A new crowdfunder from Illuminous is coming soon, with details here and how to sign up for Centaur Riders: Cataphract Legacy #1.
Ahead of San Diego Comic-Con International, Illuminous is proud to announce its first client acquisition, marking the beginning of a new collaboration with entrepreneur Danny Potter and acclaimed artist Marco Turini, as Centaur Riders: Cataphract Legacy moves toward its inaugural Kickstarter campaign with a 64-page debut comic.
Drawing on decades of experience developing stories and shaping iconic properties—including editorial leadership on DC Comics' Batman line and creative work with Heavy Metal’s legendary Taarna franchise—Joseph P. Illidge, founder of Illuminous, works closely with creators to refine narrative foundations, strengthen worldbuilding, and position projects for long-term growth across publishing and entertainment. The company's approach is rooted in helping creators identify what makes their ideas unique and developing intellectual property with lasting cultural and commercial value.
The project immediately stood out for its creative ambition and long-term potential, as Illidge stated:
“Bringing on Centaur Riders as the first project acquisition for Illuminous was perfect because of the intricate worldbuilding and character-building possibilities within the IP. The opportunity to acquire a project with artist Marco Turini was the final piece of the puzzle, since we worked together in launching a superhero universe for Lion Forge some years back! Ultimately, the best intellectual properties are founded in compelling stories with long narrative legs, and Centaur Riders is definitely a fantasy saga for fans of large-scale epics.”
Centaur Riders: Cataphract Legacy is a dark fantasy epic created by Danny Potter, written by award-winning filmmaker and storyteller Charlie Brafman, and illustrated by artist and concept designer Marco Turini. Set in Ashvaren, a richly imagined world of centaurs, minotaurs, druids, prophecy, and ancient empires, the story follows Artemis—the last centaur—as he embarks on a perilous journey to uncover the truth about his origins and the fate of a people believed lost to history.
For Potter, bringing Centaur Riders to life was as much about the people behind the project as it was the world itself.
“Centaur Riders has been my passion project from the very beginning. I set out to create an epic fantasy world inspired by classical mythology and the stories that shaped my childhood. What started as an idea quickly became an obsession, and over the years it grew into something far bigger than I ever imagined. Bringing Ashvaren to life has been an incredible journey, and I'm thrilled to finally share it with readers. Every script from Charlie, every page from Marco, and every conversation with Joe has helped elevate the project beyond what I thought possible. Seeing all of those pieces come together into the finished book has been a genuinely rewarding experience, and I couldn't be more excited for people to discover this world alongside us.”
Brafman, whose work spans film, television, stage, and comics, brings a sense of wonder, adventure, and mythic scale to the story, while Turini, known for his richly detailed hand-painted artwork and contributions to globally recognized properties including Star Wars, X-Men, Assassin's Creed, Dark Souls, Aliens, and Gears of War, brings the vivid world of Ashvaren to life.
Illuminous, launched in July 2025 by Joseph P. Illidge, was founded to help visionary creators transform original ideas into enduring intellectual property through strategic development, editorial guidance, and long-term creative planning. For Illuminous, Centaur Riders represents the type of creator-driven property the company was built to champion: an original fantasy world with a distinct identity, ambitious scope, and long-term potential.
The upcoming Kickstarter campaign for Centaur Riders: Cataphract Legacy Volume 1 marks the next major milestone for the project, inviting readers into the world of Ashvaren for the very first time. The upcoming Kickstarter campaign for Centaur Riders: Cataphract Legacy marks the next major milestone for the project, inviting readers into the world of Ashvaren for the very first time. As Illuminous' first client acquisition, the campaign represents a significant step forward for both the project and the company's creator-focused approach to developing original intellectual property.
Joseph P. Illidge will be attending San Diego Comic-Con 2026, July 23-26, where he will be available to discuss Illuminous, Centaur Riders: Cataphract Legacy, intellectual property development, and the company’s creator-focused approach to building enduring story worlds.
To learn more about Centaur Riders: Cataphract Legacy, receive campaign updates, and be among the first to join the upcoming Kickstarter launch, visit https://centaurriders.com/newsletter.
