The Mighty Onion

Ages 7 to 12, Grades 2 to 7

This hilarious illustrated novel about the chaos of the creative process follows middle schooler Eliot Quigly as he endeavors to create the best superhero comic ever—with unforgettably epic hiccups along the way!  

Eliot Quigly is sure of one thing and one thing only: He is sitting on the greatest superhero comic idea of all time. Combine radioactive onion rings with a run-of-the-mill kid and you get the Mighty Onion, a crime-fighting superhero who gains extraordinary powers whenever he eats onions. It’s genius! 

Eliot can’t wait to get his brilliant idea out into the world, but there’s only one problem: he’s terrible at drawing. Eliot is about to throw in the towel when he lucks upon the perfect illustrator—classmate Pamela Jones, who begrudgingly agrees to help.  

With his ambition and her artistic talent, there’s no stopping this dynamic comic-creating duo. But partnership is a tricky road, and creative differences arise quickly. Will Eliot and Pam stick together long enough to make this vision a reality? 

Using a mix of comics pages, journal entries, handwritten letters, and more, author-illustrator Mark Crilley explores the triumphs and tribulations of the creative process—and teamwork—in a series opener that’s unlike any you’ve seen before!

About the Author

Mark Crilley is the author and illustrator of more than fifty books, including several acclaimed graphic novels, for which he has received fourteen Eisner Award nominations. His work has been featured in USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, and on CNN Headline News. His popular YouTube videos have been viewed more than 400 million times. He lives in Michigan with his wife, Miki, and children, Matthew and Mio.