GROKEN was born as a beast, forged as a man. Conspiracies are explored through the journey of this peculiar character named GROKEN.

 

This odyssey is set in a rotten era where myths were sadly forgotten and science corrupted the hopes of a good tomorrow.  A singular theory makes the regiment shudder and the system fears that the secret will be revealed and that the right to the crown will be claimed by the myth, a creature who bears the name of GROKEN.

 

THE CREATIVE TEAM

The GROKEN series was created by Kenneth Rocafort, who has worked on visual designs and illustrating stories during his career in DC Comics, Marvel, and Top Cow among other companies in the comic industry. He worked together with writers such as Paul Dini, Scott Lobdell, Jonathan Hickman, Al Elwin, Geoff Johns, Ron Marz, Mark Waid, Paul Cornell, Dan Abnett, Will Pfeifer, Andi Ewington, Nathan Edmondson, Charles Soule, Dave Wielgosz, C.B. Cebulski, Peter J. Tomasi and Dan DiDio.

Kenneth Rocafort is a Puerto Rican illustrator of comic books, known for his work on titles including Superman, Red Hood and the Outlaws, Astonishing Tales: Wolverine/Punisher, Teen Titans, The Ultimates, and many more. He worked for the big two DC, and Marvel. Kenneth Rocafort takes the reigns as a writer to expose this series.

He not only wrote but drew, colored, lettered, and edited the books by himself. The focus on his YouTube channel and social media, is solely on his art so it is very easy to learn about his style and work ethic which makes the decision to support or not much easier.

 

 

THE BOOKS

The individual issues of the GROKEN series will be a 48-page graphic novel in perfect bound format printed in color on high-quality paper. The glossy soft cover looks pretty and is made of good quality. The books are published by Mitografia which is Kenneth’s independent label. The books are almost perfectly made. I would have liked page numbering and chapter dividers with more great art but that is my personal preference.

 

 

THE STORIES

GROKEN embarks on a mysterious journey that unravels conspiracies, challenging the established norms of society. The story builds on the premise that a concealed secret could shift the balance of power, with the mythic figure, GROKEN, emerging as a potential claimant to the throne.

 

GROKEN 1

CHAPTER 1: ECHOS

The story starts like this:

“No matter how epic the events were in history through the years they have lost credibility and have been called legends, myths, or something that you think is not relevant to believe. In some cases, they only live in phrases in folklore such as Salvatore, the conqueror. Sadly, when I finish saying now, it’s past. I never wrote my memories in a book to share my legacy or remember my past. Yet one thing always endures, the Perpetual, a place where time is distorted, constellations do not mark locations, the heart abandons all-purpose and delusions, the heart abandons all-purpose and delusions possess your mind.” 

These are the thoughts of Enzo.

Enzo is a lifetime prisoner at the “Candle of Hope” prison who passes time writing and drawing on the prison wall and telling his jailer stories about dragons and more.

 

CHAPTER 2: TIME TO ACT

In the second chapter, we delve into another part of the story that takes place at Madame Maquiavela’s Citadel of Science, a weird place where strange experiments seem to happen with unwilling patients.

One of those patients or maybe a prisoner is trying to escape. Of course, the Madame gives the order to capture him. The task was given to Ghunda, one of Madame’s soldiers known as the tracker, who looks like a giant unreal green monster.

In the meantime, in the region of the peak far away from the center of the village Asaskana Exonio, we meet a writer looking for inspiration to write a book of unpredictable events. Suddenly in the center of the village, the fugitive and Ghunda burst from the ground. This incident scares the villagers, who appear to be human.

 

CHAPTER 3 THE UNDERGROUND

In Chapter 3, we learn about the subterranean city of Mortapolis, the place where life emerges and corpses are buried. It is an underground place where Lord Helianthus is trying to create a new world and expand his domain. Luna, an informant to Lord Helianthus tells him about the latest events from the surface.

In the meantime, the fight continues between the fugitive and Ghunda. When all seems lost, a young woman appears and joins the fight against Ghunda. She appears to know the fugitive well. She calls him GROKEN.

Back at the prison, Enzo is having what appears to be his last meal. There has been a change in the administration of the prison and it seems like he expects them to torture him to death.

 

 

GROKEN 2

CHAPTER 4: GROUND ZERO

GROKEN is on the ground immobilized, completely incapacitated to react but his mind is still aware navigating between dreams and thoughts. There is a frustrating feeling of being imprisoned in his body condemned and locked in his metal armor, knowing he possesses more than others can see. The young woman creates an opportunity to escape with GROKEN. He guides her to a safe place for him to recover.

 

CHAPTER 5: THE PATHWAY

On the way to the safe place, Greata who is in disguise as an old lady meets the writer who inquires about the extraordinary event that seems to have happened in the village. They finally arrive at the hideout and GROKEN’s crew is not welcoming to Greta.

Fed up, she decides to leave but encounters a gang of thieves. In the meantime, we meet Flavius, the Golden Child, the seed of the oncoming ruler from a kingdom that will come from the depths of the earth.

