Media Release -- Former librarians and members of The Valkyries, Ivy Noelle Weir and Christina "Steenz" Stewart, have joined forces to create their debut Oni Press graphic novel, Archival Quality, which was recently named a Junior Library Guild selection.
After losing her job at the library, Celeste Walden starts working at the haunting Logan Museum as an archivist. But the job may not be the second chance she was hoping for, and she finds herself confronting her mental health, her relationships, and before long, her grasp on reality as she begins to dream of a young woman she's never met, but feels strangely drawn to. As Cel attempts to learn more about the woman, she begins losing time, misplacing things, passing out—the job is becoming dangerous, but she can't let go of this mysterious woman. Who is she? Why is she so fixated on Cel? And does Cel have the power to save her when she's still trying to save herself?
Philadelphia-based writer Ivy Noelle Weir and St. Louis-based illustrator Steenz have collaborated on numerous comics projects together including a short for the series Princeless. Steenz's artwork has been featured in the critically acclaimed and award-winning anthology Elements: Fire, as well as Ham4Pamphlet, a collaborative illustration project inspired by the hit Broadway musical Hamilton, while Weir has written numerous articles for Women Write About Comics, American Libraries magazine, and NoveList in addition to her fiction writing.
"We're giving you ghosts, shoujo romance, humor, and morose atmosphere," said Steenz. "I also think Archival Quality is going to be a welcome read for those who believe that not only white people have adventures. What more could you really want?"
"I'm excited to be offering readers a story about growing up, relationships, and mental health that is equal parts scary, heartfelt, and funny," said Ivy Noelle Weir. "I hope this book will appeal just as much to fans of ghost stories as it will to fans of shoujo manga."
Advance Praise for Archival Quality:
"The author and illustrator bring a warm honesty, visually and narrative wise, to the characters, who are mostly people of color, as they navigate the complexities of mental illness, sexuality, love, and social responsibility. In their appealing protagonist, Weir and Steenz return both librarians and people with mental and emotional distress to their original, esteemed roles as keepers of truthful history." - Kirkus, Starred Review
"Archival Quality is a labor of love where the love and the labor come in equal measure. You can tell that work, hard work, has been put in by its creators, Ivy Weir and Steenz. Each page is a realization of ambition and elbow grease, culminating in a book that is understated, affecting. It's a product of great craftsmanship that builds from likable characters with dimension into a story of heart and vision. It's creepy, but it isn't scary or grim. It's gothic horror with real hope. Archival Quality ekes out its own space in the genre." - DoomRocket
"With its focus on mental health topics, this book is more than just a fun read."
- YALSA's The Hub
About Oni Press, Inc.:
Oni Press is a premier comic book and graphic novel publisher located in Portland, Oregon. Established in 1997, Oni Press's curated line includes a variety of award-winning original and licensed comic books and graphic novels, including: Adult Swim's Rick and Morty™, Nickelodeon's Invader ZIM, Scott Pilgrim, Queen & Country, Courtney Crumrin, Wasteland, The Sixth Gun, Stumptown, Wet Moon, Letter 44, The Bunker, The Life After, The Coldest City, and Kaijumax.
