About this project
Kros: Hallowed Ground
$56,742
824
Kros: Hallowed Ground began over 10 years ago as a tale of horror set during the Battle of Gettysburg. A dream project for us both, it waited silently, like a vampire in the shadows... The story was written, some pages were drawn--atmospheric, dark murky landscapes, the dimly lit surgeon's tent, a figure swirling from the smoke of battle...
It's time to hear the wolf's howl; to watch the undead descend like buzzards to the feast. It's time to unleash the vampires...
All wars are horror stories.
Gettysburg, July 1-3, 1863. The blood soaked battlefields of the Civil War draw Vampires who descend to feed on the wounded and dying as Blood calls to Blood. One man, a Vampire Hunter named Kros, stands against them, waging a battle at night as fearful and horrific as the battles fought during the day.
KROS: HALLOWED GROUND is a 148 page horror graphic novel by John Ostrander and Tom Mandrake. Kros is a dream project and Kros' story is one we have been wanting to tell for a long time.
THE STORY
Set against the backdrop of the Battle of Gettysburg during the Civil War, KROS: HALLOWED GROUND is a tale of horror that follows the story of Vampire hunter, Major Kros, who fights two wars. During the day, Kros fights the battle history remembers. At night, he fights a secret battle against supernatural forces.
Kros himself is an enigmatic character. He’s a dampyr – a vampire hunter – and has some of the vampire’s abilities. Long lived, Kros cares nothing for the politics of ordinary mortals. The Civil War means nothing to him. Kros is on the trail of the undead. There are considerable dangers to Kros as well--and death is not the worst of them. Blood calls to Blood and there is always the danger that could be turned and become that which he hates.
Around Kros are ordinary people, civilians and soldiers from both the North and South in the midst of a cauldron called Gettysburg. They have faced the conflict and horror of the battlefield and now must face an even greater horror. Vampires have followed the armies and come at night to feast on the fallen. A second battle is fought at Gettysburg of which the history books know nothing. That’s the tale we want to tell. We’ve waited a long time to tell it. With your help, it will happen.
The KROS: HALLOWED GROUND 128 page graphic novel will include character and production artwork by Tom Mandrake, cover/poster art, as well as a short KROS story by John Ostrander.
Tom Mandrake Sketch Card Example
Black and White Vampire Portraits
Limner's Wagon Portrait
KROS: HALLOWED GROUND REGIMENTAL PATCHES AND 'SUTTLER'S TOKEN'
THE CREATORS:
John Ostrander
John Ostrander is a comic book writer whose inventive imagination has brought a myriad of stories and characters to the comic book industry. Ostrander is the creative force behindGrimJack, the new Suicide Squad and also created the character of Amanda "The Wall" Waller for DC Comics. He and Tom Mandrake brought their creative prowess to The Spectre for DC, collaborating on a renowned dark tale of vengeance and redemption. Ostrander is well known for his work on the Star Wars titles for Dark Horse/Lucasfilm and created the characters of Quinlan Vos and Aayla Secura.
Tom Mandrake
Known for his dark and moody style, Tom Mandrake is a graphic storytelling master whose favorite thing is drawing vampires, zombies and werewolves. Mandrake has brought his striking illustrative and storytelling skills to a huge number of titles including: The Spectre with John Ostrander, To Hell you Ride with Lance Henrikson and Joe Maddrey, John Carpenter's Asylum with Sandy Carpenter and X-Files/ 30 Days of Night with Steve Niles.. Mandrake co-created the character of The Black Mask for DC Comics.
Ostrander and Mandrake have collaborated on some highly respected and amazing comics such as, Martian Manhunter, GrimJack,The Kents, Batman Grotesk--as well as the critically acclaimed The Spectre for DC Comics. With this Kickstarter, they are saddling up their horses to ride out once again, creating a deeply entrenching and horrifying story with Kros: Hallowed Ground.
Sian Mandrake
Sian Mandrake is a recent Kubert School graduate and multi-talented artist with a distinctive style. An up-and-coming painter, illustrator and storyteller, Sian is a horror fan and is bringing a subtle, mysterious color palette to KROS: HALLOWED GROUND. Her other work includes pencil art for 7 Deadly Sinners with Chuck Dixon, color for: X-Files with Joe Harris, John Carpenter's Asylum with Sandy Carpenter, Convergence: Suicide Squad with Frank Tieri and Kill the Night with John Ostrander for Philip Lim. She is currently working with Area 52 Studio as an artist and colorist and illustrating a creator owned children's book.
