Ashley Eckstein has been not so quietly carving out an empire in fandom, and it’s pretty cool. Starting as one of the most accomplished voice-over artists in animation – best-known as Ahsoka Tano on Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels — Eckstein turned her love of sci fi and fantasy into a licensed clothing and jewelry line, Her Universe. She’s been empowering fans by example and by deed, and now… Her Universe is turning publisher?
Marvel and DC had better watch out. Her Universe may crowd out their universes, and starts here with WeirdEST (actually an illustrated novel, not a comic, but it’s only a matter of time). WeirdEST is by Heather Nuhfer with illustrations by Brenda Hickey. The two have previously collaborated on IDW’s [amazon text=My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic&asin=1613779607].
The website describes the book thusly:
Imagine having superpowers that physically manifest your most embarrassing emotions.
Veronica McGowan is a typical, unremarkable, average thirteen-year-old. And this is the bane of her existence. Desperate to be an “Est”-cutest, smartest, funniest-Veronica bumbles her way through 8th grade, never truly being herself for fear of rejection. Being a teenager is hard enough without the whole demoralizing world of Pearce Middle School knowing how you really feel. And nothing could be worse than everyone discovering how lame you really are. Or so she thinks…
Ashley Eckstein reads the first chapter here:
https://youtu.be/fr5ge6f_cMo
Check it out, and if you haven’t been shopping Her Universe — you should.
