Welcome back to The Beat‘s weekly crowdfunding comics round-up! Each week we’ll spotlight comics projects we think would be a great investment, whether it’s a one-shot story or a sprawling anthology. This week’s round-up includes sibling frogs and giant toes in Parapond, spooky families in a new TO Comix Press anthology called Wayward Kindred, and an armored raptor.
Let’s get going!
1. Wayward Kindred
Goal: Approx $18,912 USD
Ends: Fri, December 13 2019 1:14 AM CST
Creators: Anthology published by TO Comix Press
Best Value Tier: Approx $12 USD for a digital copy
They say that blood is thicker than water, but you may wish it weren’t, if your mom had to drink animal blood to survive. Home is where the heart is, even if your sister lives in another city—and is a shape-changing monster. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, so how can you know who you’re supposed to be if your parents are a human and a vampire?
Wayward Kindred is a full-color anthology with more than 200 pages all about family — specifically spooky ones, in this case. Featuring creators like Val Wise, Seungwoo Baek, Nikki Powers, and many more, Wayward Kindred is also edited by Allison O’Toole, Ashanti Fortson, and Kat Vendetti, this collection is sure to delight anyone who loves their supernatural tales to have a lot of heart. TO Comix Press are experienced crowdfunding publishers and $12 USD (approximately)/$15 CAD is a steal for an anthology of this size.
You can back the campaign here.
2. QUETZALCOATL: A Latinx Comic
Goal: $2,500 USD
Ends: Thu, November 28 2019 11:57 AM CST
Creators: Mickey Martinez (Co-Writer), Sam Jimenez (Co-Writer), Anna Maria Richardson (Illustrator)
Best Value Tier: $5 for a digital copy
Quetzalcoatl is a Latinx Modern Teen Coming-of-Age/Superhero comic in the tradition of Ms. Marvel, The Amazing Spider-Man and The Runaways comics. The world of Quetzalcoatl is a bit more of a mythological horror, however. We will be building off of Mesoamerican myth to bring forward stories that have not really been delved into in popular media.
Anna Maria Richardson’s beautiful color work, plus the tagline for the campaign, should be enough to hook you here: “A modern Latinx comic about heritage, family and a big f-ing feathered snake.” Richardson’s illustrations on the preview pages are stunning, and tease an exciting and emotional story from Mickey Martinez and Sam Jimenez for folks on the look-out for new YA comics to enjoy. $5 USD will net you a digital copy.
You can back the campaign here.
3. The Book of Ruth
Goal: Approx $22,695 USD
Ends: Sat, November 30 2019 9:45 PM CST
Creators: Meredith Finch (Writer), Colin Dyer (Illustrator)
Best Value Tier: Approx $12 USD for a digital copy
One of the Bible’s most beautiful love stories, this 112 page graphic novel, retelling of The Book of Ruth, set during the Great Depression, is the story of one woman’s journey of faith and love as you’ve never seen it before. Join Noami, Ruth, and Boaz in the a little town called Bethlehem, Texas, as they struggle to overcome sickness, death and bankruptcy, and discover sometimes all you really need to have is faith.
Colin Dyer’s illustration styles are a perfect complement to Meredith Finch’s Depression-era retelling of one of the most famous Biblical stories of all time. Biblical tales can be engrossing and emotionally difficult reads, and Dyer’s detailed pencils capture the pervasive emotional strain of the era and the quiet, hopeful security of faith equally well. $12 USD (approximately) will net you a PDF copy of the completed graphic novel.
You can back the campaign here.
4. Parapond
Goal: $1,500 USD
Ends: Tue, December 3 2019 9:19 AM CST
Creators: Maddie McGhee
Best Value Tier: $4 USD for a digital copy
Moss tries to cure his sister, Marigold’s, cold and accidentally ends up turning her into a strawberry! Moss knows a potion that will turn her back to normal, but is out of the main ingredient, giant’s toe. Together they venture forth to find a dead giant and take his toe. It’s for the greater good.
Little frogs! Giant toes! Tardigrades! Maddie McGhee’s Parapond is an adorable 28-page comic about two siblings who go on a fantastical adventure after a healing spell goes terribly awry. McGhee’s art is vibrant and inviting, and a keen sense of humor runs through every panel of the sample art she’s provided on the campaign page. You can net a digital copy of this delightful-looking tale for $4 USD.
You can back the campaign here.
5. A KING’S VENGEANCE
Goal: Approx $9,078 USD
Ends: Sat, December 14 2019 1:59 AM CST
Creators: Peter Ricq (Co-Writer/Illustrator), Davila LeBlanc (Co-Writer), Fronc Ng and Philippe Ivanusic Vallee (Story Editors)
Best Value Tier: $8 USD for a digital copy
WHAT IS A KING’S VENGEANCE?
A revenge story inspired by Conan The Barbarian, Robocop, GOT and, Hellboy.
A Steampunk, medieval, fantasy, adventure, and violent revenge story.
I can’t pretend I wasn’t drawn to A King’s Vengeance primarily because the art features a character riding an armored raptor. Illustrator and co-writer Peter Ricq’s color work is incredible as well, creating a moody, eerie atmosphere without ever getting so murky that it obscures the details of his art. There’s a distinctly Mignola-esque vibe to his work — Ricq compares the story to Hellboy himself, and his spooky and slightly off-kilter style backs that up. $8 USD will net you a digital copy, and $24 USD including shipping (subject to change) will net you a limited edition hardcover.
You can back the campaign here.
The following campaigns from previous round-ups are still running:
- Strange Waters (Ends 11/18)
- SPOOKY BABES (Ends 11/20)
- Elsa Charretier’s artbook (Ends 11/21)
- Camp Bitter Lake: The Case of the Stolen Stuff (Ends 11/22)
- ✔ Check, Please!: Chirpbook
(Ends 11/22) - QUADRANT 75: NASA’s Secret Mission to Mars in 1966
(Ends 11/22) - FOR GOODNESS’ SAKE Volume One (Ends 11/28)
- Cuentos: A Bilingual Latinx+ Illustrated Story Anthology (Ends 12/1)
- The Plague and Doctor Caim
