About
PACKS OF THE LOWCOUNTRY takes place 16 years after nightmarish creatures overran the world. Only one fortified city is known to be free of the invaders. But a rumor of a 2nd city in South Carolina's lowcountry sends a team of investigators deep into enemy territory. This crew is tired of running from their demons. But there is more to fear from this mission than they realize. Join them in a story about taking confident steps forward despite living in a monstrous world that encourages anything but assurances.
Written by John Dudley and illustrated by Don Cardenas, Packs is a 200 page graphic novel. Unlike many Kickstarter projects, the art and writing are completed. We only need your help to print a gorgeous hardcover edition.
Bastion Conroy lives in the only city safe from the monsters that have invaded the world. But now there are rumors of another fortified city. And where is this rumored 2nd city?
The Lowcountry.
Bastion just accepted his first mission outside the walls. He's going to try and make contact with a mysterious group of survivors. Suffice it to say: he has no idea what he's doing. And if he can't keep the pace? Well...
So join this naive kid on his mission to find answers. You’ll soon find that it's the questions he never even thought to ask that are catching up to him.
Not content with just illustrating the book, Don provided an additional dimension to the Packs world with an original soundtrack!
We have the honor of hosting Pinups by our immensely talented group of friends: Mike Norton (BATTLEPUG, REVIVAL), Natasha Alterici (HEATHEN), Brian Level (SPIDER-MAN: RENEW YOUR VOWS), Ryan Lee (Valiant Comics Cover Artist), Marie Enger (REGRESSION, DEPT H), Joe Mulvey (SCAM, MUMMY KNOWS BEST), Jason Copland (KILL ALL MONSTERS, DAREDEVIL), Jonathan LaMantia (HEAVY METAL), Tyrell Cannon (VICTUS), and Kelly Williams (HOWL, SPREAD).
Pinup images will be posted as they roll in!
Don and I began this project way back in 2013, when we met to discuss joining forces on an epic original graphic novel. Fortunately, Don had monsters and superheroes on his mind as well. More importantly, he had a bucketful of ink, talent and grit--his tools to bring the fantastic to life. And so Don and I co-created the world of Packs of the Lowcountry.
Our mission statement: Create a world where EVERYTHING is possible.
Jon Westhoff from King Bone Press provided our lettering. And adding another layer of life to the Packs world were, Marie Enger, Mark Dale, and Kelly Fitzpatrick, our mega talented colorists.
Day by day, and year by year, the Packs team built a universe of a story. And now, finally, it’s all going to be collected and made available right here, with this Kickstarter. An entire universe of a story, all in one volume.
My imagination has always been sparked by the Lowcountry. I lived abroad through my elementary years. But my summers were all spent killing hours, weeks and months exploring that magical, sprawling marshland along the coast of South Carolina. For me, it’s an almost mystical place—and a ripe foundation for an overactive imagination.
I wondered: where were the monsters hiding up in those massive live oak trees, under the moonlit sky? Where were the lowcountry's free-wheeling genre mashups only possible on the illustrated page? To answer these questions came artist and co-creator Don Cardenas. Packs of the Lowcountry became a co-creation in the truest sense of the word.
Thanks for giving our work a look. And thanks ahead of time to all who back us. I hope you find a fraction of the adventure that we lived through making it.
Great question! Approximately 60-70% of the funds are going to having all these great products printed and produced. The rest is for shipping, shipping supplies, Pinups, Kickstarter Taxes and fees, and hopefully something extra for our Colorists and Letterers since they did such fantastic work at a rate below what they deserve. Any additional funds will be used to make the book and the products the best they can be.
Risks and challenges
The risks are minimal because the book is 90% completed. We are awaiting completion of the colors by years end for the last chapter and that is it.
Our printer, Kraken Printing, has proven to be reliable as well as having excellent printing standards.
Having years of shipping experience among us, successful fulfillment will also have minimal risk.
Support
Funding period
- (29 days)