The Woman in the Woods and Other North American Stories

Edited by Ken McDonald, Kate Ashwin & Alina Pete. Published by Iron Circus Comics. 

Softcover, 120 pages, B&W, 2022. 

The Woman in the Woods and Other North American Stories is an all-new anthology of fantastic comics inspired by original North American folktales―from the thrilling tale of Chokfi the trickster rabbit, to the stirring story of the White Horse Plains― as told by Indigenous creators.

The book features more than 100 pages of entertaining and educational stories by artists and writers from Indigenous nations across the continent, including:

“As It Was Told to Me”, a creation tale that shows that the world needs good and bad to exist, which is written and illustrated by Elijah Forbes, a transgender Odawa illustrator who has facilitated the creation of illustration projects such as the 2020 “Trans Awareness Week.”

“Chokfi,” the story of the trickster rabbit, who is jealous of Otter's fur coat and tries to steal it, by writer Jordaan Arledge, a trans Chickasaw comic writer and the founder of Arledge Comics, and artist Mekala Nava.

“White Horse Plains”, a cautionary tale about greed that comes from the Métis settlement St. Francois Xavier, as told by Rhael McGregor, a Non-Binary/Two-Spirit Métis comic artist and animator from Winnipeg, Manitoba.

“Rougarou” by Mystery Solving Lesbians writer Maija Ambrose Plamondon and Métis-based artist Milo Applejohn, about a werewolf-like creature that haunts the Métis communities.

“Agonjin In the Water” by the non-binary Ojibawe artist Alice RL, about a girl whose tribe is suffering from a drought and finds a Mishipeshu while searching for water.

“Woman in the Woods” by the Cuban Taíno artist and storyteller Mercedes Acosta about a curious girl who sees a mysterious figure in the woods at night.

“Into Darkness” by Izzy Roberts, a Michigan-based illustrator and a member of the Navajo Nation and Kinyaa’áanii clan, about a creature so dangerous and scary that no one dares utter its name.

The anthology is edited and organized by Kate Ashwin, Kel McDonald, and Alina Pete. The amazing contributors list is curated by Alina Pete, who is Nehiyaw (Cree) and who provides a beautiful cover.

The acclaimed Cautionary Fables and Fairytales series has been chronicling folktales from around the world for nearly a decade, hopping from Europe to Africa, over to Asia, and more recently the Oceania region. Kids and adults alike have enjoyed these beautifully retold stories. Some are spooky, some are silly, and all memorable.

The Woman in the Woods and Other North American Stories is the fifth volume in the acclaimed Cautionary Fables and Fairy Tales series and the first ever volume of the series to be published by Iron Circus Comics.