Autumn Ackerman once believed in fairytales. She believed in dragons, magic, and the kind of impossible that only children dare to dream. But at eighteen, her world is no longer filled with enchanted forests or glittering spells—it’s reduced to a coffee counter in a small-town shop, drip by drip. That is, until her long-forgotten imaginary friend appears again.
And he’s very real.
When Imagination Becomes Reality
In The October Girl: Book One, writer and artist Matthew Dow Smith invites readers into a world where myth isn’t a story—it’s a warning.
One night in the alley behind the café, Autumn meets Barnaby, the grinning, strange creature who once played in her childhood daydreams. Except now, he’s more than a memory. He’s her ticket into a hidden world—the domain of the Night Folk.
These beings, ancient and extraordinary, are the inspiration behind humanity’s deepest legends—gods, monsters, and everything in between. Autumn soon finds herself pulled into their labyrinthine web of secrets and danger. With Barnaby as her guide and the quiet, sorrowful Evan Fade at her side, she must protect herself from the chilling specter known only as Mr. Balloon.
What started as a forgotten fairytale becomes a fight for survival—and for identity.
A Dream Thirty Years in the Making
For Dow Smith, this story is more than a debut—it’s a long-buried promise finally brought to life.
“I’ve spent the last 30 years drawing people in tights fighting each other,” Smith shares. “But my imagination was always haunted by people in long coats and strange little creatures. Now, thanks to Maverick and Mad Cave, I finally get to share that world.”
Dow Smith’s fingerprints are everywhere in The October Girl. Known for work on Hellboy, Doctor Who, X-Files: Origins, and Starman, he brings both grit and grace to this story. His lines echo with years of storytelling experience, while the emotional tone is unmistakably personal.
Shadows and Skeleton Trees
There’s something timeless about The October Girl. Its pages hum with melancholy and magic—perfect for readers who found solace in Coraline, The Dark Crystal, or The Ocean at the End of the Lane. But this isn’t just nostalgia wrapped in fantasy.
It’s a meditation on growing up—and the loss that often shadows it.
Autumn’s journey is filled with dark forests, flickering lamplight, and the quiet ache of realizing adulthood doesn’t always mean answers. With monsters waiting at the threshold and memories clawing their way back, this is a coming-of-age tale where belief might be her last defense.
Release and Availability
The October Girl: Book One hits shelves on October 21, 2025, from Maverick, Mad Cave’s YA imprint.
The hardcover edition (ISBN 9781960578594) is now available for pre-order through local comic shops, indie bookstores, and major retailers. It will also be offered digitally for readers who prefer turning magical pages on glowing screens.
The October Girl is more than a comic—it’s a world that’s been waiting to be discovered.
So step into the alley.
The night is alive.
Read this article and more at August Tales Comics. Your go-to site for comic book news and trade paperback exchanges! Trade. Read. Repeat.
Image credit: Madcave Studios
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