Indoor Kid

"A raucously fantastical graphic novel take on bullying's impact and the power of living one's own truth." --Publishers Weekly

"DuBois-Thompson's energetic and colorful illustrations show the kinetic fun of sports and games--basketball, baseball, football, and field hockey among them. Heagerty captures the infectious power of competition [...] Energetic entertainment that promotes healthy sportsmanship." --Kirkus

In Muscletown, if you're not a jock, you're a nobody. You're an INDOOR KID.

Air-ball Arnie couldn't be worse at sports. As much as he wishes he could score three-pointers or hit home runs, the fact is that he's way better at video games than he is on the court or the field. What's worse is he lives in Muscletown, a city full of the best athletes and jocks, especially the Brohemians, the town's star athletes AND the town's biggest bullies. The Brohemians get to decide the winners from the losers, and they've decided Arnie is the biggest loser of them all. But all that changes when Arnie discovers a magical medal that gives him superhuman sports powers. Now he can slam dunk better than anyone, and he's determined to put these super sports abilities to good use by putting the Brohemian bullies in their place. But when his newfound powers start to get him the popularity and admiration he's always craved, will he use his powers for good or will he strike out and foul on his own friends?

Knock it out of the park in the newest graphic novel from Mat Heagerty (Martian Ghost Centaur, Unplugged and Unpopular, Lumberjackula) and Lisa Dubois (Rugrats, Aggretsuko) in a sports-packed story about staying true to yourself, perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier and Victoria Jamieson.

Author: Mat Heagerty
Publisher: Oni Press
Published: 10/28/2025
Pages: 176
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.75lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.60d
ISBN: 9781637159309
Audience: Ages 9-12


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 08/25/2025
Kirkus Reviews 09/15/2025

About the Author
Mat Heagerty super happily lives in Vermont with his best buds/family. He writes awesome comics like Lumberjackula, Martian Ghost Centaur, and Unplugged and Unpopular. Mat is dyslexic and struggled a bunch in school. Now he often travels the country talking to elementary and middle school kids about the strengths of learning disabilities. During the 2023-4 school year, Mat and his family bought an RV and traveled all across the US. It was amazingly life-changing!

Lisa DuBois-Thompson is a cartoonist and former indoor kid from Grand Rapids, Michigan. A lifelong fan of comics and animation, she has always dreamed of bringing stories to life through her art. She has worked on Rugrats for Boom Studios and Aggretsuko: Meet Her Friends for Oni Press. When she's not drawing cartoons, she teaches her students how to draw cartoons as a professor at Kendall College of Art and Design. As a mother to an energetic baby boy, she enjoys bringing stories to life that he might like to read someday. She draws inspiration from the fluidity of animation, infusing her comics with a sense of energy and movement to captivate readers of all ages.