PREFACE
Hello and welcome. I am Tony July, the author and creator of The Mark. I am honored—and
excited—to finally share this story with you. It is a tale that I believe belongs among the greats,
filled with the kind of jaw-dropping moments that stay with you forever.
This world was built on the shoulders of giants. From the legendary battle-spirits of
Toriyama, Oda, and Kishimoto to the timeless depth of Tolkien, Rowling, Martin—and reaching
further back to the classic mastery of Shakespeare, Twain, and Cervantes. These storytellers
defined what a "Great Story" is: epic battles, superb dialogue, and breathtaking worlds that invite
us to get lost in the awe of what happens next.
The Mark was born nearly two decades ago. I was eleven years old, swinging as high and
fast as I could at Chambers Elementary in Houston, catching a euphoric buzz as the first epic
battles of this universe began to flash in my mind. For years, through life’s ups and downs, these
characters stayed with me.
In 2022, the story returned with a vengeance. Wild flashes of the future—scenes you
haven't even reached yet—began to haunt me. It felt too real to keep inside. I didn’t come to this
path through a classroom or a literature degree; I came to it through relentless hard work, playingbass in my father’s band and gigging just to survive, stealing every spare moment to write. I
went "all in" because I believe in this world.
My dream is for the world to witness this journey—to cry, to laugh, to jump with
excitement, and to be inspired by the same fire that drives me. I do this for you: the fans of
adventure who deserve joy and a world to get lost in. This book is proof that with love and raw
passion, anything is possible. You deserve the best, and that is what I have given you. My heart
and soul.
At long last... without further ado... ladies and gentlemen…
The Mark