 

CHAPTER 6: THE COVENANT EFFECT

Enzo continues to share his past with the jailer. As a young child, he received a mission from the oracle, a young maiden who could communicate with the dragons and mediate between them and the humans passively. In the meantime, as Flavius is continuing his journey, Lord Helianthus continues to plot to obtain the artifacts to unleash the necrostar. He aims to put Flavius in charge of the Twin Kingdoms until he can remove the curse he’s under to govern himself.

 

CHAPTER 7: MORE THOUGHTS

GROKEN’s crew are doing their best to help restore his body. He wakes up and asks for Greta, the young woman who helped him. Unfortunately, she seems to have left already. GROKEN gets a sudden urge to research prisons and their locations and he needs a plan to go to the library without exposing himself in public, for now.

 

 

Why the sudden urge to look for prisons? Is GROKEN somehow connected to Enzo? Why was he captured by the Madame? How was he created? Since when does he know Greta? Who is Greta? How are the realms connected? How big is this universe? Hopefully, the answers to these questions will be revealed in upcoming issues.

 

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

The GROKEN series stands out as a captivating blend of science fiction and fantasy, unfolding its narrative across multiple issues. It is a unique tale that explores conspiracies through the enigmatic character, GROKEN.

 

GROKEN 1

Set against the backdrop of a dystopian universe where myths have been forsaken, and science has cast a shadow over the dreams of a better tomorrow. The main world seems like it has been bombarded with alchemy. Everything looks unfamiliar and chaotic. And there seem to be just a few normal humans in the main world. It’s not just one world but there are several realms it seems wherein each has its conquerors or “wanna-be” conquerors.

The GROKEN series immerses readers in a unique universe with powerful beings wanting more power and control. The universe has a world wherein dragons exist. A world where organic life is merged with metal, where everyone goes about their business, and where humans and beings have no freedom to do and say what they want. A universe where those in control are powerful beings with no morals seeking more power.

In the first issue, we meet Enzo, GROKEN, and Greta. GROKEN seems to have many internal conflicted emotions. Enzo is an intriguing character who slowly unveils the reason why he ended up in prison. Greta has an unknown connection to GROKEN. She has various fighting skills and abilities to survive. I like her character and look forward to learning more about her. But I’m as curious about GROKEN too.

 

GROKEN 2

In GROKEN 2, the saga continues in this rotten era where myths struggle to survive, and the tendrils of corruption tighten their grip. The most interesting parts are seeing Greta’s powers, meeting Flavius, and Enzo’s background story. In the end, GROKEN is set to embark on a journey to probably uncover truths of forgotten myths, and the corruption of science, and probably unveil the mysterious ruler of the underworld that wants to take over other realms.

As the story progresses, Rocafort skillfully blends elements of mythology from probably the Vikings which Salvatore The Conqueror seems to be inspired by, fantasy and science fiction. He keeps readers on the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating the revelation of the secret that could reshape the destiny of the GROKEN universe. At the same time, he can illustrate the GROKEN realms with a unique stunning art style that I have never seen before.

The digital illustrations don’t give it justice. Having it in your hands just gives you a very satisfying feeling as you look and keep looking at the art. It’s so detailed that I keep finding new angles to admire. It would not be beneficial for the eyes to constantly stare at this on a phone, laptop, or tablet because it implies hours of just staring at the art. Now I understand those people who stand hours and hours in front of an art piece at an exhibition trying to decipher what they are seeing.

 

 

THE CAMPAIGN

The crowdfunding campaign for the second issue of the GROKEN series on Indiegogo offered 3 covers for the second issue and offered the second print for issue one. I choose to back the tier offering the first and second issues. Loved Cover C but unfortunately couldn’t afford it at the time. Selected cover A instead.

The campaign was expertly managed with periodic email updates about the project’s status. The tracking number was timely provided. The books were carefully bagged and boarded and were nicely packaged. I received the book, the GROKEN sticker, the GROKEN one-sided bookmark, and 2 trading cards of Salvatore, and Ghunda.

 

 

FINAL THOUGHTS

The GROKEN series, so far consisting of the initial installment and its sequel, GROKEN 2, stands out as a captivating and thought-provoking journey through a dystopian world where forgotten myths clash with corrupted scientific ideals.

What makes the GROKEN series particularly unique and compelling is Rocafort’s ability to balance intricate storytelling with stunning visuals. The graphic novels immerse readers in a visually striking universe, enhancing the overall experience.

The exploration of conspiracies, the clash between myths and science, and the underlying tension within the narrative keep readers engaged and eager to uncover the secrets beneath the surface of this fantastic and intriguing universe. GROKEN and GROKEN 2 manage to strike a delicate balance between the fantastical and the philosophical, offering readers an intellectually stimulating and visually captivating experience.

Rocafort’s storytelling prowess shines through, making the GROKEN series a must-read for those seeking a fresh and thought-provoking take on the combination of mythology, fantasy, and science fiction.

As of date, the Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign for book two is closed and the books have been delivered. Hopefully, there will be an option to get book 1 and book 2 on the campaign for the third book. The crowdfunding campaign for book 3 has been announced so get ready for more GROKEN.

Interested in more titles? Check more GRAPHIC NOVELS under the “EYES ON” series wherein I documented my experience with crowdfunding entertainment and shared my notes on the products I received.

 

My notes are all set. Let me know what you think.

See you on the next page!