Nordic Manga Autumn 2025
• Publication TNT, 2025, 203 pages • All rights available
Core of Zoia
When no one will give you the truth, you have to find the courage to seek it yourself.
Lea’s brother, a celebrated soldier of the Sora Elites, vanished on his final mission. The order refuses to explain, and Lea can’t let it rest. Joining the Elites as an initiate alongside her friend Manu, she’s sent on her first mission.
But when two deadly anomalies appear far from the forbidden Fields of Ruin, the mission takes an unexpected turn. A mysterious girl named Elin and her cat Loki arrive to save them – yet Elin remembers nothing of who she is.
Set in the magical sky world of the Sora plane, The Sky World launches the Core of Zoia series, a sweeping fantasy about courage, love, and the search for truths powerful enough to change a worl.
Tessa Nelissen (b. 1994) is an illustrator, storyteller, and trained dentist from the Netherlands, now living in Norway. A lifelong lover of fantasy novels, films, manga, and games, she grew up immersed in magical worlds – and never stopped exploring them. Her work often features her other great passions: cats, plants, and sustainability. The Sky World is the first volume in her debut graphic novel series, Core of Zoia, a sixbook fantasy saga inspired by the stories that shaped her childhood and continue to inspire her today.
Supernova
In a world where hearts beat on borrowed time, survival has a price – and innocence may be the greatest illusion of all.
Set in the ruins of a distant future, Supernova tells the story of Finn, a lone hunter tasked with tracking down the Makina – strange beings whose hearts fuel the very marrow that keeps humanity alive. It’s a brutal existence, built on a grim dependence.
But everything changes when Finn stumbles across Nova, a curious, fearless girl wandering the heart of the Death Zone – alone. She shouldn’t be alive, yet she is.
As the two form an unlikely bond over strange stories, cinnamon sticks, and a pinky promise that lingers like hope in a dying world, questions begin to surface: Who is Nova? And what secrets lie buried in the silence between her words?
Supernova is the debut graphic novel by the promising creator Peder Hornseth Nygaard, a post-apocalyptic tale of survival, found family and the fragile boundary between hunter and hunted – between love and betrayal.
Original series name Zoias kjerne
• Author & illustrator Tessa Nelissen
© Ivar Bergman
Tessa Nelissen
Original series name Supernova • Author & illustrator Peder Hornsth Nygaard • Publication TNT, 2025, 200 pages • All rights available
© Private Peder Hornsth Nygaard
Peder Hornseth Nygaard (b. 1998) is a Norwegian illustrator and animator with a bachelor’s degree in Animation and Digital Art from Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences. In 2021, he won second place in Egmont’s comics competition. Nygaard’s work blends a love of storytelling with a strong sense of mood and place. This autumn, he makes his debut with the dystopian graphic novel Supernova.
Dragon Vikings
When thrall Sigurd survives the Dragon King’s wrath, he vows revenge. Enslaved, powerless, and burning with purpose, Sigurd’s fate changes when a rampaging golden warthog leads him to a hidden rune stone, a fierce dragon named Fafnir who holds hidden powers, and a tiny as well as adorable sidekick piglet called Gulli. Together, the unlikely foursome of a vengeance-driven thrall, a treasure-hungry dragon, a stone-seeking Stein and a piglet with attitude embark on a thrilling quest to collect all Rune Stones – the only force strong enough to defeat the tyrannical Dragon King. Epic battles. Ancient magic. One thrall’s quest for vengeance. Dragon Viking – The saga begins.
Written by bestselling and award-winning comic creator Odin Helgheim, the Dragon Viking series is full of hilarity, adventure and finding friendship in the strangest of places. This is the first book in a planned eight book series, perfect for thrill-seeking readers everywhere.
Odin Helgheim (b. 1996) is from Sandefjord, Norway but spent a few years in the US as a kid, where he discovered comics and started honing his drawing skills.
His debut book, Ragnarok – Fenrir won ARK’s children’s book prize in 2020. There is a total of six titles in the popular children’s book series. Odin lives in Oslo and works full-time creating graphic novels.
Cha Sandmæl (b. 1992) is a comic creator and illustrator living in Oslo, Norway. Eye of the Dragon is their first published graphic novel, published January 2021 with Egmont. Their books have been translated into three languages and counting.
Before making this book series they worked as a freelance illustrator while they also made a webcomic. They have both a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in Fine Art from Aberystwyth University in Wales.
Eye of the Dragon
Eye of the Dragon is an epic fantasy book series by Cha Sandmæl, set in an immersive and visually stunning universe that draws you in, and its own, modern twist. It is centred around the ash elf Kha and their unlikely friend Ranja, dragon by day and woman by night, offering large-scale drama, perilous quests and true friendship.
