Art by Erwin J Arroza
BIG JACK: ANIMALS issue 1 is available now. Action-adventure in a POST post-apocalyptic landscape about a man trying to keep himself and his young family moving forward in an adverse world against dangerous men and beasts.
Based in my TRANSPORT "Universe," Big Jack's story takes place in West Michigan 2085, 72 years after the 2013 H7N9 (fictional) global pandemic kicked off the zombie apocalypse. The shambling undead are long gone but, due to local geneticists trying to find a cure for the initial pandemic and experimenting on the local fauna, savage, mutated beasts now roam the remote fields and forests between the bright bastion of humanity that is Grand Rapids, Michigan, and the glittering Lake Michigan lakeshore.
The first issue of BIG JACK: ANIMALS introduces the reader to Jack Galloway, farmer, salvager and part-time bounty hunter. In this initial visual episode, Jack has taken on a contract through the North Shore Coalition, a region along the Lake Michigan lakeshore extending from Muskegon to Port Sheldon. He confronts the ne'er-do-well Stewart Thompson who has a long list of criminal grievances against his name, including rape and murder. A brief scuffle ensues outside the drinking establishment they are at, and Stewart is not about to come along peaceably knowing only dark days behind iron bars is in his future. Instead of giving up to Jack, Stewart gives a fair warning that the big man has made a dire mistake coming after him before jumping off a nearby bridge, killing himself before Jack can apprehend him.
The consequences for Jack, his family and Jack's aged sidekick Florence "Flori" Larsen is they have now gotten onto the wrong side of Stewart's massive and maniacal brother, Darby "The Bear" Thompson and the Congregation; a nomadic community of lawless men and women happy to follow Darby's every sinister whim.
There will be hell to pay, and Jack will be charging his way through, fighting with trusty axe and sledge to re-purchase the safety of his family and friend no matter the personal cost.
BIG JACK: ANIMALS is a gritty action-adventure tale about one's strength, perseverance, and courage in moving forward in the face of extreme adversity.
BIG JACK: ANIMALS #1 Written by Peter Welmerink & Ryan Cummins w/ Cover & Interior Art by EV Cantada is available direct through Author Peter Welmerink by contacting him at authorpeterwelmerink@gmail.com.
Physical copies - $4.99 (+ $3.50 shipping in continental US) Every book is boarded and bagged and ships in secure comic mailer. For purchases outside the US, please contact me via email above.
Digital edition - $2.99 w/ added color content
Retail stores - Please contact me via email above for bulk book bundle rates
For other ALTERED GRAND RAPIDS information, news, free short stories and illustrations - grandrapidsaltered.blogspot.com
BE WELL. BE PATIENT. KEEP MOVING FORWARD.