Shred or Dead - by D Bradford Gambles (Paperback)

About the Book

"Sam and her little sister, Gearhead, just wanted a crew to belong to. But when the Too Cool Crew takes over their skating territory, this motley bunch of misfits will have to seriously level up if they want to win it back. Along the way, they'll encounter a whole circus of wacky weirdos, including an overzealous security guard, a shadowy group of spooky ghouls, a mysterious cult of woodland creatures, and--gulp--an all-powerful ancient god of skating!"--

Book Synopsis

Can skateboarding save the world?! Level up from total noob to cosmic hero in this totally epic graphic novel that will kickflip your brain.

Sam and her little sister, Gearhead, just wanted a crew to belong to. But when the Too Cool Crew takes over their skating territory, this motley bunch of misfits will have to seriously level up if they want to win it back. Along the way, they'll encounter a whole circus of wacky weirdos, including an overzealous security guard, a shadowy group of spooky ghouls, a mysterious cult of woodland creatures, and--gulp--an all-powerful ancient god of skating!

Packed with unforgettable characters, mind-blowing action, and more twists than an X Games street course, Shred or Dead is the story of four weird kids with a chance to become legends...if they don't garf it up.

Review Quotes

"A tale that shreds off the page and out the back of readers' skulls." -- Kirkus Reviews

"Grab a bag of Cromps and pop open a can of Spüz -- Shred or Dead is the toastiest odyssey on wheels! Stuffed to the crust with warring skate crews, an ominous oracle, dumb babies, and a secret circus skate park, Shred or Dead is the absolute capital of comic book fun." --Jess Smart Smiley (What Happens Next)

"Well-written, fun, and ridiculously absurd! Shred or Dead is fun for all ages!" --Warren Elliott (Almost Normal Comics)

"[The] art is a major plus, having an attractively goofy animated gloss from the start, and becoming ever more ambitious and creative. The skateboard routes Gambles devises are ingeniously imaginative and exceptionally well choreographed... There's a lot of fun to be had here." -- Slings & Arrows

"Packed with absurdity and nods to skateboarding culture, this graphic novel holds appeal for fans of cartoons and might just entice those kids who frequent library parking lots with their boards." -- School Library Journal

"Gambles lends a knowing, winking dramatic flair to every panel, amplifying the comedy enormously. He also does a great job of spinning minor details into important plot points and payoffs... It's tongue-in-cheek, quirky, and dynamic, with strong, iconic shapes in the artwork and memorable characters who seem to practically vibrate off the page." -- Comics Beat

About the Author

D. Bradford Gambles has been uncomfortably hunched over a computer making comics for way too long. He's created comics and illustrations for magazines, anthologies, and even the internet (they don't let just anyone do that). His past works include the webcomic Food Hates You and the comic book A Lone Deer at the End of the World (from Birdcage Bottom Books). Shred or Dead is his first published graphic novel. He lives in Utah with his partner, Kade, and their roommate, Kleo (who is a cat). Oh, and don't tell anyone, but he's also never set foot on a skateboard.