‘Islands in the Sky’ launch to highlight Helene survivors, amplify Appalachian voices
The upcoming comic will feature stories of survival, told by those who lived them.
Good Trouble Comics photo
Next week, award-winning graphic novelist Andrew Aydin will return to Haywood County to help kick off an ambitious new creative endeavor — one that aims not only to elevate overlooked Appalachian voices but also to preserve the stories of Hurricane Helene’s survivors in a way that’s never been done before.
On June 17, the Pigeon Community Multicultural Development Center in Waynesville will host the official launch of the Appalachia Comics Project and the debut of its first major initiative — a Kickstarter campaign to fund the graphic novel anthology “Islands in the Sky: The Story of Helene Through Those Who Survived.”
The event will feature a lineup of regional comic creators, art previews, exclusive giveaways and a fundraising push to cover production costs. Signed memorabilia and one-on-one opportunities with creators will be available to attendees, including rare items like signed first editions of “March” autographed by the late Congressman John Lewis.
“I believe in this so deeply that these precious items to me that I’ve held on to for years, like copies of March that the congressman signed — I gotta put myself out there,” Aydin said. “If I’m asking people to support not just with their money but with their time and their creative efforts, I gotta put a little extra of myself and my own history and my own work into making sure that this is a success.”
Aydin, best known as co-author of the “March” trilogy alongside Lewis and artist Nate Powell, has long emphasized the power of graphic storytelling to educate, inspire and spark dialogue. With “Islands in the Sky,” he hopes to do the same for Appalachia — a region he says has been consistently ignored or caricaturized by mainstream outlets.
“For too long, Appalachia has been overlooked in popular media,” he said. “There is a real need, as well as an appetite, to hear about, read and consume stories about Appalachia.”
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The anthology’s focus on Helene survivors adds a layer of urgency and emotional weight.
Hurricane Helene, a deadly and destructive storm, upended lives across the region and exposed deep systemic vulnerabilities. “Islands in the Sky” aims to preserve the firsthand accounts of those who endured it — not with dry reportage or official statements, but with raw, authentic storytelling in illustrated form.
That’s why the June 17 event serves as both a creative showcase and a critical fundraiser. Once enough money is raised, the team plans to expand the scope of the project, bringing in more voices and ensuring the contributors — including storm survivors — are compensated fairly.
The evening will feature appearances by artists and writers with deep ties to the region, including Jared Rutland, whose upcoming graphic novel on Asheville is already in progress. A commissioned piece from Rutland, previewed during the event, will become part of the “Islands in the Sky” anthology and may be offered as a limited edition print for supporters.
“These are also people who’ve been doing the work of telling the story of Appalachia for many years and should be recognized and be given a platform,” Aydin said. “Sometimes we don’t get a chance to see them face to face.”
Andrew Aydin. File photo
Aydin said he vividly recalls how formative it was to meet creators in his youth, a memory brought full circle years later when he found himself tabling next to one of his childhood heroes, the late Peter David — a revered sci-fi and comic book author.
“If you give me a room full of eight-year-olds, that’s a tough crowd, but I love it,” he said, recalling an earlier visit to the Pigeon Center. “Because that feeling of both fear and optimism … it’s just tattooed on my brain, and I carry it with me in everything I do.”
His emotional connection to the project is deeply rooted in his own past. Raised by a single mother often struggling to make ends meet, Aydin said it was a comic book purchased at a Piggly Wiggly in Hendersonville that first offered him a glimpse of a wider world — and a future in storytelling.
“’March’ was written for that nine-year-old that I once was, that needed hope and inspiration and a path forward,” he said. “I want other kids to have that. And I don’t want the world that they are given to experience just to be what they dream up in New York or Los Angeles. You should be seeing worlds that are dreamed up by people who live nearby.”
Tickets for the event will be available for purchase at the door, with proceeds going toward project expenses. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Pigeon Center. All attendees will receive a limited-edition preview copy of the Monster Appreciation Society, a forthcoming comic.
At its core, Aydin says the Appalachian Comics Project is about self-representation. “Sometimes if you’re not given a seat at the table, you gotta bring your own chair,” he said. “Everybody who lives in Appalachia is a storyteller. And it’s long past time that we made a sustained effort to bring those stories to the national stage.”
The June 17 launch event begins at 6 p.m. at the Pigeon Center in Waynesville. For more information or to support the project, visit appalachiacomics.org.
Want to go?
New York Times bestselling author and recipient of the National Book Award Andrew Aydin will host a Kickstarter kickoff to benefit the forthcoming “Islands in the Sky” graphic novel anthology about Hurricane Helene survivors in Western North Carolina. Admission is $20 or free to those who have already pledged to the Kickstarter campaign.
Time: 6 p.m.
Date: Tuesday, June 17
Location: Pigeon Center Multicultural Development Center, 450 Pigeon St, Waynesville.
