Posted in: Comics | Tagged: Comics, entertainment, kickstarter, savage empire, Turok

Building A Savage Empire From The Bones of Turok

Savage Empire by Tim Lewinson, Jim Roy Jimenez, Michael Subardiaga, Daryl Mandryk, Crispin Hands and Joe Gianoglio. A crowdfunded graphic novel from the designer of Turok, best described as Jurassic Park meets Black Hawk Down.

Tim Lewinson writes,

In my head, I'm still a kid making my dinosaurs eat my GI Joes in the backyard.

Back in 2009, I first started writing Savage Empire, just a few months removed from my time as a senior designer for Disney on another dinosaur-based project called Turok.

Working on Turok was a dream come true for a dinosaur enthusiast like me, and I worked hard over 20 years to hone my craft and bide my time, struggling to figure out the story that was in my head. Now, I have an opportunity to live out this important dream of mine and I hope you can share it with me.

I want to tell a new story about how we as humans would react to the presence of these creatures in the present day. I mean, for two hundred thousand years we have been the apex predator on the planet. It's important for me to try and write characters that feel accessible despite some extraordinary traits. Reflecting back society as it is, across all races. Showing all facets of their personalities, warts and all.

I look at my own kids now, and want to encourage that same sense of wonder that I enjoyed as a child. Your support can make this happen, and thus far it has been extremely humbling and gratifying to see how people have rallied behind my Kickstarter for Savage Empire .

With Jurassic World and San Andreas opening soon in theaters, it's almost prescient – or eerie – how Savage Empire managed to position itself. It's set in an earthquake-battered Los Angeles, with giant dinosaurs pouring through pulsing energy portals – random gateways to an ancient world. When the authorities send their best and brightest to retrieve the technology responsible, they disappear. A second squad with individual agendas are brought in for a last ditch effort to salvage the situation…and that's when everything goes wrong.

You can't succeed in life without assistance from good friends. This isn't a story I felt could be told without some help, so I reached out to some of the best and most talented artists out there to help bring Savage Empire to life.

Daryl Mandryk, world-renowned concept artist most famous for his work on Dark Horse covers on Star Wars, Conan and others.

Jim Roy Jimenez, artist on the graphic novel K8 and The Sword And The Butterfly.

Crispin Hands joined up as well. He's the sound designer from Metroid Prime. We came into this industry together over 20 years ago, and now my friend is creating an inspiring soundtrack reward to represent the reappearance of these magnificent beasts into our lives.

There's something about that fire, riding that creative edge with good friends…it's impossible to replicate. It just happens, but only when the circumstances are perfect. Savage Empire is in that perfect spot, and now we're ready to share it with everyone in the hopes that you enjoy it!

Our Kickstarter campaign has been running since Tuesday, June 2^nd and the response we've received in the space of a few days has been phenomenal. I feel humbled, happy, and so incredibly fortunate to have so many amazing backers share and support that passion.

We're extremely proud of what's been created here. Who knows – maybe the next big movie mashup will be based on "Savage Empire" – and for that we'll have you to thank.

Welcome to the Empire!

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