“Graphic novelist Mercado celebrates the joy of hip-hop.

This fun, candy-colored Afrofuturist saga set in 1980s Brooklyn introduces 13-year-old budding DJ Wax; his ice cream truck–vendor uncle Rashaad (he swears in ice cream flavors); his pizza-deliverer–turned–best-friend, Cooky P; and his brainy, truth-telling little sister The D, the tale’s real hero. The story opens as Wax produces a colossal sonic disaster (according to his family) for his crush, Pirate Polly. The lovingly honest criticism spurs Wax to try again—and, in the process, he transports them all to a Blade Runner–inspired world called Discopia, accidentally kills King Chug Chug, its ruler, and calls forth a mentor, Kabuki Snowman, who teaches the teenager Sci-Fu, described as “a mix between a martial art and a musical instrument…to manipulate and modulate the sound waves around you” in order to defeat the king’s son Choo Choo and his mixed-gender crew, the Five Deadly Dangers. This trippy, psychedelic adventure, with chapters labeled like album tracks, is as much a call and response to Vijay Prashad’s Everybody Was Kung-Fu Fighting (2002) and a riff on astrophysicist Neil de Grasse Tyson’s comment that all of the universe is literally made of stardust as it is a not-so-subtle visual reference to Samurai Jack’s villain Aku and a nod to Get Out’s lifesaving-friendship trope.

A lighthearted tale with black and brown characters, matter-of-fact Brooklyn bilingualism, and a solid message of creating through failure and love.” - Kirkus

“In 1980s Brooklyn, eighth-grader Wax may be respected for his DJ skills (and, with his flattop and track suit, he looks the part), but his raps leave something to be desired. After Wax’s spinning attracts extraterrestrial attention, he’s transported to the futuristic city of Discopia along with his friend Cooky, his crush Polly, and his family. Wax quickly learns the art of Sci-Fu, a mixture of music and martial arts, from Kabuki Snowman, just one of many odd creatures they encounter. In a series of musical confrontations reminiscent of the Scott Pilgrim stories, Wax must fight the Five Deadly Dangers before taking on giant robot Choo Choo. Mercado has created a visually delicious adventure that does its best to imbue a visual medium with the power of sound. Mercado uses onomatopoeia and visualized sound waves to emphasize that this is an aural adventure; color-coded speech balloons help readers keep track of who is spitting rhymes. His caricatured figures and dynamic layouts, coupled with a neon palette and graffiti flourishes, make for an entertaining story with a little something for everyone: hip-hop, tech-driven action, and romance.” - Publishers Weekly

“Yehudi Mercado blends science fiction, kung fu, and hip-hop in Sci-Fu, a unique and entertaining graphic-novel adventure. In 1980s Brooklyn, a young boy named Wax happily spins and scratches vinyl until he inadvertently answers an intergalactic call with his “rhythmical scratching signal.” He and his family and friends are transported to Discopia, a planet ruled by robots who still appreciate a good beat or rap when they hear it. Set up to challenge the domineering ruler of Discopia, Wax trains in the art of Sci-Fu and begins to develop an ego. In the end, a wiser, humbled Wax triumphs—though only with the assistance of his pals.

Sci-Fu is fast paced and undeniably fun. Antagonists include a female robot named Rap Punz L, another robot named Ol’ Dirty Laundry, and a teddy bear-ish baddie named Teddy Backspin. Most of the characters, good and bad, break into rap frequently throughout the book, and the quips of Spider-Man or Deadpool can’t compare to a fight sequence punctuated by lines like “Son I’m gonna clock you going eighty. Ol’ Dirty Laundry gonna make ya hate me.”

Though many references to the early days of hip-hop may be lost on younger readers, they aren’t critical to the story; for those steeped in rap history, they add an additional witty and nostalgic dimension to the book. Mercado’s cartoon style art matches the tone of his story—freestyling and innovative at times, but always engaging. With Sci-Fu, Mercado has created an all-ages delight.”
- Foreword Reviews

“Yehudi’s Fresh stylings of energetic cartooning take me back to that Saturday morning cartoon feel of this epic awesome universe!” - Art Baltazar (Tiny Titans, DC Super-Pets)

“Sci-Fu is refreshingly innovative and imaginative. An extraordinary balance of science fiction, hip hop, compelling art and pure dopeness!” - Carl Jones, Executive Producer of Black Dynamite: The Animated Series and Producer of The Jellies

“Yehudi Mercado needs to be locked away because he's killing the comics game! My kids and I are addicted to Sci-Fu, a hilarious mix of middle school shenanigans and old-school nostalgia that can't stop and won't stop leaping off the page. Five out of five mics.” - Brian Ash, Co-Executive Producer of Black Dynamite: The Animated Series, and writer and producer of The Boondocks

- Announcement at The Hollywood Reporter. Re-circulated through The Hollywood Reporter's industry newsletter.

- Announcement press release sent to the publisher's press, retailer, and librarian lists.

- Social media coverage of the announcement.

- Print adverts included in Oni Press periodicals and Library Journal.

- ARC distribution to trade review journals, and select press, book buyers, and librarians.

- Included in the Oni Press Spring 2018 catalog for buyers.

- Creator signings at Emerald City Comiccon 2018 in Seattle, WA.

- Local author and illustrator appearances in St. Louis, MO, and Philadelphia, PN.

- Author appearance at the American Bookseller Association's ABC Children's Institute and the ALA Annual Conference 2018 in New Orleans, LA.

- Targeted awards outreach.

- Local author appearances in Los Angeles, CA.

- Potential signings in Austin, TX, Brooklyn, NY, and Harlem, NY.