Spanning six books, the story of Eye of the Dragon begins when ash elf Kha is forced to leave their world under ground – a world which worships the moon and fosters a tight-knit community – to go to the surface above for a chance for a new beginning. Dark forces are conspiring against them, when they find an unexpected source of friendship in Ranja, and the adventure begins. Will they be able to overcome the obstacles in their way?
Original series name Dragens
Fartein Rudfjord
Sandmæl
Original series name Mia Myhr
• Author & illustrator Sara Hjardar • Publication Egmont, TNT, 2022–2025, 162–192 pages, 3 books • Rights sold series Danish
Mia Myhr
The Mia Myhr series is a thrilling portal fantasy with a dose of humour and mystery. When Mia moves with her parents and sister Hanna to the edge of a forest, she begins to look into the mysterious disappearance of her grandmother five years ago.
As she takes her drawing pad into the woods she finds a tarn that wasn’t there before, and catches a glimpse of a terrifying animal within it. When her sister also goes missing, she must find out what happens beneath the surface – and dives into the terrifying water to an eerie world beneath. What creatures live below?
And will she be able to find and save her sister? A Stranger Things for children, Mia Myhr will send chills down your spine, make you laugh, and be blown away by the immersive world and amazing drawings.
Sara Hjardar (b. 1998) is born and raised in Fredrikstad, Norway. She completed a bachelor’s degree in graphic design and illustration in the spring of 2021 at the University of the Arts in Oslo, but now lives again in her hometown. The publication of the first Mia Myhr book came after Sara won a talent competition in 2021, and since then she has published three books in the series: Mia Myhr and the missing children, Mia Myhr and the Chaos Crystal and Mia Myhr and the Rotten Water. The fourth book in the series will be published autumn 2025.
Marianne Wåhlberg
H. L. Phoenix (b. 1982) is an awardwinning author, illustrator and comic book artist who grew up in a suburb outside Oslo. Arkin is his first graphic novel series, a portal fantasy series which won the inaugural Raven Rings Prize in 2022 with the nomination below.
“Arkin is gorgeous, with worldclass illustrations. Captivating and emotional, like beloved animated movies… But Arkin is so much more than beautiful, it’s a life raft… It goes to the very core of what fantasy can be: Stories that provide meaning in meaninglessness. Hope, when everything seems hopeless.” H. L. Phoenix
Arkin
Arkin is a beautiful portal fantasy series where dreams come true, where loneliness and longing saves lives, and where the smallest person casts the biggest shadow. Arkin is a lonely, creatively gifted and anxious boy who has always felt like an outsider, and since the death of his mother, loneliness threatens to devour him completely. Everything changes one day, when a mysterious older caretaker at his school leaves him with a strange riddle. As the clever Arkin solves the riddle, a magical world unravels before him. The Arkin series, planned to be six instalments, is a stunningly illustrated epic for children and adults ages 8 and up. The first four books in the series, The Secret The Hope The Light are already published, and book five, The Monster is planned for autumn 2025.
Sara Hjardar
The Dark Elf
The Dark Elf is an epic manga for young adults, and a visceral tale about not belonging. We follow Caim, a little dark elf who is the last of his kin after all others have been exterminated following a great war between dark and white elves. He grows up among the white elves, and is destined to have a hard life, treated with contempt and wished to be dead by the elves around him. One day, he learns of a place called Joker where everyone is rumoured to live in peace, regardless of who they are. But can this place be real? Joker begins to loom large in his head, and he decides that he must get there, whatever the price may be. The Dark Elf is hailed to be Norway’s first manga, with book four published in April 2025.
Helen Kaldheim (b. 1995) was raised in Odda, Norway but now resides in Oslo. Today, she makes a living as a lecturer, cosplayer, and manga artist. With The Dark Elf she aims to contribute to spread manga among the youth in Norway. The first book in the series, Alone was published in 2022, and book two and three soon followed. Her style is firmly within the Japanese manga tradition, and when she is not writing on The Dark Elf she travels around libraries, schools and festivals to teach the art to young children.
Frida
Frida finds herself in the middle of the strangest adventures as soon as her head hits the pillow. This time, she is shipwrecked on a stormy sea and rescued by fishermen Mica and Nico. They inform her that she has ended up in the land of Aquador. It isn’t long before Frida is put to work diving for fresh sea apples, an ingredient that is essential for making medicine in Aquador. Frida is given a special type of bubble seaweed to eat, which allows her to hold her breath for a long time underwater. But during her dives, she hears cries for help – cries that neither Mica nor Nico hear. What is happening down there in the depths?
Frode Øverli is one of Norway’s most beloved comedians. He has been a fixture on the bestseller lists for almost a lifetime with his Pondus books, a universe from which Frida – Pondus’ daughter – springs.
