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Mama Came Callin': A Graphic Novel

Not yet published
Expected 3 Feb 26

Win a free print copy of this book!

10 days and 13:55:18

24 copies available
U.S. only
Rate this book
A gripping graphic horror novel set in the Florida bayou, following a young biracial woman as she uncovers her estranged father’s role in a grisly hate crime. 

Kirah was born from an improbable interracial relationship that, in central Florida’s infamous Asurupa County, defied all the odds. But her idyllic childhood was shattered by an urban legend come to life. The “Gatorman” was a nightmare on the lips of kids and grown-ups alike all the way back to Jim a monster with the body of a man, the head of an alligator—and a taste for Black children. That’s who crawled into Kirah’s window when Kirah was just five years old. According to the police, it was Kirah’s own father who put on that gator mask and tried to kill her.

Twenty years later, Kirah works hard to build a life unburdened by the traumatic events of her childhood. Just when it seems like she’s managed to find her stride, her dad, fresh out of prison, crashes back into her world with a chilling “He’s coming for you.”

Finally forced to face the hideous family history she’s been avoiding, Kirah sets off to discover where, and who, she truly came from. And the more she learns, the more disturbing the whole picture becomes. Turns out there’s a lot more to the Gatorman than Kirah thought, and even he isn’t through with her just yet.

A clever hybrid of swamp noir, slasher horror, and social satire—and brought to life by Camilla Sucre’s vivid illustrations—Mama Came Callin’ is a story about family and legacies, both the ones we inherit and the ones we can’t escape.

240 pages, Paperback

Expected publication February 3, 2026

1493 people want to read

About the author

Ezra Claytan Daniels

20 books106 followers
Ezra Claytan Daniels is a writer and illustrator based in Los Angeles, CA. His work has been featured at the Fantoche International Animation Festival in Baden, Switzerland; the Fumetto International Comics Festival in Lucerne, Haarlem Stripdagen in the Netherlands; and the Whitney Museum. His graphic novel, Upgrade Soul, was the recipient of the 2017 Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics, nominated for an Eisner Award for Best Graphic Album, and was named one of the best books of 2018 by Publishers Weekly, Vulture, The Library Journal, and Paste.

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5 stars
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8 (47%)
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
Profile Image for Sam.
664 reviews255 followers
November 12, 2025
My Selling Pitch:
A graphic novel about gator bait’s hateful origins.

Pre-reading:
Crikey.

(obviously potential spoilers from here on)
Thick of it:
me: what a cute setup, blitzing through the panels. All of a sudden I see the shadow. Oh.

Thanks, I HATE it. I love when graphics actually make the monster scary.

They're cute together. Can't wait for it to go wrong lmao.

Please don’t be research for his mom‘s book. (Sad.)

The mansion people being hateful and trying to prevent the fortune from being passed to her? (Basically.)

That was good!

Post-reading:
A short and sweet graphic novel about the racist and hateful origins of the phrase gator bait. I’m a New Englander and not a basketball fan, so I'd never encountered the phrase before, but there's always something morbidly satisfying about uncovering another piece of American history that’s been hushed up because turns out, we really have been that shitty forever. The plot’s predictable but engaging. The characters are extremely likable. It's a story about race and is great at featuring a diverse cast while still giving the characters personalities outside of their labels. The drawings are simplistic but pleasing. The monster’s just spooky enough to be unsettling but still appropriate for younger readers. I think high schoolers will get the most out of this book. It’s an easily digestible history lesson. I liked that the story didn't wrap up too neatly either. I like that the couple didn't get back together. It’s a solid read.

Who should read this:
High schoolers
History fans

Ideal reading time:
Summer

Do I want to reread this:
No, I'll remember it.

Would I buy this:
I’d grab a copy from the library.

Similar books:
* Pig Wife by Abbey Luck-graphic novel, family drama, thriller, abuse
* Mayra by Nicky Gonzalez-swamp gothic, psychological horror, queer

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
897 reviews7 followers
Read
November 23, 2025
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

Mama Came Callin' by Ezra Claytan Daniels is a horror graphic novel dealing with racism in a small town in Florida. When Kirah was young, someone in a gator costume broke into her home and tried to kill her. While her mother saved her, the impact of that day and being told that the person in the gator costume has never left her. Now with her mother gone and her father out of jail and trying to make contact with her, Kirah is having her past dragged out. Worse, someone is coming after her in the same costume worn by the person who tried to kill her.

I really liked how color was used as it’s mostly black and white with a very small handful of colors that are used for emphasis from scene-to-scene. It lets the story focus mostly on atmosphere and the themes while using the bit of color to enhance those aspects.

The horror themes are rooted in Kirah’s inability to know who to trust, which also makes this feel similar to a thriller, and in how there is no way for her to know when the gator man is coming to come for her since it has been so long and then he’s suddenly back. There are no supernatural elements and everything does, unfortunately, feel all too believable as we know anti-black racism very often targets interracial children under the guise of ‘that’s how things are’ and protecting the people who uphold that racism.

