Work in Print
Slaughterhouse-Five: The Graphic Novel
Writer | 2020
Albert Monteys and I are honoured to adapt, for the first time, Kurt Vonnegut's incredible book into the medium of comics. Billy Pilgrim, fighting in World War II, has come unstuck in time. He'll see his past. He'll see his future. And he'll see what happens when he meets the time-travelling aliens from the planet Tralfamadore. The classic anti-war scifi dark comedy comes to life in a whole new way.
"A rare graphic adaptation that enriches a literary classic... this tragic, bleakly funny take on Vonnegut's defining work will send enthused readers back to the source, and deserves a place beside it on the shelf." -
Publisher's Weekly (starred review!)
How to Invent Everything: A Survival Guide for the Stranded Time Traveler
Writer | 2018
Have you ever wondered about what you'd do if you were sent back in time? Have you ever worried that you don't know enough about how our modern technological world works to be able to rebuild it from scratch? I KNOW I HAVE. And that's partly why I wrote my new book: a hilarious non-fiction book wrapped in a fictional candy coating. With this book, you're going to make history... better.
"A fun, thoughtful, and thoroughly accessible reference for curious readers, students, and world-builders, as well as wayward time travelers." -
Publisher's Weekly (starred review!)
"Despite being genuinely funny in the mode of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, 'How to Invent Everything' is consistently accurate in engineering terms and proof, were it needed, that our technological evolution has been one of the unsung wonders of the world. A superb, exciting and entertaining read." - Engineering and Technology Magazine
How to Be a T.Rex
Writer | 2018
Being a regular old human is kind of a drag. That's why Sal is not going to be a teacher or doctor or lawyer when she grows up. She is going to grow up to be an awesome Tyrannosaurus Rex. Her brother thinks it's impossible, but Sal sure shows him! And in the beginning, being a T. Rex is AWESOME. But did you know that it's kind of hard to make friends when you are a super-giant, super-loud, super-stompy dinosaur? If only there were a way for Sal to be 100% awesome, 100% of the time...
It's my picture book debut with a bright, bold, and quirky story about finding--and taming--the beast within!
Choose-Your-Own-Path Shakespeare
Writer | 2013 - Present
I turned Shakespeare into adventure books where you decide what happens next! To Be or Not To Be became the #1 most-funded publishing project on Kickstarter when it launched, and Romeo and/or Juliet was an instant New York Times bestseller and won an YASLA Alex Award, as a book written for adults that has special appeal to young adults!
"North has taken an idea that is, by most conventional literary standards, terrible, and pushed it so far past terrible that it wraps around like a comet slingshotting around the sun and comes back as utterly brilliant. -
Time
The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl
Writer | 2014 - 2019
The acclaimed (and Eisner-winning!) Marvel Comics series!
Marvel RisingA special stand-alone story, co-written with Devin Grayson and G. Willow Wilson, showing Squirrel Girl and Ms. Marvel meeting for the first time!
Jughead
Writer | 2016 - 2017
The Eisner-award winning run on the burger-loving teen!
"I have to confess that honest-to-God, hand-on-my-heart, the first chapter of this was among the very best single issues of a comic book series I read last year." -
the School Library Journal
Adventure Time
Writer | 2012 - 2015
The Harvey and Eisner-award winning run!
"At this point, I seriously doubt that anyone really needs to be told that Ryan North, Shelli Paroline and Braden Lamb's Adventure Time comic is really, really good. It's been a smash hit since it debuted, and made appearances on almost everyone's Best Of 2012 lists, with good reason. It's consistently great [...]" -
Comics Alliance
Midas
Writer | 2014, 2019
What if King Midas was scientifically accurate, and also in space? This space opera comedy explores a galaxy of gold, dinosaurs, and conflict. The complete series was been collected as "The Midas Flesh" in two trades in 2014, and then collected into a single book - as was always intended - under the title "Midas" in 2019!
"This fascinating, humorous sci-fi twist on the King Midas myth will attract many readers." -
School Library Journal
Machine of Death
Editor, Contributing Writer | 2010, 2013
What if there was a machine that could tell you how you were going to die... but not when? These two books - spun off from a Dinosaur Comic - collect tons of amazing short stories exploring the full potential of that premise.
"Machine Of Death is a marvelous collection, riddled with intelligence, creative reach, and a frankness that makes the best use of the central gimmick." -
AV Club
Dinosaur Comics
Creator | 2003 - Present
It's the same pictures with different words - and it's way better than it sounds! You can read Dinosaur Comics online too!
These collections of the webcomic include crazy introductions, impressive appendices, and some ALL NEW CHUCKLEPROMPTS.
Stand-alone stories
Writer | 2008 - Present
Not sure if you want to commit to reading a entire book by me? I get it. Try these bite-sized short stories instead!
Flight Vol 5, 2008:
A story about what happens when the world stops spinning and everyone flies into a wall. Art by John Martz!
Original Sins, 2015:
This book is a collection of stories taking place during Marvel's "Original Sin" event, and I wrote a story about the Young Avengers! It features MIND READING, with art by Ramon Villalobos!
Oh Joy Sex Toy, Vol 2, 2015:
While this book mostly features Erika Moen's great educational comics about sex, there's some guest comics in it too, including one by me and Trudy "Oglaf" Cooper about the most SFW sexual fetishes you can find on YouTube! :0
Bill and Ted's Most Triumphant Return, 2016:
I wrote a backup story for this series, starring Bill, Ted, and a programming problem with the Good Robot Usses. Ian McGinty brought it to life!
1001 Knights, 2017:
Kevin Jay Stanton and I contributed a comic about the real story of Medusa, and why she's so great. Spoiler alert: she is extremely great.
A Year of Marvels, 2017:
A special Valentine's Day comic about Spider-Man and the Vulture!
Not Brand Echh #14, 2017:
Erica and I contributed the story of Squirrel Girl's own dating service for super villains!
Boom Box Mixtape, 2018:
Braden and Shelli and I revisited the world of The Midas Flesh for a short comic featuring dinosaurs in the distant future.
Thanos Annual #1, 2018:
Will Robson and I made the bleakest, darkest Thanos story we could. Guess what? It's pretty bleak and dark!
Infinity Warps #1, 2018:
What if Squirrel Girl and Moon Girl were mashed up into one character? Wonder no more! Featuring art by Moon Girl artist Natacha Bustos.
Vault of Spiders #2, 2018:
If Aunt May had been bitten by a radioactive spider, instead of Peter, you might end up with a comic like this. Art by David Williams!
Minecraft: Stories from the Overworld, 2019:
An anthology of Minecraft stories: mine is about a Creeper who wakes up in the woods, with no idea of how Creepers are supposed to act. It's sweet!

