
She has amassed a cult following on popular online comic platform Webtoon with readership in the millions, and now, writer and artist Junepurr is set to make her graphic novel print debut with her hit series ‘SubZero’ this September.
Oni Press, the multiple Eisner and Harvey award-winning publisher of groundbreaking comic books and graphic novels since 1997, will be publish the first print edition of ‘SubZero’. With over 375 million reads on Webtoon and over three million subscribers, the romance fantasy epic is a smash hit on Webtoon and is now poised to engross a whole new readership with the beloved series’ print debut. ‘SubZero’ Vol. 1 will collect episodes 0–25 of the Webtoon and feature all-new, never-before-published back matter material.
“SubZero is a love letter to fantasy stories, palace dramas and romance, created as an escape during a very low period in my life,” said Junepurrr in a press release.
“While the characters possess fantastical Dragon powers, the story deals with themes of duty, sacrifice, and the true strength that lies beneath a veil of fangs and scales. It is my greatest hope that readers of SubZero will find the escape and excitement I felt when I created it.”
To save her people, Princess Clove will have to do the unthinkable—marry her greatest enemy! Clove is the last remaining heir of her Cerulean Dragon clan, fighting in a seemingly endless 300-year-war against the vast Crimson Empire. With no end to the war in sight, Clove agrees to leave her sheltered homeland in favor of a political marriage with the heir to the enemy Crimson Dragon clan, Prince Kyro.
Raised on the battlefields and feared by his rivals, the cutthroat prince is first to notice that Clove is hiding a dangerous secret she’s worked tirelessly to protect. As tensions rise between these unlikely allies, the fragile peace brokered by their marriage is threatened by those who wish to continue the war. Now fighting in the world of her enemies (and fighting a surprising attraction to Kyro), Clove discovers that achieving peace is far more dangerous than she could have ever imagined.
So where did ‘SubZero’ journey all start for Junepurr? She began writing the story as an escape during her accounting internship days. In June 2017, the initial draft of ‘SubZero’ was uploaded to Webtoon, and within one year the comic was chosen to become a Webtoon original comic. Far from her accounting intern desk days crunching numbers, today Junepurr gets to spend her time building on her epic romance fantasy, complete with dragons and glitter.
“The twist of SubZero’s enemies-to-lovers story is that characters of the royal line are actual Dragons. I knew I needed to convey the concept of ‘Shifting’ to the audience early on so readers would understand why Clove is sobbing over the body of a Dragon in the earlier scenes. Since Kyro is not present, Kharis is the first character on screen shown to change into a Dragon. During this transformation, the characters’ dragon tattoos begin to glow. I particularly love drawing these scenes for the ridiculous amounts of glitter and sparkles I get to paint in!”
Oni Press, who are renowned for its 25-year history as one of the industry’s most respected and acclaimed publishers of award-winning comic books and graphic novels, are thrilled about adding Junepurr’s work to their growing list of talent.
“Dragons, love triangles, danger, and magic combine in this action-packed romance fantasy graphic novel,” said Oni Press Senior Editor Grace Scheipeter.
“SubZero is the perfect graphic novel for fans of ‘Lore Olympus’, ‘Fourth Wing’, ‘A Court of Thorns and Roses’, and ‘My Dear Cold-Blooded King’. Kyro and Clove’s enemies-to-lovers romance edges on steamy in this first volume, with more romantic tension and encounters to come!”
‘SubZero Vol. 1’ will be available in stores on September 25, 2024 and features a stunning new cover by Junepurrr for the series’ long-awaited print debut. For more updates on Oni Press, visit them on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. And in the meantime, get a sneak peek at some of the artwork and inserts below!




