Ryan North

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About Ryan North

Ryan North is the (New York Times bestselling, Eisner-award winning) creator of Dinosaur Comics, the co-editor of the Machine of Death series, and the author of both "To Be or Not To Be" and "Romeo and/or Juliet": the choose-your-own-path versions of Shakespeare's plays. He also wrote "The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl" for Marvel Comics, who you might know from their movies about an iron man. His non-fiction work includes "How To Invent Everything: A Survival Guide for the Stranded Time Traveller" and the upcoming "How to Take Over the World".

He lives in Toronto, Canada with his wife Jenn and his dog Noam Chompsky.

Christopher Hastings

Ian McGinty

Marvel Comics

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Martin Olson

G. Willow Wilson

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$15.99

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$7.49

Kindle Edition

Author Updates

Titles By Ryan North

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How to Take Over the World: Practical Schemes and Scientific Solutions for the Aspiring Supervillain Mar 15, 2022

by Ryan North

( 58 )

$15.99

“Comic book fans will fall hard for this delightfully daffy guidebook. . . . Exuberant, optimistic, and just plain fun, How to Take Over the World will both surprise and delight.” —Esquire

A book this informative should be a crime!

Taking over the world is a lot of work. Any supervillain is bound to have questions: What’s the perfect location for a floating secret base? What zany heist will fund my wildly ambitious plans? How do I control the weather, destroy the internet, and never, ever die?

Bestselling author and award-winning comics writer Ryan North has the answers. In this introduction to the science of comic-book supervillainy, he details a number of outlandish villainous schemes that harness the potential of today’s most advanced technologies. Picking up where How to Invent Everything left off, his explanations are as fun and elucidating as they are completely absurd.

You don’t have to be a criminal mastermind to share a supervillain’s interest in cutting-edge science and technology. This book doesn’t just reveal how to take over the world—it also shows how you could save it. This sly guide to some of the greatest threats facing humanity accessibly explores emerging techniques to extend human life spans, combat cyberterrorism, communicate across millennia, and finally make Jurassic Park a reality.

Other Formats: Audible Audiobook , Hardcover , Paperback

How to Invent Everything: A Survival Guide for the Stranded Time Traveler Sep 18, 2018

by Ryan North

( 1,072 )

$13.99

An NPR Best Book of 2018

"How to Invent Everything is such a cool book. It's essential reading for anyone who needs to duplicate an industrial civilization quickly." --Randall Munroe, xkcd creator and New York Times-bestselling author of What If?

The only book you need if you're going back in time

What would you do if a time machine hurled you thousands of years into the past. . . and then broke? How would you survive? Could you improve on humanity's original timeline? And how hard would it be to domesticate a giant wombat?

With this book as your guide, you'll survive--and thrive--in any period in Earth's history. Bestselling author and time-travel enthusiast Ryan North shows you how to invent all the modern conveniences we take for granted--from first principles. This illustrated manual contains all the science, engineering, art, philosophy, facts, and figures required for even the most clueless time traveler to build a civilization from the ground up. Deeply researched, irreverent, and significantly more fun than being eaten by a saber-toothed tiger, How to Invent Everything will make you smarter, more competent, and completely prepared to become the most important and influential person ever. You're about to make history. . . better.

Other Formats: Audible Audiobook , Hardcover , Paperback

Minecraft: Stories from the Overworld (Graphic Novel) Oct 15, 2019

by Hope Larson, Ian Flynn, Rafer Roberts, Stephen McCranie, Meredith Gran

( 730 )

$8.99

From blocks to panels! Minecraft returns to comics in this stand-alone anthology collection of officially licensed, original comic stories!

With tales of witch and pillager rivals finding common ground, a heartless griefer who bit off more than they could chew, and valiant heroes new (or not!) to the Overworld, this anthology tells tales that span the world of Minecraft. Featuring stories from star writers Hope Larson (Batgirl), Kevin Panetta (Zodiac Starforce, Bloom), Rafer Roberts (Modern Fantasy, Grumble), and Ian Flynn (Sonic, Mega Man) and exciting artists Meredith Gran (Octopus Pie) and more, this collection brings together stories from all realms, leaving no block unturned!

Other Formats: Hardcover

Machine of Death: A collection of stories about people who know how they will die Oct 25, 2010

by Ryan North, Matthew Bennardo, David Malki !

( 303 )

$5.99

"The machine had been invented a few years ago: a machine that could tell, from just a sample of your blood, how you were going to die.

