Just Another Summer: First Loves Never Fade – Coming Soon from Maverick

One summer. No red carpets. No paparazzi. No Hollywood handlers whispering lines in their ears. Just wide-open skies, early mornings, and feelings nobody put in the script.

Mad Cave Studios’ powerhouse YA imprint Maverick is bringing the heat with JUST ANOTHER SUMMER a queer and trans-affirming romantic comedy from the brilliant duo Tilly Bridges and Susan Bridges (yes, Star Trek Voyager: Homecoming, Monster High royalty). The visuals? Pure magic from AoiG. and Giulia Rinaldo, glowing with color by Valentina Briski and sharp lettering by Chas! Pangburn. This team didn’t come to play they came to deliver heart.

When two LA teen celebs get caught in a scandal that blows up their cushy A-list lives, they don’t get a PR spin. They get shipped off to a Montana dairy farm. That’s right. Goodbye red carpets. Hello rubber boots. Hayley and Becky Huxley thought they were just sneaking out to live a little one night, no cameras, no managers, just teenage freedom. But one big mistake later? Boom. Fired from their hit TV show. Their “punishment”? A summer of humility under big sky country. And that’s when things get real. Farmhand Jake is not impressed. At all. He can’t believe he’s stuck babysitting two pampered Hollywood girls all summer. Meanwhile, Becky is catching butterflies at the local diner thanks to a certain cute girl behind the counter. Hayley and Jake start sparring… then talking… then realizing something unexpected. She’s a cis city girl. He’s a trans country boy. Different worlds. Different lives. Different expectations. But under the Montana sun, labels start to fade and truth starts to shine.

JUST ANOTHER SUMMER is about more than romance. It’s about identity. It’s about pressure. It’s about who you are when the spotlight turns off. It’s about choosing your own future instead of the one written for you. It’s messy. It’s heartfelt. It’s funny. It’s tender. And it just might make you believe that sometimes the life you’re sent to as punishment… ends up being the one that sets you free. This summer? Maverick’s bringing love, growth, and a whole lot of heart to the page.

Writers Tilly Bridges and Susan Bridges shared their excitement about the forthcoming release: “Just Another Summer is a romcom about those heady emotional days in your late teens when you notice the world is changing… or maybe it’s that your perspective changes as you learn something new. At heart, it’s about realizing that people from wildly different backgrounds, with wildly different interests, are more alike than you thought. Even as a writing team, each of us came from very different upbringings, yet we found we had more in common than we ever imagined. We believe that we, all of us, are in this together, and the way forward begins with communication. That way lies hope, understanding, and yeah… maybe even love.”

Artist AoiG. also spoke to a personal connection with the story: “Just Another Summer was an experience for me, not only as an artist but also as a reader. As I worked through the story, I felt increasingly close to its characters. The character I empathized with the most was Jake because, surprisingly enough, I have a friend who is going through a very similar life journey with her transition, and for me, this project became a way to understand her better. I hope readers will appreciate all the nuances of this comic and grow attached to the characters, just as I did.”

If you love the emotional honesty of Heartstopper, get ready because this 200-page original graphic novel is bringing that same big-hearted energy, but with its own swagger. JUST ANOTHER SUMMER is a funny, tender romantic comedy about first love, trans joy, and having the courage to choose the life that actually feels like yours not the one everyone else mapped out for you.

It’s awkward glances. It’s late-night realizations. It’s that electric moment when you realize your heart might be rewriting your whole future. JUST ANOTHER SUMMER hits bookstores and comic shops on August 4, 2026, with FOC on July 13 so mark it, circle it, don’t sleep on it. And let’s talk about Maverick for a second. This isn’t just an imprint it’s a movement. Maverick, the YA powerhouse from Mad Cave Studios, is dedicated to authentic graphic novels that dive deep into identity, independence, and the personal struggles that shape who we become. Real stories. Real emotions. Real growth. Mad Cave Studios continues to level up across the board with Maverick, Papercutz, and Nakama Press delivering everything from heartfelt creator-owned stories to exciting licensed series that keep fans locked in.

Stay tapped in with Mad Cave on social media or slide through madcavestudios.com to explore what’s next. Because if this is “just another summer,” imagine what the rest of the year looks like.

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!