The Legend of Ricky Thunder is 162 full-color pages of what has been called The Greatest Wrestling Comic Ever.
What's the deal here?
Three years ago, I came to realization: I'd always wanted to make a full comic, and--on the birth of my second child--I knew it was now or never. So I made The Legend of Ricky Thunder, the tale of a pro-wrestler who must overcome the sudden confrontation of his entire reality being false. The book is filled with awesome dialogue, super sweet fight scenes, some founding fathers and an alien invasion.
Yeah. It's a little bonkers. In the best way.
So What's The Deal?
I posted Legend of Ricky Thunder's glorious 162 full color pages (8"x5") twice weekly on the internet from 2010 to January of 2012, and during that time Chris Sims of comicsalliance.com deemed it the Best Wrestling Comic ever. This comic was deemed the BEST of something by someone who is basically an expert in these things and it's sitting there all quiet on the internet. To prepare it for print I added some new art, pages and altered some dialogue. It's not a 100% copy of the comic that existed on the web. But this dude is ready to print RIGHT NOW.
I want to emphasize this: The book is done. It's ready to go. There won't be any of the finger crossing that a Kickstarter comes through with its ethereal promise. All I need is the support of you awesome people to fund the printing. And that's the goal: a print run that I can take to conventions, sell in stores, and share it with the general public (and you righteous bros).
I'm also wanting to take this thing on the road - some of the larger conventions I'd like to take Ricky Thunder too (specifically SPX and HeroesCon) are pretty expensive endeavors. Past the cost of a decent sized print run (i.e. the goal amount) the additional funds will be put towards funding getting the book into the hands of comic book fans in this manner.
But I'm Not A Wrestling Fan
The Legend of Ricky Thunder is most definitely about a pro-wrestler. And it definitely has other pro-wrestlers in it. And it definitely has a gigantic climactic fight scene at the end which is, basically, the most amazing wrestling match ever.
But it's not a wrestling book. It's about a man coming to terms with his own self doubt right at a time when the pressure to absolutely NOT do that is at its greatest point. We can all relate to being put into a corner and the universe attempting to crush you into submission. This is that story. Just with a dude who has an awesome mullet who kicks people in the face and says "bro" a lot.
Get the book and you'll see, and if not, well, I bet you know a wrestling fan who would enjoy it. But you better tell them too, because I bet if you love good time jaunts in storytelling and some deft genre mashing you'll enjoy it, keep your book and then they'll miss out on the chance to have something pretty sweet too.
So What Do We Get?
Outside of the book in either its physical or digital form (which is awesome) and a postcard that will be made from all new original art using characters from the book you will also have the option of acquiring a small black and white single figure commission of your choice or an awesome watercolor painting of your favorite wrestler, which will look a little something like this:
Not a wrestling fan but are totally digging on those killer paintings? In the next higher tier I will paint the single figure commission of your choice (or your favorite wrestling tag team!).
Pretty cool, right?
But not the coolest.
The highest tier gets EISNER and HARVEY award winning editor (Adam P Knave) a look at your comic script and a brief Skype session with him. Adam is not only an award winning editor he's the co-writer of Monkeybrain Comic's AMELIA COLE AND THE UNKNOWN WORLD and ACTION CATS amongst other stuff. This is basically a priceless opportunity and it's available here. AMAZING.
You Got Any Of Those Stretch Goals, Man?
How about this, if we get to $4000 I'll draw an all new 8-12 page Ricky Thunder mini-comic, that will get included digitally in the digital packages, and a throw in to all the other packages. I'll also open up a tier where you can get a chance to be drawn into it. If things get really crazy, say $8000 I'm going to look into getting Ricky Thunder Wrestling Buddies made. I bet can come up with all sorts of awesome stuff.
$4000 Goal - Ricky Thunder Mini-Comic ACHIEVED - Everyone who bought a physical book will receive a copy of a brand new, 8-12 page Ricky Thunder mini-comic. It will be good times, I promise! (it will also be included in with the digital copies)
$5000 Goal - ACHIEVED - Everyone who participated in the TELEVISION TITLE ($25) on up will receive three awesome stickers! They will depict Ricky's Title Belt, Ricky delivering his awesome finishing move and a speech bubble with the phrase "Now the weiner dog is in the dang snake hole, dude!" Just like the picture below but they will be re-colored for maximum awesomeness. I will also post the B-Roll from my Kickstarter video of me taking several unused chair shots.
$6000 - ACHIEVED! -Ricky Thunder Trading Cards Everyone at the $25 tier and higher will receive a 9 piece trading card representing the Ricky Thunder wrestling universe. The commission levels and higher ($45 and up) will receive a couple extra cards as a reward for their additional contribution! Also opening a tier to get yourself drawn in as one of the cards where you get to select your wrestler's name and finisher and receive the original artwork for your card.
