The Titan

Captain Robert Smalls: The Titan; Book One of The Titan Abridged Series

written by DaShan Thomas, co author Erica Thomas; illustrated by DaShan Thomas.

Published By: Crimson Studios LLC; 2025

FORMAT: Graphic Novel

Color illustrations throughout

Age of intended audience: 10-18+

41 pages

Price: $27.99

ISBN: 979-8-9873290-5-4

 

 

Book Description: (This is an abridged version of our earlier work “Captain Robert Smalls: The Greatest Civil War Hero; Book One (The Titan Unabridged Series)”)

This ABRIDGED version skips the Freeman family storytelling, and includes only the Smalls story. This abridged version is great for older kids – adults who are more interested in the meat of the story. It skips the plot device of the family learning about Robert Smalls, and jumps directly into the story itself. It’s the most excellent option for those older kids and teen readers who may be embarrassed to read a book with “little kids” in it, and adults who want to get right to heart of the story.

This abridged version is JUST the Smalls story – it includes NO extra historic photos or educational material at the back, (besides the bibliography), so it is also ideal for readers who want just the story, with no extras.

Robert Smalls, born and raised as an enslaved person, commandeered a steamer ship with his crew and all of their families. They sailed to freedom, and then won several pivotal battles in the Civil War, which in turn won the freedom of all enslaved people in the United States.

At 12, he stands on the Charleston docks. His family is far away. He remembers his mother telling him they were supposed to be free, and the encouragement from the carriage driver that brought him here: “learn to love to learn.” Young Robert Smalls looked at the boats in front of him and decided to learn every thing he could about them.

Years later, Hannah Smalls is on board The Confederate Steamship Planter, as her husband Robert tells her his plan to take this boat and everyone on board past enemy lines to safety. His plan is dangerous, risky, and wildly brave. Hannah agrees completely.

Burress is a different kind of runaway. He hates the plan. Burress is the type of slave who thinks he can get his freedom by telling on all the other slaves. He thinks they should listen to HIM, and be more grateful to massa.

Smalls will soon join the Union Navy to fight the confederates. At first Robert will be given the commission of Pilot of the Planter. But circumstances in a battle that the Union Navy wasn’t supposed to be a part of, will force Robert to make the choice of being a brave man or a coward that could get his Black Crew Mates Killed.

 

 

Additional catalog information for Captain Robert Smalls: The Titan; Book One:

 

SUBJECTS

African Americans — South Carolina — Biography — Comic books, strips, etc.

African Americans — South Carolina — Biography — Juvenile literature

Beaufort (S.C.) — Biography — Comic books, strips, etc.

Beaufort (S.C.) — Biography — Juvenile literature

Biographical comics

Biographies,

Comics (Graphic works)

Creative nonfiction

Enslaved persons — South Carolina — Biography — Comic books, strips, etc.

Comic books, strips, etc.

Enslaved persons — South Carolina — Biography — Juvenile literature

Graphic novels

Nonfiction comics

Planter (Steamship) — Comic books, strips, etc.

Planter (Steamship) — Juvenile literature

Ship captains — United States — Biography — Comic books, strips, etc.

Ship captains — United States — Biography — Juvenile literature

Smalls, Robert — 1839-1915 — Comic books, strips, etc.

Smalls, Robert — 1839-1915 — Juvenile literature

United States — History — Civil War, 1861-1865 — Biography — Comic books, strips, etc.

United States — History — Civil War, 1861-1865 — Biography — Juvenile literature

 

Bibliography

Includes bibliographic references