May I Share With You the Good Word of the Steampunk Apocalypse?
I just dropped TWO full-length Steampunk graphic novels on Kickstarter - come & get'em!
Yes! Just over 14 short hours ago, I launched the new Last Ride of the 4 Horsemen graphic novel - Conquest - on Kickstarter. We are already nearly 80% funded and have spent some hours as the NUMBER ONE project in the graphic novels category!
Kickstarter launch days are like first dates. I’m always excited, but I never know who’s gonna show up and if they’re gonna like me when they get here. Well, so far, I’m feeling the love, and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it. I’ve been working on this series for more than a dozen years, and it’s remarkably gratifying to see another big chapter complete (in 1/3 the time of the first one, no less).
The most popular rewards so far are the two-volume softcover and hardcover sets that deliver the WHOLE story of Last Ride of the 4 Horsemen in 200 pages of gorgeously illustrated comics. Those deluxe hardcovers include autographs by me, layout artist and character designer Amanda Rachels, and cover artist Rando Dixon, as well as an interior remarque sketch by Amanda or Rando. They arrive decked out!
Amanda and I vended at the Flip Trade Show in Dothan, Alabama, this past Saturday, and we were fortunate enough to have some buyers of some Last Ride of the 4 Horsemen books that day. One returned to our table after looking over his book and commented on the high quality of the artwork, remarking that it looks much better than what’s being produced by the “Big Two” (Marvel & DC) these days. Ain’t that flattering? (And we agree, wholeheartedly!)
Ya gotta admit, those covers look damn fine next to each other, and I’m confident enough to tell you the stories back up the art. The anti-hero protagonist, Cager Dobbin, lives in my head on an ongoing basis and has since 2011. He goes through major changes with every issue and struggles with where his allegiance lies…but never with his role as a straight-up killer, whether for compensation or for cosmic justice. And his arch-nemesis and frenemy, Wilbur Fairless, goes through just as many changes but always stands in Cager’s way, whether as domineering boss and god-like Steampunk monstrosity.
Wow, since I began writing this post, we crossed the 80% funded benchmark on Kickstarter! Let’s keep it going and lock down that initial funding goal on Day One! There’s still time for you to be one of the first 50 backers and score a 3-inch cover art glitter sticker:
Thanks for supporting self-publishers and the medium of comics!
Have a great week,
Kevin
Number one backer - right here!