Herobear and the Kid
In Herobear and the Kid, a young boy inherits a magical bear that transforms into a superhero. Discover this Eisner-winning all-ages adventure from Mike Kunkel.
đź“– Papercutz (distributed by Simon & Schuster) • Started 1999
Herobear and the Kid opens when ten-year-old Tyler inherits a worn stuffed bear and a broken pocket watch after his grandfather’s death. They seem like ordinary keepsakes. But moving to a new town, facing down bullies, and navigating the treacherous waters of fourth-grade romance take a backseat once Tyler discovers the truth: touch the bear’s nose, and it springs to life as Herobear—a ten-foot-tall, cape-wearing polar bear superhero. Suddenly, Tyler’s world cracks open into something far more extraordinary than he ever imagined.
What Makes It Special
Created, written, drawn, and lettered entirely by Mike Kunkel, Herobear and the Kid is a masterclass in all-ages storytelling. Kunkel pours his animation background into every page, crafting the comic in expressive pencil artwork with only Herobear’s red cape blazing in color—a striking visual choice that makes each appearance of the titular hero feel electric and monumental.
The series channels the nostalgic warmth of classics like The Wonder Years and A Christmas Story while weaving a rich mythology around Tyler’s family legacy, his mysterious grandfather, and the true nature of Herobear’s powers. At its heart, it asks a deceptively simple question: What if your very best friend was a superhero?
The Story So Far
The original storyline, “The Inheritance” (1999–2003), introduced Tyler, his best friend Elmo, his crush Vanessa, and the villainous inventor Von Klon—whose connection to Tyler’s family runs deeper than anyone suspects. The series earned the Eisner Award in both 2002 and 2003, an extraordinary feat for a self-published indie comic, and caught the attention of Universal Studios, who optioned it for a feature film (with Kunkel co-writing a screenplay alongside Jeph Loeb).
After reacquiring the rights, Kunkel revived the series through BOOM! Studios in 2013 with new one-shots and annuals, including Picture Day and the Herobear and the Kid Annual. The second major arc, “Saving Time,” sends Tyler and Herobear on a time-bending adventure against Von Klon. In 2023, Kunkel launched a wildly successful Kickstarter for the Herobear Heritage Hardcover—a deluxe 600-page collection uniting both storylines with a trove of bonus material. The series is now published by Papercutz and widely distributed through Simon & Schuster.
Why You’ll Love It
Herobear and the Kid is the kind of comic that parents and kids can read together—where adults catch emotional nuances they missed as children, and kids get lost in the sheer joy of a boy and his magical bear saving the day. Kunkel’s animation-honed artwork gives every page a fluid, living quality that makes the characters feel like they could leap off the page and into your living room.
Available now in collected editions from Papercutz, as digital editions through The Astonish Factory, and in the landmark Heritage Hardcover edition via BackerKit. Perfect for fans of Calvin and Hobbes, Jeff Smith’s Bone, and any story that believes the best superhero origin story begins with an unlikely friendship.
