The first snows of December have arrived, and with it an enchanting new fantasy story to spirit away the imagination. We're thrilled to reveal an exclusive preview for the upcoming graphic novel The Dragons of Paris, which releases on December 2 from Magnetic Press.
The Dragons of Paris comes from visionary French comic writer Joann Sfar and Mexican illustrator Tony Sandoval, who have combined their unique talents to produce this imaginative new work which explores a version of our world where dragons invaded Paris during the artistic renaissance of the Belle Époque in the late 1800s. How might the magical City of Lights be changed? And what if dragons weren't the only mythic beings to converge on Paris during this time period?
These dreamlike questions, among others, are answered in Sfar and Sandoval's 104-page hardcover graphic novel. The Dragons of Paris was originally published in French in late 2024, but now for the first time ever it has been translated into English for this new release. Check out the beautiful cover and official description for the book, then dive into the preview pages below:
What if dragons invaded Paris during the Belle Époque? Writer Joann Sfar and illustrator Tony Sandoval weave their imaginations into a canvas of adventures, battles, sacrifices, love, and humor. A folkloric, playful, and liberating journey, told in breathtaking epic beauty.
Paris, 1900. For thousands of years, dragons have lived hidden from everyone, sealed in statues and gargoyles throughout the city. Legend has it that only the sacrifice of a being of great magic can protect Paris from their wrath and maintain their slumber. But when a roguish Hawaiian princess rescues a mermaid from suspicious danger, the malevolent shadow of dragons grows once again over the City of Lights. From the catacombs to the parvis of Notre-Dame, a romance is born under the awakening of a thousand-year-old evil.
Sfar is a French comic book artist and writer who is probably best known for his work co-creating the Dungeon comic series with Lewis Trondheim. Sandoval is an artist from Mexico, whose works like DoomBoy and Watersnakes earned him acclaim for his surreal storytelling and dreamlike artistic qualities, which are on full display here. The Dragons of Paris is the first collaboration for Sfar and Sandoval; hopefully we'll see more from them in the future, because it looks like a transportative read.
“This beautiful graphic novel is an amazing vehicle for Sfar and Sandoval’s talents,” says Magnetic Press Founder and Publisher Mike Kennedy. “They weave their imaginations into a canvas of adventures, battles, sacrifices, love, and humor that’s as touching as it is exhilarating.”
Enjoy this exclusive look at some of the interior pages of The Dragons of Paris, which depict the very first meeting between a human knight and a dragon. As you might guess, it doesn't go well; but it gives a good glimpse at the sort of whimsical wit and artistic vision you'll find in The Dragons of Paris, before setting the stage for the main story of the graphic novel during the Belle Époque.
The Dragons of Paris preview
The Dragons of Paris by Joann Sfar and Tony Sandoval releases on December 2 from Magnetic Press, wherever books are sold.