>
Martial arts expert and weapons specialist Doug Marcaida brings his combat mastery to comics with LINEAGE, a bold new series from Kid Heroes Comics. A gripping, high-impact story, LINEAGE delivers action choreographed through Marcaida’s weapons expertise. The series is written by Earl Baylon (actor, Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft) and Justin Quizon (film producer), with striking artwork by Felix Morales (cover artist, Ice Cream Man, Kill Your Darlings) and Raymund Lee (Eraserheads: Combo On the Run). LINEAGE hits Kickstarter on February 16, 2026.
Doug Marcaida believes that “every blade tells a story.” LINEAGE follows two estranged brothers who survive a traumatic childhood incident and are forced, years later, to confront the horrors of their past. In present-day Los Angeles, Miguel has become a private detective, while his brother Vergil is a successful social media reporter. When their paths collide once more, the brothers must peel back the mysteries of their shared history and reconnect with their father’s enigmatic blade. As they search for answers, they find themselves hunted by a mysterious blood cult that also seeks the ancient weapon and will stop at nothing to claim it.
LINEAGE is a hard-hitting, adrenaline-fueled comic series built to thrill fans of martial arts, edged weapons, Forged in Fire, and smart, relentless storytelling. Created by world-renowned weapons expert and Forged in Fire judge Doug Marcaida, LINEAGE delivers brutal action grounded in real-world experience. Doug Marcaida’s journey began at age eight and evolved into a lifetime of discipline, combat knowledge, and mastery. A U.S. Air Force veteran, a former Respiratory Therapist of 20 years, and a lifelong martial artist, Doug found his true calling in Filipino Martial Arts, which inspired him tocreate his own system, Marcaida Kali. He has since traveled across the globe training military personnel and first responders, bringing practical, life-saving techniques to those who need them most.
That real-world intensity fuels the heart of LINEAGE. At its core is Doug’s unshakable belief: “It’s not about how many you hurt—it’s about how many you protect.” The mindset that gave rise to his iconic catchphrase, “It will K.E.A.L.” (Keep Everyone Alive), defines both the man and the story. The debut issue of LINEAGE exploded on Kickstarter, proving there’s a massive audience hungry for grounded, intelligent action comics with real stakes. Now, the campaign returns and aims to bring LINEAGE to life in a completed trade paperback that fans won’t want to miss.
“Every blade has a story to tell,” states Doug Marcaida, ‘I always carry a blade. It could serve as a witness to my life’s events. Imagine what kind of stories blades throughout history could tell? Some are willing participants used for its purpose. Some were not. All cultures use blades. Some are status symbols; some are found in flags with different meanings. Some are used for rituals and some even house spirits. Some are used for love and life. To feed and build. And some are used for war. To kill and destroy. Lineage is a story that had to be told. It encapsulates my philosophies, my knowledge, and myself.”
“Lineage: Brotherhood of the Blade represents a chance for me to play with concepts and ideas I’ve always wanted to work on,” explains series co-writer, Justin Quizon, “To explore my Filipino heritage in a fun and exciting way. To develop interesting family relationships and entertaining characters. To write exciting and badass action scenes with Filipinos front and center. And to see our writing visualized by some of the coolest comic book art I’ve ever seen. As a Filipino American Comic Book fan, I would have loved to have had a book like this.”
About Author