SKYPE CLASSES WITH JOHN OSTRANDER!
SKYPE ART CRITIQUE WITH TOM MANDRAKE ADD ON! Tom will help you with your storytelling, composition or other any other art related questions. Send Tom images of your art and he will critique with overlays and instruction. ADD ON-- $100 per hour long session.
KROS WINGED VAMPIRE T-SHIRT! We found a better, lighter shirt--so there's a new price! Ships everywhere with REVANENT level and up! We love T-shirts! Wear your Kros Winged Vampire emblem with this 4.1 OZ 100% combed ringspun cotton, black T-shirt! Features the Winged Vampire emblem on the front. Sizes S, M , L, XL and 2XL! Add this T-shirt onto your existing pledge for $30 (no extra shipping with levels REVANENT and up!)
WINGED VAMPIRE BANDANA! MAJOR KROS WOULD BE PROUD TO WEAR THIS 22 X 22 INCH WINGED VAMPIRE BANDANA! To back THIS ADD ON Please go to MANAGE PLEDGE and ADD $15 to your existing pledge. (no extra postage for REVENANT level and above. OR GET THE COMBO PACK FOR $20 (see add on instructions below)
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REWARD LEVELS$1, $5, $10 or $15 can still get this reward--just add $5 for shipping USA, $10 International.
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GET THE BANDANA AND BUTTONS COMBO PACK FOR $20 (AND ONLY PAY SHIPPING ONCE FOR LEVELS $1--$15!)
KROS BUTTONS! DON'T LET THE VAMPIRES WIN! This SET of 3 KROS: HALLOWED GROUND buttons are 1.5 X 1.5" full color. To pledge this ADD ON, please go to MANAGE PLEDGE and add $10 to your existing pledge. (no additional postage for REVENANT and higher. For those at the 1$, $5, $10 and $15 reward levels, please add $5 shipping USA and $10 International.)
OR GET THE COMBO PACK OF BUTTONS AND BANDANA $20
Need a second copy of the graphic novel? An extra set of Regimental Patches? It's easy to add additional items to your pledge by choosing any of the items listed and then following the instructions below!
ADD ON A GRAPHIC NOVEL, SKETCHBOOK AND MORE FOR REVENANT AND ABOVE!
ADD-ON INSTRUCTIONS -To add an ADD-ON to your pledge, please follow these steps: 1--Press the green 'MANAGE PLEDGE' Button above. 2--Increase your pledge in the 'Pledge Amount' box by the total of the add-ons you want to add. Please be sure to place your NEW TOTAL as Kickstarter will not do the math for you and will think you're decreasing your pledge! 3- Please send us a message and/or leave a comment HERE claiming your add-on and we will make a note in your account. 4--After the Kickstarter campaign ends you will receive a survey that will ask you questions with further details on your perk levels and the Add-Ons you've chosen.
STRETCH GOALS!
Hurrah! We made both of our stretch goals! Now, the Kros: Hallowed Ground graphic novel gets a silver foil Winged Vampire on the cover AND we're adding 20 more pages of content!
Risks and challenges
KROS: HALLOWED GROUND is a dream project that's been a long time in the making! When we first started developing Kros: Hallowed Ground, few options for publishing creator-owned projects existed. Kickstarter didn't exist. But, the advent of crowdfunding has given us hope our story can finally see the light of day!
How do you know we will deliver the goods? We already know that we work and play well together and have collaborated on many successful series for major publishers. Since we've been in the comic book making business forever, we also understand the responsibility of making deadlines-- as well as the amount of work we are undertaking.
We are keen to see Kros finally be published! We can't wait to get this story printed, into your hands, and to be holding an actual copy of KROS: HALLOWED GROUND in our own hands as well!
We've got a strong support team behind us working to achieve our goals--to deal with potential delays--and to make sure all books and rewards get shipped on time. Should there be a problem you can expect a communique from the front lines as we deal with random vampire attacks.
We hope that all of you out there who love to curl up with a good, scary horror story will join us on our campaign and help make KROS: HALLOWED GROUND a reality!
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