Sword & Sorcery Meets Street Justice—Monarch of Manhattan Arrives on Kickstarter!

A Gritty, Genre-Blending Fantasy Saga That Confronts Power, Corruption, and the Price of True Civilization

Visionary Creative Services is proud to unveil MONARCH OF MANHATTAN, VOL. 1: ARRIVAL, the launch of a bold new fantasy-action series that crashes sword and sorcery into street-level super-heroics—with teeth!

Now live on Kickstarter, this campaign brings together the creative team, series creator and writer C. Edward Sellner (The Knight, Deadlands: Raven, Deadlands: The Kid), with art by Jose Aviles (Adventures of Superman, The Demolisher, Smallville) and Rudi Sucipto (Astral Genesis, Astral Exodus, Astral Alliance), with amazing colors by Paul Little (Morning Glories, Sons of Anarchy), and letters by Jacob Bascle (Frank Frazetta’s Death Dealer, Vampiro: Rockabilly Apocalypse), 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.”

Arrival kicks off the series with a crash landing—literally. 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?

Volume 1 introduces a sprawling mythos and a modern pulp hero whose methods don’t always align with our rules—but whose moral code runs deeper than any superhero’s catchphrase. Part Game of Thrones, part Black Panther, and part Blade, this story doesn’t just explore vengeance—it tears into class disparity, systemic injustice, and what it truly means to build a just world.

“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 C. Edward 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.”

Jose Aviles added, “Monarch of Manhattan is a great story that cleverly blends magic with the streets of the big city, seasoned with touches of smart humor.”

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 a perfect entry point into his world.

With street-level grit, high fantasy scope, and philosophical depth, Monarch of Manhattan will resonate with fans of Conan the Barbarian and Doc Savage, while offering sharp commentary for readers navigating today’s real-world power struggles.

Back the campaign at www.thevisionarycreation.com or directly on Kickstarter and claim your copy of Monarch of Manhattan Vol. 1: Arrival before it disappears into legend! The campaign ends September 25, 2025.

Click to Kickstart MONARCH OF MANHATTAN

To learn more about Visionary Creative Services, visit www.visionarycreativeservices.com.

Author Profile

Al Mega

I'm Al Mega the CEO of Comic Crusaders, CEO of the Undercover Capes Podcast Network, CEO of Geekery Magazine & Owner of Splintered Press (coming soon). I'm a fan of comics, cartoons and old school video games. Make sure to check out our podcasts/vidcasts and more!