Love Dark Horse’s Aliens comics from the 90’s, Seven and Jurassic Park are on your favourite movie list - then ARKS is for you.
Catch up on the series with the full colour comic, containing stunning artwork, a brand new world building story inspired and based on real science, wrapped around a diamond hard sci-fi police procedural set in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve meets Alien!
Plus there's a behind the scenes look into the art and science of ARKS, with every issue in the Arks Appendix and our brand new spin off story Proximan - to take you deeper into the ARKS universe!
Latest Updates from Our Project:
Six in Five!
almost 2 years ago
– Tue, Jun 18, 2024 at 04:10:25 AM
Hey everyone!
In a few hours another Kickstarter will come to an end and Andrew, Holly and myself will disappear like Christmas elves to make you a comic book.
We started work on this Kickstarter in December last year and we plan to have Arks Issue Five in your hands this December.
Ahead of the campaigns end we just wanted to say thank you, to all of you, new and returning, for giving us your hard earn bucks in exchange for what screenwriting dweebs call the ‘all is lost moment’. The 2nd act climax where our character is as far away as possible from achieving his or her goal- to trigger them into action. But what if their goal is horror. What if their action traps the human race in hell and they do it for a good reason. The last six panels of Arks Issue Five is the reason i'm making comic books and I can wait for you all to read it.
Our FINAL STRETCH GOAL: 2nd panel of the Polyptych UNLOCKED!
Our final full-page tease of Arks Issue Five! SPOILER-ISH WARNING in the copy below
This page shows Lilith using Optogenetic simulation to read Joseph's memories. You pump light-sensitive algae into a living human brain, which attach themselves to individual neurons and then you 'light up' the subject's memories, allowing you to effectively, read someone's thoughts. It's real cutting-edge neuroscience never before depicted (in any comic, film etc) and you get it learn about it first in Arks Issue Five ;)
Arks Issue Five Page 30
Thank you all again!
We'll be back in July with an update ;) Until then, here are some cool campaigns on KS to check out!
We met Trevor at The Thought Bubble last year who was over from the US for his first UK con and is coming back to TBF this year. It's so great to be able to meet creators IRL and now be able to share his latest release too!
RISE follows Jonathan A. Prufrock as he delves into what it really means to be a good man while attempting to be super. The first two issues combine for a whopping 74+ pages and explores one male's ego through the elevated life of a superhero attempting to navigate the pressures of what it really means to be a good man.
David Wilburn the writer of Plainer Jane is another creator we crossed over with on Kickstarter when we first dipped our toe onto the site so it's nice to be able to share this new story - The Ghost System is a cyberpunk thriller set in Manchester, a place that has a spot in my heart from when I was at uni there!
The THE GHOST SYSTEM is back from writer David Wilburn, following the sucess of Plainer Jane, David has now created a gripping cyberpunk thriller. Set in Manchester, 2045. Catch up on the series and get the latest book here!
Thane's The Clockwork Knight, whose past campaign we shared a while back, stunning and super inventive as ever it was for a foldable comic and he's back with a choose your own story adventure graphic novel. I used to love these as a kid, bet I would still as an adult.
THIS IS NO ORDINARY GRAPHICNOVEL! The Pyramid of Doom is a choose your own adventure story. In this book, you are Quick the Clockwork Knight. You must rely on your wits, your courage, and your puzzle-solving ability to make the right decisions that will lead you through this adventure to its ultimate conclusion. This is a full-color, complete, 148-page, single-volume Graphic Novel. But unlike a regular book, this story can be read over and over again with a different story each time. Can you escape the Pyramid of Doom? Adventure awaits! Are you ready? Check it outhere.
T-minus 6 days!
almost 2 years ago
– Wed, Jun 12, 2024 at 04:40:39 AM
Well here we are turning the corner into the last week and we are 310 strong at the time of writing and closing in on our second stretch goal - our A5 Art Print; The Blufords of Proxima B! And the next piece in the Polytych poster puzzle!
We can't thank you all enough for returning and joining! WE ARE EXCITED.
Especially as there is still time - so if you can share a like or tweet (thank you to you all who have already) or tell / email a friend it helps us massively.
The flip side - Comic Press Praise
We have also been getting some brilliant coverage from 3Million Years, Comic Book News UK, The Pullbox, Go Collect, Fanbase Press, First Issue Club, Comic Scene UK,Comic Book Yeti- all worth checking out for your comic daily dose. Especially as they are really are the unsung heroes supporting and shining a light on the indie comic scene - more often than not by writing, reading and reviewing comics, from major publishers to indies, in and around theirday jobs. It is amazing!
No comics allowed at work, time for a podcast!
I know loads of us now can WFH some days of the week, but when you can't, then you can always check out Part Time Fan Boy's podcast conversation with Rory about what's coming up for our characters Joseph and Lilith and why if he had to end the series at issue 5, he'd be kinda okay with that - check it here
HIGH COLOUR ACTION for looky looky!
