The Little Red Fish

by James Moffitt
illustrated by Bizhan Khodabandeh

An aquatic reef held down by an oppressive regime of blood-thirsty herons struggles to rise up in this harrowing tale of self-discovery, heritage, and revolution.

We follow The Little Red Fish as they journey deep into themselves and blossom into the leader they were meant to be. Guided by a magical orb and the will of the people, our hero strives to help a small reef in the Persian Gulf regain its freedom. The Little Red Fish is a creative retelling of the events of the Iranian Revolution from the perspective of those actually involved. A stunning mixture of political allegory and magical realism, The Little Red Fish collects the 6 part comic book series into one trade, including artist features and process notes. The Little Red Fish vividly captures an often-overlooked part of history, channeling folk history, oral histories from first-hand accounts, and academic research.

Paperback | 168 pages | Rosarium Publishing | 2023

James Moffitt is a writer and teacher living in Richmond, Virginia. He holds an MA in Writing & Rhetoric from Virginia Commonwealth University. He has published two collections of short stories, Swamp Gospels and What to Do When You Give Up. Moffitt has also been published in several academic and fiction journals and as a freelance journalist. James sees writing and teaching as a means to facilitate social change at the structural level. His publishing company Sink/Swim Press embraces a DIY ethic and strives to remind people of the value of tangible art.

Bizhan Khodabandeh (The Day the Klan Came to Town) is a visual communicator who moves freely across the professional boundaries as designer, illustrator, artist, and activist. His works vary from small graphic art projects to major public campaigns. Khodabandeh is particularly fascinated by how art and design can catalyze social change. He has received numerous international and national awards for his work, including a silver medal from the Society of Illustrators, a silver medal from the International Design Awards, a finalist in the Cross-Cultural Design Competition, and best in show through the American Institute of Graphic Arts. He has received numerous international and national awards for his work as both an illustrator and designer through various institutions such as The American Institute of Graphic Arts, Creativity International, Adbusters, and Creative Quarterly. Khodabandeh has had work featured in publications such as Print, Creativity International, Adbusters, and Comic Bastards among others. Currently, Khodabandeh teaches full-time at VCU’s Robertson School of Media & Culture and freelances under the name, Mended Arrow.