Papercutz senior editor Adam Wallenta spoke to PW about the imprint's new series, how his own background as a teacher informs his work on the titles, and why it was important to hire writers who are experts in their respective fields.

What is Secret S.T.E.A.M. Society?

The Secret S.T.E.A.M. Society is a series of self-contained graphic novels, each with a specific topic, that the story’s characters are focused on learning about. Everything starts off at the world-famous London Academy of Ideas and Ingenuity in New London, Conn. There, we are introduced to the rotating cast that makes up the diverse student body, who come from all over the world, to share their love for learning. Each book has a different group of students experiencing an all-new, exciting adventure where they will learn, teach, grow and help their secret, extraterrestrial exchange student, navigate life on earth.

How did Secret S.T.E.A.M. Society come about?

On top of being an author/illustrator and editor, I am also a former professional k-12 educator and have always been passionate about combining my love for comics with my passion to share knowledge and educate young people. When I was hired as an editor at Papercutz, I was given the task of creating original S.T.E.A.M. related graphic novels that kids will love, teachers will be able to use and adults will appreciate. I wanted to create something that would truly edutain readers of all ages.

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Want to know what the Secret S.T.E.A.M. Society is all about? Then check out the trailer for the new series, before book one, Horses, hits shelves in February 2026.

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The Secret S.T.E.A.M. Society is made up of a group of students from different grade levels that come together with their good friend, Toot, who is an exchange student from another planet, to learn, teach and understand the world and the universe around us. In this first adventure, the students explore the majestic world of horses and go on the ride of a lifetime.

When their teacher introduces their next lesson on horses, Thea is a little nervous. She’s never seen a horse in person before, much less ridden one. It’s up to George and Toot to help Thea overcome her fears by learning as much as she can about these majestic animals.

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In this second adventure, the students explore the science of music. From how our vocal chords and ears work to how how sound waves can affect the brain and how instruments are built, this is a must-have for any young music lover.

When the lead singer of the band loses her voice one week before the big show, the students of The London Academy of Ideas and Ingenuity must quickly find a replacement. Thankfully, Sebastian has the vocal pipes to rock the house. But there’s one problem: he doesn’t know anything about music! Will the kids be able to teach Sebastian about music and come together as a band before the big concert?

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Cuando la amiga de Lincoln Loud, Ronnie Anne, y su hermano, Bobby Santiago, se mudaron de Royal Woods a la gran ciudad, no tenían ni idea de que estaban a punto de comenzar un nuevo y emocionante capítulo en sus vidas. Ahora viven en un apartamento arriba del mercado de su abuelo, y junto a su madre María se están adaptando a dejar de ser una familia de tres en Royal Woods, para ser una familia numerosa liderada por los abuelos Héctor y Rosa en Great Lakes City.

Presentando las mejores historias de las tres primeras novelas gráficas: Todos somos Familia, Todo por la Familia y Apestosamente Nuevo, ésta gran colección en español es imperdible para los fans de The Loud House y Los Casagrande.

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When Lincoln Loud’s close friend Ronnie Anne and her brother Bobby Santiago moved away from Royal Woods to the Big City, they had no idea that they were about to start an exciting new chapter in their lives, while living in an apartment above their abuelo’s Mercado. Together with their mom, Maria, they are adapting from going to a family of three in Royal Woods to living with their whole extended family, headed by the kids’ abuelos, Hector and Rosa, in the big city. Now, The Casagrandes are starring in their own popular animated series on Nickelodeon!

Featuring stories from the creative team of the hit Nickelodeon shows The Loud House and The Casagrandes! Collecting comic stories from the first three Casagrandes graphic novels “We’re All Familia,” “Everything for Family,” and “Brand Stinkin New,” this is a must have for of The Casagrandes and sister series The Loud House.

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In the first half of this outrageous and original double feature, Phineas and the gang invent a maze to get lost in, but Doofenshmirtz’s ELONG-inator makes it so big that it absorbs all of Danville; and now everyone ELSE is lost too! Our heroes must invent their way out while Agent P stops Doof from exploiting the maze to take over the entire Tri-State area!

The second story features an alternate reality take on our fan-favorite characters, with Dr. Doofenshmirtz as a cheesy, late night TV horror movie host. When Phineas and Ferb discover actual monsters in Danville, they seek out Doof’s help, even as Candace, a staunch non-believer, vows to reveal them as frauds. With the help of Doof and his horror movie knowledge, the kids build wild inventions to confront the creepy creatures, before facing their largest monster yet: a gigantic, feral Perry the Platypus!

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¡MEJOR JUNTOS! Riley Andersen ya es una adolescente, y sus emociones (Alegría, Ira, Miedo, Tristeza y Asco) empiezan a trabajar juntas con las nuevas emociones: Ansiedad, Envidia, Vergüenza y Aburrimiento. ¡El cuartel general nunca ha estado tan ocupado!

Mientras Riley se aventura en una cabaña embrujada en un campamento de verano, asiste a su primera fiesta adolescente en la piscina, se encuentra con una sorpresa inesperada justo antes del día de fotos escolares y mucho más, ¿podrá el equipo descubrir cómo ayudarla a vivir su mejor vida a pesar de todos los altibajos?

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BETTER TOGETHER! Riley Andersen is officially a teenager, and her Emotions—Joy, Anger, Fear, Sadness, and Disgust—are starting to work together with new Emotions Anxiety, Envy, Embarrassment, and Ennui. Headquarters has never been busier!

As Riley braves a haunted cabin at summer camp, attends her first teen pool party, encounters an unexpected surprise just before school picture day, and more, can the crew figure out how to help her live her best life through all the ups and downs?

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Mad Cave Studios is offering you the chance to win digital ARCs of Secret S.T.E.A.M. Society books 1 & 2!

Just in time for the holiday season, the lucky winners will get to be among the first to get a peek at Horses and Music.

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Mad Cave Studios, established in 2014, is an independent publisher committed to providing worldwide entertainment across an array of genres.

Mad Cave’s catalog includes a captivating blend of licensed, creator-owned, and original works, masterfully created by a diverse cast of storytellers focused on cultivating impactful character-driven narratives.

Mad Cave Studios is the parent company to Maverick, Nakama Press, and Papercutz, enriching the literary landscape for readers of all ages.

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