and nap hours fighting the Rat King in a fantasy world where he is an older character called Zicky. When he goes missing one morning and the police have to be called, it's clear that his two worlds are mixing. He has rats in his bedroom, and a dog he has in the imaginary world appears and his sister adopts it. The Rat King wants his ring (actually a binky), and there's lots of fighting. The rats eventually come in to other parts of town in the real world. An exterminator is called, but he is no match for giant rats. Zachary has a potion that will make the rats larger and even turn him into Zicky in the real world. When his family experiences the giant rats and Zicky, they are suitably alarmed, but when Zachary is done having the Rat King in his real life, a Deus ex machina called The Ghost in the Machine comes in and cleans up all of the messes so that Zachary can go back to his regular life.
This was a rather trippy, comic book style graphic novel that was a bit like Kochalka's The Glorkian Warrior books or Angleberger's The First Cat in Space; I just don't get the humor. The rats kicked me out, and the Manga style Rat King world was deeply unpleasant as well. Readers who aren't grossed out by Savage's Laser Moose and Rabbit Boy might pick this up. Even though SHP Comics is an independent publisher, this is available through Follett Titlewave and was reviewed by Kirkus. I'll put this copy in my library (I don't put all books I receive in my library!), but I don't know that I would have purchased it. I'm not afraid of rats in general, but THESE rats require a warning! I'll have to see how this one does with my students.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley, for providing me with this arc in exchange for my honest review.
Zackary is an almost 5 year old boy, who enters a cool manga-like world in his dreams, as a hero called Zicky!
In the real world, Zackary is treated like a baby, especially by his teenage brother Miles. But in his dreams, he’s a cool guy who saves the world from being invaded by giant rats.
When Zicky the hero gets captured, Zooky (who rules the rats) enters the real world (and pretends to be Zachary). Soon followed by the rat king and a whole lot of other rats!
I liked the illustration style for the dream parts, the other style not so much.. It just looked so gloomy and messy.
I didn’t really like or dislike this graphic novel. I think because I just couldn’t imagine for which age group this could be suited and I just didn’t feel like it had anything original to offer apart from maybe what the potion did to Zooky and the rats in the real world. Also, as a person who lives in a country that is both a democracy and a monarchy, yes it is possible, maybe leave out the politics. I mean, which kid is going to understand the oligarchy joke anyway.
Zackary is an almost 5 year old boy, who enters a cool manga-like world in his dreams, as a hero called Zicky!
In the real world, Zackary is treated like a baby, especially by his teenage brother Miles. But in his dreams, he’s a cool guy who saves the world from being invaded by giant rats.
When Zicky the hero gets captured, Zooky (who rules the rats) enters the real world (and pretends to be Zachary). Soon followed by the rat king and a whole lot of other rats!
I liked the illustration style for the dream parts, the other style not so much.. It just looked so gloomy and messy.
I didn’t really like or dislike this graphic novel. I think because I just couldn’t imagine for which age group this could be suited and I just didn’t feel like it had anything original to offer apart from maybe what the potion did to Zooky and the rats in the real world. Also, as a person who lives in a country that is both a democracy and a monarchy, yes it is possible, maybe leave out the politics. I mean, which kid is going to understand the oligarchy joke anyway.
Review of advance copy received from Publishers Weekly
While billed for any age, I would put the target closer to 9-12 year olds—with a fantasy violence warning—with comedic references for adults. Written in a style that occasionally breaks the fourth wall and nods to 20th century pop culture, this portal fantasy tells the episodic story of what happens when the katana-wielding action hero Zicky and his 4-year-old alter ego's worlds collide. I enjoyed the juxtaposition of two comic artists as they portrayed the characters in both realms. This borrows heavily from modern tropes and leans on disjointed in medias res storytelling. The panel layouts are always interesting and clear. The team of pencillers, letterers, and colorists works together seamlessly. Definitely for manga fans as the character design, action, and humor deliver all the touch points of that genre. While I struggled to convince myself the first few chapters would appeal to middle graders or the bulk of the book would be appropriate for a chapter book audiences, I did like the climactic battle and the good use of the mundane in the resolution. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to review this digital ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
What if your wildest fantasy adventure wasn’t just a dream? 🐀⚔️💥
The story drops us deep underground, where Zicky is facing off against the Rat King, a full-on tyrant building an army of rodents to invade the real world. The stakes are dramatic. The monsters are wild. The action is fast and punchy.
And then he wakes up in his bedroom.
Cue siblings teasing him. Cue the “it was all a dream” spiral. Except what if it wasn’t?
I loved how this balanced humor with heart. Zicky isn’t some flawless chosen one; he's persistent, scrappy, a little dramatic, and fully convinced his ninja skills are elite and honestly relatable. The expressive art style makes every eye-roll, battle move, and villain reveal pop off the page.
But underneath the rodent mayhem and portal-hopping chaos, there’s a really sweet coming-of-age thread about believing in yourself even when everyone else thinks you’re imagining things.
It’s fast, funny, and surprisingly thoughtful. Perfect for readers who love big adventure energy without losing the emotional core.
✨️Thank you, Books Forward, PR, and Darin S. Cape for sharing Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King with me!
The story drops us deep underground, where Zicky is facing off against the Rat King, a full-on tyrant building an army of rodents to invade the real world. The stakes are dramatic. The monsters are wild. The action is fast and punchy.
And then he wakes up in his bedroom.
Cue siblings teasing him. Cue the “it was all a dream” spiral. Except what if it wasn’t?
I loved how this balanced humor with heart. Zicky isn’t some flawless chosen one; he's persistent, scrappy, a little dramatic, and fully convinced his ninja skills are elite and honestly relatable. The expressive art style makes every eye-roll, battle move, and villain reveal pop off the page.
