Parents of autistic children often like to imagine a world where their children would be able to attain their full potential. What happens when an award-winning writer starts thinking about this? He creates a world wherein his autistic daughter is an adventurous superhero.
That’s exactly how ‘Adora and the Distance’ was born, fifteen years ago. Marc Bernardin, who has been associated with writing for Star Trek, Carnival Row and Castle Rock, had just been told about his daughter being on the autism spectrum. His friends suggested that he write about his feelings as a means of coping with and accepting the situation.
In the pinned comment on his Twitter profile, Bernardin declares that this is the work that means the most to him among everything he has ever published. He even calls ‘Adora and the Distance’ as a slice of his heart on a page.
The book is an adventure set in a Tolkein-isque world where Princess Adora fights evil. More than that, it helps in understanding how his autistic daughter sees the world around her. It also talks about the love for Adora that the other characters have.
Written by Bernardin, drawn by Ariela Kristantina and colored by Bryan Valenza, the comic is available on Comixology.