Get a Sneak Peek at One MCU Creator’s Next Graphic Novel Before the Volume 2 Kickstarter Ends [Exclusive]

It’s your last chance to get on board a Kickstarter featuring a new world inspired by two legends of the comics industry and spearheaded by one of the founders of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The Kickstarter for the second volume of Ekos is ending tonight, and if you aren’t already involved, Collider can exclusively reveal four all-new pages of art from the graphic novel from writer J.T. Krul and penciler Alex Konat. We can also reveal for the first time that a third volume of Ekos has now been greenlit. The Kickstarter will end at 9 p.m. EST tonight.

Inspired by the work of late comics great Michael Turner, Ekos follows Grell, a leopard-like adventurer, who’s exploring the mysterious fantasy realm of Ekos. There, he’s encountered a number of Turner’s other creator-owned characters, including the hydrokinetic marine biologist Aspen Matthews, from Fathom, and the winged sorceress Grace, from Soulfire. The series is written by Krul (Teen Titans), penciled by Konat (Mindfield), inked by Mark Roslan (Ultimate X), colored by Peter Steigerwald (Spawn), and lettered by Josh Reed (Justice League). The project is being spearheaded by David Maisel, who was the architect of Marvel’s successful push into financing their own films that led to the multi-billion-dollar MCU franchise, and is inspired by the work of both Turner and DC Comics legend Geoff Johns. You can check out the Volume 2 fundraiser right now on Kickstarter.

Who Are Michael Turner and Geoff Johns?

Discovered by Image Comics co-founder Marc Silvestri, Turner was hired by Top Cow Comics and co-created the long-running urban fantasy series Witchblade. Leaving Top Cow to create his own publisher, Aspen, he created the popular undersea adventure series Fathom, and also had prominent stints with both Marvel and DC, working on Superman, Wolverine, and Civil War. Turner died in 2008 at age 37, after a lengthy battle with bone cancer. Johns started his career as a production assistant to director Richard Donner, and eventually became one of DC Comics’ premiere writers, revitalizing books like Justice Society of America, Green Lantern, and The Flash. He eventually became Chief Creative Officer of DC Entertainment, and co-wrote the scripts for Aquaman and Wonder Woman 1984.

Ekos Volume 2 is available as either four single issues or an oversized hardcover graphic novel. And if you missed out on the first volume, you can add a copy to your Kickstarter pledge, as well.

The Kickstarter for Ekos Volume 2 ends tonight at 9 p.m. EST. Stay tuned to Collider for future updates.