What people are saying about Frida book number 1, Jakten på nesehårene (The Hunt for Nose Hairs):
‘Pondus’ daughter is giving her dad a run for his money!’ (Bergens Tidende, which gave it five stars)
“Frode Øverli is recognisable both in his ugly style and his brutal humour. This is fresh entertainment for the whole family.‘ Anne Cathrine Straume, NRK Kultur
‘Frode Øverli has created a warm and perfectly tart extension of the Pondus universe, with impressive results.” Walter Wehus, barnebokkritikk.no
Original series name Frida • Author & illustrator Frode Øverli • Publication TNT, 2025, 74 pages • Option Danish
Original series name Mørkalven • Author & illustrator Helen Kaldheim • Publication Egmont, TNT, 2022–2025, 160–196 pages, 4 books • Rights sold series Danish
© Tormod Løkling Helen Kaldheim
© xFredrik Arff
Frode Øverli
NORDlyS
Harukkas ønske
Northern Lights
Sonja, a Viking girl, is mysteriously visited one night by a boy who feels oddly familiar. He comes from a magical realm and invites her through a portal into his world. Together, they travel on the Northern Lights to a Norway unlike any you’ve ever seen – a land of wonder, adventure, and magic.
Sonja teams up with new friends Espen and Lotta for an epic, dangerous quest through the troll mountains. As they face giant trolls and uncover ancient secrets, they must rely on their courage and unexpected allies to survive. Will their combined strength be enough to save their world?
Reminiscent of Kazu Kibuishi’s Amulet series, Falch’s vibrant illustrations bring Norway’s stunning landscapes and mythical creatures to life, making each page a work of art. A must-read for fans of fantasy!
Original series name Nordlys
• Author & illustrator Malin Falch • Publication Egmont, TNT, 2018–2024, 144–192 pages, 7 books • Rights sold series Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Faroese, Finnish, French, Georgian, German, Icelandic, Lithuanian, Macedonian, Polish, Romanian, Slovak, Swedish, Ukranian
Malin Falch (b. 1993) in Trondheim, Norway. She studied and worked in video game concept art in San Francisco for five years before moving back to Norway to be a full-time comic book creator.
Northern Lights is her debut series, for which she has won awards including The Pondus Price 2018 and the Ark Children Book 2018.
This modern-day fairytale by Malin Falch has captivated readers worldwide, selling over 300,000 copies in Norway. Planned to span ten books, the first seven are already out in Norway with the 8th chapter in the series coming 2026.
Malin Falch
Barnas bokpris 2019
© Kari-Anne Toth
Malin Falch
Original series name Edelmot • Author & illustrators Odin Helgheim & Viktor Sotberg • Publication Egmont, TNT, 2023–2025, 192 pages, 3 books
• Rights sold series Danish German
Step into Valiant – a virtual fantasy world where you can live exactly as you want, finding your true self. You have adventures, battle monsters, and fulfill all your dreams, and if you’re strong, you can even be popular in the real world. When we meet young Victor, however this is not his experience. At school, he’s bullied and feeling lonely, but in the fantasy world he has two best friends, and together they embark on a quest to become the strongest players ever. Valiant is a Nordic manga series set in a future where the virtual world is more important than our own. Life on the screen goes hand in hand with life at school. But this also means that people who would have remained strangers in real life actually get to know each other. Some even fall in love…
Viktor Sotberg
Victor Sotberg (b. 1991) is from Steinkjer but now lives in Oslo. He is a well-known media personality, producer, and content creator in Norway, but also writes the script for Valiant, which is his first graphic novel series.
Odin Helgheim (b. 1996) spent a few years in the U.S. as a child, where he developed a deep passion for comics. His debut book, Ragnarok – Fenrisulven won the ARK Children’s Book Prize in 2020. Originally from Sandefjord, Odin now lives in Oslo and works full-time as a series creator.
Girls
Eli has recently moved to a suburban town just outside of Oslo. At first, she feels like a fish out of water, but when she finds a group of girls who love manga and admire her for her drawing skills, things begin to look up. This is also when Eli meets Nina, and when Eli kisses Nina as a joke at a birthday party, something happens in her. She can’t stop thinking about the kiss, and wonders if this could be a crush? Because what is it really like to have a crush on someone? And did Nina only kiss back as a joke, or was it serious? Girls is the funny and poignant coming-of-age first part of a series about nerdy girlhood, friendship as a life raft and discovering who you are – and who you can become.
Cathrine Sandmæl (b. 1991) is an illustrator and author living in Nordre-Follo. She has a bachelor’s degree in Illustration from the University of Wolverhampton and another in visual communication from the University of SouthEastern Norway. As an illustrator, she has been professionally active since 2013 and worked on several books for Cappelen Damm and Gyldendal. This is her first graphic novel. The second book in the series is planned for next year.
