Indie publisher AHOY Comics has announced its first-ever Kickstarter campaign for The Forgotten Divine, a satirical sci-fi graphic novel from writer Mark Russell and artist Russ Braun.
Best known for titles like Second Coming and The Wrong Earth, the publisher is expanding into crowdfunding with a project that leans into its focus on satire and unconventional storytelling.
As part of the upcoming campaign, we can share an extended exclusive preview from the graphic novel.
The Forgotten Divine – Exclusive Preview
Official synopsis:
Meet Rodney Coleman, an unhoused veteran whose sleep is haunted by dreams of a faraway planet. (At least, he thinks they’re dreams.) Soon Coleman connects with others plagued by dreams of the same world and finds himself at the head of a UFO cult. The group’s shared effort to understand their visions is heartfelt at first—but over time it descends into unreality, conspiracy, paranoia, violence, and conceivably… revelation.
Writer Mark Russell described the themes behind the project:
“THE FORGOTTEN DIVINE is about why people join cults, assign meaning to mysteries, and find comfort in their own persecution. I feel like we can all either relate to these characters or see someone we know in them. We’re all looking for our Forgotten Divine.”
Artist Russ Braun also commented:
“THE FORGOTTEN DIVINE is a challenging story, both to read and to draw. The subtleties involved in the storytelling required a lot of thought; the slow evolution, ramp up, and ultimate impact is a testament to Mark’s writing. Visually, we got to put some stuff out there that hasn’t been seen before and that’s always a blast for me. We took some risks, but I think AHOY, Mark, and I are known for that and it definitely paid off.”
Editor-in-Chief Tom Peyer commented on the Kickstarter approach:
“We’ve always promised our readers they could Expect More from our line of comic book magazines featuring comics, prose fiction, poems, cartoons—and Kickstarter lets us deliver more More. It gives us the absolute freedom to make a book that’s as jam-packed and utterly excessive as our wildest dreams will allow. Plus, by supporting the Kickstarter, you’re playing an active part in making said book a reality and increasing the story’s visibility, helping us guarantee that it’ll hit comic shops and bookstores. Man—you’re kind of a hero, aren’t you?”
The Kickstarter campaign will include exclusive covers, bonus items, and additional campaign-only rewards. Readers can sign up now to be notified when the campaign officially launches.
The Forgotten Divine marks AHOY Comics’ first crowdfunding project as the publisher expands its slate of satirical and experimental works.
Source: Press Release
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