Dark magic, good heart, BIG TROUBLE!

Magic Runs in the Family, but Amelia Shadows might rewrite the rules entirely.
Step out of your parents’ shadows…

This spring, Papercutz, the beloved kids’ imprint of Mad Cave Studios, invites readers into a world of mischievous magic, stubborn ghosts, cranky monsters, and one kid trying her best to figure herself out, all while growing up in a house where even the pantry portals bite back!

From creator Matthew Dow Smith (Misfits of Magic, The October Girl) and the mind behind the digital hit series Amelia Shadows: Daughter of Darkness comes AMELIA SHADOWS AND THE NEW HEAD GHOST, a supernatural comedy adventure for every kid who’s ever felt a little out of step with the world around them.

Amelia Shadows has never had what you might call a “normal” childhood. For one thing, her dad’s the most powerful dark magician in the world. And for another, she’s spent her entire life in a house filled with ghosts and monsters and incredibly dangerous magical objects! As far as Amelia’s concerned, her life’s actually pretty cool.

When Amelia and her cat, Clara, aren’t having adventures or dealing with dimensional portals in the pantry, she’s learning to be a dark magician, just like her dad, with the help of a ghost tutor named Gustave. You’d think a ghost tutor named Gustave would be pretty fun, but he’s actually pretty boring.

And if a boring ghost tutor wasn’t bad enough, now Amelia’s dad has hired another ghost to oversee things, Hans. Which wouldn’t be that bad, except Hans has very strong opinions about how things should be around the house. This new head ghost has got to go, and Amelia may have a surprising ally…

“If I’ve learned one thing from making comics this long, it’s that it’s tough to get ink out of your clothes, but if I’ve learned two things, the other is that annoyed kids are almost always funny,” said Matthew Dow Smith. “And that’s pretty much the entire idea behind the Amelia Shadows books. An annoyed kid. Who can do magic? And is surrounded by things pretty much guaranteed to annoy her even more!”

If you crave spooky fun without the doom and gloom, Amelia Shadows and the New Head Ghost blends laugh-out-loud character moments with heartfelt questions of identity, independence, and what it means to choose your own path. A perfect fit for fans of Zatanna and the House of Secrets, Misfits of Magic, Addams Family, Wednesday, Gravity Falls, and Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

Amelia Shadows and the New Head Ghost arrives in bookstores, comic shops, and libraries in both hardcover and trade paperback on April 7, 2026 (HC ISBN: 9781545824580 | PB ISBN: 9781545824597).

Papercutz is dedicated to publishing great graphic novels for all ages—from humor and adventure to mystery and heartfelt coming-of-age tales. Visit papercutz.com to explore the full lineup!

Stay up to date with Mad Cave Studios—and its imprints Papercutz, Maverick, and Nakama Press on social media, or visit www.madcavestudios.com to explore new releases, licensed series, and creator-owned titles.

Author Profile

Al Mega

I'm Al Mega the CEO of Comic Crusaders, CEO of the Undercover Capes Podcast Network, CEO of Geekery Magazine & Owner of Splintered Press (coming soon). I'm a fan of comics, cartoons and old school video games. Make sure to check out our podcasts/vidcasts and more!