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Crowdfunding Spotlight: Gateway City Volume Two by Russell Mark Olson

By John Freeman on August 13, 2021

Award-winning comic creator Russell Mark Olson returns to the world of booze, gangsters, and aliens in his popular indie comic series, Gateway City, now live on Kickstarter, smashing its initial £2500 target to publish a second volume in just 24 hours.

Gateway City Volume Two by Russell Mark Olson - Cover

I’ll declare some bias on this straight away. As well as my own projects like Strawjack with artist and writer Keith Page, which I teased here on Substack earlier this week, this is a collection I’m involved in as editor, as with Volume One, which is why I’m happily highlighting it here.

For me, Gateway City combines all the elements of pulp adventure with a unique SF concept, an adventure story that takes the reader from St. Louis to the furthest reaches of the galaxy in accomplished style. The adventure will appeal to both comic and pulp fans, as crime and cosmic forces collide.

It’s great to be asked to work with Russell on this project, because this is an adventure comic that’s a genuine pleasure to read, with a unique concept and possibilities. Plus, Russell’s careful research of the setting makes the strip all the more of a visual treat!

The first volume of Gateway City garnered Russell plenty of deserved attention from the comics industry, and led him to work on projects with creators from around the world. Last year, he took to Patreon to return to the pulpy world of Gateway, publishing quarterly editions of the story.

It’s been an enjoyable thing, seeing the new story develop, with Russell posting prelims through to final pages, which have featured not online online, but for those who support him there at “Sub-Editor” level, you get a printed copy of the strip every three months too, designed to give the feel of the strip section of an American newspaper of old, which is a simply genius idea.

For those who came in late, in Gateway City, when gangster aliens turn roaring 1920s Saint Louis into their own personal playground, private investigator Lundy Lundqvist leads the resistance allied with a being of immense power and shadowy intentions. But Lundy and his team aren’t the only ones fighting back; mobster Bumper Donati isn’t much impressed by these galactic interlopers.

*This fantastic print by Gustaffo Vargas (Skrwal, L1ma, Manu, Crayta) is one of the extras on offer as part of the Gateway City Volume Two campaign*

Gateway City combines all the elements of pulp adventure with a unique SF concept, an adventure story that takes the reader from St. Louis to the furthest reaches of the galaxy in accomplished style. The adventure will appeal to both comic and pulp fans, as crime and cosmic forces collide.

“I’ve loved the opportunities drawing comics for a number of publishers and projects that I’ve had over the last few years, most down to my work on Gateway,” Russell says, “but I couldn’t ignore the allure of writing and drawing the rye-soaked, alien infested, noir streets of Saint Louis any longer. I’m grateful to the readers for their continued support of this story.”

Please do check out the Kickstarter for Gateway City Volume Two here and consider giving it your backing – thanks! It’s a brilliant series.

• Check out Gateway City on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/russellmarkolson

• Russell Mark Olson himself is online at www.russellmarkolson.co.uk – or Follow him on Twitter: @russell_m_olson | Instagram: @russellmarkolson | Facebook: @russellmarkolson

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “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.