& Odin Helgheim
Original series name Jenter
Author & illustrator Cathrine Sandmael
Publication Egmont, 2024, 144 pages, 2 books
Rights sold Danish
© Torbjørn Sandmæl Catherine Sandmæl
Wild Paws
A new Norwegian children’s series for ages 6 and up, Wild Paws is a gripping saga about foxes Lukas and Ty, which delves into themes of being different, mental illness and the journey of self-discovery. The wild fox Ty has never felt like the other foxes in the clan, shying away from fighting, being bullied by crows and dependent on family to be fed and protected. One day, it all becomes too much, and Ty runs away to prove to the others that he can catch his own prey. Instead, he winds up being caught on a fox farm. There he meets Lukas, whose sheltered life couldn’t be more different from Ty’s, and together they decide to see the world. Humorous and warm, Wild Paws is a stand-out children’s book series that impresses with its gripping storytelling.
Original
Victor Nordahl (b. 1990) lives in Finland and has been working on the Wild Paws-series for many years. This is his first children’s series to be published, and Wild Paws was nominated for the ARK Children’s Book Prize in 2022.
The Inventor
An imaginative and truly unique science-fiction series about invention, consequences, and courage.
In a quiet island village where giant turtles help with farming, young Kobolt Kogg dreams of becoming an inventor like his eccentric grandfather. But when a reckless experiment goes wrong, Kobolt is seriously injured – and the island’s peaceful life is shat tered. Still determined to follow his dream, he sets out on a journey to set things right.
In the bustling trade city of Basara, where everything is ruled by profit, Kobolt meets an unusual gnome tinkering in the shadows. Together, they embark on a bold new invention – one that challenges the city’s values and could change everything.
This Norwegian children’s series by Lars Henrik Eriksen explores curiosity, resilience, and the unexpected costs of innovation, all through a wildly original and imaginative lens.
Lars Henrik Eriksen (b. 1995) grew up in Sandefjord, where he studied music at upper secondary school, and has further education as a civil engineer. He has always loved comics and has been drawing for as long as he can remember. Eriksen participated in Egmont’s comic book competition in 2018 and immediately received a book contract. This inspired him to continue with his comic book – which now sees the light of day.
Ville Poter
Nordahl
© Hedda Kverndalen Victor Nordahl
Victor Nordahl VICTOR
Victor Nordahl
Original series name Oppfinneren • Author & illustrator Lars Henrik Eriksen
• Publication Egmont, TNT, 2021–2023, 140–184 pages, 2 books • Rights sold series Danish, Swedish, English
© Private Lars Henrik Eriksen
Ragnarok
Ragnarok is an exciting graphic novel series set in a Norse fantasy universe. We meet the young Viking boy Ubbe Gunnhildsson who has everything he could ever wish for, and who lives a fun-filled, adventurous life filled with joy. But when mythological monsters and gods decide to intervene, Ubbe realizes that he has to grow up and change overnight: he must become a true Viking. Over six books, Odin Helgheim tells a saga about losing all control to forces much stronger than yourself and about the journey to take it back. With Odin’s enormous talent for storytelling, and with humour as a sharp weapon, Ragnarok has become an immediate favourite among children, who simply cannot get enough of Ubbe’s world.
The Snowcat Prince
Immerse yourself in this enchanting fairytale, a stunning fantasy novel about bravery, overcoming shame and confronting one’s own prejudices. The Snowcat Prince is a beautifully illustrated tale of bravery and honour.
Syv is a snowcat and the youngest in a family of princes. When his father dies, Syv and his brothers are all in line for the throne. Eager to become kings themselves, Syvs brothers send him on a dangerous quest to find the long-lost magical crown that once belonged to their royal ancestor, the Eldking. Legend says that the snowcat who finds the crown will break the curse on their land and bring great honour to the family. Along his journey, Syv will face dangerous beasts, dark powers, and the everlurking sandfoxessworn enemies to the snowcats.
The Snowcat Prince was a 2023 ALA Best Graphic Novel for Children.
Dina Norlund (1995–2023) was a concept artist, fantasy novel author and illustrator. Growing up in the lush forests of Norway, she took inspiration from the culture and folklore when writing and illustrating her stories. The Snowcat Prince began as a crowdfunded project, but was later picked up for publication, and sold internationally. It received a starred review for exceptional merit from Kirkus magazine after the US publication by Oni Press, and was nominated for the ARK Children’s Book Prize in Norway.
Original series name Snøkattprinsen • Author & illustrator
• Publication TNT, 2025, 140 pages, 1 book • Rights sold Danish, English, French, Swedish, Bonnier Norsk, 2025
Dina Norlund
