FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Kinetix Graphic Novel Auctioned at Breakthrough T1D’s Star-Studded Gala

LOS ANGELES, C.A., October 29, 2025 — At this year’s One Night Under the Stars gala hosted by Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF), a signed first edition copy of The Kinetix and the Glowing Orb of Gorthon—the new middle-grade superhero graphic novel from actor and diabetes advocate Austin Basis and co-creators Dave Maulbeck and Josh Taub—was auctioned off to support research and advocacy for people living with type 1 diabetes (T1D).

The event drew a star-studded crowd, including John Legend and Chrissy Teigen, seen here posing with Basis and his wife, Colleen. Also in attendance were fellow celebrity ambassadors Brec Bassinger, Derek Theler and Justin Willman—along with numerous leaders, advocates, and supporters from the diabetes community who came together to support breakthroughs in research and celebrate the courage of those living with the disease. The clamor for the book, which sold for above its starting bid, reflects a growing interest in stories that empower.

“What we learn in The Kinetix and the Glowing Orb of Gorthon, and what we have always known at Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF), is that people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) are superheroes – they are brave, they are strong, and they are determined,” said Aaron J. Kowalski, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Breakthrough T1D. “Austin, Dave, and Josh bring this to life beautifully through Bobby’s story. Reading this graphic novel is a wonderful and entertaining way for anyone touched by T1D to feel seen, heard, and empowered.”

The Kinetix follows four middle-schoolers with disabilities and chronic illnesses who discover their fate as superheroes and join forces to protect their town. Among them is Bobby Byers, AKA Cyabetes, modeled after Basis himself—a light-hearted athlete with T1D whose insulin pump electrifies his body into a powerful form.

“Seeing The Kinetix embraced by the Breakthrough T1D community is incredibly meaningful for me,” said Basis. “We wrote this story to help kids feel proud of who they are – empowered by their differences – no matter what challenges they face. Having it recognized in such an impactful and public way reinforces exactly why we made it in the first place.”

The Kinetix and the Glowing Orb of Gorthon is now available for pre-order through a number of online sites listed at Kinetixbooks.com. With shipments beginning November 7, the creators hope this story continues to inspire kids everywhere to tap into their potential, embrace what makes them unique and find the hero within.

Fans are encouraged to learn more on social media:

https://www.instagram.com/the_kinetix/

https://www.facebook.com/TheKinetixTeamPage/

About Breakthrough T1D:

Breakthrough T1D’s mission is to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat T1D and its complications. To accomplish this, Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF) has invested more than $2.5 billion in research funding since our inception. We are an organization built on a grassroots model of people connecting in their local communities, collaborating regionally for efficiency and broader fundraising impact, and uniting on a national stage to pool resources, passion, and energy. We collaborate with academic institutions, policymakers, and corporate and industry partners to develop and deliver a pipeline of innovative therapies to people living with T1D. Our staff and volunteers throughout the United States and our five international affiliates are dedicated to advocacy, community engagement and our vision of a world without T1D. For more information, please visit breakthrought1d.org or follow us on Instagram: @breakthrought1d and Facebook: breakthrought1dhq/

About Austin Basis: 

Austin Basis is an actor, writer and producer from Brooklyn, NY who advocates for kids with Type 1 Diabetes as a Celebrity Ambassador and LA Board Member for Breakthrough T1D. After graduating The Actors Studio Drama School with an MFA, Austin became a lifetime member of The Actors Studio. He moved to L.A. in 2005 as his career took off. Most notably, Austin recurred on the Emmy-winning series ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.’ He made a home on The CW with shows like People’s Choice Award-winning ‘Beauty and the Beast,’ ‘Life Unexpected’ and ‘Supernatural,’ and the Warner Bros. web series ‘GHOSTFACERS.’ Other TV credits include ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm,’ ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ ‘Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,’ ‘How To Get Away With Murder,’ and ‘Lucifer,’ among others. His film credits include ‘J. Edgar,’ ‘The Other End of the Line,’ ‘My Sassy Girl,’ ‘American Zombie,’ ‘Boxboarders!,’ and the disability-inclusive award-winning films ‘Daruma’ and ‘Dead End Drive.’ Variety just announced his upcoming film ‘MIMICS’ will hit theaters on 2-6-26. Austin, Dave, and Josh have collaborated on multiple projects leading up to ‘The Kinetix’ – including a children’s book called ‘Zoo’s On First’ (with brother, Jeremy Basis). He also published a book of art and poems called ‘An Actor Without an Audience: Poetry for Artists, Lovers and Everymen’ in 2011. AustinBasis.com

