About
Nerd Nation Publishing Proudly Presents The Gateway Runners
Earth is overburdened by its population. Mars has been terraformed, and an Arc built to bring 100.000 people to turn Mars into a paradise has been launched.
The Arc, halfway to its destination, vanishes without a trace.
In dire need of populating the red planet, Earth sends prisoners, dissidents, and other undesirables to Mars in a second arc.
To everyone's surprise, they succeed. Mars becomes a lush farm land.
All is not well for either planet though. Mars lacks needed technology and medical supplies, while Earth suffers from lack of land on which to grow crops. Together they could thrive, but a trip from one planet to the other is dangerous and costly.
Anton Lehrer, running from a sin so horrible that it has broken him, seeks redemption within himself by bringing both worlds together.
With the help of a mysterious benefactor, Anton plans on recruiting a group of people with a unique connection, He will use them to change the lives of every single living person.
In his way, is the entire Earth army. Headed by a Runners father, he will stop at nothing to bring the Gateway Runners down, and put Anton away forever.
The Runners will also face a creature unlike any other in their journey. A creature who can do anything, and what it wants will rock the very core of the group.
The enemy they don't expect is the one that comes from within their own ranks.
The Gateway Runners can save two worlds, if they can keep running.
With high speed air chases to a journey from Earth to Mars, Gateway Runners combines high adventure with thoughtful science fiction.
Born of a love of comic books and science fiction, Gateway Runners is a fast paced, character driven adventure. The product of the authors passion, this comic book will leave you wanting more.
Gateway Runners #1 is a bonus sized, full color comic book. 28 pages of story.
Gene Hoyle was a terrible student who struggled with reading. His first grade teacher, Miss Casey, would change his life by giving him a copy of Superman 176. This silver age classic ignited a passion in him for heroic fiction. Now a voracious reader, Gene wishes to add to the genre that he loves.
His first comic book work was editing and helping to organize a jam comic with over 70 artists. Solestar was a massive undertaking. It came out on time and raised 13,000 on Kickstarter. It is a source of pride that a book with that many talented artists on it worked out as well as it did.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thenaiveproject/solestar
Gene's next project was re-teaming with Solestar creator Siike Donnelly on Elan Vital, an art book fused with a comic book. It was a nice break when Siike told Gene that he would only have to wrangle one person for this project.
Digital copies of Solestar and Élan Vital are now available, as well as a very limited supply of the Élan Vital Hardcover.
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Ashley Lanni graduated from the Ringling College of Art and Design in 2006 with a major in Illustration. Out of college she worked as a graphic designer and disgruntled bartender before becoming a freelance illustrator. She has worked on both comics and children's books and is always looking to collaborate with new writers and artists. She is currently a colorist with Perfect Storm Publishing and is has penciled and inked for various companies including Heroic Publishing, Identity Comics and Red Stylo Media. Gateway Runners is the first comic project she has penciled, inked, colored, and lettered. She is very excited for the artistic control that comes with being able to do everything art related on this project.
Our logo and graphic work is courtesy of Glaister Ormsby of Silverback Comics. In his own words...
SILVERBACK Comics is run by Glaister G. Ormsby II when Born in New York Glaister has been drawing all his life with a deep love for comic books and the works of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. " I wear my artistic heart on my sleeves.My designs are badges of honor every one of them has caused me blood sweat and tears that I willingly shed every time I place a pad in front of me and I pick up a mechanical pencil.I have always put my heart and soul into my designs never allowing anyone to discourage me along the way". “
Felicia, introduced in this issue, will be a standout character. She will change everyone's perception of what an action hero can be.
As a child, Felicia's family were on the second Arc. An accident left her without the use of her feet.
Instead of a weakness, Felicia treats her condition as just another reason to try harder. Foregoing a hover chair, Felicia chooses to leap obstacles with her sharp mind. No one can stop Felicia once she sets her mind to something.
Born and raised on Earth, Phil wanted for nothing. Though he was given everything, he needed more. A reason for being. When Anton recruits Phil, he knows that space is where he is meant to be.
Phil is the heart of the Runners. Though not a physical guy, his knowledge of technology and his charming, yet bumbling manner, make him an important member of the Runners.
Jacob Rosenthal is Gina's little brother. Though in his twenties, Jacob has the mind of a five year old. This May be as a result of seeing his parents murdered.
Anton is a man who needs the Runners as much as they need him.
With Jupiter, the mysterious benefactor of the Gateway Runners, Anton knows the excretion that brings the group together.
He abhors violence, and has many gadgets that he uses in place of weapons.
Marty will look a bit different than this image in the comic. He is the mechanic and tech expert on Sanctuary Base, the Runners base of operations. If something should not be said, you can count on Marty to say it.
He is fiercely loyal to Anton. Marty met Anton in jail, and Anton showed him that life could be about the future, and not just the day. This changed him forever, and he feels a debt to Anton.
Gina
Gina is never far from her brother Jacob. more of a mother to him, Gina dedicates herself to his well being.
More powerful than even the other Runners know, Gina has more than one secret.
Much research and thought went into finding cool prizes on every level of participation.
From a copy of the book itself, to being drawn into the comic as a character, we want you you to find the level of participation that best suits you!
Feel free to ask questions. I will be checking and answering daily.
Both Ashley and Gene have experience in Kickstarter, and producing comics.
Ashley drew nine issues of Aspire with writer Rachel Pandich. Gene worked on Solestar and is helping edit Elan Vital.
They have both given to Kickstarters where they wait for long periods of time to get the product they gave money for. We don't see this as acceptable.
As a ma with retail experience, Gene has an action plan in place that will assure fast delivery of every single person who pledges in a timely manner.
For fathers day, Gene's boys created the first Gateway Runners fan art!
Risks and challenges
Failure to reach our goal will almost certainly keep the project from seeing the light of day.
As creator of the Gateway Runners and a supporter of indy comics, Gene refuses to pay his team less than fair wages for their work.
He will not see a dime from the success of the Kickstarter, instead choosing to make his share from selling the comic once printed.
This comic book is more than just another Kickstarter project. It is the start of something amazing, and we want to see it come to life. We hope that you feel the same.
Learn about accountability on KickstarterQuestions about this project? Check out the FAQ
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Funding period
- (30 days)