You know how this goes, my lovely cryptids: First, I'm gonna tease you by telling you about the project. Give it that context to make the reveal all the more zesty. Sure, you could scroll down to the end, but where's the fun in that? Take a peek at the project here and on the campaign page, then see below for this CBY EXCLUSIVE: A secret variant unlockable via stretch goals for the Kickstarter!
Pocket Watch Press is excited to announce the launch of Area 51: The Helix Project, now live on Kickstarter! Created and written by Trevor Fernandes-Lenkiewicz, with art by Brazilian artist Marcelo Salaza (A, issues 1-4) and Samuel Iwunze (A, issues 5 & 6), colors by Troféu HQ Mix award-winning Marcio Luis Freire, and letters by Taylor Esposito (Exorsisters, Finger Guns).
This beautifully illustrated sci-fi tale brings an academic background in Molecular & Cellular Biology to this very personal story about finding strength, solace in self-identity, and reconciling it with memory, mental health, and loss.
The half-breed son of an extraterrestrial who masqueraded as human for decades witnesses his father's death after saving a human child—a selfless act that resulted in the exposure of his father's alien physiology. Tortured by the loss, the son, Kent, spends 15 years struggling to pick up the pieces until he's mysteriously confronted by someone claiming to have been there on that fateful day and that they have a means of getting his dead father back. Driven to uncover the circumstances surrounding his father's murder, and struggling to reconcile his dueling sense of identity, Kent is dropped into the jaws of a Cold War genetics conspiracy; what's left of him is forced to confront a twisted ghost from his past as it plunges a dagger into everything he's come to know about himself and what it means to be human.
"A dark and soulful sci-fi thriller… Area 51: The Helix Project is one conspiracy you'll want to dive into immediately." —David Pepose (Savage Avengers, Scout's Honor, Spencer & Locke, The O.Z.)
"If you’ve got a bit of science—or sci-fi—nerd in your soul, the word “helix” first brings to mind that crazy twist of strands, the DNA that defines living species…an admirable act of personal creative mojo and muscle that is to be applauded—and which no doubt contributes to this ongoing story’s sense of personal intimacy.”—D.G. Chichester (Batman, Daredevil, Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.)
“When it comes down to it, stories need to be entertaining, yes, but they’re an expression of experience and thought when you boil it all down,” said Trevor Fernandes-Lenkiewicz (He/Him). “We all struggle to find comfort in identity, and even further, to be proud of who we are in a world that is constantly trying to tell us otherwise. What thoughts and emotions could I express with my platform? Exactly that. At the end of the day, this story came down to me trying to work through the insecurity of pursuing my passion and my dream to create comics despite the world telling me that I needed to spend my days cooped up in a lab for the sake of financial and social security. This world is not safe, and in some regards—particularly when it comes to the pursuit of passion, dreams, and identity—it never will be. Why does this story exist? Because I know that I’m not the only one that feels this way—neither are you—and I think we both need something to remind us of that.”
“I was enchanted by the project from the moment Trevor mentioned that it would have aliens, spaceships, and fiction with a good dose of action and suspense,” said Marcelo Salaza (He/Him). “The character's emotional conflicts, anguish, and a good dose of noir. Yes, that captivated me! It has been a beautiful experience capturing those grand things and yet, present the humanity beneath it all.”
“Each page of Area 51: The Helix Project starts out as a draft and also a discussion of intention of character and action and how it translates into to inks,” said Samuel Iwunze (He/Him). “With Trevor’s attentive and inventive approach to storytelling, it has been exciting for me to find new ways to bring this amazing story to life with every panel. And I get to draw strong-looking aliens [fighting] each other which is one of my favorite parts of the creative process.”
And now, for the moment you've all been waiting for...
The cover reveal!
About Pocket Watch Press: Your home for thought-provoking entertainment. Striving to put everything on the page, from original comic book titles to work-for-hire writing and editorial services Pocket Watch Press collaborates with a host of globally diverse talent to reflect a wider perspective in their storytelling landscape.