From the magical girl team that brought readers Debian Perl: Digital Detective comes a spy graphic novel that has charm, sparkle, and an intrepid unicorn detective.
Agent Cupcake, a middle-grade graphic novel published by Oni Press, follows a spy duo comprised of twelve-year-old Miguel Mangayayam, who was recently hired by the Mystical Beasts Bureau (MBB), and Agent Cupcake. Don’t let that name fool you, because Agent Cupcake is a top unicorn superspy! The two work together to get to the bottom of a neigh-sty mystery where unicorns are losing their magical powers. But it may not be as easy as it looks because the evidence seems to be pointing at a mega-corporation called HOARD.
Check out the preview pages below:
Triple Dream Comics, the creative dream team behind Agent Cupcake, has Mel Hilario and Lauren Davis writing the story with Katie Longua illustrating. As much of a fantasy as Agent Cupcake is (although unicorn spies should be a thing), the team wanted to integrate learning in the novel as well.
“As people who grew up on media like Sesame Street, Schoolhouse Rock, and Wishbone, we’ve always believed that curiosity, imagination, and whimsy should be part of learning,” said Hilario.
Davis perfectly encompassed the story by saying, “Agent Cupcake blends real world knowledge about secret messages, social engineering, spyware, and lock picking with a world where a mermaid can run a spy agency, a griffin can help you break into a safe, and unicorns use their magic to craft horrifyingly cute plushies.”
And yet, the book has also added in some human elements to make it a story that kids can relate to. Longua said the graphic novel is about “learning how to fail, transforming passion into action, and figuring out where you fit in.”
If anyone has ever had a hidden or not so hidden desire to be a spy, then Agent Cupcake is the book for you. The middle grade graphic novel releases in November 2025.
Source: Oni Press
