BOOM! Studios announced, after the completion of its second direct-to-consumer campaign of the year to break half a million dollars, that it is launching its third campaign of the year celebrating the true paranormal events documented and researched on an isolated Utah ranch with Hunt for the Skinwalker Expanded Edition & Graphic Novel BOOM! Direct Reserve Campaign, with the seminal nonfiction novel inspiring a new comic book series by Zac Thompson (X-Men Unlimited, Undone By Blood) and illustrated by Valeria Burzo (Castle Full of Blackbirds).
Since first revealed by Dr. Colm A. Kelleher and veteran journalist George Knapp in their groundbreaking 2005 nonfiction book, Hunt For The Skinwalker: Science Confronts the Unexplained at a Remote Ranch in Utah, the isolated Gorman Ranch has been the site of terrifying, mystifying, and category-defying phenomena for more than 20 years. Kelleher and Knapp’s book inspired high-profile, investigative features in The New York Times, Wired, Newsweek, and VICE, a chart-topping interview on The Joe Rogan Experience, and a 2018 documentary film.
Colm Kelleher Ph.D., led teams of scientists and investigators on Gorman Ranch from 1996-2004. Kelleher directed the design, execution, and analysis of the scientific investigations on Gorman Ranch. In collaboration with co-author George Knapp, Kelleher wrote Hunt for Skinwalker that introduced the Gorman Ranch and its litany of bizarre and dangerous anomalies to a huge global audience. Kelleher and Knapp’s book also led to the creation of the largest official UFO program in history, funded by the United States government.
“George Knapp and I are delighted to be introducing and telling the true story of Hunt for the Skinwalker to a new audience of graphic novel readers,” said Dr. Kelleher. “I am excited to delve into the bizarre and the weird and to acquaint readers with the terrifying world that exists on the periphery of our day-to-day realities. The authenticity of Hunt for the Skinwalker is what makes it so powerful and why I am so thrilled to be working with the BOOM! team in producing this new series.”
George Knapp is the chief investigative reporter for KLAS TV (CBS Las Vegas). In his 40 years covering organized crime, government corruption, environmental issues, and military secrets, he has earned the highest honors in journalism, including the Peabody Award (twice) the Dupont, Edward. R Murrow awards, a National Press Club award and many other honors including 28 regional Emmys. He has been a newspaper columnist, taught college courses in speech, debate, and journalism, is a weekend host of Coast to Coast AM radio, is a co-host and producer for the WEAPONIZED podcast, and co-authored both Hunt for the Skinwalker and Skinwalkers at the Pentagon.
“Our book detailed the first significant scientific study of the Utah Ranch. We had no idea it would directly inspire the creation of the largest government funded UFO-centric investigation in US history (AAWSAP) or the subsequent UFO investigations that followed and reignited the intense, still-growing public interest in UAPs and related mysteries. We are thrilled to work with the BOOM! team to bring the true story of the ranch to a new generation of readers via an exciting and colorful graphic novel platform,” said co-author George Knapp.
The reverberations of Kelleher and Knapp’s captivating work have echoed across pop culture, influencing and inspiring storytellers in television, film, comic books, audio dramas, and other mediums resulting in some of the most critically-acclaimed and commercially successful new pieces of fiction in recent years. Now, BOOM! Studios proudly presents the first official fictional extension produced in direct collaboration with Kelleher and Knapp as a comic book series and graphic novel, visualizing the mind-blowing occurrences for the first time. The BOOM! Direct Reserve Campaign also includes an expanded, premium hardcover edition of the groundbreaking book ahead of its 20th anniversary alongside an assortment of limited edition merchandise.
“Hunt For The Skinwalker is such a seminal work of nonfiction, we wanted this BOOM! Direct Reserve campaign to reflect the effort and dedication Colm, George, and the entire paranormal community has put into investigating Gorman Ranch as the epicenter of a seemingly limitless barrage of overlapping and interconnected supernatural occurrences,” said President of Publishing & Marketing, Filip Sablik. “Zac and Valeria are creating a perfect companion to the original book, visualizing the unbelievable true events for the first time, which appeals equally to longtime students of the unexplainable and new readers just dipping their toes into the paranormal pool.”
Hunt for the Skinwalker Expanded Edition & Graphic Novel BOOM! Direct Reserve Campaign will continue for 30 days, with special surprises, product reveals, and hidden stretch goals to be announced all month long.