"It didn't give you the date and it didn't give you specifics. It just spat out a sliver of paper upon which were printed, in careful block letters, the words DROWNED or CANCER or OLD AGE or CHOKED ON A HANDFUL OF POPCORN. It let people know how they were going to die."

MACHINE OF DEATH tells thirty-four different stories about people who know how they will die. Prepare to have your tears jerked, your spine tingled, your funny bone tickled, your mind blown, your pulse quickened, or your heart warmed.

Or better yet, simply prepare to be surprised. Because even when people do have perfect knowledge of the future, there's no telling exactly how things will turn out.

Featuring stories by:
Randall Munroe
Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw
Tom Francis
Camille Alexa
Erin McKean
James L. Sutter
and many others.

Featuring illustrations by:
Kate Beaton
Kazu Kibuishi
Aaron Diaz
Jeffrey Brown
Scott C.
Roger Langridge
Karl Kerschl
Cameron Stewart
and many others.

Other Formats: Paperback

Romeo and/or Juliet: A Chooseable-Path Adventure Jun 7, 2016

by Ryan North

( 324 )

$9.99

The New York Times bestseller from the author of How to Invent Everything and To Be or Not To Be

Romeo loves Juliet. Or Rosaline. And Juliet loves Romeo. Or Viola. Or Orlando. It's Shakespeare as you've never played him before.

In this choose-your-own-path version of Romeo and Juliet, you choose where the story goes every time you read! What if Romeo never met Juliet? What if Juliet got really buff instead of moping around the castle all day? What if they teamed up to take over Verona with robot suits? Whatever your adventure, you're guaranteed to find lots of romance, lots of epic fight scenes, and plenty of questionable decision-making by very emotional teens.

All of the endings—there are over a hundred—feature beautiful illustrations by some of the greatest artists working today, including New York Times bestsellers Kate Beaton, Noelle Stevenson, Randall Munroe, and Jon Klassen.

Packed with exciting choices, fun puzzles, secret surprises, terrible puns, and more than a billion possible storylines, Romeo and/or Juliet offers a new experience every time you read it. You can choose to play as Romeo or Juliet (obviously) but you can also play as both of them, or as Juliet's nurse, or, if you're good, you can even unlock a fourth playable character! That's right. We figured out how to have unlockable characters in books. Choose well, and you may even get to write the world's most awkward choose-your-own sex scene.

Other Formats: Paperback

The Mystery of the Meanest Teacher: A Johnny Constantine Graphic Novel (2021) Jun 29, 2021

by Ryan North, Derek Charm

( 51 )

$3.99

After angering a number of hostile spirits in England, 13-year-old magician Johnny Constantine has to find a way out of the country. Persuading his parents to send him to America, John arrives at the Junior Success Boarding School in Salem, Massachusetts. But once there,he finds himself to be something of an outcast. And he is also convinced that his homeroom teacher really has it in for him. Worse, he's convinced that's she's really a witch. Fortunately, John is able to find one kindred spirit at school with whom he's able to form an alliance--another misfit named Anna, who also happens to have her own developing magical powers. John recruits Anna in his efforts to uncover the truth about Ms. Kayla and expose the Meanest Teacher's real identity to the world. Joined by a friendly demon named Etrigan, these two amateur sleuths will uncover clues and stumble upon forces beyond their control in a humorous series of misadventures.

Other Formats: Paperback

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Vol. 5: Like I'm The Only Squirrel In The World (The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl (2015-2019)) Mar 22, 2017

by Ryan North, Will Murray, Erica Henderson, Marvel Comics

( 96 )

$8.99

Collects The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl (2015B) #12-16.

Squirrel Girl takes Nancy to visit her mom in Canada! What could possibly go wrong, right? How about the return of a super villain not seen for more than a decade? One that will prompt the inter-species team-up you've been waiting for: squirrels and ants! And also Squirrel Girl and Ant-Man. It'll be huge! Or tiny. Then, when Taskmaster strikes, with his uncanny ability to duplicate any super-type's sweet moves, who will stand between him and total domination? You probably guessed Doreen Green, but you're wrong! It's actually Nancy's cat, Mew! It's a story of one feline, and all the feels. Plus: To celebrate the 25th anniversary of our unbeatable hero, her co-creator Will Murray returns to write only his second-ever Squirrel Girl tale — and he's bringing the Hulk!

