A new graphic novel titled “We Are Pan” will tell the true story of the mass evacuation of Cuban children during the Castro regime, highlighting their struggles and journeys to the U.S., and is set to be released on June 2, 2026.

The press release follows:

Media Release – Family or freedom? Top Shelf Productions invite you to discover the astonishing history of the mass evacuation of Cuban children, leaving communism—and their loved ones—behind, with the unforgettable original graphic novel, WE ARE PAN, available June 2, 2026. This debut graphic novel from professional illustrator and storyteller, Andre Frattino with art by Yasmin Flores Montanez beautifully captures the devastation and hope of those affected by the Castro regime in the early 1960s, and includes a foreword from descendant, critically acclaimed and award-winning author, Alex Segura (Secret Identity, Alter Ego).

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WE ARE PAN

We Are Pan is based on the true story of Operación Pedro Pan, a joint effort between the U.S. government and the Catholic Welfare Bureau to evacuate 14,000 children from Cuba to the U.S. between 1960 and 1962. With the rise of communism following Fidel Castro’s revolution, parents feared for their children’s future and, through this secret operation, secured passage for them to America. These children (later referred to as “Pedro Pans”) would be distributed across the U.S., mostly living in foster homes. In many cases, these children never saw their families again, and their lives would be changed forever. This is their story.

We Are Pan will be available wherever books are sold, as a full-color hardcover (ISBN: 978-1-60309-592-1) on June 2, 2026, for a list price of $19.99. For more information please visit the? Top Shelf website.

WE ARE PAN

About the Creators

Andre Frattino? is a professional illustrator and storyteller who has worked in a variety of roles, from published graphic novelist to ghost tour guide to reality television and podcast personality. He holds degrees from both Savannah College of Art and Design (BFA, Sequential Art) and the University of Florida (MA, Art Education). As a visual storyteller, he utilizes his skills in writing and illustrating to work on a variety of projects, both personal and commercial. He is the creator of the Florida-focused graphic novel series The Flagler’s Few (Pineapple Press) and has worked with clients that include the New York Times best-selling author Shelley Fraser Mickle, Infinite Energy, and Firehouse Subs. His recent titles include the Kickstarter success Simon Says, for which he served as writer, and his illustrative adaptation of A Land Remembered, a Pulitzer Prize–nominated novel. Frattino currently resides in Savannah, Georgia, with his amazingly talented wife, two furry rascals, and a school of koi fish. He moonlights as a walking ghost tour guide in his free time.

Yasmin Flores Montanez is a comic artist and illustrator from Puerto Rico. She enjoys crafting diverse cultural stories that are both action-packed and introspective. She earned an MFA in Sequential Art at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and she's part of the inaugural class of the Milestone Initiative Talent Development Workshop by DC Comics and Warner Brothers Discovery.

About the Publisher

Top Shelf Productions has published critically acclaimed and popularly beloved graphic novels since 1997. Celebrating more than a decade as an imprint of IDW Publishing, Top Shelf continues to showcase the vanguard of the comics medium, publishing works of literary sophistication, visionary artistry, and personal resonance.

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