LOS ANGELES, CA – March 23, 2026 – In advance of WonderCon 2026, GLAAD Media Award-winning and Eisner and Harvey Awards-nominated publisher and media outlet Fanbase Press is proud to announce Shrub, an 8-issue Graphic Medicine series which will be crowdfunded by the publisher on Kickstarter. In this middle grade adventure, readers will join Shrub who is, well… a shrub… for a cross-country road trip to Hollywood! Join Shrub and a grieving brother and sister as they hit the open road in search of connection. On their journey, pit stops, wacky plant enthusiasts, uprooting, and re-routing abound.
The series was created and written by Emmy Award nominee Shane Portman (Tumble Leaf, Shape Island), illustrated by Andy Alves (Cosmic Cadets), colored by Sophia Du and Celia FitzGerald, lettered by Oceano Ransford (Eisner Award-nominated Rikki), and with consultation from comics librarian Moni Barrette.
“In the footsteps of ET or Wall-E, Shrub and their insatiable awe for everything they come in contact with – people, birds, cows, even vending machines – are the open-hearted catalyst of this story,” said Shane Portman. “Their tender connection to each character is a living example of the empathy that we all need and deserve.”
Shrub explores the various ways that we allow grief to take root, inspired by writer Shane Portman’s experience with the loss of his father. The series features “Letting Grief Take Root” essays written by individuals with a personal and/or professional connection to grief who relate Shrub’s story to their own lived experience. Essayists include Shane Portman and his family, as well as grief doula Kat Primeau and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Ariel Landrum (Geek Therapy).
“We were immediately taken by Shrub’s thrilling road trip adventure, but what truly made the story stand out was the compassionate way in which it engaged the reader in an empathetic conversation about how we grieve,” shared Barbra Dillon, co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of Fanbase Press. “Given that so many of our community members of all ages have known great loss, we hope that Shrub’s story will foster a sense of collective support.”
Striving to destigmatize loss and promote understanding of the diverse ways that people of all ages grieve, the expanded print edition will also feature a study guide by literacy advocate Creators, Assemble! Inc., an informational essay by clinical psychologist and media consultant Dr. Drea Letamendi, and more.
“I can’t wait for readers to meet Shrub, to laugh with and feel for these characters, and maybe even find some kinship along the way,” said Portman.
To support the project, visit the SHRUB Kickstarter campaign.
