There’s just a few days left to support Eva Strongbird and the Marine (Part 1 of 2), a stunning looking comic adventure from Des Taylor and Robb Pratt – that might just lead to an animated series, too.
The project – which secured its original crowdfunding target in just 45 minutes! – is a labour of love for London-based artist Des and American Disney Animator Robb, who have clearly poured their passion for Pulp Heroes, classic serial storytelling, and the glamour of Golden Age Hollywood into every panel.
Eva Strongbird and the Marine (Part 1 of 2) offers fans of Fleischer Superman, Flash Gordon, Indiana Jones, Zorro, and classic war movies to dive headfirst into a full-colour, high-octane World War Two science-fiction adventure.
Set in the shadowy, explosive days of 1943, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill forms the covert Special Operations Executive (SOE) – a secret unit of elite agents designed to sabotage the Axis war machine from within.
Among them is Section F’s fiercest operative:
Eva Strongbird – a retro-futuristic weapons genius, fearless adventurer, and the glamorous heart of a covert team known only by codename: Battling Bombshell.
Their mission: extract a downed Allied pilot deep behind enemy lines. His cargo? Intel on a terrifying new Axis superweapon (built by the Nazi secret weapons division, Eagle’s Claw ) that could change the course of the war. But when the team is ambushed and betrayed from within, Eva is left stranded in occupied France – alone, outgunned, and being hunted.
That is, until she crosses paths with The Marine – a mysterious, masked American soldier-turned-renegade, fighting the war on his own terms. Eva persuades The Marine to sneak back into occupied France and retrieve her most prized invention to stop the enemy’s plans. A high-powered Ray Gun!
Together, they form an uneasy alliance to complete the mission… and perhaps ignite something more.
This is an absolutely gorgeous looking project offering at least 50 pages of adventure (and more treats are on offer, depending on what version of the book you back). Check it out here on Kickstarter.
“Des and I are pouring our hearts and souls to deliver this action-packed, Retro-Futuristic romance!” says Robb. “We have BIG plans and can use all the support we can get.”
Robb Pratt is a Disney veteran, having started at Feature Animation in 1994 as a traditional animator. After animating on such modern Disney classics as Pocahontas, Fantasia 2000, Hercules and Tarzan, Robb eventually joined Disney TV Animation as a storyboard artist where he has boarded such shows as Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Kim Possible and directed the Disney Channel hit series The Replacements. As an independent animated filmmaker, Robb produced and directed the short films, Superman Classic, Bizarro Classic and Flash Gordon Classic.
Des Taylor is a Pop Artist and Comic Book Illustrator who has worked with DC Entertainment, Star Trek, Doctor Who, Dynamite, Titan Comics as well as clients like Micheal Jackson, Theo Fennell, ITV STUDIOS AMERICA, Thomas PINK, FHM and many more. He is the man behind the creator-owned properties Scarlett Couture, The Vesha Valentine Story, The Trouble With Katie Rogers and another book in the works – The Blue Lotus Strikes. His appointment in 2016 as co-host to SKY TV’s Official DC Fancast Show, shows his commitment to Pop Culture. His fine art is exhibited in Las Vegas, Paris, and Rome and appears regularly at conventions around the world.
The Animated Series?
In addition to telling the story of Eva Strongbird and the Marine in comic book form, Des and Robb aim to create a full-colour cartoon animation to pitch to studios.
“Robb has already begun putting together the animatic in its raw phase, and it is superb!” Des teases. “He’s gathered a list of talented voice-over artists from animation and film, along with a composer for the score, and we’re excited to share the final product with you.
“Any funds that exceed our final publishing goal will be used to help fund completing Part Two of the book and helping Robb to hire some help to finish this animation … and much more.
“For me, this is just the beginning of creating a whole Workd War Two-niverse,” Des enthuses on Kickstarter, “filled with classic tales of adventure, deadly dames, and where our heroes don’t wait for orders.”
“We’re even planning a 1940s-style Radio Drama!”
• Check out Eva Strongbird and the Marine here on Kickstarter
• Des Taylor is online at despopart.com
• Scarlett Couture is available from all good bookshops (AmazonUK Affiliate Link)
Eva Strongbird and the Marine ©️ Robb Pratt & Des Taylor
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
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