Hey true believers, the project is now 55% funded and Paul Gulacy has agreed to do the cover, which is an absolute dream come true for me. Ray Dillon is also doing a sketch for my Kickstarter backers, which is going to feature CruZader locked in mortal combat with a vampire.
There are 40 days and 40 nights left until the campaign ends and I'm hoping for a strong finish. Since the last time I posted, several CBMers have come forward either to pledge support or volunteer their efforts in lieu of a pledge, and I am so grateful for all of it. You can follow the progress at my Twitter handle, @thecruZader. Here's the link to the site:
CruZader graphic novel Kickstarter page Here are some of the highlights from the Kickstarter submission and some sample pages:
Logline: A reluctant priest is re-trained as a holy warrior for the Pope; he must embrace his destiny in order to defend the Vatican from an invading army of radical terrorists … who are much more than what they appear.
Synopsis: Antonio is the latest in an unbroken chain of De La Cruz family men to don the mantle of The CruZader, invisible hand of the Pope. Wielding an arsenal of precious relics, including the Spear of Christ, the Holy Grail, and the Rights of Exorcism, Antonio struggles with his archaic and often violent vocation. What he really craves is the freedom to choose his own path – a choice taken away by his very namesake.
Each CruZader is orphaned at birth, trained as a priest, then defrocked and forced to procreate until he sires a baby boy. Antonio knows he will never be allowed to raise and love this boy – a ward of the Vatican, the boy is quietly groomed to take his place.
Self-publishing is a really hard thing to pull off when you are going up against juggernauts like Disney and Warner Brothers, but I am going for it full bore. Dark Horse Comics started in a garage, and they really led the way for the many indie titles that are in the marketplace today. The CruZader is nearly complete and I am now planning ahead to my marketing launch.
The idea for The CruZader comic book came to me in 2007, and by 2008, I had evolved that idea into a printed 22-page issue #1 that I sold at WonderCon in San Francisco. I didn't want to stop there. I won a contest hosted by The CW TV Network (see videos below), and also placed in the Top 25 in an international contest hosted by Platinum Studios. Those contests gave me an indication that I was on to something and it fueled my ambition to expand The CruZader into a full-blown graphic novel.
Thanks for your consideration and backing as I chase the dream, true believers!