We at Black Nerd Problems are happy to present an exclusive look at ROOTS OF MADNESS ahead of its release in October. If you haven’t heard of the latest from Ignition Press, ROOTS OF MADNESS is a new six-issue cosmic horror series by Writer Stephanie Williams (Nubia & the Amazons) and artist Letizia Cadonici (House of Slaughter) about “a brilliant 1905 chemist who takes her ancestors’ healing knowledge—and pushes it beyond what they ever imagined.”
Inspired by the life of Madame CJ Walker, this alternate history combines tradition with cosmic horror for something truly modern and unique. With the first issue available in comic shops October 1st from Ignition Press, we are overjoyed to share a preview of what is to come in this exciting new series!
From the original press release:
At the turn of the 20th century, a young Black woman named Etta picks up the tradition of her late mother for creating special medicines using natural ingredients and secrets handed down from generation to generation. Her mother has passed on a book of recipes and formulas, but it’s also full of strange symbols and dark musings that she doesn’t quite understand.
Within her community, one of the problems she hopes to fix is counteracting the poisonous and abrasive solutions Black women and girls are sold for straightening their hair. So, when the Meridian Fellowship reaches out and offers her a spot at their institute in Savannah, GA, to use their facilities to do her research, Etta jumps at the chance.
She packs up her mother’s book and heads to the sprawling establishment, but what she finds is a place surrounded by natural wonders that may point the way to understanding the more mysterious parts of her mother’s work…if dark forces don’t claim her first.
You can expect our review of the first issue come October.
Roots of Madness #1 will be available in comic shops October 1st from writer Stephanie Williams and artist Letizia Cadonici, with colors from Alessandro Santoro and lettering by AndWorld Design. This issue features two open-to-order covers from Juliet Nneka (Absolute Green Lantern) and Letizia Cadonici & Alessandro Santoro, and a 1:5 variant cover by Paulina Ganucheau (Wonder Woman).
About Stephanie Williams
Stephanie is a research scientist turned prolific comic writer. She’s best known for bringing Nubia back to relevancy for DC Comics with Nubia and the Amazons and Nubia: Queen of the Amazons. Stephanie has worked on titles like Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur: Wreck and Roll, My Little Pony, Alien: Black, White, and Blood, and many more. She has two recently announced upcoming releases, Street Sharks with IDW Publishing and the highly anticipated graphic novel adaptation of The Raven Boys.
About Letizia Cadonici
Letizia Cadonici is an Italian comic book artist born in Rome, in 1991. She worked for many Italian comic book publishers, mostly as a horror/gothic artist. Today she works for the US industry, for BOOM! Studios (House of Slaughter, The Neighbors, Hello Darkness) and for several others. She currently works on new series Minor Arcana by Jeff Lemire (BOOM! Studios), on the Department of Truth spin-off by James Tynion IV (Image Comics), and on an upcoming TBA series with Mad Cave Studios.
About Ignition Press
Ignition Press is the Los Angeles-based comic book and graphic novel publisher co-founded by publishing and media industry veterans Eric Gitter, Filip Sablik, Jamie S. Rich, and Jeremy Haun. The upstart creator-driven company will exclusively publish original series beginning in September 2025 including Murder Podcast and Voyeur. Ignition Press is repped by WME and attorneys Fred Goodman and Rich Marin of Marin Goodman, LLP.
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