Independent British comics publisher Mad Robot Comics is running a Kickstarter for Thunder Child, an absolutely awesome-looking three-part comic series, inspired by events in the classic science fiction novel, The War of the Worlds, by H. G. Wells.
The Kickstarter, already at target and rapidly rising, for the first 40-page prestige format book in the trilogy, sees the crew of the HMS Thunder Child venture into a discovery unlike anything that’s ever been witnessed on this planet. Their investigations of suspected meteoric debris that’s fallen into the ocean reveals something vastly more terrifying…
From out of the oceans, an alien Tripod rises, a harbinger of destruction from another world. The Thunder Child‘s crew, a motley band of humanist scientists, war-hungry militants and jaded ship leaders, find themselves scrambling to salvage and defend what they can from the marauding machines.
Response to the project, written by Matthew Hardy and Rob Jones, offering stunning art by Kevin Castaniero, coloured by Simon Gough, lettered and designed by Rob Jones and edited by Fred McNamara, has been hugely positive. Thunder Child has earned plaudits from a host of creators, including comic artist Phil Appley, writer and inker Andy Lanning, publisher Shane Chebsey, and Fraser Campbell – to name just a few.
“I was lucky enough to read an advance copy and it does not disappoint!”, Andy enthused on Twitter.
“Our story takes place against a creeping backdrop of unusual occurrences and brutal terror,” publisher Matthew Hardy outlines, “all leading up to the Thunder Child‘s final tragic showdown with the War Machines of Mars.”
“Rob Jones came up with the idea of doing Thunder Child. I plotted Issue 1, Rob laid out the panels and we workshopped the text together. Then Kevin and Simon came and blew us all away…”
The project, which has earned a deserved “Projects We Love” uptick from Kickstarter, quickly blasted through its £5000 goal, with stretch goals now on offer that include a Thunder Child blueprint, with more in the works – the team a little taken aback by the huge support their project has already gained.
If – or should that be when? – funding reaches £7,000, Cover A of Book 1 will become a wrap around cover.
Offering stunning art, a great-looking story, Thunder Child: The Spectre of a Dying Planet is a tensely enthralling sci-fi steampunk adventure drama, with a cast of complex characters. Do give it a look, and your support if you can.
Mad Robot Comics is the brainchild of writer, editor and publisher Matthew Hardy – occupying a robot costume made from cardboard boxes and working with a group of writers and artists to produce and publish comic books. Really quirky comic books!
• Check out the Thunder Child: The Spectre of a Dying Planet project on Kickstarter here
• Mad Robot Comics is online at www.matthewhardycomics.com | Facebook | Twitter
Still not convinced? Check out this design gallery…
• Check out the Thunder Child: The Spectre of a Dying Planet project on Kickstarter here
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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.
Categories: British Comics, Comics, Crowd Funding Projects, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News
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