RIVALS: The Loyalty of Sago Astar - Deluxe Issue #1

Story

 

Fans of martial arts and violent action-packed comics will find everything they want from a comic book with RIVALS, starring none other than 90s action movie legend, Gary Daniels. 

 

Two warriors, an elite royal guard named Sago Astar (Gary Daniels), and a low level street thief called Bizon, must fight for survival across dusty wastelands, shanty towns, and armoured citadels. The seven regions of planet Alter are desolate, brutal, and inhabited by weapon-fused warriors, maniacal cult leaders, and mind altering creatures. Some clans will become extinct, whilst others victorious in a never ending battle for supremacy. Pick your side! 

Preview

Covers

 

Interiors

 

 

 

 

Art Book

Original Art

THE GHOST WAR poster

 

Dave Kendall sample original art pages

 

Jhay Rosopa sample original art pages

Be a Rival

See Add-Ons section above for your chance to become a background character or a reoccurring character!

 

Personnel

 

RIVALS is a creation from movie and video game artist Paul Gerrard (Evil Dead Rise, Indy 5, Hellboy, Call of Duty) and writer/director Mike Clarke (The Stranger, A Light Through Coloured Glass, Legend’s Shadow). Cover by Greg Staples (2000AD). Pencils by Richard Torres and Jhay Rosopa. Colours by Matt Soffe (2000AD, Dexter, Dracula the Return) and Thiago Ribeiro (Red Sonja, Green Hornet, Dr Who). 

 

After creating a 100 page art bible including the scripted in depth comic series, and conceptual art, RIVALS was successfully optioned by Druid Pictures. It is now in the early stages of development as a LIVE ACTION TV SHOW staring Gary Daniels (The Expendables, Fist of the North Star, Tekken) 

 

“When creating the world of RIVALS, we actually based the character of Sago on Gary Daniels. Being a huge martial arts /action fan myself, it is an absolute honour to announce his attachment to the live action show and the graphic novel series” said Paul Gerrard. “Creating this world has been my dream since I was a kid. It has took me twenty long years to get to the point where I could fulfil this dream by designing and illustrating literally everything. Working with Mike to give it life, and working with Gary Daniels has been an incredible experience. This world pulls no punches and it makes no apologies, it is for hardcore comic book and classic imaginative film fans. A balls to the wall experience that doesn't pander to anyone.”

“Our aim was to create a thrilling story set on a dangerous world, and to work with some of the best up-and-coming talent in the comic book world. I feel we have certainly achieved that. As fans of comics, martial arts, fantasy, and classic 80s sword and slash movies we couldn’t be more excited to share Rivals with like-minded readers” said Mike Clarke.

Testimonials

‘Paul Gerrard is a conceptual visionary who consistently produces work of mind bending originality.’

- Miles Millar / Showrunner : The Shannara Chronicles 

"Master Gerrard's work penetrates the numbed pleroma of our hellborne gothic consciousness like some bastard biomechanical spawn of Clive Barker and H.R. Giger, hotwiring long dormant circuits and conjuring chiaroscuro dreamscapes at once shockingly alien and brutally famillar in a visual symphony twisted body armor, chitin, kevlar and tortured flesh. There are indeed new worlds here and new and deeper hells, proof positive that chaos never died." 

- Richard Stanley / Filmmaker: Hardware and Dust Devil

Stretch Goals

Timeline

At the point of launch the comic will be 100% complete and ready to send files to the printer. We anticipate it taking four months to print and prep for delivery, so a February '23 delivery is what we're shooting for.

 

With your support our goal is now to continue on to issue 02 and beyond!