Enough from us over to other creators currently live on KS at the moment...here's what they had to say....
Quantum Marmalade an indie sci-fi comic by Danny Walker. Is an action-packed follow-up to the first three chapters, continuing the story of several cyborg warriors (A-9s) as they seek to rescue their friend from the clutches of an alien madman. Quantum Marmalade’s world draws inspiration from stories like Star Wars, Dune, and Halo. Tonally, the story goes for ridiculous (Futurama) with a side of gritty realism (Invincible). It looks incredible and you can catch up on past issues and the new one over on the project page here
A vibrant, new take on the Chinese classic, “Journey to the West” - follows the legend of Monkey as he’s hatched from a dinosaur egg in the middle of the Nevada Desert at the height of the Cold War. Monkey is a rebellious anti-hero with unlimited power and the US government’s attempts to destroy him will lead to World War 3, taking our story to a post-apocalyptic wasteland 500 years later. Think of this story as Forest Gump meets Tank Girl — We have the Cold War, the Hot War, and the anachronistic mashup between real historical figures and our unruly hero, Monkey — reimagine history with a loving sneer. It looks stunning and you can back it here
Born into the outcast breed of werewolves known as the Monoki, eighteen-year-old Rodney Marcelli is reluctantly pulled into an ancient war between good and evil, during a modern time where the line has blurred. Rod must learn to master his newly found lycanthropy and mysterious kinetic energy power to avenge his friends and family, and to save the girl he loves.
Fans of stories that encompass elements of horror, magic, and science and of shows like Supernatural, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Underworld, and other anti-hero monster horror stories - you should hurry as its ending in 2 days so you've not got long to check it out here
1st Stretch Goal Unlocked & The Blufords of Eos One
about 2 years ago
– Wed, Jun 05, 2024 at 01:49:51 PM
1st stretch Goal unlocked!
The 'Shitty grandchildren and the war of light' appendix page has been UNLOCKED! WOO HOO
Whenever I give the elevator pitch for Arks people often then ask...
"Why are they doing this directed panspermia thing? Is it because there is a meteor about to hit the earth!?" Or "Is it because the robots are about to take over?"
I say "Nope. Governments would never invest in a directed panspermia survey- too expensive and abstract. But a trillionaire troll who wanted to smite his progeny by divesting their inheritance into a project that could see him rebooted on another world in ten thousands years - NOW WE ARE TALKING!"
This first appendix page of ArksIssue Five will go into the details of how an absolute b&stard trillionaire accidentally perpetuated the light of human civilisation!
It'll go a 'little' into the politics of Directed Panspermia.
The science of how the Mnemosyne bacteria became the projects hero organism and not its competitor life forms the Nematodes, Rotifers and tardigrades.
And how the whole world refused to invest or allow one person to decide the fate of the species, even when the alternative was oblivion.
It will be great and will now be included in the print and digital of Arks Issue Five.
The next appendix page is our £10,000 stretch goal and it is called Mnemosyne: The fattest bacteria. This comparison chart will show how the Mnemosyne bacteria wasn't just the largest ever bacteria ever with an 11 mile genome, but it was bigger than some eukaryotic lifeforms. A human is a eukaryote. A very BIG one.
Next stretch Goal - The Bluford of Eos One.
Before that though, our next stretch goal is the 2nd panel of Polyptych at 8k. It's called: The Blufords of Eos One. This panel will connect on the left of the central panel which you can also see below.
This frame teases Arks Proximan #2 as Odd and Stella begin a treacherous journey that will end with Earths destruction. Or the destruction of the species.
Next Stretch Goal: The 2nd panel of the Polyptych: 'The Blufords of Eos One'.
This shows you how the Polyptychs will join up.
Another full-page tease of Arks Issue Five! SPOILER-ISH WARNING....in the copy below
This frame shows the moment Joseph discovers the skeleton of a dead Ark. Readers of Arks Proximan #1 might recognize something on this page that others will not.
Arks Issue Five Page 24
Thanks so much everyone we are really chuffed to be adding the extra content to the comic.
Has a super cool concept and of course looks stunning - the premise an app called ADAGIO allows users to post their dreams online - so they can be watched by millions across the world bringing the end of produced entertainment as we know it today. No more movies, TV shows, TikToks, streaming services, all people watch now are DREAMS! Super cool. Written by Felipe Cagno Adagio is a graphic novel that helps us reflect about social media, fleeting fame, dreams, relationships and human behaviour. All that packed into a cyberpunk book that imagines a future that doesn't look like is that far away. Check it out here
Steven Prince over at Monster Matador, is absolutely killing it with his series...and when we launched our first campaign we found the Matador (and Steve) and have been following ever since! Born from out love of Mad-Max, Kaiju and Santo and... telenovelas! The Monster Matador is an action-packed mash-up of all those things. And all he needs to defeat giant-sized-Kaiju monsters, his cape and sword obviously! Sporting a Kickstarter We Love badge we're certain you will too. You can pick up the series here
Who doesn't love Norse mythology - as creator Marek says the "The Völsung Saga" is one of the most significant and influential Nordic sagas, playing a central role in Scandinavian literature and mythology. It tells the legend of the Völsung clan, filled with tragic fates, heroic deeds, and supernatural interventions - it's A4 size, full colour over 50 pages you can check it out here
The protein scourge...
about 2 years ago
– Mon, Jun 03, 2024 at 05:48:12 AM
Hello Arks Issue Five backers!!