$7000 - Kyle Starks Short Story collection 36+ pages of awesome comics
Awesome Things People Have Said About Ricky Thunder
Ken Lowery, Co-Creator of "The Variants" and Fake AP Stylebook
"The Legend of Ricky Thunder will make you laugh, cheer and then laugh and cheer even more. Kyle Starks is a real talent and the world better recognize soon, or else! This stuff is pure comics at its master-level best."
Adam P. Knave, Eisner and Harvey award winning editor, and co-writer of AMELIA COLE and the UNKNOWN WORLD
"Starks takes the standard beats of a wrestling match, from Ric Flair's knife edge chops to Hulking Up, and then throws in some of the funniest dialogue I've ever read for good measure."
Chris Sims, comicsalliance.com
"I know very little about wrestling (outside of the fact that I would like The Rock to hug me), so I presume Ricky Thunder is a documentary. An aggressively funny and occasionally heartbreaking documentary."
Kevin Church, Writer, Cover Girl, Wander, The Loneliest Astronauts
Risks and challenges Learn about accountability on Kickstarter
The only risks or challenges are:
1) The printer can't keep up
2) I can't keep up with commissions
and those won't stop anything. They'll just delay it.
I don't see how either is going to happen.
FAQ
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
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- First created · 11 backed
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- Website: kylestarks.com
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CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPION Don't want to buy anything? Still want to help? For $2 I'll send you an awesome postcard. It features an original piece of Ricky Thunder art. Practically frame-able, man!
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JUNIOR HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE Get a PDF or CBZ file of the entire Ricky Thunder story. No need to wait for pages loading or clicking. Super awesome digital comic stuff.
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EUROPEAN CHAMPION Want the PDF but will be remorse without some sort of physical reward? I'll send you the PDF/CBZ and a postcard too. Hooray!
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UNITED STATES CHAMPION You get the physical book! One copy of the deliciously full color. It's the Stone Cold best, bro. (International Orders Please add $10.)
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TELEVISION TITLE Get a signed copy of the Book, the PDF/CBZ, AND the postcard. Pretty sweet deal, duder. (International Orders Please add $10.)
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Pledge $45 or more
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HARDCORE CHAMPION Get a signed copy of the Book, the PDF/CBZ, AND the postcard. I'll also include a small black and white drawing of a single figure of your choice. (International Orders Please add $10.)
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FIRST ROW SEATS Along with a copy of the book and the digital copy you will be drawn as an audience member into the Ricky Thunder mini-comic that was unlocked at the $4,000 stretch goal along with a couple extra copies of the mini-comic to show off to friends and family.
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INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION Get a signed copy of the Book, the PDF/CBZ, AND the postcard and also get an awesome 4x6 watercolor painting of the wrestler of your choice. (International Orders Please add $10.)
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SURVIVOR SERIES ELIMINATION TAG MATCH For those of you that want multiple books, this tier gets your FIVE copies of the Ricky Thunder book and I'll throw in 5 copies of the all new Ricky Thunder mini-comic too!
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TAG TEAM CHAMPION Get a signed copy of the Book, the PDF/CBZ, the postcard and a small watercolor of your favorite pro-wrestling tag-team/duo of your choice. OR any single figure commission. (International Orders Please add $10.)
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BATTLE ROYALE You will be drawn into the TRADING CARD SET as a part of the Ricky Thunder wrestling universe. You can pick your character's name and finishing move and appearance. YOU can be the wrestler or a loved one, or whatever might get you pumped up (with reason and good taste). You will also receive the original art that was used to make the card itself. All this along with the unlocked rewards, a signed copy of the book, a PDF and the postcard.
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NUMBER ONE CONTENDER Along with a copy of the book and the digital copy you will be drawn into the Ricky Thunder mini-comic that was unlocked at the $4,000 stretch goal. You will be the Number One Contender and appear in at least two pages with a speaking role. You will also receive the original art for the pages you appear in. AND you get to pick your characters name (as long as it's PG-13). OH, and if we reach the trading card goal at $6000 you will be in the trading cart set as your wrestler and receive the original art also for the card.
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WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION HOLY MOLY! Get your comic script (up to a 96 page graphic novel) edited by Eisner and Harvey award winning editor ADAM P KNAVE. Includes a two hour skype story consult. (also, a physical book, PDF and a postcard) (only 2 offered)
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SUPER UNIVERSAL DREAM CHAMPION You get the TAG TEAM CHAMPION level of rewards plus I will fly you (as long as you are in the contintental US) to my hometown, along with the one and only Chris Sims (Comicsalliance's foremost Batman and Wrestling expert) to watch Wrestlemania with him and I in the comfort of my home. Make the Number One Wrestling Day of the Year the dreamiest day ever.
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