First published 2024
William Miller and Henry Garrison arrive in the Sierra Nevada mountains with dreams of striking it rich. The two miners face brutal conditions in California's gold fields, where fortune seems always just out of reach. They dig through rocky soil under scorching sun, sleep in makeshift camps, and compete with thousands of other prospectors for precious metal. The harsh reality of mining life tests their friendship and resolve. Around them, a diverse community of fortune seekers struggles with the same challenges. Some find modest success, others lose everything they brought west. Miller and Garrison must decide whether to persist through backbreaking labor or abandon their hopes. The story follows their journey through a pivotal moment in American expansion, when ordinary people risked everything for the chance at prosperity. This graphic novel captures the determination and community bonds that sustained miners through one of history's greatest migrations.
Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, adventure, graphic-novels, 19th-century, american-history
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, thought-provoking
Tropes: determination, found-family, persistence
Setting: California, Sierra Nevada
Period: 19th Century
64 pages · Paperback · Penguin Workshop