Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King | Awareness Tour

Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King Awareness Tour is presented in partnership* with Shawn Hainsworth and The Children’s Book Review.

Ninjas, monsters, doppelgängers, and an army of rats? Bring on the chaos in Shawn Hainsworth’s Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King!

Born from the bedtime adventures that Shawn Hainsworth, a.k.a. Darin S. Cape, once made up for his own kids, Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King brings all that freewheeling imagination to the page in a fast, funny, manga-inspired graphic novel.

Packed with monsters, mischief, unlikely friendships, and high-energy action, Zicky’s adventure is designed to hook young readers, especially those who might not always reach for a book. Beneath the laughs and mayhem is a story about family, courage, trusting yourself, and discovering the hero within.

Smart, energetic graphic novel blending fantasy and touching real-life emotion. Cape smashes expectations and keeps the pages pleasurably turning, all while grounding the chaotic story in the growing pains of children and the anxieties of the adults raising them.

—Booklife

Join us on this virtual book tour for your chance to win one of 10 signed paperback copies of Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King by Shawn Hainsworth! One lucky grand prize winner will also receive a Zicky poster and pins.

Ready for monsters, mischief, and one seriously wild adventure? Enter below!

Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King
Virtual Tour Dates

Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King Giveaway

About the Book

Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King

Created by Darin S. Cape

Illustrated by Zeno Decrux/Hiorsh Gabotto

Ages: 9+ | 160 Pages

Publisher: SHP Comics (2026) | ISBN: 979-8992749939

Publisher’s Book Summary: Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King is a fast, funny, manga-inspired graphic novel that blends fantasy adventure with heart, humor, and family appeal. When a cheeky underdog hero is pulled into a world of monsters, doppelgängers, and an army of rats, Zicky must rely on wit, courage, and unlikely friendships to survive. Bursting with kinetic action, playful mischief, and relatable growing pains, Zicky is a perfect gateway to manga for younger readers and a joyful, high-energy adventure for kids, teens, and families alike.

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About the Author

Shawn Hainsworth is the creator and writer, as Darin S. Cape, of Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King. The story began as bedtime adventures he invented for his own children, with Shawn playing the role of Zicky, a super-secret ninja who went on adventures while everyone else was asleep. Those family stories eventually grew into the world of Zicky, a graphic novel celebrating imagination, courage, family, and the hero inside every kid. Shawn lives in Western, MA, with his wife, two teens, and two hound dogs. He is the publisher of SHP Comics and is currently working on the sequel, Zicky: The Cursed Blade.

Learn more at shpcomics.com/pages/zicky.

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About the Illustrators

Zeno Decrux is an accomplished illustrator and comic artist with over nine years of experience in the international independent comics scene. His work spans a diverse range of comics and manga titles, where he brings a dynamic, expressive style and a strong commitment to quality on every project. Passionate about storytelling through visuals, Zeno continues to push his craft forward with each new collaboration.

Jorge Luis Gabotto, also known as Hiorsh, is an Argentine cartoonist and writer from Mar del Plata. A visual arts teacher, puppeteer, and musician, he brings a multidisciplinary approach to storytelling. For him, comics are a fusion of art and literature—a cinematic form that combines movement, atmosphere, and emotion. His work explores themes of love, time, and perception, offering readers a personal and poetic vision of the world.

Thanks for following along with us on Shawn Hainsworth’s Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King awareness tour!