CONTACT:

Austin Basis

kinetixcomicbook@gmail.com

Team Kinetix, LLC

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Actor and Diabetes Advocate, Known for ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’ and ‘Beauty and the Beast,’ Releases 200-Page Tween Superhero Graphic Novel for Middle-Grade Readers 

Austin Basis Gives Disabilities an Empowering Spotlight in 'The Kinetix and the Glowing Orb of Gorthon,'

Now Available for Pre-Order Online

LOS ANGELES, C.A., October 22, 2025 – Actor and diabetes advocate, Austin Basis—known by fans for his work on Amazon Prime Video’s 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’ and The CW’s ‘Beauty and the Beast’—is proud to announce, along with co-creators Dave Maulbeck and Josh Taub, that the long-awaited graphic novel incarnation of their tween superhero saga is now available for pre-order online. ‘The Kinetix and the Glowing Orb of Gorthon,’ a 200-page adventure from the trio’s production company, Team Kinetix, LLC, spotlights four middle schoolers with challenging disabilities and chronic illnesses who become a team of superheroes (called The Kinetix) tasked with saving their town. It also marks a follow-up to an initial release of 5,500 origin comic books, successfully funded, distributed and popularized through a Kickstarter campaign in 2017.

While Basis’ brand new Kinetix adventure for kids ages 8-12 features a few updated storyline adjustments—for example, the student heroes are now in middle school vs. high school—fans can expect the same dynamic characters and powerful message that “our perceived weaknesses can be our greatest strengths.” The book release and its mantra reflect Basis’ ongoing commitment to help give a bigger voice to the disabled community through art. As an actor living with Type 1 Diabetes since childhood and Celebrity Ambassador for Breakthrough T1D, Basis’ graphic novel once again brings to life his virtual avatar, Bobby Byers, a.k.a. Cyabetes. “When I was a kid living with Type 1 Diabetes, I wanted to see heroes who faced real challenges and still found a way to rise above them,” said Basis. “That’s what this series is all about—showing kids that what makes them different can also make them powerful. I’m especially proud to bring Cyabetes back to life along with the rest of team, because each of them reflects a different kind of strength that kids everywhere can see in themselves.”

Meet The Kinetix:

·       Bobby Byers: a light-hearted jock with Type 1 Diabetes, his special insulin pump electrifies his body, turning him into the teenage super-cyborg, Cyabetes (modeled after Basis).

·       Joules Joyner: a fierce guitar player born without legs, she becomes our team leader, Deadlift, with superhuman arm strength and a retractable silk scarf as her weapon of choice.

·       Daryl Dennis: as an extremely talented artist with autism, his full potential is unleashed as Brainstorm, giving him the ability to project anything he can imagine into the earthly realm. 

·       Rosario Richtera: a wannabe Instagram influencer who is unable to hear or speak, she transforms into Aftershock, with a vibration force that lets her soar circles around the sinister.

Story Overview:

Illustrated by Maulbeck, the story of ‘The Kinetix and the Glowing Orb of Gorthon’ finds our young characters living somewhat normal lives in their almost-too-quiet town of Zenith, U.S.A, where they attend F.D.R Middle School—named after former U.S. President, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who also faced disability challenges, and has a super-secret past. Things turn serious when the group is forced to accept its fate as a team of superheroes and defend their home turf (and the world) from the evil forces of Gravitron – while also facing the trials and tribulations of middle-school awkwardness. Throughout Basis’ comic book series, all four of The Kinetix are secretly guided by guru/professor, Dr. Jamarcus Guttles, who helps the team fulfill its superhero destiny.

Pre-ordering ‘The Kinetix and the Glowing Orb of Gorthon’:

With the graphic novel now available for pre-order, it can be purchased by individual readers, wholesalers, local bookstores, libraries, schools, non-profits, and beyond. With shipping set to begin on November 7, the creator trio expects to see the success come from all avenues: “It’s been years in the making, and we couldn’t be more excited to finally bring this graphic novel to the world,” adds Basis. “What started as an idea between friends has grown into something bigger than any of us imagined. It’s a story that celebrates courage, teamwork, overcoming obstacles, and the power of owning who you are.”

