Grammy-award winning singer-songwriter, Alicia Keys, is preparing to release her very first graphic novel – Girl on Fire. And, you guessed it, the novel is inspired by her hit song with the same name.
Keys’ hit song, Girl on Fire, was released in 2012 and quickly became an obsession in the music industry. The single is certified as 5x platinum and further proved why Keys is seen as the “Top R&B Performer of the 2000s”.
Girl on Fire portrays an extremely important message
The graphic novel is set to debut in March 2022 and will tell the story of 14-year-old Lolo Wright who discovered her hidden telekinetic powers during a “terrifying encounter with police brutality“.
Girl on Fire is co-written by Alicia Keys and Andrew Weiner. And the amazing artwork is done by Brittney Williams who is known for her work on Adventure Time and Patsy Walker.
The novel is meant to focus on the inner strength and resilience of young people, especially those who are BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour).
“Lolo Wright always thought she was just a regular fourteen-year-old dealing with regular family drama: her brother, James, is struggling with his studies; her dad’s business constantly teeters on the edge of trouble; and her mother… she left long ago. But then Lolo’s world explodes when a cop pulls a gun on James in a dangerous case of mistaken identities. Staring down the barrel, with no one else to help, Lolo discovers powers she never knew she had…”
Alicia Keys truly put the work in
Keys worked hard to transform her impactful voice and lyrics into a meaningful and fun comic and hope to inspire the younger generations, especially.
“When I wrote ‘Girl on Fire,’ I knew I was writing it for that girl in the way back row who needed someone to tell her there’s nothing you can’t do, that nothing is impossible,” Keys said in a statement.
“When Andrew and I came up with the idea of translating the song into a young adult graphic novel, I knew that I wanted it to be about a girl coming to realize the strength she’s always had. There’s a little Lolo in all of us — we all have the power inside to do what we never even thought we could — and I’m so proud and crazy excited to be able to share her story with you. You’re going to fall in love with Lolo.”
It is clear that Keys is passionate about the project and the industry truly hopes that the novel will resonate with as many people as possible.
