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 5, 2026 — WLOS: ‘Islands in the Sky’ graphic novel brings 11 Helene survival stories to comic shops

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Several stories of Helene survival are now being told through the pages of a new graphic novel.

“I had to read it one story at a time, one day at a time, because it’s so emotional and ‘cause I was here and it was very real for me,” said Allison Jenkins, the owner of Comic Envy who got to read an early copy of “Islands in the Sky.”

August 5, 2026 — 88.5 WFDD: ‘New graphic novel tells ‘a people’s history’ of Hurricane Helene’

It’s been nearly two years since Hurricane Helene devastated communities across western North Carolina. A new graphic novel called Islands in the Sky documents the real-life experiences of survivors.

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!