Today, Comics Beat is proud to reveal the cover for a new middle grade graphic novel series by Brandon Reese. In Fantastic Frog and the Amazing Tad Lad, you’ll be introduced to “two heroic but dim-witted frog superheroes.” Arriving in February 2026 from Penguin Random House Canada, the series is sure to capture the hearts (and funny bones) of fans of InvestiGators and Dog Man.
Read on for Comics Beat’s email interview with creator Reese, along with some images from inside the book. And scroll on down to the bottom of the article to see the cover in all its glory!
AVERY KAPLAN: Can you tell us about the origins of the series?
BRANDON REESE: I’ve mostly only written and illustrated picture books. Coming out of the pandemic, it felt as if editors were being super cautious with what they were looking to publish. All the picture books I’d pitched didn’t land anywhere. In my frustration, I thought, “My work has been moving in a comics direction for years. I should just embrace it! I love middle-grade graphic novels like Dog Man, InvestiGators and Narwhal and Jelly. What would I do in that space?” So, I mocked up a cover and that got the ball rolling!
KAPLAN: How about this story in particular?
REESE: The story of Fantastic Frog and the Amazing Tad Lad was hatched in my sketchbook. I’d been drawing a lot of frogs for whatever reason and randomly drawn a couple of them in super suits. That got the gears turning. Also, I grew up in south Florida surrounded by all manner of swamp things. I suppose that had an influence.
KAPLAN: What are the inspirations for this story?
REESE: I grew up in the 80’s. I’d be hard-pressed NOT to be inspired by the pop culture of that decade. The book is chock-full of references—scratch ’n sniff stickers, landfill video games, talking toy dolls, and an orange cat … to name a few! I am also very much inspired by the incredible work of cartoonists: Walt Kelly, Charles Addams, Carl Barks, Don Rosa, John Stanley and Al Jaffee.
KAPLAN: What can readers expect from this volume?
REESE: Lots of goofy humor and action-packed battles with a bevy of baddies! This first book features Fantastic Frog and Tad Lad’s origin story and sets up their mission to defeat the villains polluting their swamp.
KAPLAN: Is there anything in particular you hope readers take away from this story?
REESE: I want the reader to laugh and enjoy a fun adventure … but I also want to explore the importance of conservation, ecology and biodiversity.
KAPLAN: What advice do you have for any readers who might be interested in pursuing a career in comics themselves?
REESE: Keep a sketchbook. Get good at drawing people and animals. Draw things seen and imagined. Write down interesting things you hear or come up with. Do that often enough and a story will show itself. For structure — read, read, read! Make note of how a story is paced, how the panels are drawn, where important story beats happen. It’s probably been recommended a million times, but How To Draw Comics The Marvel Way is a great starting point for a beginner. I also think Ivan Brunetti’s book Cartooning is an excellent resource.
Find a critique group. It could be an online community or a group of other aspiring comic creators you can share your work with. Get some pages under your belt. I’ve sketched out entire graphic novels that didn’t go anywhere, but the experience of drawing and finishing something sharpens your skills. Go to conventions and talk to professionals. Most creators are cool people who enjoy helping others and don’t mind giving advice.
KAPLAN: Are there any stories (in any medium) that you have especially enjoyed lately?
REESE: My local theater has been showing classic anime. Recently I’ve seen Ninja Scroll, Princess Mononoke and Paprika on the big screen. What a feast for the eyes! I’ve also been reading a bunch of southern fiction lately. David Joy and Callan Wink are favorite authors, but Barbara Kingsolver’s Demon Copperhead really stuck with me. Oh, and James by Percival Everett—Wow! As far as comics, I just loved everything about Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees!
KAPLAN: Is there anything else you’d like me to include?
REESE: Check out my Patreon! I have lots of behind the scenes stuff. Mostly everything on there is free to look at without a membership. I’m really just treating it as a process blog where readers can see stuff like live drawing, sketches, unpublished FFatATL stories, and get a sneak peek at what is going on with Book 2!
Fantastic Frog and the Amazing Tad Lad will be available at a bookstore and/or public library near you beginning February 3rd, 2026.
English (US) · 