Welcome to this week’s installment of The Beat’s Comics Crowdfunding Round-Up! Join us for a look into a new unique hero, an early look at fan favorite kaiju, a new addition to the Grobusverse, back to ’80s fantasy, and a weapon turned hero!
The Mask of Haliya
Creators: Cecilia Lim (Executive Team), Waverly Lim (Executive Team)
Goal: $5,000
End Date: Nov. 2
Goodies: A digital PDF, a deluxe hardcover book, and an exclusive slipcover!
Seventeen-year-old Marisol Reyes is in need of a do-over. After getting kicked out of one too many schools for strange and unsettling behavior, Mari’s overbearing mother sends her to the Philippines for a fresh start. The promise of a normal life is dashed, however, when Mari attends her recently deceased Lola Talia’s wake. For it’s there she discovers a mysterious wooden mask that unlocks frightening visions…and terrifying abilities.
So begins The Mask of Haliya, where Mari must forge new allies and battle new foes, all while finding her place in a world on the brink of darkness.
…The Mask has chosen its new heir.
I can’t think of a better release for Filipino American History Month than The Mask of Haliya from the pioneering Filipino-American comic book publisher Kwento Comics. The graphic novel centers around Marisol and her newfound abilities, exploring the challenges of dealing with her ancestors and the responsibilities thrust upon her. The Mask of Haliya fearlessly makes connections to real-life situations that many second-generation children can relate to. That’s why we at The Beat can’t recommend this enough.
Godzilla x Kong: The Hunted
Creators: Brian Buccellato (Writer), Dario Formisani (Artist), Drew Johnson (Artist), Zid (Artist and Colorist), Niezam (Colorist)
Goal: $79,000
End Date: Nov. 3
Goodies: A physical and PDF copy of the graphic novel, a digital wallpaper, the Monsterverse Declassified graphic novel, and a Kickstarter-exclusive deluxe slipcase for both novels!
A twisted Skull Island trophy hunter baits his trap and sets his sights on the biggest game of all deep within the Hollow Earth in the official prequel graphic novel to the upcoming film Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.
Being able to get a glimpse into the events that lead up to Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire would make any kaiju fan excited, so to have a physical copy to comb over and learn what events will end up in the new movie is a for sure purchase for any comic collector. It follows the story of a bounty hunter setting his sights on hollow earth, with appearances from fan-favorite Kaijus Doug, Behemoth, Tiamat, and a yet-to-be-revealed titan. It’s something to look forward to and we at The Beat think it’s something to look forward to!
Miramar
Creators: Stefan Tosheff (Writer), Simon Roy (Artist)
Goal: $5,481
End Date: Nov. 9
Goodies: A digital and physical copy of Miramar, a Minerva’s Map TPB, and copies of Griz Grobus and Habitat OGN: the complete Grobusverse!
Our graphic novella is set on the ocean world of Miramar, far in humanity’s future. With 90% of the planet’s surface covered by water, there are few land masses to slow down the high winds and powerful ocean currents, making surviving on the planet difficult. But there’s one sleepy little archipelago, in the wind shadow of a volcanic mountain range, that provides the people of Miramar a home.
Set in the same sci-fi universe as HABITAT (Image Comics, 2016) and GRIZ GROBUS (self-published this very year, to great success – 300% funded), Miramar is another tale of life after the collapse of interstellar empire. But Miramar asks a unique question – can good food reform a tribe of cannibal pirates?
Miramar is set to release but it’s already 100 percent funded and still racking up more orders. It’s beautifully illustrated with an interesting story to tell and likable characters that will keep readers enthralled in its story, all wrapped up into one fantastic hardcover. We at The Beat think something this creative is worth adding to any collector’s backlog. Honestly, this wasn’t enough to sell you on it, check out their intro video, it speaks for itself!
Deathstalker
Creators: Slash (Creator), Steven Kotanski (Director), Tim Seeley (writer), Jim Terry (Illustrator)
Goal: $25,000
End Date: Nov. 10
Goodies: The digital and physical copy of Deathstalker, LA Apparel Deathstalker t-shirt, deathstalker hardcover with dustjacket, the deluxe graphic novel, and so much more!
The ’80s were a fun time, weren’t they? Our (totally immoral) hero warrior Deathstalker made his cinematic debut during that pinnacle of so-bad-it’s-good fantasy filmmaking.
Now, Slash and director Steven Kostanski, plus NY Times bestselling Tim Seeley and Jim Terry are revitalizing the fun in the upcoming fifth installment of the Deathstalker series with a brand new graphic novel published by Vault Comics, in partnership with Shout Factory and Raven Banner.
A lineup of all-star creators and an ’80s swords and sorcery adventure all wrapped up in a gorgeous graphic novel? Seeley and Terry both at the helm for the fifth installment of the Deathstalker series only seems to speak volumes for their release. With over $33,000 crowdfunded for their $25,000 goal, we at The Beat think this is a must-have for any fantasy comic collector and we’ll be keeping a close watch on its release.
White Heron
Creators: Krazy Krow (Writer), Fernando Furukawa (Artist)
Goal: $25,000
End Date: November 24th
Goodies: A digital and Physical copy of the 1st volume, a hardcover, an enamel pin set, a t-shirt, and more!
From writer Krazy Krow (Spinnerette) and artist Fernando Furukawa (Starcraft: Ghost Academy, Dragon Age) comes the epic military/metahuman drama five years in the making!
Set in the 1980s, White Heron is a coming-of-age story for fans of military and metahuman adventures.
In 1982, a young female metahuman made a daring escape from North Korea. Known by her code name, WHITE HERON, she joins forces with the 707th to fight back! But her time-bending powers come with a cost: she could be frozen in time for days, weeks, even years…
Honestly, this comic was a bit random, and it’s for that exact reason that it caught our attention. Focusing on a young hero who was already a soldier, turned defector and has the ability to bend time at the cost of losing time with others. It was unique, to say the least, but to see Krow writing this and it being illustrated extremely well by Furukawa, it made it hard not to think about this comic. With $5,000 dollars pledged already, We at The Beat think this is something to pay attention to and we will be keeping a close watch on its release!
