Chad Burdette
At the height of the Civil War, on May 12, 1862, Robert Smalls—an enslaved harbor pilot in Charleston, South Carolina—carried out one of the most courageous and cunning acts in American history. He disguised himself as a captain and, in the dead of night, commandeered the ship he worked on and sailed it to freedom. By the time Confederate soldiers realized what was happening, it was too late: Smalls, along with seven other enslaved crew members and their families, had run the blockade. Smalls’ heroism, and material aid for the Union, made national headlines and influenced Lincoln’s decision to accept Black soldiers into the Union Army. He later captained the very boat he took and, after the war, became a Congressman.
Somehow, this incredible story of bravery, determination, and genius has largely been lost to history.
DEFIANT: The Story of Robert Smalls from Stranger Comics; seeks to elevate Smalls to his rightful place in the national consciousness.
The graphic novel—written by Rob Edwards (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Academy-Award nominated The Princess and the Frog) and drawn by comic book artists Nikolas Draper-Ivey (Black Panther soundtrack cover, Static: Shadows Of Dakota) and Ray-Anthony Height (Marvel Comics’ Star Wars: Doctor Aphra)—details Smalls’ childhood, his efforts to buy his freedom, and finally, the extraordinary events of that night in Charleston Harbor over 150 years ago.
Rob Edwards sat down with Comic Watch to talk about the graphic novel, his career and more:
–
–
–
–
–
The graphic novel, the first in a trilogy, was created by Legion M, the world’s first fan-owned entertainment company—powered by over 50,000 investors and 300,000 members reshaping the entertainment industry. More than 1,800 supporters came together to raise over $150,000, bringing Robert Smalls’ story to life and launching both this original publication and a forthcoming feature film.
DEFIANT: The Story of Robert Smalls from Stranger Comics goes on sale on June 19, 2025 at your local comic shop or whereever graphic novels are sold.
I historic story long over due. Thank you.