E.M.PRESS Publications are fast approaching the launch of their renewed Kickstarter campaign to bring the spectacular-looking steampunk science fiction comic First Men on Mars to life – and teasing more it will have to offer.
The pre-launch page for the new First Men on Mars Kickstarter is now live, and the publisher has begun to tease some of the rewards you can expect to be part of the offer on the crowdfunding web site.
For those who came in late, First Men on Mars is a steampunk opus detailing an ill-fated British military expedition to Mars that will feature work by some of the UK’s best comic book talents.
Now trimmed to 48 pages and sporting a marvellous cover by Gary Erskine, First Men on Mars #1 also features interior artwork by Gary, as well as Mike Collins, Paul McCaffrey and Ian Richardson, colours by Yel Zamor and John-Paul Bove and lettering by Annie Parkhouse.




The comic will be available in print as well as a digital download. You will be able to back the comic at £5 for the digital edition, or £10 for the physical and digital versions.
Six variant covers are planned, that will be available when the Kickstarter launches, by Lee Carter, Ian Richardson and others.
Rewards include Lost Treasures, a collection of sketches, promotional material, pencils and other First Men on Mars objet d’art, with a cover by 2000AD artist Tiernen Trevallion.

Lost Treasures will be unlocked if and when funding on the new campaign reaches £8000. Prints will also be available if Lost Treasures is unlocked.
• Check out E.M.PRESS Publications revived First Men on Mars Kickstarter campaign here and click ‘Notify Me on Launch’
• Read the downthetubes interview with E.M PRESS co-founder Paul Matthews
• E.M.PRESS Publications is online at: www. empresspublications.co.uk | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
• Visit E.M.PRESS Publications News Page
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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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