| PORTLAND, OR (February 5, 2025) – Oni Press, the multiple Eisner and Harvey Award-winning publisher of groundbreaking comics and graphic novels since 1997, is celebrating the ten year anniversary of Gene Ha’s acclaimed comic MAE with the publication of Mae: The Definitive Edition. This stunning new edition includes all 12 issues of Gene Ha’s masterpiece comic series — now remastered and fully realized to the creator’s ultimate vision, with never-before-seen story pages, and a cavalcade of behind-the-scenes extra featurettes, including pinups, a cover gallery, a new “How To Draw Mae” section, behind-the-scenes making-of material, short stories by other creators, and essays by creator Gene Ha.
Mae is written and drawn by Gene Ha, colored by Wes Hartman and Wesley Wong, with lettering by Zander Cannon, with additional story contributions from Daimon Hampton, Paulina Ganucheau, and Mark Waid. Mae: The Definitive Edition features pin-ups by all-star creators Alex Ross, Amanda Conner, Frank Cho, Janet Lee, Katie Cook, Mark Buckingham, Mike Norton, Philip Tan, and more.
“Getting to share the stories in my head with all of you has been the greatest joy of my long career,” said Gene Ha. “Thank you to all the Mae readers! Every copy of the earlier editions is sold out, worldwide, so Oni Press and I have worked hard to make the new Definitive Edition special. I’ve expanded the story past the 22 page chapters of the serial comics, and finally placed the pages in the original planned order: Chapter 7 was supposed to be Chapter 6, and vice versa. Mae: The Definitive Edition is the story I wanted to tell.”
Mae’s beloved older sister, Abbie, has been missing for years. Mae has her theories about where Abbie might be — but never in her wildest dreams did those theories encompass a fantasy world full of terrifying monsters, power-hungry nobles, and nefarious scientists. When Abby returns suddenly, she convinces Mae to return with her to the fantastical realm of Cimrterén to join in her quest to find their missing father, who has also disappeared without a trace. The sisters must fight their way to the heart of land to find their father, coming across old friends and dangerous new foes along their journey. Together they begin to uncover sinister secrets and piece together a much darker family history than they ever could have imagined.
“Mae is Gene Ha’s passion project and this definitive version of his story is a testament to both his creativity and his storytelling passion,” said Oni Press Editor Matt Dryer. “As a reader, it’s a thrill to get such an in-depth behind-the-scenes look at the process of one of the best cartoonist’s working today. And just like the definitive director’s cut classic of a cult film, this book demonstrates how a story can evolve and improve over time.”
“Whether you’ve read the previous editions or if you’re new to Mae, we made this for you,” said Gene Ha. “And if you can’t get your own copy, ask your local public librarian to order a copy and put a hold on it for you. We have so much fun we can’t wait to share with you!” |
