#About
The legendary graphic novel Empire by Mark Waid & Barry Kitson was originally published by Gorilla Comics, a company formed by Mark Waid, Kurt Busiek and several others, and later was completed under the DC Comics label in 2004. It has been out of print for years and never collected as a hardcover, so the duo decided it was time for an upscale oversized hardcover edition with slipcase, containing extra material like sketches, designs, layouts and pencils, interior work, covers, and a wealth of unpublished art. They also wanted to prioritize things like layflat binding and high quality paper in the book's production, to properly showcase Barry’s stunning art and Mark’s brilliant storytelling. There's even a huge 6-foot panel that Barry Kitson did that was previously only included in the digital version that can now be in print as a giant foldout!
This campaign is focused solely on the original series, which was designed to stand on its own. A mixture of political intrigue and action-adventure, the groundbreaking Empire explores the concept of world domination from the unique perspective of the conquering dictator. Ten years after beginning a campaign of global conquest, the villainous Golgoth sits as the unopposed ruler of the world. But now that the masked monarch has realized his totalitarian dream of ruling the planet, he must contend with the incomprehensible nightmare of lording over a global empire. Under an eternal onslaught of alien invasions, traitorous plots and rebellious uprisings, the evil despot must find a way to maintain control or watch as his kingdom is destroyed. A story like this where the supervillain has actually WON certainly has parallels with current real-world politics.
“Empire is one of my favorite projects. Alongside Barry Kitson, we created a post-heroic dystopia that's some of the best--and darkest--work I've ever done. For decades, Barry and I have longed to see it collected in a deluxe hardcover edition for the first time ever--and that day is here!” - Mark Waid
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#Preview
Here's a preview of the new cover by Barry Kitson that we'll be using for the hardcover once it's colored:
And here's a preview of the giant 6-foot foldout panel inside the book by Barry Kitson (first time in print)!
#Bios
Mark Waid is a legendary American comic book writer and editor, celebrated for his deep understanding of superhero mythology, optimistic storytelling, and encyclopedic knowledge of continuity. With a career spanning four decades, he has written for every major publisher, including DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Image, and BOOM! Studios.
Barry Kitson is an acclaimed British comic book artist best known for his extensive, detailed work on flagship titles for both DC and Marvel Comics. Beginning his career in the UK during the 1980s, he transitioned to US comics, frequently collaborating with top writers in the comics industry.
#Stretch Goals
$40,000 - Bookmarks for all physical backers! UNLOCKED!
$50,000 - Free PDF of Empire: Uprising for all supporters!
#Timeline
The collection is complete, and when the campaign ends the files should be ready to head to the printer within 1 month..
Printing and shipping should take around three months from the approved-to-print date, so delivery of rewards is expected to be done around November or December '26.
Zoop will always be here to communicate with supporters should any delays occur, if there’s confusion about delivery, or if any other concerns pop up.