Other Formats: Paperback

Unlimited reading. Anywhere you go. Learn more

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Beats Up The Marvel Universe (The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl (2015-2019)) Oct 11, 2016

by Ryan North, Erica Henderson

( 166 )

$9.99

Proof that we're living in the best of all possible worlds: Marvel is publishing a Squirrel Girl graphic novel! It's a standalone adventure that's great for both old fans and new readers! It's a story so huge it demanded an original graphic novel! It's a story so nuts it incorporates both senses of that word (insanity and squirrel food)! And it's the best! Squirrel Girl kicks butts, eats nuts, talks to squirrels and also punches really well. She has defeated Thanos, Galactus and Doctor Doom (twice!). But now she'll encounter her most dangerous, most powerful, most unbeatable enemy yet: herself! Specifically, an evil duplicate made possible through mad science (both computer and regular) as well as some bad decisions. In other words, Squirrel Girl beats up the Marvel Universe! YES!

Other Formats: Hardcover

This title and over 1 million more available with Kindle Unlimited.

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Vol. 1: Squirrel Power (The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl (2015)) Aug 19, 2015

by Ryan North, Steve Ditko, Will Murray, Erica Henderson

( 516 )

$6.99

Collects The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #1-4, Marvel Super-Heroes (1992) #8.

Doctor Doom, Deadpool, even Thanos: There’s one hero who’s beaten them all — and now she’s starring in her own series! That’s right, it’s SQUIRREL GIRL! The nuttiest and most upbeat super hero in the world is starting college! And as if meeting her new roommate and getting to class on time isn’t hard enough, now she has to deal with Kraven the Hunter, too? At least her squirrel friend Tippy-Toe is on hand to help out. But what can one girl, and one squirrel, do when a hungry Galactus heads toward Earth? You’d be surprised! With time running out and Iron Man lending a helping hand (sort of), who will win in the battle between the Power Cosmic and the Power Chestnut? Plus: Squirrel Girl’s classic debut!

Other Formats: Library Binding , Paperback

Unlimited reading. Anywhere you go. Learn more

To Be or Not To Be: A Chooseable-Path Adventure Sep 6, 2016

by Ryan North

( 441 )

$8.99

From the bestelling author of Romeo and/or Juliet and How to Invent Everything, the greatest work in English literature, now in the greatest format of English literature: a chooseable-path adventure!

When Shakespeare wrote Hamlet he gave the world just one possible storyline, drawn from a constellation of billions of alternate narratives. And now you can correct that horrible mistake! Play as Hamlet and avenge your father's death—with ruthless efficiency this time. Play as Ophelia and change the world with your scientific brilliance. Play as Hamlet's father and die on the first page, then investigate your own murder… as a ghost! Featuring over 100 different endings, each illustrated by today's greatest artists, incredible side quests, fun puzzles, and a book-within-a-book instead of a play-within-a-play, To Be or Not To Be offers up new surprises and secrets every time you read it.

You decide this all sounds extremely excellent, and that you will definitely purchase this book right away. Because as the Bard said: “to be or not to be… that is the adventure.”

...You're almost certain that's how it goes.

To Be or Not To Be originally launched as a record-breaking Kickstarter project. This new, reader-friendly edition features the same text and illustrations as the original version, redesigned to take up half as many pages and weigh a whole pound less.

Other Formats: Paperback

The Darkhold: Iron Man (2021) #1 (The Darkhold (2021)) Oct 13, 2021

by Ryan North, Valerio Giangiordano, Guillermo Sanna

( 11 )

$1.99

Ryan North turns his talents to a brand-new genre! Called forth to face the dread god Chthon, Iron Man reads from the ancient ill-fated text the Darkhold…and it changes the course of his entire life. The armor that has saved him countless times is about to become a prison — one whose only escape is a fate worse than death. The brilliant comedic mind behind The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl and Dinosaur Comics brings you the body-horror tale of the century!!

Other Formats: Comic Book

Adventure Time Vol. 1 Sep 13, 2013

by Ryan North, Shelli Paroline, Braden Lamb

( 628 )

$7.49

The totally algebraic adventures of Finn and Jake have come to the comic book page! The Lich, a super-lame, SUPER-SCARY skeleton dude, has returned to the the Land of Ooo, and he's bent on total destruction! Luckily, Finn and Jake are on the case...but can they succeed against their most destructive foe yet? Featuring fan-favorite characters Marceline the Vampire Queen, Princess Bubblegum, Lumpy Space Princess and the Ice King!

Other Formats: Library Binding , Paperback

This title and over 1 million more available with Kindle Unlimited.

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