Celebrating One Year of Dinoking, New Projects, and the Road Ahead

Hey everyone!

It’s hard to believe it’s been a full year since we launched the original Dinoking campaign. Reflecting on this milestone, I’m filled with gratitude for the support that’s allowed Conquest Comics to grow, and especially for being selected for the Trusted Partner Program. From the start, Conquest Comics has always been about listening to you, our fans, and making sure we’re working in your best interest. That’s the heart of everything we do, and it’s been incredible to see how far we’ve come together.

I’m also thrilled to give you an update on our upcoming comic, Fathom #1. Working with our Japanese artists has been a unique experience, especially getting immersed in the manga scene. One of our artists initially lacked confidence in their ability to handle the complex submarine-like interiors of the Xeo-Arcadian arcology and the underwater environments of Fathom. So, we took a step back from the sequential pages to focus on honing their background skills. In manga, backgrounds are often left to assistants or minimized, but I firmly believe they’re critical for world-building. They’re not just set dressing—they’re characters in their own right. Developing backgrounds takes a lot of time and patience, and it’s usually a thankless task, but it’s vital for bringing a world like Fathom to life. We went the extra mile, studying sea life and underwater plants to ensure their movement felt authentic, as well as mastering bubble physics by studying the movement of divers, underwater acrobats, and even looking back at classic cartoons like Astroboy, Marine Boy, and GI Joe. This level of detail makes a world of difference in how immersive the final product feels.

On a personal note, with my family out of town this past week, I’ve had some uninterrupted time to catch up on work. I’ve made significant progress on PLANET NEXT, the first chapter in GREAT SURVIVOR SAINT KAIDAN. This space delinquent series centers on a rebellious teen who survives the end of the world, only to wake up in a distant future where he’s now tasked with rebuilding everything he once hated. People often say it reminds them of Doctor Stone, but it’s really more inspired by European survival stories like Watership Down, The Animals of Farthing Wood, and The Hobbit. I’m pushing hard to wrap this up so I can shift focus to the lettering for Wonder Island and Dinoking #2.

Speaking of Wonder Island #1: Hero of Brightwater, I’m currently in negotiations with a letterer and aim to include it in my next wave of fulfillment. It’s been delayed due to the unexpected success of Dinoking, which shook up the schedule quite a bit, requiring some restructuring.

Now onto the much-anticipated Dinoking #2. I’m eagerly working on concept art and rewriting big portions of the script to elevate the story. We’re down to the last 200 copies, and we’re just waiting for an available slot in Ethan Van Sciver’s schedule for a closeout sale on his livestream. I’m incredibly grateful for that opportunity, and I’m hopeful we can sell out for a third time!

We’re also preparing the cover art for the 3rd printing of Dinoking #1, so keep an eye out for that.

I’m also excited to share that Xenotype #2: Instrument of Destruction is where we’re seeing the most progress right now. Working with such a talented artist has been a dream, and I’m excited to continue Felix’s journey as he tests his limits in his quest to become the world’s first superhero—though his youthful naivety may prove to be one of his greatest challenges.

To wrap things up, I want to thank you all for your ongoing support and patience. I know updates haven’t been as frequent as I’d like, but I’m juggling multiple projects and working hard to clear my slate. I’ll be overhauling the Patreon art and posting more regular updates moving forward. Also, I’ve noticed several new members have joined as free supporters, and some long-time patrons have downgraded their monthly contributions. If you’ve enjoyed the content, please consider increasing your support to $3 or more a month—it may seem small, but if all 20+ free members chipped in, we’d be able to produce an additional half a page of content each month.

Thank you, as always, for being part of the Orange Army. Stay tuned for more exciting updates!

Your favorite little Koala Guy,
Liam Gray