Apple Black Origins: The Spectrum and the Spectre (Saturday AM / Wel/Red)

In this light-novel prequel to the Apple Black series, Willow and Gideon together take on the evils that riddle Eden in their adventure to find gold.

*2025 CBC Young Adult Favorites Winner*

Many years ago, humans acquired “Black” fruits from a tree that descended from the skies, turning humans into sorcerers. Although all of Black is now extinct, humans still have sorcery inherited from their ancestors. In this fantastical world of wands and sorcerers, The Ebony Peak wars led to the new regime of Eden, but its policy left behind many stricken and near-extinct tribes who’ve now formed rebellions against the new rule.

In Apple Black Origins, a pivotal origin story about the fantastical world of Apple Black, Willow, a wild young sorceress with mysterious vitiligo, looks to end the discrimination towards her tribe and others by finding all the legendary Golden Wands, like the one she got from her father, to help balance the scales. She enlists the help of a powerful rogue sorcerer, Gideon Banburi, to find salvation, though he may be more trouble than she anticipates.

Gideon and Willow are hunted by Rebels, secret organizations, and the new regime to find a wand using a map that was hidden within it. In time, it’s revealed that Willow’s vitiligo is actually the map that leads them to the wands—but not before treachery repeatedly crosses their path. 

Apple Black Origins is rated T for Teen, recommended for ages 13 and up.

Saturday AM, the world’s most diverse manga-inspired comics, are now presented in a new format! Introducing Saturday AM TANKS, the new graphic novel format similar to Japanese Tankobons where we collect the global heroes and artists of Saturday AM. These handsome volumes have select color pages, revised artwork, and innovative post-credit scenes that help bring new life to our popular BIPOC, LGBTQ, and/or culturally diverse characters.

The Saturday AM TANKS series include: Apple Black, Clock Striker, Gunhild, Hammer, Henshin!, The Massively Multiplayer World of Ghosts, Oblivion Rouge, Saigami, Soul Beat, Titan King, Underground, and Yellow Stringer.

Nigerian artist Odunze Oguguo is the creator of the hit manga series Apple Black and Bacassi. Oguguo is also an influencer who has garnered a large following as “Whyt Manga.” As one of the co-founders of MyFutprint Entertainment, LLC, and a central figure in developing its brands like Saturday AM, Oguguo has found time to achieve personal milestones. He graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts and a minor in computer science. He later graduated with a master’s degree in fine arts from the same university with a degree in visual communication design. He resides in North Texas with his family. To see more of Oguguo's work, visit @whytmanga on Instagram, whytmanga on TikTok, and @WhytMangaOdunze on YouTube.

After graduating from the University of Illinois at Chicago and entering a career in scientific research, Stephanie Williams pivoted to pursue her childhood dream of writing comic books when she became a mom. A comic book historian, WillIams has written for many notable publications, including SYFY FANGRRLS, Marvel, DC, The A.V. Club, Nerdist, What to Watch, Den of Geek, and Rotten Tomatoes. She now has two webcomics, Parenthood Activate and But What If Though, in addition to Living Heroes on Kickstarter. Her writing credits include Marvel's Voices: Legacy, Wonder Woman Black & Gold, Nubia and the Amazons, Trial of the Amazons, Nubia: Coronation Special, Nubia: Queen of the Amazons, and Wakanda.

Saturday AM is a unique digital comics brand featuring an ever-growing catalog of popular, exclusive and diverse action manga-style webcomics by independent creators from around the world. Among the nearly 50 visionary artists on the Saturday AM team are @WhytManga (Apple Black), @JeyOdin (Hammer), and @saigamiproject (Saigami). To learn more about Saturday AM, visit saturday-am.com, or find them on Instagram (@saturday_am), YouTube (youtube.com/user/MyFutprint), and Twitter (@saturday_am).