Dragons have long been the stuff of myth and legend, but what if one turned up in the modern-day Pacific Northwest? That's the intriguing premise of Dragonproof, a new graphic novel from Ahoy Comics that's currently making waves on Kickstarter. We've got an exclusive first look at the opening pages, and they promise a wild ride that's part Dragonheart, part Buffy the Vampire Slayer, with a decidedly grown-up edge.
The story follows Ashleigh Cole, who's on a camping trip in the Columbia River Valley when a sudden fire forces her to flee. In the chaos, she stumbles upon the source of the blaze: a massive, dying dragon. But this isn't a creature from a fantasy realm—it bears a US military brand and is riddled with bullet wounds. Ashleigh comforts the beast in its final moments, only to later dismiss the encounter as a hallucination. That is, until she begins undergoing a bizarre transformation of her own.
Meanwhile, a ruthless government agency that had been holding the dragon captive is hot on her trail. The stakes escalate quickly, blending supernatural intrigue with a conspiracy thriller vibe. The creative team behind this fiery tale includes writer Eric Palicki, artist Giulia Lalli, and colorist Gab Contreras. Palicki is known for comics like Atlantis Wasn't Built for Tourists and Black Myth, and he co-authored No Angel with his sister, The Orville star Adrianne Palicki. Lalli, a veteran creator from Italy, recently made her English-language debut with the martial arts graphic novel Eight Limbs, while Contreras has colored books like Witchblood and the recent Blues Brothers graphic novel.
The 80-page standalone graphic novel is currently 121% funded on Kickstarter, with the campaign set to conclude in two weeks. Backers can snag a variety of perks, including an exclusive hardcover edition that won't be available anywhere else. If you're a fan of graphic novel adaptations or just love a good dragon story, this is one to watch.
Ahoy Comics, based in Syracuse, New York, has built a reputation for publishing bold and unconventional titles since its founding in 2018. Their catalog includes the superhero comedy The Wrong Earth, the horror anthology Edgar Allan Poe's Snifter of Terror, and Second Coming, a satirical take on Jesus Christ in a superhero world that was too hot for DC to handle. They've also dabbled in classic sci-fi territory and released series based on The Toxic Avenger and its animated spin-off Toxic Crusaders.
With its blend of fantasy, action, and a dash of government conspiracy, Dragonproof looks set to ignite the imaginations of readers who crave something different. The preview pages showcase Lalli's dynamic art and Contreras's vibrant colors, bringing the dragon's fiery demise and Ashleigh's subsequent ordeal to life. It's a promising start to what could be one of the most talked-about graphic novels of the year.
If you're intrigued by the premise, you can check out the full preview on Collider and head over to the Kickstarter page to support the project before it wraps. And for those who enjoy fantasy with a twist, this is definitely one to add to your radar.
