Macmillan Children’s Books snags four-book graphic novel series Tiny Hercules

Macmillan Children’s Books (MCB) has acquired four graphic novels from UK-based creative duo Jon Lock and Nich Angell. 

Tiny Hercules is a middle-grade series that was commissioned by Macmillan Children’s Books editors who came across Lock and Angell at MCM Comic Con.

The novels will be illustrated in colour with the first title launching in spring 2026 and the following three publishing at 6-month intervals. 

Cate Augustin, editorial director at Macmillan Children’s Books fiction and non-fiction, and Louisa Cusworth, assistant editor, bought world rights from Rachel Mann at CAA. 

The series follows the adventures of Tiny Hercules, who has been banished from Tiny Olympus after ruining one too many of Tiny Zeus’s legendary parties.   

Lock and Angell are a writer and artist team who have been making comics and tabletop games for more than 15 years, for publishers including Nickelodeon and 2000AD magazine. They are the creators of the comics Afterlife Inc. and Cat & Meringue.  

Augustin said: “Tiny Hercules is pure joy—completely bonkers, fast-paced and laugh-yourself-silly funny. The children’s graphic novel market is such an exciting place to be publishing into at the moment, and Tiny Hercules is exactly what kids are looking for in this space. I can’t wait for readers around the world to experience the joy of the tiniest, mightiest, most hilarious god they’ve ever met.” 

Lock and Angell said in a joint statement: “We’re so excited that Tiny Hercules has found a home with Macmillan. We’ve been making independent comics for years, and now, thanks to the amazing team at MCB, we have an incredible opportunity to bring our love and enthusiasm for this medium to a wider audience. We grew up living and breathing comics. These larger-than-life heroes and stories are what shaped us as creators.” 

They added: “Tiny Hercules is the perfect fusion of everything we love about storytelling, wrapped up in a very silly package. It’s fun, daft and exciting and exactly the kind of book we would have loved to have read as kids.”