Berger Books to Publish Romberger’s New ‘Post York’ Graphic Novel

Dark Horse’s Berger Books imprint announced plans to publish Post York by James Romberger, an expanded graphic novel edition of his earlier acclaimed post-apocalyptic comic book. The new Post York graphic novel will be published in September 2020.

Romberger’s Post York is the story of a near-future New York City that is underwater after the ice caps melt and the city’s streets are effectively turned into canals. In the midst of the city’s submerged streets we discover a lone figure in a boat, along with his cat, as they navigate the flooded streets in an effort to survive. One day they encounter a mysterious woman and a trapped blue whale and their lives are changed forever as they encounter other desperate survivors across the submerged streets of New York City.

First published as a 40-page one-shot comic book by Uncivilized Books in 2013, Post York originally included a plastic flexi disc with a recording of a Post York rap song by Crosby Romberger, James’s son, an artist and musician who is also used as the basis for the lead character of the Post York story. The original one shot was nominated for an Eisner award.

The new graphic novel version of Post York has been expanded to more than 100 pages. Romberger is also the creator, along with his wife and colorist Marguerite Van Cook, of 7 Miles a Second, the acclaimed graphic memoir of the life of the late artist and AIDs activist David Wojnarowicz, and other works.

“Post York's hero is my son Crosby and the story is my apology to him for the mess my generation has left the planet in” Romberger said. “The book is created in an experimental way; it is improvised directly onto the art boards without script or preliminary layouts. The alternative endings came about this way, as did certain narrative twists that grew from my conversations with Crosby,” he said.

The expanded version of the Post York eco-fiction fable will feature an environmental fact sheet and other bonus material.

Berger Books publisher Karen Berger said “I leapt at the chance to publish this singular and riveting story of daily survival in a not-so-far-fetched NYC. It couldn’t be more timely nor terrifying."