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Z2 Comics announced Amelia Aierwood: Basic Witch, the debut graphic novel from Schitt’s Creek, 12 Monkeys, and Chapelwaite actress Emily Hampshire.
The book blends millennial homebody ennui with wand-waving delight in the story of Amelia, the least-favorite daughter of L.A.’s most famous family of witches—the Aierwoods (think the Kardashians of the witch world). She’s a so-so spellcaster who would rather eat Pop-Tarts while listening to murder podcasts than be a reality TV star.
Emily joins co-writer Eliot Rahal (Machine Gun Kelly’s Hotel Diablo, Cheech & Chong’s Chronicles) and artists Kristen Gudsnuk (Henchgirl, Making Friends) and Ames Liu (Adventures of Bee) for supernatural arrested development that combines medium magic and big heart.
While Amelia’s sisters have all followed in the footsteps of her prominent parents, everything she does is just a little…off-brand. A late bloomer who has yet to find her calling, Amelia uses her powers for mostly mundane things, but even those lead to magical misfires, e.g. the unfashionable witch’s hat that’s permanently stuck to her head.
As her family’s fame continues to rise, they have no choice but to exclude their bumbling black sheep daughter from the next great chapter of the Aierwoods: reality TV! With the help of her adopted brother Spaghetti—who she accidentally turned into a yeti… long story—Amelia must carve her own path outside of her family’s influence.
“Channeling my inner low-key witch into Amelia Aierwood has been a pure joy,” Emily explains. “Creating a book like this was a dream I didn’t know I had. The talent of the people I’m working with transcended my expectations.”
Inspired by the social distancing-fueled solitude of the past two years and filtered through Emily’s charming lyricism, Amelia Aierwood: Basic Witch is a character-grounded tome of magical realism that could only be written in this day and age.
“From the moment I joined Z2, Emily immediately came to mind as an ideal partner,” A&R Representative John Domingos says. “I knew from our previous working relationship that she possessed the perfect combination of a fearless creative mind and collaborative spirit. I can’t wait for people to meet Amelia, Spaghetti, and the rest of the characters, and spend some time in the joyful playground of a world Emily and the rest of the creative team have lovingly crafted.”
“Working with Emily has been a positive throughline, both personally and professionally,” co-writer Eliot Rahal elaborates. “She wants to make something that’s both gentle and silly. It’s heartfelt, but off-the-wall. Something for readers young and older working through those big emotions. It’s really been such a joy to be a part of.”
Emily Hampshire rose to acclaim playing the deadpan Stevie Budd on Schitt’s Creek, the acclaimed comedy about a wealthy family displaced in a rural town. The series won nine Emmy Awards; Emily won six consecutive Best Supporting Actress in the Comedy Awards at the Canadian Screen Awards and a Screen Actor’s Guild Award for her nuanced role. Emily can also be seen in the historical horror epic, Chapelwaite, starring opposite Academy Award winner Adrien Brody and set in the universe of Stephen King’s Jerusalem’s Lot. She was also in the Syfy series 12 Monkeys, playing the eccentric character Goines originally portrayed by Brad Pitt in the 1995 source material film. Emily can next be seen in the Amazon science-fiction series, The Rig, debuting later this year.
Z2 Comics and Emily Hampshire present Amelia Aierwood: Basic Witch in both softcover and hardcover formats, as well as oversized hardcover deluxe, and an oversized hardcover deluxe edition hand-signed by Emily Hampshire. Caitlin Rose Boyle and Ames Liu provide cover art. Deluxe editions including gallery-ready prints courtesy Kristen Gudsnuk, Cara McGee, and Dominique Roses, as well enamel pins and an Amelia Aierwood lunchbox with art from Fred Stressing.
