"Urban Defender" is for every young person of color who has never seen their story presented in modern day, superhero form, while reflecting the complex issues of social justice and race in America. "Urban Defender" is designed to allow young people to imagine themselves as the heroes they can be.
"Urban Defender" is for every young person of color who has never seen their story presented in modern day, superhero form, while reflecting the complex issues of social justice and race in America. "Urban Defender" is designed to allow young people to imagine themselves as the heroes they can be.
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Story
Mission Statement
This story was born from the desire to acknowledge the complex history of race in America and to address the universal needs within all of us, while recognizing the systemic barriers that divide us. As fans of comics and graphic novels, we can think of no better way of continuing this dialogue.About The Project
"Urban Defender" is the story of Donte Philips, a hard working African-American entrepreneur struggling to open his dream nightclub in the face of economic challenges and institutional racism. The story starts in the 18th Century, we discover Donte's ancestors with the special power of changing their race from black to white.
A proud man with a complex family past, he longs to be independent while finding himself inextricably linked to the rich, sometimes painful history of his own neighborhood and heritage.
"Urban Defender" also asks the question, what is it like to be trapped in Whiteness? That is, what gives a human being the ability to deny the humanity of others, to live within the comfortable cloak of a dominant system of Oppression while being protected by the history of a system that has built an invisible hierarchy of privilege? The ability to dismiss or deny others rights as simply a box to be checked or "the way things are?"
This oppression is real and impacts those who are White as well as "Other" in America today, and is a human affliction tied deeply into the roots of racism, sexism, misogyny, and cultural denial. It is the Core Conflict that Donte, Alicia, Eliza, and Emmit face in their every day lives, a cruelty of dismissal and the cudgel of casual brutality and microagressions that they are confronted with and surrounded by every day.
This first edition issue is designed as an introduction to Donte's world and the realities of both racism and the struggles of the working class men and women pursuing what has historically been called "The American Dream," calling to many but open to fewer and fewer people.
With striking visuals and dynamic graphics inspired by the Marvel and DC comics of all our childhoods, "Urban Defender" hopes to be a series for both children and adults alike, a gateway to a world where casual indifference is poisonous, the privelege of power is a baseline for oppressors, and that only with action, anything is possible, because the Struggle is Real.
Blending science fantasy elements within the genre of graphic novel style superhero origin story, “Urban Defender” hopes to provoke genuine dialogue about race, culture, and passion while providing the dramatic, comedic, and romantic story of what it is to live and survive in a 21st Century America that is a living history of oppression and racism today. In the words of James Baldwin, “I imagine one of the reasons people cling to their hates so stubbornly is because they sense, once hate is gone, they will be forced to deal with pain.”
"Urban Defender," today and for all of us, is one way to address that profound, historical, living pain.
Incentives
$10
Thank You - You're a friend of the Defender
Thank You mention included in our official friend's list on the credits of the first edition and all our social media platforms, including a special "Thank You" shout out on our Urban Defender site, suitable for sharing across your own personal Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter accounts!
$25
Concept Sketch
You will receive a digital copy of an Urban Defender character of your choice from our outstanding sketch artist, Cascius, suitable for printing, sharing, and display!
$50
Soundtrack Download
You will be given a digital copy of any Urban Defender character, and an audio download from Urban Defender's unreleased soundtrack.
$75
Signed Color Character Print
You will receive a final digital color rendered copy of your favorite Urban Defender character from our killer ink & paint team, suitable for printing, sharing, and framing! Limited quantity signed by the creators.
Claimed: 12 of 25
$100
Table Read
You are invited to a filmed table read of the comic as an active participant! You will read the dialog for one of the characters selected for you from our multi-fellowship, recognized television pilot, Urban Defender. This will be completed prior to release, with a copy for your own personal collection.
- All previous incentives.
$250
Television Pilot
You are now a recipient of our Urban Defender television pilot script, signed by the writers Will and John, with a personalized t-shirt and mask with an Urban Defender character of your choice. The pilot is two-for-two after being submitted twice to national fellowships, landing semi-finalist and finalist slots respectively with Screen Craft's television pilot competition and Stage 32's television pilot Diversity Springboard competition.
-All previous incentives included with a special thank you!
$500
Collector's Item First Edition - Whole Kit and Kaboodle
Limited edition first issue of the comic release, Urban Defender, plus a Special Thanks and Associate Producer credit.
- All previous incentives.
$1,000
Co-Producer Credit
Co-Producer credit in the original first edition copy and website.
Unique shareable digital copies of all sketched characters.
Personalized Thank You from the Creators, plus an individualized Personal Message from Donte Phillips (the Urban Defender himself) to a recipient of your choice, with a profiled biography and credit in all promotional and creative materials and video shout out on all Social Media.
- All previous incentives.
$2,500
Producer
Enjoy a catered dinner for two by award winning, Uncle Frank's Catering and a thirty- minute, live concert by Urban Defender co-creator, Will Roc and his band. The concert theme is the name of your choice with a digitally recorded copy of the performance included. Perfect for holidays, anniversaries, birthdays, weddings, etc..
Producer credits in the original first edition copy and website.
The entire unreleased soundtrack.
Digital and hard copies of all sketched characters.
Private development meeting on future "Urban Defender" issues as well as creative pitch meeting - an Inside Look into the creative process of the making of a unique series.
