Hello readers. Thank you all for your continued support over the years. You have an infinite number of options when you’re out browsing the web, and I am appreciative anyone who takes the time to read anything we might have written on this site.
I just wanted to let you know about a book project I’ve been working on with artist Greg Hyland. It is currently up on Kickstarter and has met its minimum goal, so it will be published. But we’d like everyone to know about it. After all, we’re so close to getting extra material from Marvel Comics artist Paul Pelletier (Guardians of the Galaxy) into the final version.
Please check it out!
And please feel free to spread the word and report links for anyone you think might be interested – the campaign ends in less than two weeks.
News about the upcoming Monster Atlas! The Monsters are here!
by Greg Hyland and Glenn Kay
Kickstarter Page:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/846328560/the-monster-atlas
Note: For Softcover purchase order in the US, use the Monster Atlas Softcover Book (Update) banner for correct decreased shipping fee.
The Monster Atlas is a map-based, funny, informative and occasionally spine-tingling guide to monsters and their literal place in the world.
It includes nearly 400 famous and not-so-famous creatures featured in myth and legend, cryptozoology, literature and cinema!
Much like a typical atlas, readers can flip through pages detailing geographic areas. Only in this version, monster icons are displayed on the various maps based on their reported sightings and/or narrative settings. Written paragraphs and larger, detailed images go into depth about the history of each particular beast.
It is our intention to inform and entertain young and old alike. This project will help to provide a better understanding of these incredible creations (some of these stories have been relayed between people for centuries), as well as giving the owner a sharper and clearer sense of geography.
This particular volume is the first in a proposed series. It will focus on monsters in the Western Hemisphere (that’s North America, Central America and South America, folks!).
And should you guys out there like it and help make it a success, we’ll be able to create future editions that will chronicle more creatures in other parts of the world.
Besides the incredible imagery on display, the book will also provide pages of information, statistics and amusing facts on the monsters featured.
Heading out on the road? With this guide, you’ll know what creatures to be on the lookout for.
Wondering where state and province capitals like Tallahassee, Cheyenne and Regina are? You will be able to find out, learn what monsters may reside there and even learn a bit of background culture about these areas.
Looking for some monster-themed entertainment? Then you’ll be inundated with listings of movies and literature featuring all kinds of creepy beasts.
The Monster Atlas is guaranteed to provide enjoyment and education for readers of all ages!
Don’t believe us? Read an introduction to the book below…
We are surrounded by monsters.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing, though. Like humans, they come in all forms. Some are nasty, some are friendly and some are indifferent to our presence. But it’s good to know as much as we can about them.
That’s why we’ve created the Monster Atlas. The Monster Atlas is the first volume in a series of books that identifies hundreds of unusual beings and shows where they reside in the world and where they are most commonly sighted. Volume One is more than 200 pages and features nearly 400 monsters from North and South America. Future volumes will feature monsters from Europe, Africa and Asia. We’ve spent our lives studying monsters and we know that when someone travels to a new and foreign land, it is always important to read guides to help navigate the area. This book is designed to help you do just that.
Included in the Monster Atlas are more than two dozen maps with various countries, states and provinces along with hand-drawn accounts of each being’s appearance. This project is an ongoing process with more facts and information being compiled every day. It may not be perfect, but it will help you get familiar with the basics.
This is important work. Read about monsters, learn about monsters and most importantly, understand monsters. With this volume, should you ever encounter a monster, you’ll know what to expect and how to react. Most are extremely dangerous, but there are a few that are harmless or even friendly.
If you find yourself in the company of a monster and manage to walk away in one piece, be sure to take down notes. Every bit of information gleaned is helpful to providing a better understanding of these life-forms and for learning about the monsters across the globe.
Here are some of the rewards available from our Kickstarter campaign…
• A full color PDF of the book.
• A full color Softcover Edition of the book (PDF also included).
• The book with official monster prints from Greg Hyland.
• Stretch goals will release extra art and images that will appear in the book. These works will come from contributing artists Gerhard (Cerebus) for reaching $3000 CDN (FIRST STRETCH GOAL ACHIEVED!), Paul Pelletier (Guardians of the Galaxy) if we get to $5000 CDN, and John Kovalic (Dork Tower) at $7500 CDN.
• The book and original monster art from Greg Hyland.
• The book with monster map posters.
• Want your own creation (real or imagined) immortalized in print? Pick this option, tell us all about it and we’ll get your beast included in the book!
And here is a sample of the Gerhard art that will appear in the book now, thanks to donors!
Co-author and illustrator Greg Hyland has had the idea for the Monster Atlas for decades, but only seriously started working on it in 2014. He’s best know for his comic book, and now on-line comic, Lethargic Lad, but has also worked as an illustrator and storyboard artist for the LEGO Group where he storyboarded countless TV commercials, did preliminary design on some LEGO Star Wars sets, and drawing the comics that came with LEGO Batman sets. He has also illustrated several card games for Steve Jackson Games including Munchkin Fu, Burn In Hell, Ninja Burger, and Munchkin Zombies Artist’s Edition.
Co-author Glenn Kay has been studying monsters for decades. He has authored multiple books on film (including Zombie Movies: The Ultimate Guide from Chicago Review Press) and has reviewed movies in print, on TV and radio, as well as for various online outlets. Glenn has also provided narration and character voices in the entertainment industry. Except for an uncredited bit on a 2005 Frontline special on PBS, they have been for shows that you probably haven’t seen unless you live in Canada (narration on programs like Killer Comebacks, Design Interns and Women on Top). Still, his work was pretty darn compelling. He is currently the President of the San Diego Film Critics Society. In between his duties for this organization, he spends his time researching monsters and warning others about their very real existence.
-Please hurry, time is running out! Funding period ends on July 1st at noon EST!
Questions? Contact us at: monsteratlasthebook@gmail.com
Want to see more? You can also follow Greg Hyland’s Monster-A-Day post at this address: https://twitter.com/Lethargic_Lad