Welcome to The Beat’s crowdfunding round-up: a collection of some of our favorite campaigns from the week including one-shots, on-goings, anthologies and everything in-between. This week we’re checking out the sequel to Leila del Luca and Kit Seaton’s AFAR, a retelling of the 2019/2020 Hong Kong protests, and more.

Let’s get started!

AFAR: BOOK 2 — AFAR: BOOKS 1&2 Available!

afar

Creators: Leila del Duca (author), Kit Seaton (artist), Maia Kobabe (editor)
Goal: $38,000
End date: September 11, 2021
Goodies: Grab the PDF for $10, get the physical version for $30, or check out higher tiers for postcards, bookplates, and more.

AFAR is a 140-page Young Adult science fantasy adventure graphic novel by Leila del Duca and Kit Seaton. 

Indie gem AFAR returns to Kickstarter with its second book this week. This stand-alone fantasy sequel follows a bright, ambitious student named Ixcel, who’s busy studying for their finals and developing their astral projection skills – but is interrupted by Book 1’s protagonist, Boetema, who needs help saving her mentor’s planet. See if Ixcel can juggle both responsibilities in this 140-page, gorgeously illustrated graphic novel.

Become a backer here.

Our Times: The Comic Book for 2019’s Hong Kong

our times

Creators: Austin Jingxiong Guo (creator)
Goal: $10,000
End date: October 10, 2021
Goodies: The digital version is $10, the physical version is $25, and backers can also up their pledges for signed copies, sketches, and more.

A real event-based comic book about the struggles faced by Hong Kongers as the city’s human rights conditions deteriorate.

Following the 2019 and 2020 Hong Kong protests against the Fugitive Offenders Amendment Bill, Angoulême-honored comics creator Austin JingXiong Guo is retelling the events through the eyes of a young boy who witnessed them. The book aims to shed light on the events through the perspective of average Hong Kongers, illustrating the difficult choices they had to make over a nearly 100-page story.

Become a backer here.

Tommy Lin: A Motorcycle Fairytale

tommy lin

Creators: Maggie G. Vicknair (creator)
Goal: $2,000
End date: September 8, 2021
Goodies: Grab the PDF for $10, get the physical version for $20, or check out higher tiers for stickers, postcards, and more.

A 56-page comic retelling of Tam Lin – but with motorcycles!

Tommy Lin: A Motorcycle Fairytale is a retelling of the classic fairy tale Tam Lin – albeit with a little more action sprinkled on top. Maggie Vicknair’s immediately eye-catching colors and art style follow Gretchen as she reluctantly realizes she’s the only one that can save her best friend’s no-good biker boyfriend from the clutches of a supernatural motorcycle gang known as the Wild Hunt. Check out more art over on the campaign page, then start checking your mailbox as early as this October for Tommy Lin.

Become a backer here.

The Spark: The All-Ages Sci-Fi Comic Magazine Issue #5

the spark

Creators: Fair Spark Books, Rob Barnes, Dan Butcher, Marc Jackson, Dan Harris (creators)
Goal: $4,701
End date: September 7, 2021
Goodies: The PDF is $3, the physical edition is $5, and additional tiers include back issues, character sketches, and more.

The Spark is back with issue 5. 28 more pages of all-ages, sci-fi adventure madness and puzzles for you to enjoy.

After a few COVID-related setbacks, Fair Spark Books is prepping its fifth entry in its all-ages sci-fi anthology, The Spark. For those who haven’t received this magazine before, it’s an A4-sized collection of sci-fi comics, puzzles, competitions, and more. This issue comes in at 28-pages and includes four short stories, focusing on everything from intergalactic war, to silly space adventures, to the daily lives of delivery folks.

Become a backer here.

The Lonely Giant – A fantasy and friendship comic book

lonely giant

Creators: Jana Hoffman (creator)
Goal: $1,174
End date: September 9, 2021
Goodies: Get the PDF for $7, grab the physical version for $14, or check out higher tiers for postcards, signed sketchbooks, and more.

When Natae stumbles into an exciting party of spirit creatures, she must confront what it is that she truly wants or end up alone again.

Inspired by the eponymous fairytale, The Lonely Giant follows a nomadic giant named Natae trying to face her fears, settle down, and make some friends. She tries to woo a group of local spirit creatures – and all’s going well – until the excitable girl Wattle bursts into the scene and Natae is forced to make a major decision. This lovely all-ages comic rounds out at 30+ pages, and will be presented in a full-color, A5 format.

Become a backer here.

Here are some already funded projects:

And don’t forget to check out last week’s campaigns:

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