Glen Ellyn, Illinois. 03/31/25 —
Captain Robert Smalls: The Greatest Civil War Hero is Book One of a new Graphic Novel Trilogy from author/illustrator DaShan Thomas. Robert Smalls, born and raised as an enslaved person, commandeered the steamer ship “Planter” with his crew and all of their families.
“Other books, even other Graphic Novels have been written about Smalls – and I liked those books,” said Thomas, “but in my research I kept finding more. For example: Smalls was a member of secret societies in Charleston, where free and enslaved people met to discuss ways to help other Black People. It was clear there was more story to tell.”
Captain Robert Smalls: The Greatest Civil War Hero is something of a slow burn: starting out in modern times at a Stony Island intersection as a family anticipates the true story their Great Granddaddy promised to tell them today. As we get to know the large cast of characters in Small’s life, the pace picks up and draws the reader into the type of entertaining action one hopes to find in a book set during the Civil War. The Graphic Novel presents hard truths honestly but gently, and includes several pages of educational material at the back – including bibliography and an “inspiring photos” section with character shots next to photos from the 1800’s.
Thomas’s first comic book was the critically acclaimed Equis Mortis, of the mid 90’s. Participating in the first annual “Black Age of Comics” convention and attending the American Academy of Art to study computer graphics, he was focused on two of his closest passions: art and technology. Soon he was drawn into entrepreneurship, successfully tackling IT, Coding, and Software Design, until the mid-pandemic era. A lifelong Chicagoan from the South Side neighborhood of Hyde Park, he suddenly found himself living in the West Suburbs with his heart pulling him back towards sequential art – and Black History.
By the end of this book (Book One), Smalls has arrived across enemy lines, gotten freedom for himself and everyone else onboard and negotiated with the Union military a reward price for the commandeered steamship. Book Two, (already in late production), is action packed and focused on Robert Smalls’ experiences as a Union officer in the Civil War.
Captain Robert Smalls: The Greatest Civil War Hero is available for purchase direct from the publisher, as well as on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Etsy, Bookshop.org and more.
More information, including how to purchase and free resources for schools and libraries can be found at CaptainSmalls.com.
