Already in its second printing after selling over 5,000 copies in less than a month and with a movie already in the works, DEFIANT: The Story of Robert Smalls (Stranger Comics; June 19, 2025) is reaching Americans with a story far too many have never heard before. And next weekend, the artists and creative teams of Stranger Comics and Legion M are bringing this incredible story to San Diego Comic-Con (San Diego Convention Center, Thurs 24th-Sun 27th July; Preview Night, Weds 23rd July)
At the height of the Civil War, Robert Smalls—an enslaved harbor pilot in Charleston, South Carolina—carried out one of the most courageous and cunning acts in US history. He disguised himself as a captain and, in the dead of night, commandeered the Confederate ship he worked on and sailed it to freedom.
At Comic-Con, the writing and Legion M creative team are going to be on hand to talk to fans and present DEFIANT directly, as well as hosting a special spotlight panel:
- Rob Edwards, author of DEFIANT (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Academy-Award nominated The Princess and the Frog, and Captain America: Brave New World)
- Michael Boulware Moore, Smalls’s great-great-grandson and DEFIANT executive producer (Check out his TED Talk about Smalls.)
- Marvin Jones III, DEFIANT executive producer
- Sebastian Jones, Stranger Comics founder / DEFIANT executive producer
- Paul Scanlan, Legion M CEO & co-founder, DEFIANT producer
- Chris Cooper, Legion M exec and DEFIANT producer, and
- David Baxter, Larger Than Life Entertainment and DEFIANT producer
At Comic-Con this year, Legion M will be in Booth #4022 and Stranger Comics will be in Booth #2307, featuring special DEFIANT signings, creator appearances, and more throught the weekend – visit the booth for more live updates.
DEFIANT: SDCC 2025 PANEL
- DEFIANT Panel: (Thursday July 24, 2025 4:30pm – 5:30pm Room 6DE)
Join the creators for a behind-the-scenes look at how DEFIANT came to life and what’s next. Civil War and American history hero Robert Smalls’ true story captures the imagination like the best of the spinner rack, and the newly released graphic novel is a testament to that tale of heroism. Hear about Defiant’s transition from comics to silver screen from the production team involved in the graphic novel and the film: screenwriter of two Academy Award–nominated films Rob Edwards (Captain America: Brave New World, Disney’s Princess and the Frog, The King of Kings), Stranger Comics founder Sebastian Jones, Defiant graphic novel artist Nikolas Draper-Ivey (Static Shock), Legion M’s Chris Cooper, producer David Baxter (Larger Than Life Entertainment), and some very special surprise guests.
The discussion will include in-depth details about the graphic novel and Comic-Con exclusive teasers about the film. In addition, five autographed copies of Defiant: The Story of Robert Smalls will be awarded to some lucky attendees.