But underneath the rodent mayhem and portal-hopping chaos, there’s a really sweet coming-of-age thread about believing in yourself even when everyone else thinks you’re imagining things.
It’s fast, funny, and surprisingly thoughtful. Perfect for readers who love big adventure energy without losing the emotional core.
✨️Thank you, Books Forward, PR, and Darin S. Cape for sharing Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King with me!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King is a fast-paced fantasy adventure with a dark, fairy-tale feel. Zicky is not heroic in the grand sense, but he is in his world. A rich, imaginative world. He is small not only against the scale of the foes he faces but also in size and age. This gives the story its tension. It is clear and engaging, making the action scenes engaging while allowing readers to connect emotionally with Zicky, his family, and his fantasy world. the characters. The Rat King is a dominant villain—both creepy and powerful—which raises the stakes throughout the story. Overall, Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King is an enjoyable graphic novel, especially for those who like an underdog and adventures with a little touch of darkness.
Thank you to #NetGalley, the author Darin S. Cape and SHP Comics for a digital copy (ebook/graphic novel) of #ZickyWrathoftheRatKing in exchange for my honest opinion. Zicky Wrath of the Rat King will be published on April 16, 2026.
Thank you to #NetGalley, the author Darin S. Cape and SHP Comics for a digital copy (ebook/graphic novel) of #ZickyWrathoftheRatKing in exchange for my honest opinion. Zicky Wrath of the Rat King will be published on April 16, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Full disclosure: I was given an ARC of this book from BooksForward and SHP Comics in exchange for an honest review.
Content warning: this review briefly mentions violence and animal abuse.
If I had a nickel every time I reviewed a graphic novel written by Shawn Hainsworth under the pseudonym Darin S. Cape, I would have a dime, which is weird that it's happened twice. It’s been awhile since I read a manga. Luckily, Hainsworth along with illustrators Zeno Decrux and Hiorsh Gabotto have one by infusing that genre into their latest graphic novel "Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King." It’s a fun adventure story with self-aware humor and contrasting visuals that blend together.
To read more of this review, click on this link: https://chick-who-reads-everything.co...
Content warning: this review briefly mentions violence and animal abuse.
If I had a nickel every time I reviewed a graphic novel written by Shawn Hainsworth under the pseudonym Darin S. Cape, I would have a dime, which is weird that it's happened twice. It’s been awhile since I read a manga. Luckily, Hainsworth along with illustrators Zeno Decrux and Hiorsh Gabotto have one by infusing that genre into their latest graphic novel "Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King." It’s a fun adventure story with self-aware humor and contrasting visuals that blend together.
To read more of this review, click on this link: https://chick-who-reads-everything.co...
April 14, 2026
Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King is a fun, imaginative, and action, packed graphic novel that blends fantasy adventure with humor and heart. The story immediately pulls readers into a vivid underground world filled with creativity and excitement.
What makes this book stand out is the contrast between Zicky’s epic fantasy adventures and his real-world life, where he struggles to convince others that his experiences are more than just dreams. This dual-layer storytelling adds both humor and emotional depth.
The Rat King’s lair and the idea of a rodent army bring a strong sense of adventure and visual energy to the story, making it especially engaging for younger readers. Themes of persistence, bravery, and friendship help ground the fantasy in meaningful lessons.
A fast-paced, creative, and entertaining read that will appeal to fans of adventurous and imaginative graphic novels.
What makes this book stand out is the contrast between Zicky’s epic fantasy adventures and his real-world life, where he struggles to convince others that his experiences are more than just dreams. This dual-layer storytelling adds both humor and emotional depth.
The Rat King’s lair and the idea of a rodent army bring a strong sense of adventure and visual energy to the story, making it especially engaging for younger readers. Themes of persistence, bravery, and friendship help ground the fantasy in meaningful lessons.
A fast-paced, creative, and entertaining read that will appeal to fans of adventurous and imaginative graphic novels.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for this e-arc for review!
This was a funny and charming little graphic novel about a toddler that can travel to another world where he also turns into a grown up hero version of himself and fights against the rat king and their army. The rat king wants to have him and his army enter the portal that the toddler travels back and forth between in order to invade the human world and steal all the cheese. It's a funny little adventure between the toddler-hero and the rat king and his army in a fun full colored cartoon style.
This was a funny and charming little graphic novel about a toddler that can travel to another world where he also turns into a grown up hero version of himself and fights against the rat king and their army. The rat king wants to have him and his army enter the portal that the toddler travels back and forth between in order to invade the human world and steal all the cheese. It's a funny little adventure between the toddler-hero and the rat king and his army in a fun full colored cartoon style.
Review of advance copy
Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King is an adorable story about a young boy who dreams of being a hero. The illustrations are vibrant and packed with action. Some scenes, such as Zicky chopping off the head of a snake or attacking one of the rats, may feel a bit intense for younger readers, but overall, the story remains light heartened and fun. I really enjoyed Zeno Decrux's manga art and Hiorsh Gabotto's real-world imagery. With my favorite illustration being the one where Zicky is falling back into his bed after one of his nightly adventures.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.75
The art style is playful and different from what I usually see, but overall it felt right for the story in a way. The characters felt a bit cliche, like the brother and sister were you know…
The end felt a bit…rushed?
Like the whole end of the book was like oh so like the rat king actually doesn’t really care like what? It’s hard to explain but I feel it was rather rushed.
I still enjoyed it though.
The art style is playful and different from what I usually see, but overall it felt right for the story in a way. The characters felt a bit cliche, like the brother and sister were you know…
The end felt a bit…rushed?
Like the whole end of the book was like oh so like the rat king actually doesn’t really care like what? It’s hard to explain but I feel it was rather rushed.
I still enjoyed it though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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