Get ready to explore a fantastic world of fiction.
Heroic Adventure Fiction is the home for free stories written by Michael A. DiBaggio and Shell "Presto" DiBaggio featuring various heroes, most of whom are from their Ascension Epoch universe. We write in a variety of genres, from science fiction and urban fantasy to more classic fantasy like steampunk and fairy tales, and ranging from men's adventure fiction to even, yes, romance.
We write for fun, but financial support is always appreciated. While everything on the site is free to read, we do compile our stories in paperback and ebooks, often with a generous collection of extras that give more information on our characters and world. If you're content to just read on the website, you can also support the site with a one-time donation on Paypal or a subscription to our Substack.
And if you enjoy the stories and art but can't support us financially, you can still help by recommending, reviewing, and linking to your favorite Heroic Adventure Fiction stories wherever you hang out.
The stories are written and illustrated by a husband-and-wife team. We started writing together way back when we were dating, and were married six years before the Lord started blessing us with children. We both spend a lot of time with our two kids, homeschooling them and teaching them to share in our appreciation of Flash Gordon and 1960s Marvel comics, old Rankin-Bass and Marvel Studios (G.I. Joe, Dungeons and Dragons) animation, and building lots and lots of Legos.
We live in Pennsylvania, where we all share a home with two dogs and a one-eyed cat named Winky.
In addition to his duties as husband, father, and writer, Michael is a professonal software engineer. Whatever time is left over he devotes to the more humane and sophisticated interests of painting toy soldiers, devising alternate histories, and organizing RPG and wargame campaigns.
His favorite authors are J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Tim Powers, and Manly Wade Wellman.
Michael is a founder of the In Hoc Signo Society, a Christian tabletop gaming fellowship, and edits their online magazine, The Splendor of Fire. He also has a YouTube channel, Attention Span Labs that covers everything from wargaming to comic books to reading our stories and others in a convenient and entertaining audiobook format.
Shell’s nickname ‘Presto’ made perfect sense until she swapped her cumbersome Italian maiden name (Prestileo) for her new Italian married name. Shell does most of Ascension Epoch’s artwork. She also handles some of the writing responsibilities, and a good chunk of the editing. The English major in the family, she has worked writing software user manuals and, before that, worked in journalism. Now she's a homeschooling stay-at-home mom, and is grateful for the opportunity to spend so much time with her kids.
Shell tries to fit in as much writing and drawing as she can. When she’s not writing or drawing, Shell enjoys watching anime; reading comic books; and reading a mix of classic and new indie sci-fi, fantasy, or horror stories. Before she started pouring most of her free time into Ascension Epoch stories, she was an avid video gamer, tearing through Capcom fighters and any RPG with the word “Fantasy” or “Phantasy” in the title.
Shell’s favorite authors are C.S. Lewis, Richard Matheson, Peter S. Beagle, Anthony Burgess, and Mary Shelley.
Her favorite artists are John Byrne, Pat Broderick, Chris Bachalo, Charles Schulz, Nobuteru Yuki, and Ai Yazawa.
You can watch Shell draw on her YouTube channel. She does have a Twitter/X account at @ShellPresto , but warning: she checks it infrequently.
ArtAnonStudios is an independently-owned and operated graphics studio, staffed and managed by a mild-mannered physicist who becomes a comic book creator at need.
His style is reflective of the Silver Age comics, though the art and style of the Pulp Magazine era from 1926 to 1955 also can be glimpsed at times.
Creative influences include, but are no means limited to: Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Frank Robbins, Robert E. Howard, Jim Steranko, Wally Wood, Gardner Fox, Gene Colan, H Beam Piper, Doug Wildey, Kenneth Robeson, Curt Swan, Dan Spiegle, Will Eisner, Don Heck, George Bridgman, and Alex Toth.
ArtAnon has illustrated multiple Martian War Chronicles stories, in addition to offering helpful criticism with other Ascension Epoch stories and illustrations. More of his work can be viewed at his gallery on the ArtAnon Studios website.
We're adding new stories all the time. Be sure to check the Updates page so you don't miss out on an exciting adventure.
You can support the Ascension Epoch financially with a Paypal donation, Substack subscription, or by buying a book.
You can also help immensely by telling people about this site and sharing links to your favorite stories.
Let us know which stories you are enjoying and which characters you love so we know what amazing adventures you want to read in the future.
You can send us an email at mike@ascensionepoch.com .
Our social media links are on the About page... But email is always the best way to get ahold of us.