In this world we live in, some of these post-apocalyptic stories set in the near future are becoming more and more believable. Even ones where monsters take rule and humans serve or die, such as Kingdom of Earth by writers David Dastmalchian & Leah Kilpatrick and artist Soo Lee. This debut issue is brutal, but also gives us a glimmer of hope for humanity which rests on a young child. Dastmalchian and Kilpatrick have joined forces to tell some pretty stellar stories and when they come together to share another I am always game, but this time around they added in illustrations by Lee which just makes this even more of a no-brainer.
2036. Two years ago, hordes of monsters rose from the earth and sea, devouring everything in sight. Much of mankind was massacred before the monsters realized they needed humans. In this new world, humans have two options: service or slaughter. When a young child named Frankie narrowly escapes their fate as livestock, they soon realize that their fight for survival has only just begun.
Kingdom of Earth is a blend of monster or creature feature along with post-apocalyptic horror and drama. A story set in the future, a not-so-distant future of around 10 years from now. It always catches me by surprise seeing years like 2036 and realize it’s only 10 years from now. Never gets old. This new series doesn’t just feature a single type of monsters, but a various collection of creatures that reign havoc on a North America now split into four different sections.
Dastmalchian and Kilpatrick seems to be allowing all kinds of inspiration to enter their newly created world from fairytales, to folklore, to creature features. Unlike other stories where you might see zombies, or a specific creature infestation, this debut issue gives us a few types of different abominations and it’s only the beginning. We are thrust into a world already in chaos and controlled by monsters, but there is this light at the end of the tunnel in the form of Frankie.
Its brutal and overwhelming what has happened to the human race and the fact that any humans are still in existence is due to these monsters figuring out they some are needed to survive. Therefore the door to hope is slightly left open and allows our hero to start the journey to what hopefully is a revival. While this first issue introduces us to a few monsters and sets the foundation to the series, its the end of the issue that really gives us hope for the rest of the series and to see where Frankie is going to take us.
Taking the story upwards is the art and creature designs by Lee. The illustrations are not held back and the brutality of these monsters is felt from the first few pages. Lee also finds balance in the more quieter moments of Frankies emergence which helps quiet the chaos in the world. Lee’s artwork paired with Frank Cvetkovic’s lettering makes for a visual feast in a chaotic world of monsters and mayhem.
Kingdom of Earth builds an unsettling world while introducing us to some horrific monsters and a protagonist worth rooting for. David Dastmalchian, Leah Kilpatrick, and Soo Lee craft a grim and brutal apocalyptic world that leaves us eager for what happens next. Kingdom of Earth is a brutal, monster-filed story balancing relentless darkness with a glimpse of hope.
Kingdom of Earth #1 hits local comic shops on July 15, 2026 from Dark Horse.
Kingdom of Earth #1 Preview
