Yesterday my face made good friends with a patch of cement. I was looking at my phone and completely forgot how stairs work. It was very humbling. In this one-day-late edition of the Crowdfunding Watch we will take a look at a punk rock and mental illness anthology, a lady with a demon stuck in her leg, and the 2018 slate of graphic novels from Retrofit Comics.

Everything is Going Wrong: Comics on Punk and Mental Illness

This is a planned 120-page anthology about the intersection of punk rock and mental illness. Proceeds from the sale of this comic will benefit two charity organizations: The Trevor Project and MusiCares. Edited by Mark Bouchard (CORPUS Anthology) and Megan Rae (comics journalist), this anthology will feature 30 autobiographical pieces, fictional stories and some firsthand accounts.

We felt that the best way to get the word out about our own experiences, and reach others like us was to round up a few dozen comic creators and a handful of bands, and slap all the content behind a rad cover by Marie Enger. – Editors of EiGW

There’s a hecka lot of creators lined up for this project, I’ve included some of them below but for a full listing you can view the Kickstarter:

• Ray Nadine (Dollhouse)
• Liana Kangas (Mine!) w/ Joe Corallo (Mine!)
• Jackie Reynolds (The Divide & I)
• Haley Boros (CORPUS)
• Matt Miner (GWAR Orgasmageddon) + Lukasz Kowalczuk (Violent Skate Bulldogs)
• Cara McGee (Dodge City, Black Canary)

Punk bands like Adult Mom and Hirs will also help provide insight and information to the essays included in this anthology.

The editors have broken down their exact costs, which is something I really appreciate, especially when there’s a big ask like this one. The team is hoping to raise $10,000 to cover the costs of this anthology.  They estimate printing and shipping will cost $5,760 for 1000 copies. They also lay out the costs for artist payments, design and production of physical rewards. What? Did someone say rewards? Well let me tell you what backing this anthology gets you.

Obviously, you can snag yourself a copy of the anthology either in a DRM-free ebook or softcover (depending on the level you back this project at). At $27 and up you will earn yourself a neat little enamel pin that says, ‘get help!’ designed by Marie Enger. There’s also a Kickstarter exclusive print by Jen Hickman (Jem and the Holograms: Infinite). Special commissions and book bundles are also available for backers.

The Trevor Project is a national organization providing LGBTQ youth with crisis intervention. They also operate a 24-hour hotline dedicated to assisting young LGBTQ folks. MusiCares is a charity operated by The Recording Academy which provides a wide-range of assistance to those in the music industry. This anthology will split the sales proceeds as follows: 25% of sales will go towards MusiCares and 75% of sales will go towards The Trevor Project. Funding for this project will continue through May 16.

MIRENDA: The Graphic Novel (Issues #1-#5)

Some days you are out adventuring and then all of a sudden you end up with a demon trapped in your leg, story of my life. Author Grim Wilkins has been self-publishing his comic MIRENDA for years now and is finally ready to collect issues 1-5 into a graphic novel. That’s 150-pages of story along with chapter covers and some pinups in the back.

Here’s what Wilkins has to say about MIRENDA:

MIRENDA is the story of a jungle woman who gets a mysterious demon trapped in her leg after a deal with a medicine man goes wrong. On her journey to find a worthwhile exorcist she makes some friends, hears some stories, and is tracked by all kinds of people and creatures with motives of their own.

MIRENDA’s story is almost exclusively wordless, which is fine by me because Wilkins’ visual sensibility is stunning. Below you’ll find some preview images from issue #5.

Available only through this Kickstarter, Wilkins will be offering this graphic novel in hardcover form, so you hardcover stans out there should get on it. Wilkins work is gorgeous and he’s extended that care and consideration to the backer rewards. There are a bunch of options available for backers at various price points. For example, for three dollars you can grab yourself a digital issue of MIRENDA. Backer rewards also include original artwork, an enamel print and specially designed print, which you can see below:

Funding for this campaign will go until May 5 and Wilkins is hoping to raise $10,000 to help cover the costs of printing and shipping.

Retrofit Comics 2018: 12 New Graphic Novels

Founded in 2011 by Box Brown, Retrofit Comics is a publisher of alt-comic floppies. For 2018, Retrofit Comics is hoping to bring audiences 12 graphic novels.

In this crowdfunding campaign co-publisher Jared Smith introduces us to slew of artists and creators Retrofit is hoping to publish this year, here’s a complete listing:

• All the Sad Songs – Summer Pierre
• Fashion Forecasts – Yumi Sakugawa
• I Love You – Sara Lautman
• John, Dear – Laura Lannes
• Our Wretched Town Hall – Eric Kostiuk Williams
• The Prince – Liam Cobb
• Survive 300 Million 1 – Pat Aulisio
• Survive 300 Million 2: Serpentine Captives – Pat Aulisio
• The Troublemakers – Baron Yoshimoto
• TRUMPTRUMP vol. 2: Modern Day Presidential – Warren Craghead III
• Understanding – Becca Tobin
• The Winner – Karl Stevens

Smith has graciously provided a synopsis and preview of each graphic novel in their Kickstarter. This isn’t Retrofit’s first rodeo, they’ve successfully funded several Kickstarter campaigns in the past. There are also numerous ways you can back this campaign. First, you can pick and choose which graphic novels you’ll receive or you can get the full 2018 subscription offered at a discounted rate.

Here’s a look at two of the graphic novels Retrofit is hoping to get into your paws this year:

Survive 300 Million 2: Serpentine Captives

This is the second book from Pat Aulisio which will follow Axel and Blaze as they try to reunite and escape their alien captors. This graphic novel is 92-pages and will be published in a soft-cover, full color format.

Understanding by Becca Tobin

 

Becca Tobin brings us a collection of short stories featuring the life of a blob. You know, going to parties, spending money, voyeurism, ritual–the usual. This piece will run 100 color pages and will be published in softcover format at 8 x 10 inches.

Listen folks, there’s a lot of content here and I can’t include it all but I am excited about Retrofit’s publishing plans for this year. For $86 you can get yourself 12 graphic novels, which is silly amounts of affordable considering what you’ll receive. There are a variety of backer tiers, so consider checking out what’s available. Special prints and access to previously published and classic comics are also available for the completionists out there.

There are only three days left to go in this campaign so if you are interested in some pretty nifty graphic novels, consider looking at what Retrofit has to offer. The team is hoping to raise $35,000 by April 27!

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Well, until next week. Tah-Tah!