“China’s history is rich with folktales and fables, most unknown to western readers,” Mike Richardso, writer of Jia and the Nian Monster and publisher Dark Horse Comics’ president and founder — told The Hollywood Reporter recently when explaining the origins of the project. “One of the most popular is the story of the Nian monster, a legend that explains the origin of the Chinese New Year celebration — Nian is translated as New Year. When looking into the assorted versions of the tale, I realized the monster’s full story and motivation had never been told. I had been searching for a story to write that might appeal to all ages, and the story of Nian was exactly what I was looking for. I was able to incorporate several other Chinese legends into the tale, and I hope it will inspire young readers to investigate the actual legends themselves.” To read more about the publication of Jia and the Nian Monster, click here.