The Backstagers

The Backstagers follows Jory, a new student at an all-boys private school who reluctantly joins the theater crew. Behind the curtain, he discovers the backstage area contains mysterious tunnels filled with magic and strange creatures. The stage crew members - including brainy Hunter, energetic Aziz, and the confident duo Sasha and Beckett - become Jory's new friends as they navigate both typical school challenges and supernatural mysteries. Their adventures involve retrieving lost props, maintaining equipment, and exploring an ever-shifting maze of backstage passages. The story blends theater production, fantasy elements, and middle school social dynamics into a graphic novel series. Through expressive art and dynamic scenes, readers experience both the technical world of stage management and surreal magical encounters. This LGBTQ+ inclusive series explores themes of belonging, friendship, and finding one's place within both mundane and extraordinary spaces. The narrative celebrates outsiders and demonstrates how shared passions can forge powerful bonds.

Readers highlight the book's LGBTQ+ representation and celebration of theater kids who work behind the scenes. Many note the inclusive cast of characters and the supernatural mystery elements that appeal to middle-grade audiences. Likes: - Art style and character designs - Focus on friendship and found family - Relatable portrayal of anxiety and fitting in - Balance of magic and realistic theater experiences Dislikes: - Some found the pacing too quick - Plot threads left unresolved - Character development felt rushed in places - Supernatural elements confusing for some readers Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (120+ ratings) Reader quote: "Finally a graphic novel about tech theater kids! The magical elements add fun but the real heart is showing these overlooked students finding their place." - Goodreads reviewer Common criticism: "Wanted more depth to the magical backstage world and clearer explanations of how it works." - Amazon reviewer

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🎭 Author James Tynion IV is best known for his work on Batman comics for DC, including "Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" and "Detective Comics" 🎬 The Backstagers started as an 8-issue comic book series before being adapted into a series of young adult novels 🎪 The story explores themes of found family and LGBTQ+ representation, which are recurring elements in Tynion's other works 🎨 The original comic series was illustrated by Rian Sygh, who has collaborated with Tynion on multiple projects and is known for their vibrant, expressive art style 🛠️ The mysterious backstage world in the story was inspired by real theater experiences, where backstage areas often feel like endless mazes of props, equipment, and hidden passages