2026 FEATURED NOVEL

THE MAN WHO DIED SEVEN TIMES

by Yasuhiko Nishizawa

Cover of the book titled "Died" by Yasuhiko Nishizawa, a classic time-loop murder mystery. The cover features large pink text with several cartoon characters in various poses, some standing, sitting, or lying on the floor, and a few emerging from doors.

Originally written in the 1990s and newly translated to English, The Man Who Died Seven Times is an entertaining blend of sci-fi and mystery. Sixteen-year-old Hisataro Fuchigami has a bizarre condition that forces him to re-live the same day for nine days straight– talk about a long day!

He has no control over how he gets stuck in this “trap” but when his grandfather is suddenly found dead, he’s able to use his strange ability to dig deeper into what really happened.

Congratulations to our Comics are LIT! Scholarship recipients! Three talented students brought their creativity, imagination, and storytelling to the page.

MEET THE 2026 WINNERS

Chelsea Bitner

“I have always been an artist and a writer, but I never really tried combining those skills together until this project. When I did, I noticed that the scenes became more compelling than what they would be in a story or a painting—the symbolism showing through in color theory, the character development bringing deeper meaning to the expressions. This scholarship gave me the opportunity to explore the world of comics, challenging my writing and art skills and blending them together in a way that is more than the sum of their parts. I am grateful for this unique opportunity and am excited to experiment more with comics in the future!”

Aiden Stormer

“Being able to participate in this scholarship was a great opportunity for me. It helped push my art skills and learn new ones. It also gave me a deeper appreciation for the time and effort that goes into making comic.”

Marissa Leary

“To summarize my experience, I would say it was a challenge. I only found out about the scholarship a week or so before the initial deadline. I was lucky that the deadline was extended. The time crunch wasn't the only challenge, but also the reading material was just simply not something I enjoyed. But, I think these challenges are what made this such a valuable experience. I want to go into animation and I will be forced to work with tight deadlines and on stories I might not enjoy. This whole experience was very informative, and I am glad that I have been selected to receive this award.”

Check out these submissions

Fresh ideas. Real voices.