Angélique Roché on First Freedom: telling the full, human story of Juneteenth in comics

Angélique Roché’s upcoming graphic novel First Freedom arrives February 10 and tells the powerful story of Dr. Opal Lee and the decades-long fight to establish Juneteenth as a national holiday. Ahead of our full written feature next week, we’re sharing something special.It’s a candid, wide-ranging conversation that explores the creative and emotional core of First Freedom, offering early insight into the themes, challenges, and storytelling choices behind one of the year’s most meaningful graphic novels.Visit our Patreon page to see the various tiers you can sign up for today to get in on the ground floor of AIPT Patreon. We hope to see you chatting with us on our Discord soon! NEWS'Spider-Man/Superman' #1 expands with shock creative reveals and legendary backup storiesNew 10-part 'Doomquest' announced with Dr. Doom reshaping historyMarvel just revealed Doom’s ultimate weapon — and it sparks Armageddon in May 2026Spider-Man teams with celebrity chef José Andrés in Marvel’s wildest food-fueled crossover yetDC launches massive Absolute Universe reprint wave as demand continues to surgeKelly Thompson reveals Absolute Suicide Squad designs and new villain detailsDynamite releases 'ThunderCats X SilverHawks' checklist and character designsOni Press levels up with major Penguin Random House deal ahead of big 2026 launchesJason Pearson’s legendary 'Body Bags' returns in massive Artist’s Edition fans won’t want to missOur Top Books of the Week:Dave:Uncanny X-Men (2024) #23 (Gail Simone, David Marquez)The Nice House by the Sea (2024) #7 (James Tynion IV, Alvaro Martinez Bueno)Chris:​​Knight City #1 (Matt Kindt, David Lapham)Thundarr the Barbarian #1 (Jason Aaron, Kewber Baal)Standout KAPOW moment of the week:Chris: Knight City #1 (Matt Kindt, David Lapham) EMAILED!Dave: Wolverine #15 (Saladin Ahmed, Mike Henderson)TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEKChris: Jar Jar #1 (For Real)Dave: Barbarian Behind Bars #1 (Elliott Kalan  Andrea Mutti)JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.Dave: Black Cat #7 (Adam Hughes Virgin Cover)Chris: Marc Spector: Moon Knight #1 (Baldemar Rivas Variant)Interview: Angelique Roche Interview (First Freedom: The Story of Opal Lee and Juneteenth out February 10This is the first-ever graphic novel dedicated to the history and origin of Juneteenth. When you first realized the scope of that responsibility, what felt most important to get right from the very beginning?You’ve spent years helping elevate underrepresented voices through Marvel’s Voices—both the podcast and the comics—creating space for creators to tell stories that might otherwise be sidelined. How did that experience inform the way you approached First Freedom, especially when it came to deciding whose voices and perspectives needed to be centered?The book spans nearly 160 years of history, yet remains deeply personal. How did you decide when to zoom out to the larger historical context and when to stay tightly focused on Dr. Opal Lee’s lived experience?There are moments in First Freedom where the art (Alvin Epps, Bex Glendining, and Millicent Monroe) carries the emotional weight as much as the words. Was there a scene where seeing the visuals for the first time changed or deepened how you felt about the story? P.S. I loved how your team used the mirror in the opening scene.You worked directly with Dr. Opal Lee and her granddaughter, Dione Sims, including extensive in-person interviews. What surprised you most about Dr. Lee once you spent real time with her beyond the public image?This book arrives during Black History Month and as part of a yearlong celebration of Dr. Lee’s 100th year—but it also makes clear that the fight for freedom and recognition is ongoing. What do you hope readers, especially younger readers, take away from that tension?You’ve said this book is about much more than Juneteenth as a holiday—it’s about everyday acts of activism and becoming, as you put it, a “committee of one.” How do you hope this story reframes what activism can look like?As a journalist, producer, and author, you’ve told many real-world stories across different media. What did the graphic novel format allow you to do emotionally or narratively that other formats wouldn’t?