The GLAAD Media Award-winning publisher Fanbase Press is returning to San Diego Comic-Con in 2026 with a limited-edition first issue exclusive, as well as creator signings.
Their (fan) base of operations will be in Small Press at #O-23 where their team will have the exclusive first issue of the brand-new series Shrub.
Shrub, created by Emmy-nominated Shane Portman (Shape Island, Tumble Leaf), is a middle-grade adventure story about a family of foliage that sets out on a road trip, looking for an antidote for their collective grief. With illustrations from Andy Alves (Cosmic Cadets), Shrub will include a fold-out page within the story that will help readers learn more about the characters and their grieving process. Personal essays will also be included.
“Given that Shrub explores the various ways that we allow grief to take root, we wanted to offer readers an exciting and tactile way to dig deeper into the story during their reading experience,” said Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief.
Set to run for eight issues, Shrub is one of the first comic book series to carry the “100% Human Made” seal, a new certification developed by New York Times best-selling comics creator Matt Kindt, to designate creative work that is fully derived from humans and free of generative artificial intelligence.
Shrub creator Shane Portman will be meeting fans and signing books at the Fanbase Press booth, Small Press #O-03 on Friday, July 24 from 11am-12pm and on Saturday, July 25 from 1pm -2pm.
A Kickstarter in support of a collected edition of the entire series, plus bonus material, is launching soon.
