AHOY Comics' First Kickstarter Move: "The Forgotten Divine" by Mark Russell Announced
One of the most unique voices in the independent comic book world, AHOY Comics, has made history by announcing its first-ever Kickstarter campaign. The company is raising funds for a new graphic novel titled The Forgotten Divine, which brings together Eisner Award-winning writer Mark Russell, who made a huge splash with Second Coming, and the talented artist of The Boys series, Russ Braun. This project marks the publisher's first major step in stepping outside traditional distribution channels to connect directly with its readers.
The Forgotten Divine invites readers into the mind of a man struggling with trauma on the fringes of the modern world. At the center of the story is Rodney Coleman, a homeless war veteran who sees visions of a distant planet. When Rodney realizes these images are not just hallucinations and that others are having the same dreams, he finds himself as the leader of a UFO cult. What begins as a sincere search for meaning eventually falls into the grip of conspiracy theories, paranoia, and violence, dragging the audience into the dark corridors of faith.
Writer Mark Russell stated that the project is very personal to him, saying, "This story is about why people join cults, why they assign meaning to mysteries, and how they find solace in their own persecution." Artist Russ Braun emphasized that they are taking visually unprecedented risks and that the story's slowly escalating tension will challenge readers. AHOY Comics Editor-in-Chief Tom Peyer expressed that the Kickstarter platform gives them the freedom to make a book as "extreme and full as they dreamed."
Since its inception, AHOY Comics has been known for its "Expect More" slogan, offering not just comics but also content-rich magazines featuring poems and short stories. The The Forgotten Divine campaign continues this tradition by offering supporters exclusive covers, limited-edition merchandise, and digital content. If the campaign reaches its goal, this satirical sci-fi drama will hit shelves in 2026. For independent comic book lovers, this campaign offers both the opportunity to support the most ambitious work of a beloved writer and to own a collectible piece.
