Already in its second printing after selling over 5,000 copies in less than a month and with a movie in the works, DEFIANT: The Story of Robert Smalls (Stranger Comics; June 19, 2025) is reaching Americans with a story far too many of us have never heard before.

At the height of the Civil War, Robert Smalls—an enslaved harbor pilot in Charleston, South Carolina—carried out one of the most courageous and cunning acts in US history. He disguised himself as a captain and, in the dead of night, commandeered the Confederate ship he worked on and sailed it to freedom.

At Comic-Con, would you like to interview the Legion M team behind the book’s success? We’d be happy to coordinate a conversation with any of the following:

• Rob Edwards, author of DEFIANT (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Academy-Award nominated The Princess and the Frog, and Captain America: Brave New World)

• Michael Boulware Moore, Smalls’s great-great-grandson and DEFIANT executive producer (Check out his TED Talk about Smalls.)

• Marvin Jones III, DEFIANT executive producer

• Sebastian Jones, Stranger Comics founder and DEFIANT executive producer

• Paul Scanlan, Legion M CEO & co-founder, DEFIANT producer

• Chris Cooper, Legion M exec and DEFIANT producer

• David Baxter, Larger Than Life Entertainment and DEFIANT producer

At Comic-Con this year, Legion M will be in Booth #4022 and Stranger Comics will be in Booth #2307, featuring special DEFIANT signings, creator appearances, and more.

DEFIANT’s creative team will hold a panel discussion about the project on July 24th.

MORE ABOUT THE BOOK
At the height of the Civil War, on May 12, 1862, Robert Smalls—an enslaved harbor pilot in Charleston, South Carolina—carried out one of the most courageous and cunning acts in American history. He disguised himself as a captain and, in the dead of night, commandeered the ship he worked on and sailed it to freedom. By the time Confederate soldiers realized what was happening, it was too late: Smalls, along with seven other enslaved crew members and their families, had run the blockade. Smalls’ heroism, and material aid for the Union, made national headlines and influenced Lincoln’s decision to accept Black soldiers into the Union Army. He later captained the very boat he took and, after the war, became a Congressman.

Somehow, this incredible story of bravery, determination, and genius has largely been lost to history.

DEFIANT: The Story of Robert Smalls (Stranger Comics; June 19, 2025) seeks to elevate Smalls to his rightful place in the national consciousness. The graphic novel details Smalls’ childhood, his efforts to buy his freedom, and finally, the extraordinary events of that night in Charleston Harbor over 150 years ago.

The graphic novel, the first in a trilogy, was created by Legion M, the world’s first fan-owned entertainment company—powered by over 50,000 investors and 300,000 members reshaping the entertainment industry. More than 1,800 supporters came together to raise over $150,000, bringing Robert Smalls’ story to life and launching both this original publication and a forthcoming feature film.

For readers of Rep. John Lewis’s MARCH series, DEFIANT brings to life a riveting historical drama by shining a light on one man’s remarkable story: his battle for freedom, his triumph over racism and cruelty, and his legacy of leadership and social change.

DEFIANT AT COMIC-CON, July 24-27

DEFIANT Panel: (Thursday July 24, 2025 4:30pm – 5:30pm Room 6DE) — Join the creators for a behind-the-scenes look at how DEFIANT came to life and what’s next. Civil War and American history hero Robert Smalls’ true story captures the imagination like the best of the spinner rack, and the newly released graphic novel is a testament to that tale of heroism. Hear about Defiant’s transition from comics to silver screen from the production team involved in the graphic novel and the film: screenwriter of two Academy Award–nominated films Rob Edwards (Captain America: Brave New World, Disney’s Princess and the Frog, The King of Kings), Stranger Comics founder Sebastian Jones, Defiant graphic novel artist Nikolas Draper-Ivey (Static Shock), Legion M’s Chris Cooper, producer David Baxter (Larger Than Life Entertainment), and some very special surprise guests. The discussion will include in-depth details about the graphic novel and Comic-Con exclusive teasers about the film. In addition, five autographed copies of Defiant: The Story of Robert Smalls will be awarded to some lucky attendees.

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