Content warning for depictions of racism and harm to a child

I would recommend this to fans of horror looking for a graphic novel and fans of thrillers looking for a horror
Profile Image for Laura R.
1,087 reviews18 followers
November 14, 2025
I would like to thank the publisher for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley.

Twenty years ago the Gatorman attacked a family. Now that little girl is all grown up, left here without family by her side, and left without any answers as to who attacked them – though she’s happy to blame her dad for the fateful night, and he’s been in jail ever since. But when her dad gets out of jail saying he was innocent, it’ll be up to Kirah to uncover the truth of her past – who she is, where she came from, and why the Gatorman targeted her and her family – before he comes back to finish the job once and for all.

Okay. Well. Things I liked: I have never heard the term “gator bait” before, so I went into a deep dive and learned the history behind it and I can say how thoroughly effed up it would be to have a candy named for it. So I appreciate the author’s attention to detail when it came to being historically accurate. I enjoyed the overall plot of the Gatorman and why it was happening/why he was targeting her and her family. However, that being said, I did not enjoy this graphic novel. I felt like there were a few plot holes and things jumped around too much at times. Kirah was especially annoying since she’s depicted as someone who is smart and who would’ve grown up cautious… and then she makes terrible decisions one after another and is volatile and quick to jump to conclusions. I also will admit I was not a fan of the artwork, but that’s just personal preference. If you’re looking for something quick and full of racial tension and hate then this is for you, but it was not for me.

Actual Rating: 2.5 stars
Profile Image for Nadine Sturgill.
145 reviews8 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
December 31, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, Ezra Claytan Daniels and William Morrow for the opportunity to read this early! Camilla Sucre's artwork is fantastic and creepy to the max! Fits the story and vibe very well. Very short, but it hits you with a punch of a story. Was able to read it in one sitting, but it still is in my head. Set in a fictional county in Florida, it could very well be in the everglades portion of the state. It appears to be the home of Gator Bait, a candy and also a well known term for a discriminatory practice , and this is where we meet Kirah. She's out in the swamp park area, researching for an outing for the group home she is a social worker for. This is where we learn that when she was a little girl, a monster with the body of a man and the head of an alligator climbed into her window and attempted to kill her. We are also introduced to her father, who has been locked up for the crime, as he has been released. The interaction between the two of them is heartbreaking but so understandable. From there, things become intense and it appears someone is after Kirah. The ending was a bit surprising, and half expected. Not taking away my rating though, because this was definitely a great read! Will absolutely buy a physical copy once it is released.
Profile Image for Tabitha.
386 reviews38 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
December 12, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the advanced copy.

3.5 stars. Mama Came Callin' is a story of old hate, bigotry, and overcoming trauma and obstacles. It's a heavy story but it never feels heavy, as it unwinds slowly and reveals more each page. The ending left me wanting a bit, it definitely felt like it was left open for a sequel, which I don't think is really necessary. I think it would've been better all wrapped up, but I think the author's intent is that hatred is a sickness infecting more than just one or two people, unfortunately.

The art by Camilla Sucre is going to be divisive. She's a skilled artist, went to school for it, but too many panels felt empty. Little is done in background or detail. It felt like I was just getting impressions, which would've been cool for the flashback scenes for sure, but for all the present-day in the moment stuff it just feels like something is missing. I also wasn't a big fan of the monotone coloring in the book. I think this is a story that needs more dynamicism in its art.

Overall decent, worth a read if you're into southern mystery slashers.
Profile Image for Tala W.
58 reviews
November 15, 2025
Thank you Net Galley and William Morrow for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. 

This is an important type of story to tell, and to have it in this Southern gothic form gives it a sense of place and underlying horror without having to belabor any of the points. 

The file, unfortunately, was a little blurry, so I was unable to appreciate the finer details in the art, but I still felt the appropriate chills and panic, disappointment and shock as the plot unfolded. 

The characters felt real and human, and I loved when the art played with distance to increase the reader's sense of unease. 

While the first part of the novel was paced well, I felt that the rest was a little rushed. I would have loved more time with the creepiness factors, more time with the revelations, more time with the past, more time with the characters. 

I am looking forward to seeing it in physical form, where the art is bound to shine more. 
Profile Image for Jeremy Fowler.
Author 1 book30 followers
November 15, 2025
Killer Gators and Terrifying Family Secrets!

