Mad Cave Studios new graphic novel Ruth Roche: The Phantom Hand of Comics shines a long-long-overdue spotlight on Golden Age writer and editor Ruth Roche.
The graphic biography is written by Joe Corallo, with art by Meghan Hetrick, colors by Dee Cunniffe, and letters by Morgan Martinez, and focuses on Roche’s impact and legacy.
“As a lover of both comics and history, I made it a point years ago to explore the Golden Age of comics,” said Corallo. “One name that I would see pop up over and over again was Ruth Roche, but when I would try to look more into her, there was very little information available despite her being a major player for most of that era. Years of looking into her revealed one known photo and a handful of people acknowledging her work. It really frustrated me, which motivated me to dive deep into this research and write the most comprehensive story that could be told about Ruth at this point. I hope people who read this come away having a deeper understanding of comics, of Ruth, how women have played a pivotal role in comics from the very early days of the medium as we know it, and, unfortunately, how the more things change in comics, the more things stay the same.”
“Ruth Roche’s story feels both inspiring and sobering to me,” added Hetrick. “As a woman working in comics today, I’m acutely aware of how many women helped shape this industry, only to have their names fade from the conversation over time. Ruth’s work is a reminder that the history of comics is far broader and richer than we often acknowledge. I hope readers come away not only appreciating her contributions but also feeling a renewed curiosity about the creators whose voices have been overlooked.”
Ruth Roche: The Phantom Hand of Comics will be available at your local comic shop and bookstore on October 13 in both a paperback ($19.99) and hardcover ($29.99) edition
Check out the cover below and stay tuned to Conskipper for all of your comic history news.
