Publisher Profile: Silver Sprocket
The CBC asks Avi Ehrlich (Publisher), Sebastian Ramos (Publishing Operations Manager), and Lina De La Cruz (Publishing Operations Co-Manager), questions about the publisher.
How did your publishing house start out?
Silver Sprocket started out as a community engaged, indie record label that also made zines! The visual artists working on our album covers and shirts shared our values and we saw an opportunity to publish their work. The comics they created were so fun and rewarding that it only felt natural to continue publishing them, and as many underrepresented voices as we can! We platform artists with unique and engaging stories, with representation that matters.
What is your publishing house most known for?
We’re most well known for championing radical, punk, independently produced stories by queer and underrepresented voices. Many of our books in our catalog can be enjoyed by younger readers championing the values of fearless activism, community-building, and DIY spirit through fun and adventurous stories. Next year we’re launching the Kid Sprocket imprint, which will publish a steady stream of amazing titles we wish existed when we were younger.
Where in the country is your house based? What do you love about being based there?
We’ve been based in San Francisco for the past fifteen years and even ran a storefront/indie comic resource center for nine! We care about being engaged in our community both locally and internationally and work with artists from all over the world that we meet at festivals, find online, and through recommendations from friends.
What conventions and conferences does your publishing house usually attend?
We exhibit at a large number of library and bookseller conferences, conventions, and comic-cons annually! This year we plan to attend:
- ComicsPRO
- Montreal Comics Art Festival
- Toronto Comic Arts Festival
- American Library Association Annual
- San Diego Comic-Con
- Small Press Expo in Bethesda, MD
How many employees does your house have?
We’re a small and scrappy three person team with freelancers and artists across the globe, bringing their unique perspectives to everything we do!
How many books does your house aim to publish per season/year?
We publish about eight to ten titles per year.
Which genres does your house prefer to publish?
We publish comics and graphic novels of every genre under the sun, making it a priority to focus on queer, indie, activist, and underrepresented narratives.
Which formats does your house prefer to publish?
We primarily publish high-quality graphic novels in paperback and hardcover, with the occasional staple bound comics-zine. We prioritize production value, so the books we put out can stand out and be durable enough for any bookstore or library. Every book is high quality, evergreen, and beautiful. And we put foil on everything!
What are some of your house’s publishing priorities over the next few years?
We will continue to champion independently produced, artist-driven comics, graphic novels, and zines spotlighting queer lives, mental illness, activism, and underrepresented perspectives.
Which title has your house recently rallied behind?
LeftStar and the Strange Occurrence, by Jean Fhilippe is a fantastical, moving graphic novel about finding your way back to yourself, perfect for Miyazaki fans. Leftstar can’t seem to access the world they’ve been building. They also haven’t slept in a long time. These things are almost certainly unrelated, and they should really go get the mail, anyway. But their trip to the post office is interrupted by a curious visitor; an enormous fruit bat. Whisked away in the bat’s claws, Leftstar is taken on an adventure to unblock the path to their deserted creation.
Lushly illustrated and charmingly written, this debut graphic novel from Jean Fhilippe is perfect for fans of poetic, thoughtful comics with a sense of humor. This delightful take on what artists owe to the worlds they create is utterly refreshing in a time where AI art is becoming more prevalent.
Which title does your house feel deserved more love than it got?
Bring Me The Head of Susan Lomond, is a book that definitely deserves more love and attention. We’ll be retroactively looping it into the Kid Sprocket imprint, so it’s clearer to book buyers and readers that it is one of our younger oriented titles.
In this graphic novel debut, Connor B. uses absurdist dark humor to craft a hilarious queer enemies-to-something-more story, perfect for fans of Netflix’s popular Wednesday series.
Susan Lomond must be defeated. Monroe Poole, teenage evil genius, has suffered her greatest humiliation. Susan Lomond, wretchedly popular football star, has surpassed Monroe in their high school’s proficiency ranking system, contrary to all laws of reason or rationality. Revenge occupies Monroe’s every waking moment, yet she is somehow thwarted at every turn! The homecoming dance is Monroe’s last chance to secure Susan’s demise. Will she finally succeed, or will she find that under the light of the disco ball, her obsession has turned from vengeful to something different altogether?
Which of your frontlist titles would be great for a school or public library?
Hourglass would be perfect for a school or public library’s YA and graphic novel sections. It’s a stunning coming-of-age graphic novel from cartoonist Barbara Mazzi. The book explores the dystopian divide of class difference, the strength of human connection, and what truly makes the heart tick; all themes that are extremely relevant to the modern reader. Perfect for teen+ readers who love The Hunger Games, Divergent, and more whimsical elements of steampunk.
The Hourglass is called many things: the perfect machine, the source of all life, the fountain of youth. It promises immortal comfort to the privileged, but it also looms over its creators, trapping them in its cycle. Martel knows that there are other, inexplicable things that give life meaning, way more valuable than her own immortality. She only feels alive in the stolen moments with Twenty, an assembly worker in the dangerous gears of the machine. Will the differences between their lives tear their relationship apart, or will the Hourglass shatter first? After all, a society built on rejecting these feelings is beyond fragile… it’s a ticking time bomb.
This graphic novel is printed with a metallic spot color for a unique look.
Which of your frontlist titles would be great for a classroom? Which grade?
Hourglass by Barbara Mazzi again! We have a free discussion guide and activity sheet for using Hourglass in the classroom! Perfect for Grades 8 and up.
