Monsters. Family. Adventure!
The Family Graves: I Scream Spectacular is a cross between The Munsters and The Fantastic Four—a spooky sci-fi adventure packed horror, humor, heroics, and heart.
The monster-hit indie series The Family Graves has been resurrected on Kickstarter with an all-new 30-page one-shot blending monsters, science fiction, and family drama into an epic supernatural adventure! And co-creators Timothy Bach and Brian Atkins hope you dig it.
The Family Graves: I Scream Spectacular features the exciting return of everyone’s favorite mixed-up family of monsters— a werewolf dad, medusa mom, teen siren, fish-boy, and an adorable baby zombie—and only they have the mad science to stop the Brainpocalypse! The what?! Well . . .
When a lab accident causes a brain to mutate into a giant flying monster, hangry and rampaging across Chicago, only the telepathic fish-boy Lum has a shot at making the connection the brain is looking for. Did we mention the flying brain spurts out puss minions and shoots lightning? It’s gross, scary, and a little bit silly.
Originally published by Source Point Press, The Family Graves was an indie hit in the direct market and on the convention circuit, where Source Point had a major presence. The I Scream Spectacular was created to build on that success, bridging the gap between the first series and the second one coming in late 2025.
“The I Scream Spectacular was conceived as a standalone tale, kind of like an annual,” said writer and co-creator Tim Bach. “It’s perfect for readers who don’t know anything about The Family Graves—we tell your everything you need to know. But at the same time, the book also gives existing fans a wider look at the story world.”
Bach and Atkins also made their new monster masterwork new-reader friendly by offering backers the original four issues at the same time as the new one. “We know not everyone saw the original stories or the trade the first time around—so it was important for us to offer the first issues with this Kickstarter campaign,” added Brian Atkins, artist and co-creator. Backers will be able to purchase the original four issues, in print or as DRM-free PDFs, when they support the new book.
I Scream Spectacular has three brilliant covers, two haunting but humorous ones by series co-creator Brian Atkins and a third retro-horror version by noted monster artist Frederik Hornung. “It really evokes the feel of old EC horror comics,” said Bach.
And you know what else? The book is done. It’s ready to be printed and shipped as soon as the campaign succeeds.
Colored by rising star Joshua Jensen with lettering by Marco Della Verde, the I Scream Spectacular is a new high point for the series. “Josh’s work is amazing. His colors on top of Brian’s phenomenal line work bring the story to life in such a vivid way. And then Marco’s there to pull it all together and make it a proper comic. If you love fantastic families saving the world, you’re going to love this book!” raved Bach.
The Family Graves: I Scream Spectacular, a 30-page full-color—fully complete—one-shot is available exclusively through Kickstarter at: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/654800860/the-family-graves-i-scream-spectacular-30-page-one-shot?ref=cwh1wy
#DigTheFamilyGraves
Tone: Sci-fi/horror adventure; all ages in a classic comics way without being “just for kids.”
Themes: This issue looks at our inner need for human connection as well as maturing and growing; and using power for the benefit of others.
Who’s it for? For fans of The Fantastic Four, The Incredibles, the Universal Monsters, Hellboy, super hero team books, sci-fi, and science-run-amok stories.
Creative team and social media links:
Timothy Bach, writer/editor
Bluesky:
Instagram: @timothybachstuff
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/timothy.bach.562
Brian Atkins, pencils and inks
Bluesky: @brianatkinsart.bsky.social
Instagram: @brianatkinsart
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brian.atkins.353
Joshua Jensen, colors
Bluesky: @jj81-studios.bsky.social
Marco Della Verde, letters and production
