June 19, 2025 

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RHYMES WITH HORROR is a darkly funny, 2000 word graphic novel for mature techie teenagers who celebrate crematories, graveyards, and jump-scaring monsters.

 

It’s Black Mirror meets Grimms’ Fairy tales. 10 classic childhood rhymes as short, 2-3 page graphic novel-esque stories, are reskinned and infused with technology to thrill and chill those who dare to read this book. Also a 10 page bonus chapter of character designs and environments that were created during the development process. 

 

These short stories stay true to the source material but are updated with one tiny inclusion: modern tech. This fun addition is all it takes to spin the story on its head, causing rad ramifications. Like when Jack & Jill snag that pail of water, they find out it’s rigged with an alarm system that can wake the dead. Or watch Little Miss Muffet handle the pesky spider when she pulls one of her tricks out of her ballistics bag.

 

This rebrand of public domain stories and characters will give a whole new generation 10 reasons to buy the book, and the merch potential is limitless*. Having spent 20 years in the animation business (Disney, Illumination) I also must mention the potential for an animated series.

 

Comparable books: 

 

I Hate Fairyland by Scottie Young

The Envious Siblings by Landis Blair

Mother Goth Rhymes by Kaz Windness

I Luv Halloween by Keith Giffen

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (reissued)

F*cked Up Fairy Tales  by Liz Gotauco (not out yet)

 

See the first 2 episodes below and picture the full collection on your list. This series is a no-brainer and is sure to be the surprise hit of the year.  Thank you for your time and consideration.

 

See flipbook below.

 

Tom LaBaff - After graduating from Ringling College of Art & Design in Sarasota, he spent the first decade of his illustration career making animated films for Walt Disney Studios. He has illustrated numerous books for publishers such as The Town of Zack for Worthwhile, and Aly Cat Takes on First Grade for Scholastic. Tom has 2 new picture books coming out this year. Most days you can find him walking the early morning sands of Vero Beach.

 

More info:

 

Log line/One sentence/elevator pitch:

 

What if the sweet little rhymes you grew up with were actually terrifying cautionary tales of failed technology?

 

RHYMES WITH HORROR is a 30-page, 2000 word graphic novel anthology that reimagines 10 beloved nursery rhymes through a deliciously dark, PG-13 lens. Each story delivers a twisted punchline in just 2-3 pages, making this book fast, funny, and scary. These are rhymes you think you know... but you don’t.

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One paragraph summary/overview:

 

This anthology brings a horror-comedy sensibility to classic childhood material, fusing creepy folklore with darkly humorous storytelling. Each nursery rhyme like Jack & Jill, Little Miss Muffet, Humpty Dumpty, and others, is transformed into a bite-sized tale of poetic justice, irony, or survival horror.

This is not a book of gore, but it isn’t tame either. Think Hellboy meets Grimm's Fairy Tales with a pinch of Black Mirror. Art style is modern, stark, and appealing. The visuals are cinematic, bold, expressive, and instantly engaging—designed to make teen readers laugh, squirm, and flip the page (or scroll) for more.

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Platforms:

 

Tom has a good following on Reddit with some recent content fetching 1m+ views. He also is the creator of Glimpse (handmade book marketing) PRH often posts his work. Tom formats his graphic novel stories for vertical reading (phone) similar to the popular Webtoons brand. If you want to see how this format looks on your own phone with the Jack & Jill story, just text me now at 772-321-0349 and I’ll shoot you the sample! 

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Target audience:

 

Ages 13–17

Category: YA Graphic Novel / Horror-Comedy / Folklore Retelling

Appeals to:

• Fans of twisted fairy tales and folk horror

• Teen readers who enjoy visual storytelling with a techie edge

• Teachers, librarians, and computer lab enthusiasts seeking spooky-but-smart titles

 

**Market Demand & Positioning:

 

Dark humor in graphic novels is thriving, especially when paired with strong visuals and clever remixes of nostalgic & contemporary technology content. I plan to make collectable single character cards (like Disney Lorcana) as well as stickers, screen savers, posters, mugs, and more. Die hard comic fans will pick which character they resonate with the most and collect or trade. 

 

 

This book offers:

• High reread value (each story holds a surprise or twist)

• Visual bite-sized narratives ideal for short attention spans

• Flexible sales hooks: Halloween, folklore studies, humor in horror, etc.

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