Welcome to our new followers and hello to our returning readers! You're backing our sixth book in four years. THANK YOU! Holly and I are so jazzed that people return and join with each issue.
In this update we have a FULL colour page reveal, fact behind the fiction of EC-13 and two amazing KS campaigns in projects WE love ;-)
We are tantalising close to our first stretch goal for an additional appendix page. We know you guys love them, we do too - Shitty Grandchildren and The War of Light - hopefully will get added soon - fingers, toes crossed!
There's still 2 weeks of the campaign left, so it looks like the 2nd appendix page might be out of reach - but if you like Arks, sharing a tweet/hitting like on socials, telling your sci-fi friends will reallyhelp us!
Our exclusive FULL page REVEAL! THE PROTEIN SCOURGE - EC-13
Here it is the exclusive colour full page from Arks Issue FIVE!!! This page shows Joseph handing Nagal a small pellet with the command to 'take it to the sea', knowing that if EC-13 is dissolved in water, it will create a protein scourge that will sterilise the planet. Lilith however has other ideas!
Arks Issue FIve Page 26
More about EC-13 - the Suicide Switch
Below is one of our existing Appendix pages about the very thing that Lilith is wrestling from Joseph's hands in the panel above! Ex Corpi 13 or EC-13 commands the Mnemosyne bacteria to destroy both itself and all photosynthetic organisms. Removing the oxygen from an exo planet, suffocating all eukaryotic life. Only to be used in the event of a failed analog as it will, in effect, sterilize the planet...explains Lilith's fight to get it from Joe.
More from me and Holly soon!
P.S We have some AMAZING - Projects that WE love...shared below...check em out!
For sci-fi fans, we have two amazing Kickstarters that are running FIRST up is the stunning Death Transit Tanager 2 from Eisner Award winning Karl Kerschl. If you're not already familiar with Karl's work, which I am sure you all are, if not now is the time!
Tanager Ray works as a Death Transit - a ferryman for lost souls stuck between here and the afterlife. Inspired by Metroid and Hellboy and a LOT of manga and anime, each issue of DEATH TRANSIT TANAGER is a murder mystery in space, filled with creeping dread and kinetic sci-fi action! Check it out here
We have another Eisner winning creator, Mark Russell's Traveling to Mars sci-fi story, now available in a gorgeous hardback! Roy Livingston, is the first human to ever set foot on Mars. He is terminally ill and therefore has no expectation of returning. Against the backdrop of not only his waning days but those of human civilization, it's a riveting story of planetary exploration and of finding meaning in your final days. Check it out here
THE WAR OF LIGHT BEGINS!
about 2 years ago
– Wed, May 22, 2024 at 08:22:51 AM
Our Kickstarter for ARKS ISSUE FIVE is FUNDED in just 19 hours! To those of you who have supported us - THANK YOU SO MUCH!
THE WAR OF LIGHT BEGINS! (Stretch Goals!)
Despite hitting our funding goal we still have so much planned for the book! We have FIVE awesome APPENDIX PAGES we want to include with stretch goals, PLUS two additional panels to add to the ARKS POLYPTYCH!
We know you guys love the APPENDIX PAGES and the first one we plan to add to the book is called: Shitty Grandchildren and the War of Light.
Here's a little teaser for the first Stretch Goal!
THE QUESTION: How do you fund an extrasolar survey costing trillions, when it is unlikely to benefit a single human being for at least 300 generations?
THE ANSWER: You convince a senile quad trillionaire to divest his shitty grandchildren of their inheritance. This Appendix Page describes how the first Directed Panspermia surveys were launched and the bizarre 'space race' that ensued that came to be known as TheWar of Light.
DO YOU KNOW A NERD WHO LIKES HARD SCI-FI AND FREE STUFF?
If you have a friend who likes hard sci-fi, be sure to tell them about our campaign. If they pledge before 6PM BST tomorrow (10am PST / 1pm EST) they can get some awesome ART PRINTS / SCREENSAVERS for FREE!
Thank you all so much for supporting our book:)
We couldn't make Arks without your pledge so this book is your book too! We want this to be our biggest campaign to date so if you want this book to be chock full of extras please tell your friends and share the socials! It all helps!
