‘Monarch Of Manhattan Vol. 1: Arrival’ Now Live on Kickstarter
by Brendan M. Allen
Visionary Creative Services has launched Monarch Of Manhattan Vol. 1: Arrival on Kickstarter. The new fantasy-action series crashes sword and sorcery into street-level super-heroics … with teeth.
This campaign brings together the creative team of creator and writer C. Edward Sellner, artists Jose Aviles and Rudi Sucipto colorist Paul Little, and letterer Jacob Bascle for a genre-defying epic steeped in political intrigue, ancient betrayal, and modern-day reckoning.
Shakalla was meant to be Emperor; instead, he was exiled. Raised to rule with honor and compassion, he led a revolution against the tyrant who betrayed his father, only to follow his enemy through a magic portal that lands him in present-day Manhattan. Now stranded in our world, this ancient warrior must navigate a society he sees as primitive and unjust, while hunting the sorcerer-turned-corporate mogul who beat him here by three decades. That man is Damien Thorne—now the most powerful criminal figure in America, dubbed “The Monarch of Manhattan.”
Shakalla emerges in Central Park, rescues a local from a brutal mugging, and begins to see that our world runs on a broken moral compass. With each step, we question: is he a hero, a threat, or something more?
“Monarch of Manhattan is my tribute to all the real heroes who have sacrificed so much to actually change the world, leading with their courage, their wisdom, and their compassion,” said Sellner. “It’s an invitation to step outside our comfort zone and reevaluate how we see the world. In these dark times, we need hope, we need to remember what real heroes are, and they are far more than just crimefighters.”
“Monarch of Manhattan is a great story that cleverly blends magic with the streets of the big city, seasoned with touches of smart humor,” added Aviles.
The hardcover edition of Volume 1 includes extensive behind-the-scenes content and world-building materials, while the softcover offers the complete core story. Both editions also feature the bonus prelude story, Strange Kingdoms, set on the day of Shakalla’s birth, offering an entry point into his world.
Backer rewards kick in at the $20 for a digital copy of the book. Softcovers clock at $30, hardcovers at $40. Add $5 to either of those for an autograph. The campaign ends September 25th, 2025. Check it out at this link.