Personalized Thank You from the Creators, plus an individualized Personal Message from Donte Phillips (the Urban Defender himself) to a recipient of your choice, with a profiled biography and credit in all promotional and creative materials and video shout out on all Social Media, including a personalized "Thank You" and acknowledgement to recipient of choice and embedded in published First Edition.
- All previous incentives.
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Wishlist
Use the WishList to pledge cash and loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an incentive directly.
$10
Thank You - You're a friend of the Defender
Thank You mention included in our official friend's list on the credits of the first edition and all our social media platforms, including a special "Thank You" shout out on our Urban Defender site, suitable for sharing across your own personal Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter accounts!
$25
Concept Sketch
You will receive a digital copy of an Urban Defender character of your choice from our outstanding sketch artist, Cascius, suitable for printing, sharing, and display!
$50
Soundtrack Download
You will be given a digital copy of any Urban Defender character, and an audio download from Urban Defender's unreleased soundtrack.
$75
Signed Color Character Print
You will receive a final digital color rendered copy of your favorite Urban Defender character from our killer ink & paint team, suitable for printing, sharing, and framing! Limited quantity signed by the creators.
Claimed: 12 of 25
$100
Table Read
You are invited to a filmed table read of the comic as an active participant! You will read the dialog for one of the characters selected for you from our multi-fellowship, recognized television pilot, Urban Defender. This will be completed prior to release, with a copy for your own personal collection.
- All previous incentives.
$250
Television Pilot
You are now a recipient of our Urban Defender television pilot script, signed by the writers Will and John, with a personalized t-shirt and mask with an Urban Defender character of your choice. The pilot is two-for-two after being submitted twice to national fellowships, landing semi-finalist and finalist slots respectively with Screen Craft's television pilot competition and Stage 32's television pilot Diversity Springboard competition.
-All previous incentives included with a special thank you!
$500
Collector's Item First Edition - Whole Kit and Kaboodle
Limited edition first issue of the comic release, Urban Defender, plus a Special Thanks and Associate Producer credit.
- All previous incentives.
$1,000
Co-Producer Credit
Co-Producer credit in the original first edition copy and website.
Unique shareable digital copies of all sketched characters.
Personalized Thank You from the Creators, plus an individualized Personal Message from Donte Phillips (the Urban Defender himself) to a recipient of your choice, with a profiled biography and credit in all promotional and creative materials and video shout out on all Social Media.
- All previous incentives.
$2,500
Producer
Enjoy a catered dinner for two by award winning, Uncle Frank's Catering and a thirty- minute, live concert by Urban Defender co-creator, Will Roc and his band. The concert theme is the name of your choice with a digitally recorded copy of the performance included. Perfect for holidays, anniversaries, birthdays, weddings, etc..
Producer credits in the original first edition copy and website.
The entire unreleased soundtrack.
Digital and hard copies of all sketched characters.
Private development meeting on future "Urban Defender" issues as well as creative pitch meeting - an Inside Look into the creative process of the making of a unique series.
Personalized Thank You from the Creators, plus an individualized Personal Message from Donte Phillips (the Urban Defender himself) to a recipient of your choice, with a profiled biography and credit in all promotional and creative materials and video shout out on all Social Media, including a personalized "Thank You" and acknowledgement to recipient of choice and embedded in published First Edition.
- All previous incentives.
- Updates
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Current Team
About This Team
John W. Kim is a second generation Korean-American storyteller and writer-director of film and television. A graduate of USC's prestigious Film and Television program, he graduated cum laude from the University of California at Santa Cruz with a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing. A journalist and entertainment reporter, he is the former West Coast editor of Scr(i)pt Magazine and has written for the San Jose Mercury and the Times-Tribune syndicate. His feature film "Blur" played in festivals in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and England, with special recognition from the Honolulu International Film Festival, and is currently at work on a book on the Academy Award winning director Bong Joon-ho. A longtime fan of both Marvel and D.C. comics, this is his first original work in the medium.
Will “Roc” Griffin is a keyboardist, music producer, music director, composer, actor, and screenplay writer. One of Will’s first major accomplishments as a recording artist was keyboardist with Dr. Dre and the World Class Wrecking Cru on various recordings in the late 1980s.
Will later went on to produce and perform keyboards on the certified-gold recording from the 1993 movie, “Judgment Night” with Emilio Estevez and Cuba Gooding Jr., featuring various bands including, Faith No More and Boo Yaa Tribe.
His next big project involved jazz piano legend, Herbie Hancock. Will co-produced Hancock’s album, “Dis Is Da Drum”, which was nominated for a Grammy in 1996. He also toured globally with Hancock as a keyboardist and programmer in support of the record.Continuing his musical journey, Will produced and played keyboard with blues giant, John Lee Hooker Jr. Out of the three projects directed and produced by Will, for Hooker, two were nominated for Grammies in 2005 and 2006 respectively.
Since late 2018, Will has performed as an actor and music director for the dynamic, nationally touring theatrical production, “Remembering James.” The musical depicts the life and music of “The Godfather Of Soul,” James Brown. Will’s performance and musical production prompted Broadway World to include him in its 2019 awards, where Will was nominated for “Person to Watch” and “Best Supporting Actor.”
Cascius LaFleur is a self-taught artist and multi-talented performer who has lived all across the United States. As an actress, she can be seen on Netflix in the acclaimed hit shows "13 Reasons Why" and "Tales of the City." A rising star, Cascius has loved all art forms for as long as she can remember, and has focused her gifts in drawing, martial arts, singing and acting.
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