Exclusive: Nakama Press to Publish Cat Mask Boy | News and Preview
Big news today: Nakama Press, the Asian comics imprint of Mad Cave Studios, will publish Linus Liu’s Cat Mask Boy, the tale of a boy exploring the Kowloon Walled City in Hong Kong. The story is a mix of urban legend and exciting storytelling, rendered in an unusual, bold style. Here’s the publisher’s description:
In 1970s Hong Kong, Tiger, a secondary school student at Resettlement Area Rooftop Primary School, spends more time having fun than studying for his classes. His only ambition is to become a superhero, so he makes himself a cat mask. On report card day, he wants to show his mom his academic progress, but his report card is mistakenly taken by someone else. With no other choice to avoid punishment from his mom, he sets out to retrieve it and ventures into Kowloon Walled City, a notorious shantytown where no rules apply except those of the mafia. All kinds of illicit businesses flourish: gaming rooms, opium dens, and undercover trading. There, he meets a new friend named Dragon, who offers to help. Together, they must confront their fears and recover the lost report card!
“I think readers of all ages will enjoy this sweet story of a mischievous little troublemaker who manages to get away with things by the skin of his teeth!” editor Kristen Simon said. “But when his adventure leads him to a gritty corner of town and an unexpected encounter with another Cat Mask Boy, the quest becomes a heartwarming tale of teamwork, courage, and the magic of unlikely friendships.”
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The 192-page book, which reads from right to left, will be published on October 14, 2025, but we have an exclusive preview for you today. Enjoy!
Filed under: Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, News, Previews
About Brigid Alverson
Brigid Alverson, the editor of the Good Comics for Kids blog, has been reading comics since she was 4. She has an MFA in printmaking and has worked as a book editor, a newspaper reporter, and assistant to the mayor of a small city. In addition to editing GC4K, she is a regular columnist for SLJ, a contributing editor at ICv2, an editor at Smash Pages, and a writer for Publishers Weekly. Brigid is married to a physicist and has two daughters. She was a judge for the 2012 Eisner Awards.
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