Since I was a kid, vampires have always been on my radar. And before you start throwing copies of Twilight at me, I promise it started way before that. The Lost Boys was one of my favorite movies (and continues to be), and Kiefer Sutherland has always been the standard I hold other vampires too. Needless to say, I was really excited to come across Coffin Crushers on Kickstarter last week. Not only does it involve vampires, but, wait for it, mech suits. Interested yet? Check out our interview with Robin Keijzer below!
Coffin Crushers takes place in a world where vampires rule the night. Human beings have done their best to overcome the blood-sucking menace by building castles with equipped with “spotlights & automated stake-cannons”. Eventually, Coffin Crushers, mech suits that match the strength and speed of a vampire, are developed and return balance to the world. Years later, the supplies start to run dry behind the walls and it is up to a small group of mech pilots to save the human race.
Robin Keijzer, the genius behind Coffin Crushers, came up with the concept back in 2007. Their inspirations range from Vampire Hunter D Bloodlust, an anime, to the run and gun classic, Metal Slug. If I couldn’t love this concept enough already, Robin compared the series to Indiana Jones, “Story-wise, we always liked the idea of turning the concept into an ‘Indiana Jones’-type of adventure; where the heroes unravel a bigger plot, while discovering new locations & having a lot of funny action moments.” LAst but not least, Robin expressed his deep love for Dungeons and Dragons. His dungeon master skills definitely came in handy while creating the machinery and obstacles of this world.
In 2009, Robin made the first “cover” for his mech comic, and it received some incredibly positive support from the DeviantArt community. After that, he decided to dedicate the time to make his idea into a reality. While Robin is the artist and creator behind the new comic series, Brian Spinney is the author. Together, they worked to refine the Coffin Crushers universe. Obviously, they make a fabulous team because their Kickstarter has been wickedly successful. With over a week to go, they have already surpassed their original goal and are well on their way to their first stretch goal.
While Robin stressed how nerve wracking a Kickstarter project can be, there was no denying the positive parts as well. “But on the other hand, I get most excited when reading all the positive feedback on the project! For I then realize that -the project that has been living in my mind for so long- is actually being appreciated. And that is really a great feeling!”
In the past, Robin has worked on a handful of video games and other projects. Some of his most recent work can be seen in Fairytale Fights and Gang Up! A Criminally Fun Card Game, which also happens to be a recently funded Kickstarter campaign. Brian is a comics veteran and a lot of his work can already be found in the wild.
Robin wanted to leave our readers with this final note about his work and his team:
Well, there went a lot of thought into this comic, because we really wanted to stand apart from the many generic fantasy worlds & vampire stories out there. And I think we were able to give our story a relatively original twist & have managed to create a visually interesting world. You can actually find a lot of our pre-production work on Kickstarter as well, which hopefully gives a good idea of what you can expect of the comic itself. Also the Kickstarter runs till August 20th – and of course we have some great deal for our backers, such as signed comics, & original artwork; and we made it really cheap because we really really like to get our comic out there :) So have a look!
In my book, Coffin Crushers is a total home run. I mean, what’s not to love about this? The idea alone is unique, fun, and provides a new perspective on a classic monster. Or, fighting them anyway. Plus, I love anything with a good sense of humor that doesn’t take itself too seriously. As much as I love the story aside, Robin’s artwork is just awesome. I love the pops of bright colors and interesting characters that bring light to a world otherwise ruled by the night. While I haven’t gotten the chance to see Brian’s writing, I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what he can do.
Is there a Kickstarter project that you’re dying to know more about? Is there an indie game that you absolutely love and want the world to know about? I am always looking for new and exciting things for The Indie Corner, and I would love to hear some of your suggestions!