Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King

by Darin S. Cape, Hiorsh Gabotto (Illustrator), Zeno Decrux (Illustrator)

Wrath of the Rat King is an all-ages fantasy graphic novel that blends the fast-paced excitement of manga with the warmth and character-driven storytelling of classic Western comics. Filled with action, humor, and heart, it's a coming-of-age adventure that celebrates imagination, courage, perseverance, and the importance of family.

By day, Zicky is an ordinary kid whose siblings think he has an overactive imagination. By night, he becomes a hero in a dangerous fantasy world where the monsters are real, friendships are tested, and every decision matters. When the sinister Rat King begins assembling an army to invade the real world, Zicky must become the hero of not just one but two worlds.

Recognized with First Place for Best Comic in the Story Monsters Purple Dragonfly Award and a 2026 PenCraft Seasonal Book Award – Summer Competition (Graphic Novels) Wrath of the Rat King has earned praise not only for its exciting adventure but also for its ability to connect with young readers and families. 

Parents will appreciate that beneath the thrilling adventure lies a story about confidence, resilience, and believing in yourself. Zicky's journey encourages young readers to embrace creativity, solve problems, and keep moving forward in the face of setbacks. The story also explores sibling relationships, family support, responsibility, and finding the courage to do what's right.

The graphic novel's expressive artwork, cinematic action, and humorous dialogue make it especially appealing to reluctant readers and children transitioning from illustrated chapter books to longer graphic novels. Its blend of manga-inspired action with familiar Western storytelling creates an accessible gateway for both longtime graphic novel fans and families discovering the medium for the first time.

While Zicky is written for young readers, parents will find plenty to enjoy as well. Clever visual gags, witty dialogue, and humor aimed at adults make it an entertaining book to read together, creating a shared experience that families can enjoy long after bedtime.

Perfect for readers ages 9 and up, Wrath of the Rat King offers the excitement children crave while providing the emotional depth, positive role models, and family-friendly storytelling that parents are eager to share.

Kindle Edition

Published April 14, 2026

About the author

Shawn 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.

Reviews

[Michele Amador · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't read this. The letters were way too small. Sorry.