Big Dog Ink's Kaiju Epic! Kickstarter Full Details

WHAT IS KAIJU EPIC!?
Kaiju Epic! is the culmination of many years of refining a story that has been in my head since the early days of my self-publishing efforts. It’s also the result of a lifetime of love for the kaiju (giant monster) genre. For nearly my entire 45 years on the planet I have watched and loved Godzilla and Gamera and all the other wild kaiju films from Japan, and having the chance to add to that genre in some small way makes this project that much more exciting! But this particular story, while obviously fiction, also adds a bit of “real” kaiju to the mix, as well as legends of the end of days from around the world. Readers will find monsters they may have heard of, like the Kraken or even Quetzalcoatl, roaming the pages of Kaiju Epic!, but there will also be all-new monsters created just for this series.

Kaiju Epic! will be a 5 volume series each with two separate stories. These stories will take place on opposite ends of the globe and give a real feeling of the end of the world, rather than the destruction of a specific city. Tom is joined by co-writer Kari Castor. Kari is known to BDI fans as one of the writers of the hit mini-series, Shahrazad. Kaiju Epic! is no standard comic book, either! This is a huge 48 page monster sized comic book!

Tom’s story takes place in both China and the South America, specifically the Gulf of Mexico, where legendary Bermeja Island has reappeared in the Gulf after being lost for decades. In China, a dragon headed tower has been unearthed, and it carries with it a strange connection to Bermeja and the rock concert that is planned to take place there.

Kari’s story takes place in London, England and follows a group of friends who have a tendency to dabble in eco-politics and animal protection. But this group is forced to re-evaluate their stance when something from London’s legends of old appears and begins to shake London to the ground!

The overarching story is based on the Hopi Indian’s stories of the cycles of man and the Purifier. These stories will blend with other cultures “end of days” myths and allow us to see mankind as a whole struggling with the kaiju destruction of the planet. Kaiju Epic! will also mix genre tropes along the way by taking giant monsters, ancient gods and rock & roll and tossing them into the story blender to create something that is unique, relatable and fun.

THE TEAM
Writer and Creator Tom Hutchison is joined by co-writer Kari Castor. Big Dog Ink fans will recognize this team from their previous collaboration on Shahrazad. But this time, Tom and Kari get to work in the same world but on opposite sides of it! Their two stories take place simultaneously as the monsters rise across the globe, but they will both tell very different stories.

ART AND COLORS
A book with two stories clearly needs two artists! Tom’s Gulf of Mexico story will be drawn by Renato Rei and colored by Ceci de la Cruz! This team recently worked together on the Legend of Oz spin off series, Tik-Tok and the Kalidah, from Aspen Comics last year. Renato’s pencils are crazy detailed and tight, and Ceci knows exactly how to slather them with color to let the lines work their magic!

Kari’s London story will be drawn by CB Zane and also colored by Ceci de la Cruz. This team worked together on the Joan of Arc BDI Super Special and the Critter back up stories that were printed by Aspen Comics. Examples of both of these teams work are on display as the first two covers posted in the campaign!

THE ICING ON THE CAKE
And no comic book is complete without the word balloons and giant monster sound effects! HDE has been my go-to letterer for nearly every project I have done, and he never ceases to amaze me! Sharhazad, Ursa Minor, Serusis, Legend of Oz: The Wicked West, Lights…Camera…Jungle! He makes us writers look good!

Finally...that logo, though! Kaiju Epic’s powerful logo was designed by logo guru Kel Nuttal, who has done logos for Ursa Minor, Critter, Lights....Camera…Jungle! and more!

THE STARS
Kaiju Epic! not only has amazing interior artwork, but also spectacular exclusive variant covers by some of the most amazing artists in the business!
SAMANTHA SAWYER is one of BDI’s new pups! This is her second cover for us and she is responsible for the entire piece, from lines to colors! The Kaiju Kid has company...
ROB “Sketchcraft” DUENAS has been instrumental in the building of Big Dog Ink’s look through both character design and logo and graphic design. He is responsible for many of the Legend of Oz: The Wicked West character designs as well as Cupid from Joan of Arc. Rob has done an incredible piece with Quetzalcoatl, who he also designed.
MATT FRANK may be new to Big Dog Ink, but he has long been a fan favorite on IDW’s Godzilla series! Matt also has his own Kaiju booth from American Gothic Press called Project: Nemesis! For Kaiju Epic!, Matt has designed and drawn the Aztec God Opochtli…He Who Divides the Waters! 
Matt’s cover is also colored by first time BDI colorist Kevin Enhart! His incredible color style really brings Opochtli and the destruction of the Navy’s best carrier to life!

Click here to check out full details and join this great Kickstarter!