German comics creator Claus Daniel Herrmann is making his US debut later this month, with the LGBTQ+ “coming out” story Pink Monsters. Today, The Beat can reveal an exclusive preview from the book.
Here’s the synopsis:
Pink Monsters follows Frank, a fourteen-year-old in the midst of puberty who is slowly but surely realizing that he is gay. Despite his shyness, he is popular at school because of his talent for drawing: All the cool boys want an original drawing of his monsters to hang in their rooms. Meanwhile, Frank’s father is suffering from depression. His illness is so serious that Frank’s mother gives up on traditional medicine and contacts an esoteric healer named Thea. The charismatic woman not only gives his parents new hope, but the emotionally insecure Frank also finds security in Thea’s “secret knowledge.” But when she blames Frank’s drawings for his father’s illness and later makes him feel guilty about his sexual orientation, Frank must jeopardize his relationship with his parents in order to truly become himself.
Get a sneak peek at the interior art below.
“Access to one’s own feelings and the ability to think critically are key to self-determination—especially in a world where fellow human beings advocate for unverifiable beliefs and use them to recklessly tear down personal boundaries. I hope my readers, whether they are young adults themselves or already responsible for younger ones, will find an impressive example of this in my story,” said Herrmann.
“Claus Daniel Herrmann has crafted a touching and timely story about how people in positions of false authority who think they know better can use their influence to manipulate others and make them feel less than,” said Managing Editor Christopher Cerasi. “Pink Monsters navigates these heavy emotional themes through the lens of a young man who ultimately decides to stand up for himself and his identity and finds acceptance and friendship on the other side.”
Pink Monsters will be available everywhere books are sold on May 26. Pre-orders are available now.
