Kickstarting Comics: ‘First Men On Mars #1’ A Quality Oversized Steampunk Comics

by Richard Bruton

It’s steampunk adventure in the tradition of H.G. Wells, Jules Verne and Edgar Rice Burrough’s John Carter with the first issue of First Men On Mars – and it’s up for funding right now.

This one is a second bite of the cherry for First Men on Mars, which didn’t raise its target last time. No real idea why, as this tale of a 19th Century failed expedition to Mars just looks so damn good.

It’s brought to you by EM Press, a company created by the writer and primary artist/concept designer on First Men On Mars, Paul L Mathews and Gary Erskine. The original concept came from Mathews and Time Bomb Comics’ Dave West.

They’re joined on the 48-page, U.S. format steampunk comic by artists Mike Collins, Paul McCaffrey, and Ian Richardson. Colours come from Yel Zamor and John-Paul Bove and it’s lettered by Annie Parkhouse.

The story’s set in 1890, deep in the heart of the British Empire. Lady Lilian Wells-Cavendish arrives at a British Army camp in colonial Africa to investigate a failed British military expedition to Mars.

And its her investigations that uncover the surviors’ tales, fantastical accounts of dragon-riding Martians, shambling plantmen, wartomatons, flying machines, battery-powered tanks, and an unexpected threat that awaits the mission to Mars.

Erskine draws the Earthbound action whilst the survivors’ tales are drawn by Collins, McCaffrey, and Richardson.

First Men On Mars #1 is the first issue of a limited series, with subsequent issues scheduled to appear on Kickstarter later in 2023 and 2024.

Like I say, I cannot see why this one failed to reach the target first time around, not with a great-sounding steampunk tale and a really talented roster of artists. So… second time around, get over there and pledge!

As you’d expect, plenty of rewards and pledge levels, from simple digital and print editions of the comic, variant covers by Lee Carter, Staz Johnson, and Ian Richardson, through to prints, postcards, and commissions. Potential stretch goals include more covers, a 48-page extras comic of sketches, concepts and more. And there’s plenty of chance to mix and match with add-ons including original art, sketchbooks from Erskine and Collins, and pretty much everything else in the various tiers.

The Kickstarter for First Men On Mars runs until 18th May 2023.