Welcome to the last Comics Crowdfunding Round-Up for January 2023! The column spotlights crowdfunding campaigns by queer creators, disabled creators, women creators, and creators of color, which we think are a great investment, whether for a one-shot story or a sprawling anthology. This week’s round-up includes a dee-lightful story about the trans experience, the next volume of Elisa Romboli and Iolanda Zanfardino‘s A Thing Called Truth, and the subjective true story of one comic artist’s attempt to not turn into an octopus.
Are you ready to dive in? Let’s get going!
Finding Dee – Volume 1
Creators: Dee Fish, Katy Rewston, Sarah White, and Laurie Foster
Goal: $7,500
End Date: February 14, 2023
Goodies: Dee-mojis, Finding Dee Vol. 1 (Digital or softcover), Dee-namel Pin (Dee, Heidi, & Rainbow Skully), Dee-Shirt, and Lifesize Stan-Dee
A stunning, hilarious, and emotional collection of comic strips about a cartoonist discovering herself as a transgender woman.
Support trans comic book creators; they’re awesome. Fish’s Finding Dee is a comedic take on the experiences of being trans, providing a laugh-out-loud look at the true-to-life medical experiences and procedures that trans women have to undergo as part of their transition. ‘Nuff said.
A Thing Called Truth Vol. 2: Drive Home
Creators: Elisa Romboli and Iolanda Zanfardino
Goal: $24,471
End Date: March 1, 2023
Goodies: Digital PDF or physical volume, volume 1 physical copy, exclusive Kickstarter door hanger, prints, a special cameo in the book, exclusive signed original art, and retailer bundle
The exciting epic conclusion to the romantic road trip adventure – launched by Iolanda Zanfardino and Elisa Romboli!
I had a special order at my LCS, Nuclear Comics in San Diego, CA (a newly opened second location), whenever a new issue of A Thing Called Truth came out to give me the sexiest cover possible because queer women deserve sexy ladies in cars too. But this story is more than that, it is a complex story about processing grief and regret while learning to embrace life through our choices in the time given to us.
Originally published by Image Comics, the creators are calling the comic book community to arms to support the second volume of A Thing Called Truth. The campaign states, “Let’s show that LGBTQIA+ representation and storytelling has the audience, the demand, and the support to give it an ending worthy of its themes. Help us drive it home: QUEER STORIES DESERVE GOOD ENDINGS.“
Becca Boo the Bimbo Ghost #1
Creators: Garth Matthams and Kenan Halilovic
Goal: $2,252
End Date: February 19, 2023
Goodies: Becca Boo #1 PDF or physical copy, Kickstarter exclusive variant covers, signed copy of trade dress edition, Kickstarter exclusive black and white edition of Becca Boo #1, 11×17 inch prints, Ormus #1, Pumpkin #1, and trading cards
Is she dead? Is she alive? Is she just really, really dumb?!
I love smut, and smut named after me is even better. Plus, the creators promise that this is well-written and well-drawn smut. Created by Sun Khamunaki, known for her titillating pin-up covers, Becca Boo is a 22-page, full-color comic about Becca, who, after emerging from an open grave, believes herself to be a ghost… and a very horny one. From the sample pages, it appears that this comic includes LGBTQIA+ themes.
Khamunaki has contributed two covers to the first issue. In addition, Bill McKay, Pablo Verdugo, Pierluigi Abbondanza, and Inkstasy have all contributed their own amazing covers to Becca Boo #1!
Octopus: A Memoir of Flailing
Creators: Richard Fairgray
Goal: $1,501
End Date: February 25, 2023
Goodies: Digital or physical copy, foil-stamped variant cover, sketch variant cover, “Octopus in a Bottle” that contains comic and 200+ pages of Fairgray’s back catalog, and enamel pins
The subjectively true story of trying not to turn into an octopus, distracting myself with sex clubs, drinking, and messy relationships.
Gay and legally blind creator Richard Fairgray, who has made his career with all-ages content, describes Octopus: A Memoir of Flailing as “7 connected stories that capture key turning points in my life across 18 months as I try to kill myself, get divorced, break up with my boyfriend, steal a boat, move to Hollywood, live with a surfing philanthropist, meet a nice man and have a lot of wine and regrettable sex. It’s an adult story filled with complicated emotions and steamy sex clubs.”
To all the haters who said that Fairgray should hide this book in an octopus’s siphon, I’m excited to see him take a stab at more adult content, especially after reading one of his adult-themed one-shots, which I picked up in LA last year.
Ten Thousand Beloved Communities
Creators: Kristen Lynn Zimmerman and Beloved Communities Network
Goal: $10,000
End Date: March 11, 2023
Goodies: Get your name on the thank you page, digital PDF version of the book and digital worksheets, physical copy of the book and accompanying worksheets, signed limited edition, limited edition Beloved Communities Network hoodie, Beloved Communities postcards, 60-minute Beloved Communities Workshop for you and nineteen Beloveds, and a retailer bundle
A graphic novel and guide to building communities that transform the world, written with 25 leaders. Foreword by adrienne maree brown.
Based on conversations between and interviews with over 25 artists, cultural workers, movement leaders, and spiritual practitioners, Ten Thousand Beloved Communities is a 160-page full-color graphic novel and guide that tells the story of the lineage of Beloved Community, the eight essential elements of practicing beloved community, stories of beloved community in action, and ways to help readers integrate Beloved Community on the very personal level, with groups and as a way of leading. According to the campaign, “the book is for anyone who cares deeply about their community and wants to deepen relationships with the people and places they live.”
Malika Devich Cyril, Judith Le Blanc, Anassa Troutman, and Kazu Haga contributed stories to illustrate Beloved Community in action.
Here are some already-funded projects worth checking out:
- Our Faceless Fears #1-2: A Victorian-Era Ghost Story
- Witches & Wine Vol. 1 Print!
- Sunrise Blossom Vol. 1-4
- Horns of Light
And don’t forget to check out last week’s campaigns:
And finally, here are some projects that haven’t launched yet, but that look to be worth keeping an eye on:
- Nine Lives
- Hairology: A Celebration of All Hair Types
- FOR MOLLY: Modern Fantasy Graphic Novel with Talking Dogs
- Young Grandmaster Choi #1
Miss any of our previous Comics Crowdfunding Round-Ups? Check out the archive here!