Mama Came Calling by Ezra Clayton Daniels is a haunting exploration of family ties woven into the fabric of America’s unsettling past. There is a captured intimacy within the pages of this graphic novel that is truly HAUNTING. I cannot stop thinking about this story. Featured in this story are tortured familial relationships, love, tension, and unspoken hard truths, all anchored in a genuinely terrifying historical context. The story doesn’t just evoke fear through supernatural elements; it amplifies the horror by reminding us how deeply history can scar generations. Additionally, some masked slasher elements had me afraid of the shadows in the corners of my room. It’s a chilling, thought-provoking piece that lingers long after the last page, making you question so many aspects of the world around us.
Profile Image for Lindsey.
1,196 reviews47 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 5, 2026
✨ Mini-Review ✨ Mama Came Callin' by Ezra Claytan Daniels, illustrated by Camilla Sucre

Thanks to William Morrow and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

This horror graphic novel reflects on the history and legacy of racism in the South. I loved the ways that this book grappled with these hard topics, looking at how black kids were preyed upon quite literally through the Gatorman, but I also found the story a little bit hard to get into. One of the reasons, I think, is because the low-res ARC version I had was blurry and often blurred out facial expressions, leaving some of the emotions confused/untouched. I loved the sharp colors and visuals present, but I guess the blurriness left me feeling a little disconnected.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: horror, graphic novel
Setting: rural Florida
Pub Date: Feb 03 2026
Profile Image for Kayla Smith.
720 reviews13 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
December 12, 2025
I think that this had a lot of potential but because of the short length and format for this standalone story it felt like things ended up being rushed and we didn't get enough history and backstory about this town and family and industry. I wanted to know more about our characters and this could have benefited so much from either being longer or being broken into multiple issues or volumes where the story could unfold over a longer period of time. This feels like such an important story to tell with great commentary on race and childhood trauma but that ultimately remains pretty surface level with the time it is given.

Content Warning: racism, arson, murder, attempted murder

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book.
Profile Image for Kristall Marie.
255 reviews6 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
December 23, 2025
First off, many thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this graphic novel as an eARC! I greatly appreciate it!

I was really intrigued by the concept for this one, but the execution kind of fell flat for me. One reason was the characters. Not a single one of them was even slightly likeable, and why would I care what happens to a character if I don't like them? The other reason was how blurry all the artwork was. Like, distractingly blurry and sometimes even hard to read. Now, this might just be an anti-piracy measure that only affects ARCs and not the actual published book, but it might not be, so I thought it was worth mentioning.

Overall, decent story, though, so three out of five stars to Mama Came Callin'.
Profile Image for Critter.
980 reviews43 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
December 31, 2025
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC.

I really enjoyed this book for the most part. It has great themes and interesting characters. This book wasn't quite what I was expecting it would be, but that didn't bother me here. I think this book was well written with some good artwork behind it. The characters themselves are interesting and I liked how they were written. They are written to be complex and I loved seeing how the main character developed with the story. Her struggles and fears are well shown to the reader. I also really liked a lot of the side characters in this one. I think they are just as well written. I would certainly recommend checking out this book.
Profile Image for Laura.
2,168 reviews75 followers
December 22, 2025
I received an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley for review purposes; this in no way influences my review.

I was drawn to Mama Came Callin’ cuz it sounded like just my brand of horror and I love stories grappling with the intrinsic horror of racism and trauma. I think in some ways this would have worked better for me as a novel because I’m not sure the art worked for me, though it definitely did do a good job of giving creepy and ominous vibes. I did love the limited color palate though I don’t know how cohesive it fully was, especially with regard to changes in speech bubble colors. I did like the story itself, and I do like how it resolved.
Profile Image for Sam  Hughes.
904 reviews86 followers
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
December 21, 2025
Thank you so much to William Morrow Paperbacks, NetGalley, and Ezra Claytan Daniels for granting me advanced access to this graphic novel before it hits shelves on February 3, 2026.

A monstrous killer wearing a deceased alligator mask is ravaging Helfur Springs with a means to take our Kirah and everything she loves. Kirah has flashbacks to her childhood when the killer stalked and attacked her family home, placing blame on her estranged father. But now, all these years later, her dad has been released from prison, and the stalking is still going on.

It's up to Kirah and her crew to find out the masked gator's identity and their motive for their very pointed attacks.
Profile Image for Allison Maddox.
166 reviews4 followers
November 15, 2025
I thought the story here was gripping, with some great horror elements. We really need more graphic novels that focus on POC. This is a good pick for a quick read that addresses racism and touches on the experiences of young people who don't have family to take care of them/who have lost a parent/parent's. I wasn't a fan of the art style, but did like the story itself.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing the arc with me!
Profile Image for Caitlyn Fox.
48 reviews2 followers
November 13, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an eArc.

Unfortunately my copy through the eReader wasn’t the best quality so I couldn’t get most of the finer details of the art, but the paneling and stylistic choices were very good from what I could see.

The story was well done and I would recommend this to fans of history.
Profile Image for Tiffany Seward.
189 reviews1 follower
December 27, 2025
⭐ Horror | Graphic Novel

Thank you to William Morrow for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Mama Came Callin’ starts off with a creepy tone that immediately sets the mood, but I found the overall presentation hard to engage with. The comic’s resolution might be due to the ARC version, but it appeared blurry, which made reading more difficult. The dialogue bubbles all share the same visual weight, so the pacing and flow felt off throughout.

The illustrations seem unfinished in parts, some panels look like rough outlines filled with a yellow color scheme. Combined with heavy swearing and uneven pacing, the story just didn’t land for me.

Overall, this one wasn’t for me, though I can see it appealing to readers who enjoy raw, unsettling horror stories.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews

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