Notes on Travis Muñoz and the Fire of the Aztecs

Behind the Scenes with Mark Stack and Anne Marcano

A middle-grade graphic novel powered by friendship, mythology, and baseball, Travis Muñoz and the Fire of the Aztecs brings Aztec mythology and Mexican folklore in one fast-moving story for young readers. Mark Stack and Anne Marcano, and presented by Karla Souza, this new graphic novel follows Travis Muñoz as an ordinary eclipse turns into something much bigger: feathered snakemen, ancient gods, and the responsibility of making sure the sun rises each morning.

In this edition of Notes, the creators share how the book came together—from early collaboration and character building to visual storytelling shaped by culture, color, and identity.

"The origin and foundation of this book is that I really wanted to work with Anne Marcano again after we had done some short comics together. Anne is very easy to talk with as a friend and write towards as an artist because she wears all of her enthusiasms so proudly that you can’t help but want to join in. So the idea of going from doing short comics to an entire book together just sounded like fun! It turns out that making a book is also pretty hard, but we kept each other afloat during that time by constantly going back-and-forth about the characters and the action and how we could make it something that our young readers would connect with and find fun. That collaborative energy definitely bled into how we portrayed the friendship between Travis and Yolanda at the center of the book. It was very easy to write them ribbing each other during practice and cheering for each other during a game because that’s what Anne and I were doing for each other the whole way through. That, and the guidance of our editor Rebecca Taylor, gave me a sense of clarity early on when I felt intimidated about the undertaking. As long as the friendship felt real and meaningful then everything else– the mythology, plotting– would find meaning through those characters experiencing it together."
— Mark Stack

At the center of Travis Muñoz and the Fire of the Aztecs is the friendship between Travis and Yolanda—a relationship that grounds the larger fantasy stakes in something immediate and real. While ancient mythology and supernatural danger drive the plot forward, the emotional core remains rooted in trust, rivalry, humor, and the shifting dynamics of growing up. That balance also shaped the book's visual direction, where color, movement, and expression became essential tools for bringing both mythology and everyday life into the same world.

"Working on "Travis Muñoz and the Fire of the Aztecs" was an incredible learning experience, from the graphic novel making to the artist's perspective. Mark wrote a story with a lot of heart that touches on culture and identity, so my challenge was to raise up to that level and convey through my art something just as colorful and expressive, which falls well with how Aztec and Latin American art is depicted. With my life experiences of living in a Latin American country I could find that connection and use it to show a world that looks magical even in mundane moments. Suffice to say that color was my greatest tool in achieving both that cultural connection and the heart of the story"
— Anne Marcano

A Middle Grade Fantasy Rooted in Aztec Mythology

Before the eclipse, Travis Muñoz was worried about math class, baseball practice, and whether things would stay the same with his best friend Yolanda. After the eclipse, he learns he has been chosen as the next warrior priest for an Aztec sun god—and that keeping the world running may now depend on him.

As feathered snakemen begin appearing and family secrets rise to the surface, Travis must learn what it means to carry responsibility while still figuring out who he is. Inspired by Aztec mythology, Mexican folklore, and the emotional stakes of friendship, Travis Muñoz and the Fire of the Aztecs offers young readers a fantasy adventure that feels both epic and personal.

For readers who love stories like Percy Jackson & the Olympians, The Storm Runner, and Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, this is a new adventure built around culture, mythology, and the power of seeing yourself in the story.