Exclusive First Look at DEFIANT, The Incredible True Story of Robert Smalls

Summary Meet the real-life superhero Robert Smalls in Legion M's comic Defiant, bringing history to life in a daring Civil War tale.

Learn the incredible story of Smalls stealing a Confederate warship with no shots fired, a true act of defiance and bravery.

Legion M's aspirations for Defiant go beyond the comic, aiming for a film or television adaptation to inspire audiences worldwide.

As the latest comic book to spotlight historical acts of bravery, Legion M is bringing Defiant: The Story of Robert Smalls to readers everywhere, telling the daring adventure of Robert Smalls. Set at the height of the Civil War, the comic made in partnership with Stranger Comics tells of one of the most audacious heists in history, sending the titular Smalls on an increasingly impressive journey through American history.

Defiant tells the story of Robert Smalls, an enslaved harbor pilot who, during the Civil War, successfully stole a Confederate warship. And Screen Rant is pleased to offer readers an exclusive preview of Defiant before the book officially goes on sale May 13, 2024 (currently available for preorder via its official website).

DEFIANT's Civil War Mission is Almost Too Incredible To Believe

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Posing as the vessel's captain, the unlikely hero was able to take control and sail his way to freedom, with the Confederacy now down a ship without a single cannonball having been fired. An act of defiance in every sense of the word, it was as much overlooked actions like these that helped win the war as it was the major battles. Thanks to writer Rob Edwards (The Princess and the Frog, Treasure Planet), and artists Nikolas Draper-Ivey & Ray-Anthony Height, Legion M, and Stranger Comics, this act of bravery is receiving its own comic -- with the potential for more to come.

The Defiant preview introduces readers to a young Robert, one who uses the favoritism of his master, Henry, to narrowly escape the whip of a farm hand. However, the story then shows the tragic consequences of the boy standing up for himself through the mob lynching of his mother. Readers are then shown an older Smalls, now in possession of a telescope he stole from the ship earlier in life, the Confederate name scratched out, and his own name in its place. There, he begins to recount the tale of how he "stole" himself to his son, with the pair fittingly on the water for a day of fishing.

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The DEFIANT Creative Team Have High Hopes For The Story's Future

After raising $150,000 for the comic book on Kickstarter, the team at Legion M have aspirations for the comic to make its way to film or television. This wouldn't be the first case of a crowdfunding success making its way to other media, and could mirror the trajectory of Keanu Reeves' BRZRKR. Hollywood has shown favor to inspiring stories, especially from conflicts like the Civil War, and Defiant is perfectly on-brand for that. As the crew at Legion M said themselves, "this is a thrilling adventure, with potential to entertain and inspire people around the world. And it's based on a real-life superhero."

It's important to note that these previews only offer a taste of what's to come, not showcasing the heist itself, and enticing readers to order the comic to see the full action. However, these snippets do a brilliant job of setting up the harsh, unforgiving conditions into which Robert Smalls was born; and makes his escape all the more powerful.

Defiant: The Story of Robert Smalls arrives on May 13 from Legion M and Stranger Comics, available for preorder now via defiantproject.com.