| Abadazad | |
|---|---|
 Cover toAbadazad #1 | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | CrossGen Entertainment, inc. |
| Schedule | Monthly |
| Publication date | March 2004 - May 2004 |
| No. of issues | 3 |
| Creative team | |
| Written by | J. M. DeMatteis |
| Penciller | Mike Ploog |
| Colorist | Nick Bell |
Abadazad is an Americancomic book written byJ. M. DeMatteis and drawn byMike Ploog, with color by Nick Bell. Published in 2004 byCrossGen to rave reviews,[1] the series halted after three issues when Crossgen went out of business.[2]
AfterDisney acquiredAbadazad, along with the rest of CrossGen'sintellectual property,[3] the story was resumed in June 2006 in a hybrid format: a children's book series that combines sequential art segments alternating with prose segments. Originally meant to be a tetralogy, Disney Publishing changed plans to eightAbadazad volumes,[2] of which only three were published.
Abadazad is a magical land that Kate Jameson — a surly, cynical fourteen-year-old child — has only known through a series of famousfantasynovels written acentury ago by one Franklin O. Davies.[4] When Kate suddenly finds herself journeying through the real Abadazad in search of her beloved younger brother, Matt — who vanished five years earlier — she discovers that thetruth of Abadazad is far stranger, and more amazing, than fiction. She is guided to enter Abadazad by Little Martha, theprotagonist of the novels which she had read, and is given cause to confront thevillain known as Lanky Man, to whom is ascribed the disappearance of Matt.
In the originalCrossGen comic book, the fictitious author's name had been Franklin O. Barrie (aportmanteau ofL. Frank Baum,O. Henry, andJ. M. Barrie).
Book 3, originally scheduled for US publication, appeared only in Great Britain, while Book 4 did not appear at all. The synopsis for Book 4 from Amazon.UK reads as follows: "A groundbreaking mix of fiction and full-colour comic strip that follows a headstrong girl's journey into the bizarre fictional world of Abadazad to rescue her brother. InHistorcery, Kate has finally gathered the group of friends she hopes will help her to rescue her brother Matt from the evil Lanky Man: the walking candle Master Wix, Professor Headstrong, the puppet Mary Annette and Mr Glum".
Although he and artistMike Ploog originally signed up for eight volumes (with hopes for twelve, depending on sales),J. M. DeMatteis said theAbadazad book series ended after three books, and the third book would not be released in the United States. DeMatteis credits theAbadazad experience as inspiring his 2010 prose children's fantasy novelImaginalis.[5]