Retro-future comics title seeks crowdfunding

Word Balloons #1165: "Sonic Saturn" is set in the year 5005.

Shape Comics has returned to Kickstarter to crowdfund its latest graphic novel. 

The publisher – founded by Norman, Oklahoma’s Breyden Boyd – has published three issues of “Shape Man.” 

The retro-futuristic “Sonic Saturn” is set in 5005, as humanity has abandoned planet Earth and seeks new frontiers in our solar system. 

“Sonic Saturn Book 1: In the Court of the Krimson King” features more than 100 pages of story and art. 

Here’s a description of “Sonic Saturn,” from the Kickstarter page: 

Engineer Johnny Estrella and his team of astronauts are out on a job repairing satellites throughout planetary settlements when they receive a call to aid another nearby team The group soon meets disaster when they encounter a black hole, changing their lives forever!

After narrowly escaping the clutches of the negative mass, Johnny and company find themselves marooned in the deep mist and fog of an alien planet. Johnny discovers not only their ship in disarray, but his team has been split with no means of communication. The team shortly discovers a strange castle in this unknown, prehistoric-like land. Perhaps it’s a way out? Or maybe a death sentence… Set a course for the pages of Sonic Saturn to find out more!

This “Sonic Saturn” edition is a revised edition from the version released via Kickstarter in a 2022 campaign. 

The artist of “Sonic Saturn” is “Shape Man” artist Anthony Carranza; the writer is Tom Morrow.

Also in the “Sonic Saturn” package in this Kickstarter is the backup minicomic “Union Solar’s Sentries,” by illustrator Gabe Powers.

The Kickstarter describes this story as follows:  

An incredibly popular tv show in the year 5005, Union Solar’s Sentries is the tale of space-chimp clone Ace Aldo and his partner Atom Powers defending life inside the dome from evil invaders! 

Boyd joins artist Nicholas Malara (“Inspector Von Ghoul”) for “Ghost in the Machine,” described as an “appetizer for a full sci-fi/horror series.”

The plan for “Sonic Saturn” includes eventual comic shop distribution; for now, early adopters can check out preview art and variant covers via the Kickstarter page as they consider backing the series. 

Matthew Price, matthew@matthewlprice.com, has written about the comics industry for more than two decades. He is the co-owner of Speeding Bullet Comics in Norman.