Amplifying the voices of Appalachia through comics

LATEST NEWS

APRIL 6, 2026 — The Assembly NC:

“After Helene, Appalachia Tells Its Own Story—In Comics”

“Islands in the Sky,” a crowd-funded graphic anthology, depicts Hurricane Helene through the stories of its survivors—with the help of some nationally recognized comic writers and artists.

AUGUST 12, 2025 — West Virginia Public Broadcasting: “Comics Project Seeks To Tell Appalachia’s Story, Beginning With Hurricane Helene”

A newly launched comics project aims to pair residents of Appalachia with writers and artists to tell the region’s story. Its first project looks at what happened after Hurricane Helene struck western North Carolina.

JULY 7, 2025 — HENDERSONVILLE LIGHTNING: “Comic book history tells harrowing, inspiring and tragic stories of Helene“

The Appalachia Comics Project announced today that it has raised more than $17,000 in three weeks to fund the writing, illustration and printing of “Islands in the Sky,” a book-length comic book history of the Hurricane Helene disaster, co-created by Western North Carolina survivors and well-known comic creators.

Empowering Appalachia through Comics

The Appalachia Comics Project aims to revitalize Southern Appalachia by amplifying local voices and fostering community growth in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

When Hurricane Helene devastated Southern Appalachia in the fall of 2024, it left both our landscape and our communities forever changed. But in the aftermath, something remarkable emerged: stories of survival, solidarity, and strength.

Our first project — Islands in the Sky: A People’s History of Hurricane Helene — brings those stories to life—pairing real survivors with award-winning comics creators like Brian Michael Bendis, Gene Luen Yang, Matt Fraction, Nate Powell, June Kim, Greg Pak, Steve Orlando, Alex Segura, Thien Pham, Briana Loewinsohn, Valentine De Landro, Aster D’Amico, Josh Adams, Anthony Del Col, and more—to preserve what happened and help the region recover.

This project is part record, part resistance, and part recovery. Join us.

Empower Appalachia

Want to be involved with the Appalachia Comics Project? Have skills you want to put to use? A grassroots effort, we rely on the power of community to get the job done. We’re currently looking for folks interested in donating a little of their time and energies in outreach, events, fundraising, creative, and digital/web. Fill out the volunteer form and we’ll be in touch!