Writer David Pinckney is back with a new teen drama layered in dark secrets, social rules, and intense resentment. His upcoming graphic novel, Sarah & Darah: Best Frenemies Forever, explores the blurred line between friendship and rivalry, set against the pressure-cooker backdrop of the elite prep school Placeside High.
Illustrated by Pia Prado, the comic blends sharp interpersonal drama with a twisty, sometimes incendiary narrative that asks what happens when rumors take on lives of their own, and whether redemption is possible in a world obsessed with status.
The Beat talked with Pinckney before the release about building suspense, writing messy characters, and how a supposedly perfect school can become a battleground for identity, boundaries, and survival.
DIEGO HIGUERA: What inspired you to tell this kind of story, and why set it in such a cutthroat elite environment like Placeside High?
DAVID PINCKNEY: I wanted to tell a story that talked about boundaries and what it’s like to have the people around you change you in ways that you may not be proud of. Considering that, an elite environment felt like a natural setting. Growing up and finding your way is hard, and surviving social circles can sometimes take a lot. A cutthroat environment like Placeside High felt like it allowed for these characters to be tested in some fun and unique ways.
HIGUERA: Darah’s return is full of mystery and fire. What can you tell us about shaping her character, especially balancing her vulnerability with her desire for vengeance?
PINCKNEY: Having a character that’s all about revenge rings a little hollow, so we knew we needed some kind of balance for her characterization. Positioning her as someone who has some vulnerability and empathy made her feel more well-rounded. Keeping in line with some of the themes of the graphic novel, we also explored the characters that are around her to help shape her, sometimes to her benefit and other times not as much. How she plays off other characters really helped show all sides of her and affected how I saw her arc going, and thus shaped her in ways I initially wasn’t thinking of.
HIGUERA: The tension that Sarah and Darah experience is built on a dramatic betrayal. What does this dynamic say about how their friendship, power, and status interact?
PINCKNEY: Sarah is from a wealthy family and is in a popular friend group. Darah isn’t wealthy and pretty, and she has no friends. The dynamic would naturally say that Sarah has a bit of the upper hand here in the context of the tension that is built, but Darah, as far as she is concerned, has nothing to lose. When you have nothing to lose, that says a lot—you’re willing to maybe push just a little further than others would. Sarah isn’t always ready for Darah to take that extra step when the two of them are at odds, and neither are the people in Darah’s life. Their dynamic has an effect on not just them, but almost everyone else in their respective lives.
HIGUERA: This book has a narrative that involves some twists. how did you approach building suspense and keeping readers guessing about a character’s true motivations?
PINCKNEY: Kind of inline with the previous question, most people aren’t ready for the lengths that some of these characters will go. So, to keep the twists and suspense, we push the characters to take steps in a direction that may feel a step too far—something the reader themselves wouldn’t expect. The catch is that when someone goes too far, they sometimes surprise themselves. To that point, when these characters take these steps, they at times have some self-reflection and in those moments we see them start to feel a little lost. It’s hard to know exactly where they are and where they want to be in a moral sense when they themselves are unsure.
HIGUERA: How did your collaboration with illustrator Pia Prado help bring Placeside High and its cast of characters to life? Were there any scenes where her visual storytelling particularly surprised or impressed you?
PINCKNEY: Honestly, the designs of these characters were largely Pia’s take, and I think the characters were brought to life in a very fun way. The art has a softness to it that makes the comic feel fun, but it can also deliver on those serious moments. The part that stands out to me personally is the first time we see Violet, Sarah’s best friend. Violet is your textbook, movie-esque popular girl, and the first time we see her in the comic, you know exactly who she is and what she’s about. It’s a panel that really stands out to me.
HIGUERA: Darah is rumored to be ‘The Placeside Pyro. ‘ How much do rumors and school legends play into the social fabric of this story?
PINCKNEY: For Darah, it plays heavily into her personal story. For everyone else, these rumors don’t feel like rumors but full-on truths. These rumors are the first thing we as the readers hear about her and it immediately shapes what we think of not just her but the ones who are spreading the rumors. In short, the rumors are foundational to the social fabric of the story as everyone knows the rumors and most can’t separate the rumors from Darah herself.
HIGUERA: What do you hope readers—especially teens—take away from Sarah & Darah: Best Frenemies Forever? Is it a cautionary tale or a revenge fantasy?
PINCKNEY: I hope readers take away that setting boundaries is hard but necessary, and hopefully, this story shows that sometimes you need to set them for the betterment of yourself. In that light, I wouldn’t really view this as a cautionary tale or a revenge fantasy, but a story that, at its core, is just about life. It has ups and downs, but at the end of the day, the choices you make and the people you associate with are what will, in part, shape you, and it’s worthwhile to try to figure out the kind of person you want to be.
Ahead of its release, check out this preview of the graphic novel below!
If you’re looking for a teen drama that mixes social warfare, personal reckoning, and just the right spark of chaos, Sarah & Darah: Best Frenemies Forever is one to watch. With sharp writing from David Pinckney and expressive, layered visuals from Pia Prado, the book delivers a high school story that’s more than just surface-level scandal.
Stay tuned for updates on the book’s release and where to get your hands on it—and in the meantime, maybe think twice before spreading that next high school rumor. Sarah & Darah: Best Frenemies Forever hits shelves on June 24, 2025. Don’t miss your chance to dive into the drama of Placeside High and pre-order now at Mad Cave Studios!
