Can Erik survive as the only person in the world?
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Not much came of it.
It is a world filled with monsters, mad science, and mayhem.
Despite the challenges he faces, Erik isnt prone to violence.
We live in a world of violence and conflict.
It fills our newsfeeds and our entertainment.
He stands up for what is right and what is just without jumping into battle at a moments notice.
Male characters in comics are often depicted as tough.
They are muscular, one dimensional characters whose fists speak for them.
Raising our children in Ithaca, my wife and I found ourselves involved in the Adventure Playground movement.
In the early 1940s, an enlightened approach to play was developed in Lancashire, England.
These junk playgrounds
became a crucial factor in producing a more imaginative and exciting approach to childrens play.
One of the only Adventure Playgrounds in America The Anarchy Zone is figuratively in our own backyard.
That sense of adventure and danger has helped my children understand their place in the natural world.
Were telling a similar, fictional, story inThe Only Living Boy.
He doesnt let racial and societal prejudices influence his growth.
Hes a thoughtful kid whose first response to adversity isnt punch first, ask questions later.
It might seem naive to believe that a kind character, like Erik, could be a powerful one.
Eriks predecessors Harry
Potter and Captain America show that kindness isnt a weakness; its a virtue.
Erik is that sort of character.
Erik may be the only living boy but he is not alone.
Thea the noble insect princess lives in shame and fear of the monster she will one day become.
They, like Erik, are trying to find their own place in the world.
This trinity of villains feels profoundly threatened by Erik and his friends.
Each driven by their own agenda, they seek to stop him by any means necessary.
As with our heroes, weve created a set of villains who will grow and develop over time.
We cant wait to share their backstories and their secret origins with our readers.
The Only Living Boyoffers adventure, excitement, and inspiration unlike anything else being published today.
We dont shy away from pain, struggle and adversity.
We want this generation of readers to be versatile, malleable and able to find strength in problem solving.
These are the lessons I teach my children… and the lessons David and I are teaching our characters.
