Read the First 10 Pages of America's Kingdom Issue 1...
Newsletter #35
One week and one day from today, we will be launching the AMERICA’S KINGDOM Issue #1=2 Kickstarter, on my birthday nonetheless, November 9th. As I’ve mentioned in other newsletters, this will be a return to a story that I began telling over 20 years ago when I was in undergrad. And like I said before, it’s been through several iterations and was one of my first self-published comic books. I am grateful that time has afforded me the opportunity to return to it and to hopefully move the story forward the way that it was originally intended. With that being said, it feels only right to preview the first ten pages of Issue #1 on this CHARACTER + OBSTACLE = STORY Substack. This is the place and the space to be for comic book enthusiasts and people who just generally love stories like me. I am honored to have this platform and you all to share it with. Here’s what AMERICA’S KINGDOM is about:
What if America had never been a democracy but instead a monarchy? Set in an alternate reality, it’s modern day America but under the reign and rule of a descendant of George Washington, Prince Geoffrey, who is the sole heir and soon-to-be king of the United Kingdom of America. It’s twenty-first century America, but in this alternate history things are subtly different: Knights instead of the Secret-Service, swords have replaced guns, and there’s a rebel group bent on usurping the monarchy of the United Kingdom of America to turn it into a democracy…
The impetus for the story is the civil unrest that exists between the citizens and the monarchy. For many, there’s an unfairness that exists, an imbalance that has put the common person against the royalty of the United Kingdom of America. The civil unrest manifests in the rise of a rebel group that seeks to overthrow the authority of the monarchy and replace the monarchical leadership with a democratic republic, giving the power back to the people. The insurrection begins just as Prince Geoffrey is to be crowned the new King of America after the sudden passing of his father King George X.
In this alternate reality, indentured servitude exists as a means of debt relief, gun prohibition as a means of control and nationwide safety, and knights that are the “Secret Service” for the royalty are the guardians and protectors of America’s Kingdom. These knights are sword wielding officials that carry the respect and authority both of an officer and a judge, executing the Sovereign’s will. The knights are both feared and respected amongst the citizens, and the rebel forces for democracy, who are smuggling guns back into the United Kingdom of America, are often pitted against these guardians. Ultimately, the monarchy of the soon-to-be king, Prince Geoffrey, and the historical heritage of his several times removed great grandfather, the first George Washington, will have to fight to endure as the citizens of America’s Kingdom attempt to fight for equality in a land that was supposed to be free. In the end, either democracy or the monarchy will prevail in this alternate reality and new-age look at civil war.
Okay, if this alternate reality fantasy series seems like something you can get into, then please proceed on to read the 10 Page Preview below:
Okay, so there you have it. AMERICA’S KINGDOM Issue # 1 with art by Aris Gonzales, inks by James Hebert, colors by Scappattici, and letters by HdE. Like I said, the first two issues will be on Kickstarter on my birth November 9th. Both issues are finished. We’re looking to begin to build readership and a fanbase for our alternate reality fantasy series — and of course that means we need you all to be there. It’s going to be a low goal, $600, however, we are hoping to make this our biggest Kickstarter yet. And if we can do that, we want to bring Issues #1-3 to Kickstarter in January with a follow up campaign. Here’s what can be done now… If you’re interested in potentially reading this series and becoming a backer, please consider clicking on the Kickstarter Notification Link below to be notified of the launch:
Also, this week closes out a pretty cool anthology that I’m a part of that really needs some love shown to it. Negative Space Comics is running their first ever crowdfunding campaign on Zoop and their close to funding but definitely needs that extra push.
If you haven’t supported this campaign yet, please consider doing so. There are some amazingly talented creators in this book! And if that wasn’t enough, Negative Space has built a great reputation of wanting to inspire and cultivate comic creation in the indie comic book community. They have ran several competitions that have helped to foster lasting relationships for new and upcoming creators. I’ve personally had the opportunity of being a judge on one of their competitions and a mentor to one of the winners from another. Additionally, there are tiers on the campaign that offer mentoring sessions. It was astounding to find out that the two sessions with me as a mentor were gone, but there are still a few others. So, if you’re an aspiring creator, please take a look at those. Needless to say, I love what Negative Space is doing in comics and I hope that you will consider checking them out and giving them some love on the last few days of this campaign (it ends on Friday!). Check out a few pages of art from Anthony Pugh’s and my story — MIRROR, MIRROR below:
Interested? Please consider supporting the Negative Space Anthology HERE!
Once again, thank you all for being a part of this platform, space, and community. I hope that you have enjoyed the AMERICA’S KINGDOM Preview and the pages from MIRROR, MIRROR. In the coming weeks, there will be more content on this Substack so I hope that you all will continue to stick around and share CHARACTER + OBSTACLE = STORY with others, everyone and anyone, that you think would enjoy it.
Talk soon —
Brian