Which of your frontlist tiles would you like to see get more attention from bookstores?
Definitely, Of Thunder & Lightning by Kimberly Wang. After the earth-shattering success of K-Pop Demon Hunters, this action-packed, manga-inspired graphic novel about the connections we make, even on opposing sides, is a secondary blast waiting to go off!
In a world where pop media meets military power, two idol-supersoldiers are locked in a world-ending conflict on behalf of their corporate nations. Battles blast across a dying land, both sides convinced of their own righteousness. Ragnarok looms on the horizon. Yet Magni and Dimo—young icons created for the sole purpose of eliminating the other—find their closest reflection in their opposite. Now, completing their mission means destroying the one who understands them most.
Gorgeous, two-tone illustrations with vibrant spot color perfectly accentuate the exciting action sequences, which debut author Kimberly Wang expertly balances with nuanced, emotional storytelling. For fans of magical girls, science fiction, and fantasy. This queer, star-crossed, impossible romance will blast readers off of their feet.
Name a few of your favorite backlist titles that people should check out.
Witch Hazel: Variety Hour!, This 2025 release is so cute and fun, ideal for fans of Hayao Miyazaki’s Kiki’s Delivery Service by way of Hamish Steele’s DeadEndia (and it’s successful Netflix adaptation, Dead End: Paranormal Park).
This is a manga-inspired, slice-of-life, coming-of-magical-age comedy with friendship, hijinks, and Toronto’s gig economy (for witches!). Spells fizzle, side gigs go sideways, and vile villains wreak havoc! For Hazel, that’s just another day as a witch-for-hire. Luckily, her friends, her crush, and her familiar Noot, are there to pick up the pieces (or make things worse). Monsters, Magic and Mayhem? Hazel’s definitely not getting paid enough for this!
The deluxe printing features a cardstock cover with foil accents, fun activities, and an included sticker sheet!
Stolen Sharpie Revolution, by Alex Wrekk is a must-have for young creatives looking to tell their own stories through zine-making and rebelling against manufactured social-media trends and safe, bland, corporate approved drivel! It’s the perfect read for kids and teens itching to make their own mark(er) on the world.
Since 2002, it’s been the go-to guide for all things zine-related. This little red book is stuffed with information about zines. Things you may know, stuff you don’t know and even stuff you didn’t know you didn’t know! Stolen Sharpie Revolution consists of thoughtful lists and step-by-step how-to guides on everything from definitions of a “zine,” where to find zines, why they are important, how to make them and how to participate in zine culture. This book has everything you need to get started creating your own zine, or to figure out what to do with the zine you just made!
The Abortion Pill Zine, is an affordable, quick, and friendly zine that outlines how to navigate managing your own abortion in the United States. Created by pro-choice activists and cartoonists, Isabella Rotman, Sage Coffey, and Marnie Galloway. The book approaches its subject matter without shame, through personal experiences, and was reviewed by reproductive health professionals prior to release.
Young people, facing a lack of education from academic sources and a torrent of misinformation and propaganda from social media, are in dire need of a resource like this. It covers the medical abortion process step-by-step, including what to expect, precautions, access, and more. As the abortion landscape becomes worse in the US, zines like these empower people to make their own choices and give them the knowledge and community they need.
The Secret History of Black Punk: Record Zero, by Raeghan Buchanan is an illustrated encyclopedia of the largely overlooked footprint that Black punks have had on the underground music scene.
The book is part of an ongoing series that covers musicians like Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Poly Styrene, Don Letts, Minority Threat, and many others. It’s an essential history of punk, post-punk, hardcore, no-wave, and experimental bands from ground zero ‘til now. A starting point for anyone curious, another reference for those who devour all genre-related things, or a cool artifact for anyone in the know.
A great addition to any library or school library collection, it’s also a must-have for music and black history instructors!
Do you need something cozy? Of course you do. We all do! And Benji Nate has us covered with beloved, bestselling graphic novel, Catboy. A charmingly magical tale of a girl and her human-sized pet cat roommate. Perfect for teens and any cat lover, answering the same question on everyone’s mind: What kind of person would your cat be?
Olive is a human, and Henry is her pet cat—although he’s also a person, thanks to a magic shooting star. They do all the things best friends do, like share clothes, go to parties, and complain about their jobs. Who cares if Henry gets more compliments wearing Olive’s clothes, or the party snacks are dead rats? Friends love each other no matter what
The illustration style is a manga-inspired, cartoon mug of hot cocoa. The new edition of the hit webcomic comes with unreleased bonus art!
Done with Demons, is artist Dora Grents’ hilarious, relatable, debut graphic novel for teens and up. It’s a delightfully funny collection of comic strips about finding acceptance and belonging where you least expect it.
Boris was the mayor of Hell, but after he was run out of the netherworld by his assistant, he finds himself mistakenly crawling out of a little old lady’s oven. With nowhere else to go, Boris moves in with Granny and Son (her dog) to gather his strength. Could it be that part of this grumpy demon’s heart actually enjoys baking biscuits and making prank calls with Granny? In time, Boris will have to face a dire choice: return to claim his throne in Hell, or stay and call this new place home.
An ideal combination of old-school comic strip charm, with a modern comedic sensibility that should have wide appeal. Perfect for readers who enjoy Olivia Jaimes’ Nancy comics.
What else would you like to tell us about your house and the amazing work you all do?
We’re just so excited to be able to continue collaborating with underrepresented voices, now for younger readers!
Thank you, Silver Sprocket!
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