My Year as Emma is an interesting project. It started as a year-long social experiment by Roadmap Diversity Winner Amena Kheshtchin-Kamel. And now it’s being turned into an original graphic novel from Dark Horse Comics. Just like how Amena Kheshtchin-Kamel spent a year as a white woman, this project is changing, too.
“I’m over the moon that Dark Horse and my editor Megan Walker gave me the chance to share this universal body positivity and identity story! I’m so excited for people to see what Giulia, Frank, and I have put together.” said Kheshtchin-Kamel via a press release provided to Comic Book Club.
If you’re not familiar, here’s the synopsis for My Year As Emma, per Dark Horse:
Young Persian/Egyptian-American actress Amena Kheshtchin-Kamel changed her name, appearance, and legal identity to a blonde white woman to escape stereotyping and break into Hollywood. What follows is a wild ride of navigating the unlocked universe of social acceptance, Cannes Film Festival invitations, and all the perks that come with her newfound persona as Emma. But, with mounting success after cutting herself off from her culture, will she solidify her identity as Emma Kinsley or stay true to herself?
Kheshtchin-Kamel is also behind The General, and what Dark Horse teases is a “currently unannounced AAA game studio feature adaptation.” I’d assume they’re not turning My Year as Emma into a first-person shooter, but I’ve been wrong before!
The graphic novel is written by Kheshtchin-Kamel, with art by Giulia Giacomino, and letters by Frank Cvetovic. It will hit comic stores on March 19, 2025, for $19.99. Check out the cover to the book, below.
