Jia and the Nian Monster, Paperback

Each new year is marked by a monster's attack on their mountain village. This year, young Jia and her friend Deshi have decided to fight back.

For Deshi, it is the grand adventure he has always dreamed of. For Jia, it is revenge for the loss of her mother--who was taken by the monster five years before.

But it will take more than mere pluck and courage to best the beast of the mountain, which is where the mysterious stranger who has befriended Jia and Deshi comes in . . .

Based on an ancient Chinese legend, Jia and the Nian Monster blends fantasy, fable, and the invention of gunpowder into a tale of courage and friendship. Written by Mike Richardson (47 Ronin, Father's Day, and The Atomic Legion), and illustrated by the amazing new artist Megan Huang, this could be a new children's classic

MIKE RICHARDSON is the President and founder of Dark Horse Comics, the award-winning international publishing house he founded in 1986. He is also the President of Dark Horse Entertainment, for which he has produced numerous projects for film and television.

In addition to producing films such as R.I.P.D., Hellboy, and The Mystery Men, he has also produced films based on several of his own creations, including The Mask and Timecop. Richardson owns a successful pop culture retail chain, Things From Another World, stretching from Universal's City Walk in Los Angeles to his hometown in Milwaukie, Oregon.

Richardson has written numerous graphic novels and comics series, as well as Comics Between the Panels and Blast Off!, two critically acclaimed books about pop culture. He lives with his wife, Karie, and their dog in Lake Oswego, Oregon.