Welcome back to The Beat’s comics crowdfunding round-up! The column is (finally) back, and because chronic illness is a (literal) pain, we’re trying a new day and time: Monday at 12:00 PM PST/2:00 PM CT/3:00 PM EST! So, I hope you saved a little spare change to support some great crowdfunding projects this work week because we have some ga-ga great campaigns for you to check out!
This week, begin with kickstarting your holiday season with an original fantasy horror story that will look beautiful alongside the steampunk version of E.T.A. Hoffmann’s original Nutcracker story, “Nutcracker and Mouse King.” Of course, we have three more crowdfunding campaigns, a round-up of noteworthy already funded projects, as well as up-and-coming creator-owned comics too!
Lampblack #1-2: Fantasy Horror Comic in Cinematic Style
Creators: Camille Longley (writer), Pablo Peppino (artist), Joel Saavedra (letters), Camila Rapetti (variant cover), and Jessica Arevalo (Poko the Cat art)
Goal: $14,000
End Date: August 11, 2022
Goodies: A digital edition; variant cover; signed bookplate; three 4×6 postcards; issue #2 standard cover with wrap-around art by Peppino; issue #1 variant cover with art by Deaf artist Brittany Castle (says ‘Black Paint’ in ASL); Poko the Cat acrylic keychain; Poko the Cat acrylic earrings with hypoallergenic stainless steel hooks; enamel pin ASL for ‘cat’ with double backing; canvas bag; LMPBLK logo 2″ decal and Mabel 3″ decal; and Inkblot and Poko the Cat enamel pins
A girl whose paintings come to life. A Deaf boy who wants to be a soldier. A story of passion, art, and war inspired by Studio Ghibli.
At SDCC 2022, I learned someone’s story is almost as important as the comic itself (this is a mutable metric, unfortunately). However, what stood out about this campaign is that the writer, Camille Longley, is a former harpist, and I find former musicians bring a certain oom-pah to their writing. Plus, I can’t resist a black cat. (I appreciate the American Sign Language in the comic and variant cover too, and I would love to know more about the development of the Deaf character Sterling Cohen.)
As this is the second issue in the volume, backers who are new to Lampblack can have the first issue added to any tier.
Bites of Truth – A Graphic Novel Series on Food Safety
Creators: Dr. Darin Detwiler, LP.D., M.A.Ed., Dr. Gabriela Steier, LL.M., Esq., Annabel Nied, and Maggie Brosnan
Goal: $22,300
End Date: September 4, 2022
Goodies: e-book, poster, graphic novel
Through stories about a family in a small island community, readers learn about food safety, contamination, public health & advocacy.
A first of a kind in the field of food safety and food law and policy, ultimately, this project is going to be eight graphic novels about people impacted by a fictional foodborne pathogen and how individuals, families, and even entire communities are impacted. According to the Kickstarter page, each title tackles a different perspective and stage of the outbreak, with the details being based on real events and people that the authors have worked with over the years.
Food law was one of my favorite classes in law school, and it’s a topic the public knows very little about. This project hasn’t gotten much love, but it deserves your support, especially after No. 45 gutted many USDA protections.
A Steampunk Carol: A Festive Nutcracker Retelling
Creators: Lorenza Pigliamosche (interior art), Emily Pearson (variant cover), Marco Defillo (variant cover), Luca Frigerio (writer), Toben Racicot
Goal: $16,000
End Date: August 26, 2022
Goodies: Early backer sticker pack bonus,
An 86+ page steampunk-infused graphic novel celebrating The Nutcracker and Mouse King in a special retelling of the classic tale.
The Nuttiest Nutcracker, Barbie in The Nutcracker, The Nutcracker Rouge, Nutcracker and the Four Realms, The Hip Hop Nutcracker… And now, one of the best-known fairy tales in the entire world is getting another updated version, A Steampunk Carol!, and who isn’t up for that? As a kid, I devoured every single Nutcracker story I could find, and I wasn’t alone. Get this for your kid because no matter their gender, they’ll love it. ‘Nuff said.
Rhapsody: A Teen Horror Graphic Novel with a Musical Twist
Creators: Max Nomer (story, script, letters), Katherine Jihae Myong (pencils, inks, colors)
Goal: $6,000
End Date: August 11, 2022
Goodies: Everything in the digital edition, PDF of the graphic novel script, PNG of the textless cover art, PDF of Honeypot preview (Max’s other comic), PDF of Aquaphobia #1 (Katherine’s other comic), physical edition, signed copy, bookmark
A 110-page story about high school show choir kids who find themselves at the center of a dark musical ritual…
Guys, gals, and nonbinary babes check out this premise: “The only way to beat a siren… is to sing back.” I am already having nightmares. Is this a Glee and Riverdale crossover in graphic novel form? Or is it more like What We Do in the Shadows meets Community‘s “Regional Holiday Music”? Either way, don’t tell Lea Michele… or Melpomene. If I wasn’t so broke, I would be backing this project on a sixty-fourth note.
Hey, Cat Vol. 3
Creators: Nacho Nova
Goal: $1,250
End Date: August 14, 2022
Goodies: digital bundle, PDF, book, and merch
Autobiographical comics examining the relationship between humans & cats.
I love cat comics, especially cat comics that remind me of my cats. I am sitting next to my little baby right now, and she looks just look the picture. If you like cats, check out Nova’s comic strip!
Here are some already-funded projects worth checking out:
- Breaking Pointe: A Sci-fi Ballet Comic
- FAST TIMES IN COMIC BOOK EDITING
- Anatomy of Dinosaurs
- HOT & MESSY: THE ART OF AMANDA CONNER ART BOOK HC
And finally, here are some projects that may have already launched because I wrote this list two weeks ago and ran out of time to update them:
- Dracula The Return: Cult of The White Worm
- Bryan Talbot: The Father of the British Graphic Novel
- Our Lady Maven
Miss any of our previous Comics Crowdfunding Round-Ups? Check out the archive here!