In little more than two weeks, the United States will celebrate its semiquincentennial on July 4, 2026, dubbed as America 250. Across centuries of momentous achievements, conflicts, and scientific advancements, it can be easy to lose sight of just what went into the period that made it all possible, the American Revolutionary War. While there are plenty of tributes across all forms of media, Oni Press and Magnetic Press, alongside ScreenRant, proudly present the preview and Kickstarter campaign launch HERE for historical graphic novel LIBERTY by Jordan Mechner, with art by Étienne Le Roux (The Cimmerian: The Scarlet Citadel) and Loïc Chevallier (The Brothers Revolution).
Mechner’s first claim to fame was in designing and programming Karateka for the Apple II before creating the original Prince of Persia game, inspiring a sprawling multimedia franchise from then on. But his career has also lately included writing multiple acclaimed graphic novels, such as Monte Cristo, a modernized adaptation of the Alexandre Dumas classic, as well as Replay, chronicling his family’s survival of two European world wars. This latest project, LIBERTY, is poised to capture the underrepresented and oftentimes thrilling nuances of what went into winning American Independence, focusing on the secret arms smugglers who helped make it happen.
LIBERTY Is The Perfect Graphic Novel For Comics Fans Celebrating America 250
Featuring vibrant visuals of the violent war in which what would become the United States was initially at a disadvantage, LIBERTY is Mechner’s dramatized retelling of a merchant from Connecticut and a flamboyant French playwright staged a daring operation in 1776. Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais, more well-recognized for writing The Barber of Seville, was responsible for a mission to support the outnumbered and outgunned colonists, particularly by providing arms straight out of Europe. It’s a thrilling escapade in which he cooperates with Silas Deane to help tip the scales of the conflict.
“From the moment I learned about this 18th-century ‘black op’ to ship illicit arms from France across the ocean to a desperately outgunned and outnumbered American rebel army, I knew I had to write it.
The unlikely odd-couple partnership of two men who changed history, yet have few statues in their honor, grabbed my imagination. Their fight for freedom resonates in so many ways with current world events.
I hope readers of all ages, on both sides of the Atlantic, will enjoy and identify with LIBERTY today.”
-Jordan Mechner, author of LIBERTY
It’s a fascinating opportunity to look into a genuinely exciting chapter in the American Revolutionary War, with just enough artistic license to really help it pop in vibrant color in print. Preview pages provided to ScreenRant detail the bloody reality of the Patriots facing down the British in what would be a dangerous war of attrition, bravely defending their position at Bunker Hill in 1775.
But soon, the preview shifts over to Silas Deane, a delegate from Connecticut to the Continental Congress urging his stepson, Samuel B. Webb, to come work for him in Philadelphia. To Silas’ dismay, Sam seems convinced he’ll be of better use on the battlefield, even if that means dying.
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Not ready to give the whole game away, this preview teases the dramatized action of the American Revolutionary War, along with the realities of the American Colonists helping set the direction for the country, and those who pay the price in blood to keep the dream alive. It’s a stunning set of pages, with particular highlights of Le Roux and Chevallier’s artwork depicting the mortal clash of forces as the Americans, running out of gunpowder, resort to desperate close combat to seize the guns from the Redcoats. For those more curious about the Kickstarter, there are plenty of ways to enjoy this upcoming release with more than one print edition on the way.
LIBERTY Teases Incredible Special Edition For Eager Collectors & Patriots
Much like Oni Press’ other recent Kickstarter campaigns such as for Covenant, LIBERTY is getting the full red carpet treatment beyond its already-exciting deluxe hardcover edition. Backers will be thrilled to learn Magnetic Press is producing a Limited Collectors 250th Anniversary edition, with the following features:
- Foil-stamped Slipcase
- Fleur-de-Lis & Liberty Iconography
- Ribbon Bookmark
- Foil-gilded Pages
- Bookplate Signed and Numbered by Jordan Mechner
“This is the American Revolution in stark relief — no mythmaking heroics, just a global chess match of empires, merchants, smugglers, and idealists. It’s a story of the struggle for freedom and political subterfuge, told with sweeping historical scope and intimate human drama.
The 250th anniversary of American Independence is the perfect moment to bring this acclaimed graphic novel home to America. The Revolution wasn’t just about the birth of our nation; it was an international uprising with global implications, and LIBERTY captures that truth with nuance and cinematic flair.”
-Mike Kennedy, Magnetic Press Director of Publishing
Naturally, with a story like LIBERTY, it’s a story worth reading for its emotional nuances rather than any run-of-the-mill biographical spectacle. With the nation facing brand-new struggles, as it always has, it’s important now more than ever to appreciate the unsung heroes and tragic figures who helped secure its independence, instead of celebrating gilded monuments and central players alone. It’s a story meant to be enjoyed by anyone, on both sides of the Atlantic, of just what went into the war for America’s freedom, and one worth taking home.