35 Los Angeles storytellers turn wildfire recovery into comic anthology

Oak Tree Comics will publish WE ARE LOS ANGELES on Jan. 5, 2027, marking the two-year anniversary of the Los Angeles wildfires. Proceeds from the book’s publisher profits will support four local nonprofits focused on relief, recovery and environmental restoration.

Why it matters: - The anthology turns a major local disaster into a fundraiser for Los Angeles wildfire recovery. - Publisher profits will be split among four nonprofits working on environmental restoration, relief and rebuilding. - The book is aimed at middle-grade readers and older, which could make it useful in classrooms and libraries across Southern California.

What happened: - Oak Tree Comics will publish WE ARE LOS ANGELES: AN ANTHOLOGY OF COMICS IN SUPPORT OF WILDFIRE RELIEF on Jan. 5, 2027. - The publication date marks the two-year anniversary of the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. - The 264-page graphic anthology is edited by Josh Oaktree. - Thirty-five local writers and artists contributed stories centered on loss, resilience and community. - The book is available for preorder now at Oak Tree Comics and wherever books are sold.

The details: - Publisher profits will go equally to the Theodore Payne Foundation, Palisades Recovery Coalition, My TRIBE Rise and TreePeople. - The anthology mixes fantastical allegory and first-person nonfiction. - Several stories focus on native plants, wildlife and the role native landscapes can play in reducing wildfire risk. - The book is written for readers ages 8-12 and up. - Oak Tree Comics is an independent Los Angeles publisher founded by Josh Oaktree and focused on environmental themes. - Oaktree said the project needed a communal lens because one person's imagination could not fully capture the fires or the community response. - Oaktree previously co-edited DID YOU BOSCOV TODAY?, an anthology built around stories about his late grandfather, Albert Boscov. - Contributor Lili Todd’s story, “Visiting Home,” reflects on returning to Los Angeles after the fires. - Kristen Wang’s “Our Neighbors, Our Wildlife” closes with the anthology’s central theme of community care and coexistence with nature. - The anthology’s listed book details include paperback and ebook formats, a $21.95 U.S. paperback price, a $28.95 Canadian price, and distributor Lakeside Book Company. - The title is available in the U.S. and Canada.

Between the lines: - The anthology is as much about climate resilience as it is about Los Angeles identity. - By pairing comics with relief donations, Oak Tree Comics is using storytelling as a direct support mechanism rather than a symbolic tribute. - The emphasis on native plants and greener rebuilding suggests the project is pushing a recovery narrative that includes fire prevention and environmental design. - The book’s local contributors and nonprofit partners keep the project rooted in Los Angeles, but the editor says the theme of disaster recovery through community is universal.

What’s next: - Oak Tree Comics plans launch events at each of the four nonprofit partner locations, with details to come. - The publisher will continue posting free preview stories and contributor reels on Instagram and Facebook through November and December. - Review copies, interviews, the cover, author headshot and sample pages are available on request. - The book will be sold through Oak Tree Comics and other retailers after publication.

The bottom line: - WE ARE LOS ANGELES is both a creative snapshot of post-fire Los Angeles and a direct fundraising vehicle for local recovery.