Crowdfunding Spotlight: War of the Worlds-inspired “Thunder Child: The Spectre of a Dying Planet” storms the seas

Thunder Child Cover A by Kevin Castaniero. Colours by Simon Gough
Thunder Child Cover A by Kevin Castaniero. Colours by Simon Gough

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.

Thunder Child # 1 - Sample Page

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.

Thunder Child # 1 - Sample Page

“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…”

Thunder Child # 1 - Sample Page

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.

Thunder Child #1 cover B by Tim Dowler. 2000AD artist Dan McDaid is also contributing a variant cover
Thunder Child cover B by Tim Dowler. 2000AD artist Dan McDaid is also contributing a variant cover
Out there stretch goal Thunder Child blueprint
Out there stretch goal Thunder Child blueprint

If – or should that be when? – funding reaches £7,000, Cover A of Book 1 will become a wrap around cover.

Work is already in progress on the wraparound cover for Thunder Child Cover A by Kevin Castaniero, if the project his £7000 in support
Work is already in progress on the wraparound cover for Thunder Child Cover A by Kevin Castaniero, if the project his £7000 in support

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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