Spider-Verse #2, 2019:
Spider-Ma'am, the caring Aunt May, returns! Only now things are a lot creepier. Art by Pere Pérez!

Fantastic Four: Negative Zone #1, 2019:
The Fantastix, who you might think are just a knock-off of the Fantastic Four, try to find their place in the world. Art by Steve Uy!
Tales Through The Marvel Universe, 2019:
I contributed a short story called "Market Correction" about Iron Man fighting the 2008 financial crisis. It's my favourite Iron Man story. Art by Rod Reis!
Marvel Comics 1000, 2019:
A collection of single-page comics covering all of Marvel's history! I contributed one about Galactus, whomst I love. Art by James Harren!
Better Than IRL, 2020:
A collection of essays about when the internet was good. Mine's about a forgotten Ottawa-valley "hacker" named Sommy!
Mr. Boop Vol II, 2020:
Derek Charm and I contributed a guest comic to this non-fiction documentary series about Alec, who is married to Betty Boop.
Power Pack: Powers That Be, 2021:
The youngest superheroes in the Marvel Universe are back, and in a ton of trouble. Art by Nico Leon!
Research papers
Author | 2003 - 2007
Besides creating science fiction, I've also created actual science.
Scheme 2 Java, R. North., 2003:
My undergraduate honours project focused on translating code from a functional paradigm into an imperative language. I wasn't sure it was possible, but it kinda is! Unpublished... until now.
Current Projects

Squirrel Girl art by Erica Henderson, © Marvel Comics, Ophelia art by Kate Beaton, How To Invent Everything art by Derek Charm, Kid Constantine art by Derek Charm, © DC Comics, Slaughterhouse-Five art by Albert Monteys, How To Be A T.rex art by Mike Lowery.