Q-Ball is an espionage/martial arts thriller with explosive fight scenes, written by Mike Baron and drawn by Barry McClain
The first order of fiction is to entertain. Comics can be smart. Steve Rude’s and my creation Nexus has won every industry award, gone into multiple printings, and is a staple of libraries everywhere. Comics portray martial arts poorly, focusing on elegant poses rather than intricate fight choreography.
It has been my lifelong mission to change that, first with Badger, then with Kato and Bruce Lee, now with Q-Ball, which I co-created with Denver artist Barry McClain. Barry is an explosive artist who is just getting started. Barbara Kaalberg is an amazing inker. Charlie Hogg is our talented colorist and letterer.
Our audience used to pick up Master of Kung Fu or Iron Fist hoping for a glimpse of real kung fu. Q-Ball is more than fight scenes, it is also an exploration of character, a romance, and a spy story.
The first issue is finished. It is stunning. One glimpse of the art alone will be enough to sell this project.
We’re going the Kickstarter route because the starving independents have pinned all their hopes on movie franchise characters and no longer accept original concepts.
Q-Ball story is about Detroit homeboy Curtis Ball joined the Merchant Marine and ended up managing a warehouse in Manila. Curtis wanted only two things out of life: to see the world and study Kali/Escrima. But when a pack of tuxedoed sharks muscle their way into his warehouse, Curtis learns the hard way that it’s not always smart to mind your own business. The spooks are looking for Donna Wing, a beautiful Chinese blogger, forced to flee due to her exposes of human rights abuse. Now Curtis and Donna are on the run—from the Chinese government, the tongs, and a group of international cutthroats who will stop at nothing to stop them from reaching the United States and spilling their guts. Sometimes you have to spill some guts to spill your guts.
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