Vol 1: Work Until Your Family is Sad

Oliver Mertz and Mike Isenberg are the pair of mad geniuses behind the indie, sci-fi horror, adventure comic entitled First Law of Mad Science and are currently looking for crowd-sourcing help to under-write their first collected volume of their engagingly enthralling comic, First Law of Mad Science — tipping in at some 164 page and for their brand, spanking-new anthology issue (at 68 pages). That’s over 230 pages of amazing comics for you all. They are attempting to collect the first five issues of First Law of Mad Science as well as their one-shot flashback issue, and present them all in a beautiful, full-color paperback trade. Along with that, they’ve also assembled an amazing team of creators to tell stand-alone short stories, set in the First Law of Mad Science universe.

Oliver and Mike are indie comicbook creators — which really means that they totally rely on fan support. Without fans, they’re nothing more than a pair of disheveled nerds with a dream. With the help of their fans, they can make their first trade paperback and continue to share the story that they love to tell.

First Law of Mad Science is written by Oliver and Mike, and it is brought to life by their co-creator and artist extraordinaire Daniel Lapham, with Jeff McComsey providing the most amazing digital grayscales and elegant tones, and Lonny Chant who does some truly fantastic inks on issue three. The book also showcases Jamie Noguchi who arts up a storm with his incredible covers; finally, Oliver adds textures and does flats under Jeff’s grayscales. (Here’s the process.) Mike and Oliver then letter the comic. The flashback issue, which is included in the trade, is beautifully illustrated by Michael S. Bracco,Jamie Noguchi, and Lonny Chant, with a beautiful Ryan Brown (2000 AD, V-Wars) providing the cover for the trade itself.

The Science Club Mixtape is an anthology issue that is set in the cyberpunk meets Lovecraftian horror universe of First Law of Mad Science. Each stand-alone story will build upon that universe and shine a light into some pretty dark corners. The anthology features stories written and/or illustrated by Shawn Aldridge (GoGetters, Vic Boone), Frank Barbiere (Five Ghosts, Avengers World), Michael S. Bracco (Novo, the Creators), Jason Copland (Pop, Daredevil),Anthony Del Col (Kill Shakespeare, Sherlock Holmes vs. Harry Houdini), Savanna Ganucheau (Toe Tag Riot), Leland Goodman (Basement Dwellers), Mike Isenberg (First Law of Mad Science, FUBAR), Daniel Lapham (Warhammer 40K, First Law of Mad Science),Conor McCreery (Kill Shakespeare, Sherlock Holmes vs. Harry Houdini), Jeff McComsey(FUBAR, Flutter), Oliver Mertz (First Law of Mad Science, FUBAR), Pete Toms (POP, Sacrifice), andSean Von Gorman (Toe Tag Riot, Pawn Shop).

The story of First Law of Mad Science is about how Super-scientist George Baker’s newest invention — electronic retinal implants known as “Cyber-Eyes,” which are nothing short of amazing, are coming into play in the world at large (think Google glasses, but implanted in your head). These eyes are so amazing, and so cheap, and easy to get, that some 40% of the population has gotten them within their first year on the market. Still, they aren’t perfect. Far from it. When things start going inexplicably and bizarrely wrong with the original test subjects, George and his family will have to find out why, before the problem spreads and causes worldwide panic.

Along the way, the characters uncover ancient civilizations, corporate conspiracies, sinister cults, other-dimensional creatures, awesome robots, subterranean cities, and things man was never meant to know. Yep, it is totally going to be a wild ride.

The boys already have the first five issues done, as well as a one-shot flashback issue that they are  including in the trade. They want everyone to know that with everyone’s help with meeting the printing costs this volume will totally become a reality. To be sure, they gave quite a few wicked-cool rewards, and they hope that everyone will take a look at them and consider supporting them. All of the digital rewards will be available as downloads on ComiXology.

Needless to say, if they meet their initial goal, they will unlock some even more exciting stretch goals. Additional funds will go toward making more comics — including new issues. So they would like to thank everyone in advance, as the First Law of Mad Science is a labor of love for these talented creators. They have been working on First Law since 2008. And they tell us that they have put blood, sweat, tears, money, a time machine, gum, and everything else they have into creating this comic. They wanted to create a comic that they would want to read, and it means everything to them that fans pick it up to read…and hopefully like it.

This project will be funded on Tue, Jun 23, 2015.