The Spectrum and the Spectre
The first light novel in the world of Apple Black, Apple Black Origins shares the never-before-told tale of wild and brave young sorceress Willow Wantmore, powerful rogue sorcerer Gideon Banburi, and their dangerous mission surrounding the legendary Golden Wands, as well as the prejudices faced by fan-favorite Opal Wantmore’s family.

In this light-novel prequel to the Apple Black series, Willow and Gideon together take on the evils that riddle Eden in their adventure to find gold.

*2025 CBC Young Adult Favorites Winner*

Many years ago, humans acquired “Black” fruits from a tree that descended from the skies, turning humans into sorcerers. Although all of Black is now extinct, humans still have sorcery inherited from their ancestors. In this fantastical world of wands and sorcerers, The Ebony Peak wars led to the new regime of Eden, but its policy left behind many stricken and near-extinct tribes who’ve now formed rebellions against the new rule.

In Apple Black Origins, a pivotal origin story about the fantastical world of Apple Black, Willow, a wild young sorceress with mysterious vitiligo, looks to end the discrimination towards her tribe and others by finding all the legendary Golden Wands, like the one she got from her father, to help balance the scales. She enlists the help of a powerful rogue sorcerer, Gideon Banburi, to find salvation, though he may be more trouble than she anticipates.

Gideon and Willow are hunted by Rebels, secret organizations, and the new regime to find a wand using a map that was hidden within it. In time, it’s revealed that Willow’s vitiligo is actually the map that leads them to the wands—but not before treachery repeatedly crosses their path. 

Apple Black Origins is rated T for Teen, recommended for ages 13 and up.

Saturday AM, the world’s most diverse manga-inspired comics, are now presented in a new format! Introducing Saturday AM TANKS, the new graphic novel format similar to Japanese Tankobons where we collect the global heroes and artists of Saturday AM. These handsome volumes have select color pages, revised artwork, and innovative post-credit scenes that help bring new life to our popular BIPOC, LGBTQ, and/or culturally diverse characters.

The Saturday AM TANKS series include: Apple Black, Clock Striker, Gunhild, Hammer, Henshin!, The Massively Multiplayer World of Ghosts, Oblivion Rouge, Saigami, Soul Beat, Titan King, Underground, and Yellow Stringer.