All books need a village to keep them going. Some books have more villagers than others.

I first need to thank the Minnesota State Arts Board, the State of Minnesota Legacy Amendment, and South Central College, for support in finishing earlier drafts of this novel.

I definitely need to thank Inspector Travas and Sgt. Shawn Shanley for help with police details. Many thanks also go to Mary Altman, Public Arts Administrator with the City of Minneapolis, and Kirstin Wiegmann, with Forecast Public Art, for help with understanding how a city might approach street art.

Of course, I always have to thank my agent, Amy Tipton (couldn’t do it without you); my Sisters in Ink, for much writing support and cheerleading (never want to do it without you); Dan and Shae, for support, love, and putting up with me (definitely definitely couldn’t do it without you); E. Eero Johnson, for the INCREDIBLE ILLUSTRATIONS HOLY WOW I LOVE THEM THANK YOU SO MUCH (there’d be no book without you); and the friends I’ve had over the years who had no idea I was just punting, the ones who’ve never questioned my labels of “artist” or “poet” or “writer.” Because you didn’t doubt me, I let myself create. Thanks a million for that. Finally, thanks to my excellent brothers, Kjell and Chris, for being the best parts of my childhood—no rivalry required.

—KIRSTIN CRONN-MILLS

I would like to thank the brilliantly creative Kirstin Cronn-Mills, who pitched me the irresistible idea of collaborating for a Midwestern, punk rock, high school novel/graphic novel hybrid; and to the talented illustrators Christina Rodriguez and Stephen Shaskan, who helped her to make our introduction.

Our son, Liffy, was delivered on the same weekend that G. P. Putnam’s Sons picked up the book (a dream publisher for this penguin-obsessed little boy). Thanks to agent Amy Tipton, who took me under her (other) wing; to Tammy and Emmett, for holding down the fort while I disappeared night after night into drawings; to any friend or acquaintance who politely nodded their head when I tried to describe this crazy project; to comic book pioneers like Jack Kirby, Harvey Kurtzman, Will Eisner, Moebius, George Herriman and Winsor McCay, and RAW magazine for lighting my inspiration; and to friends like CSA Design, Uncivilized Books and Nozone for keeping those flames going.

Finally, thanks to Speedball Super-Black India Ink for always living up to your name, and to parents like mine, who never paused to question their child’s artistic aspirations.

—E. EERO JOHNSON

We both want to thank Stacey, Cecilia, Ryan, Kate, and all the folks at G. P. Putnam’s Sons who believed in our story and the unusual way it would be told, and then made it look so easy when all the pieces finally fit together into the joyous, funky, fun book you’re holding in your hands.

—KIRSTIN CRONN-MILLS and E. EERO JOHNSON