Pre-order today at Bookshop.org – where ‘every purchase supports local independent bookstores!’

Fans are encouraged to learn more on social media:

https://www.instagram.com/the_kinetix/

https://www.facebook.com/TheKinetixTeamPage/

About Team Kinetix, LLC: 

Team Kinetix, LLC was formed in 2014, when friends and creative partners, Austin Basis, Dave Maulbeck and Josh Taub came together to produce a number of treatments and pilots for comedy series concepts ‘People’s Republic of Improv,’ ‘Dracula Goes to Camp,’ ‘Not Your Buddy,’ ‘The Bathroom Manager,’ and ‘It’s an Uncomfortable Life.’ The trio has had past successes in TV, film, and stage, with stints at networks such as The CW and Fuse. The three met and began writing and performing together over 20 years ago at The New York Comedy Club in Manhattan. They went on to create and perform in a weekly improv and sketch comedy variety show called ‘Mmm… Comedy.’ And they’ve been writing and fighting for underdogs ever since!

About Austin Basis: 

Austin Basis is an actor, writer and producer from Brooklyn, NY who advocates for kids with Type 1 Diabetes as a Celebrity Ambassador and LA Board Member for Breakthrough T1D. After graduating The Actors Studio Drama School with an MFA, Austin became a lifetime member of The Actors Studio. He moved to L.A. in 2005 as his career took off. Most notably, Austin recurred on the Emmy-winning series ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.’ He made a home on The CW with shows like People’s Choice Award-winning ‘Beauty and the Beast,’ ‘Life Unexpected’ and ‘Supernatural,’ and the Warner Bros. web series ‘GHOSTFACERS.’ Other TV credits include ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm,’ ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ ‘Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,’ ‘How To Get Away With Murder,’ and ‘Lucifer,’ among others. His film credits include ‘J. Edgar,’ ‘The Other End of the Line,’ ‘My Sassy Girl,’ ‘American Zombie,’ ‘Boxboarders!,’ and the disability-inclusive award-winning films ‘Daruma’ and ‘Dead End Drive.’ Variety just announced his upcoming film ‘MIMICS’ will hit theaters on 2-6-26. Austin, Dave and Josh have collaborated on multiple projects leading up to ‘The KINETIX’ – including a children’s book called ‘Zoo’s On First’ (with brother, Jeremy Basis). He also published a book of art and poems called ‘An Actor Without an Audience: Poetry for Artists, Lovers and Everymen’ in 2011.

CONTACT:

Austin Basis

kinetixcomicbook@gmail.com

Team Kinetix, LLC

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New Jersey-Born Author-Illustrator Brings Inclusive Superhero Adventures to Middle-Grade Readers

Summit, NJ / South Orange, NJ — 11/7/23 — Dave Maulbeck, a Summit native and South Orange resident, is launching The Kinetix, a full-color middle-grade graphic novel series that celebrates courage, friendship, and inclusion. Drawing inspiration from his own New Jersey upbringing, Maulbeck created the fictional town of Zenith—a playful homage to Summit—where middle schoolers with disabilities gain extraordinary superpowers.

Co-created with actor Austin Basis (Marvelous Mrs. Maisell/Beauty and the Beast) and Josh Taub, The Kinetix blends humor, heart, and high-stakes adventure while spotlighting characters often underrepresented in graphic novels and literature.

“Growing up with dyslexia, comic books were always my favorite because of the pictures,” says Maulbeck. “I wanted to create superheroes that reflected kids like me, using the art form I love. When the idea of a hilltop town called Zenith came up, I knew it was perfect, and I was inspired by my hometown of Summit, NJ.”

The Kinetix has already earned praise from early readers and comic book insiders for its dynamic storytelling, and thoughtful representation. Maulbeck, who writes and illustrates the series, will be available for interviews, school visits, and local book events throughout New Jersey.

Contact:
Dave Maulbeck
Email: davemaulbeck@me.com
Website: www.kinetixbooks.com