In the world of sci-fi, where satire, dark humor, and bold ideas intersect, Tales From EroTech stands out as a collection that unapologetically pushes boundaries. This anthology weaves together eight original stories from ten top indie creators, delivering a mix of dystopian tech nightmares, bizarre relationship counseling, and everything in between. While it does contain NSFW content, EroTech manages to blend the provocative with the profound in a way that makes it impossible to overlook. From underground comix to surrealism, this collection explores the messy human emotions tangled in our interactions with technology and desire. It’s not just about sex and robots—it’s about the raw, unfiltered humanity that drives both.
The Beat reached out to Shawn Hainsworth and Dean Haspiel to discuss the project some more and find out what made this comic so important especially now with two days left on the campaign.
DIEGO HIGUERA: Tales from EroTech is an anthology built around the world introduced in Technical Support. What was it about this setting that made you want to expand it into a larger universe with multiple creators?
SHAWN HAINSWORTH: The short film, Technical Support, is based on The SEX-6000, a 12-page one-shot comic set in the world of EroTech. Geoffrey and I had a lot of fun creating it, and we thought there were so many possibilities for sex robot stories. EroTech is an office comedy about how our growing relationships with, and dependence on, technology slams into our sexual desires, which are such a powerful part of what it means to be human. We thought it would be great to get a bunch of talented indie creators to riff on the same idea. The only rule was that there had to be a sex robot and it had to be human. Beyond that, the creator could do anything — any genre, any style, etc.
HIGUERA: The anthology blends humor, technology, and erotica—three genres that don’t always come together in comics. How do you think this mix resonates with modern audiences, and why do you think there’s a growing appetite for humorous erotic comics?
HAINSWORTH: I love mixing up genres. I think most people can relate to struggling with technology and dealing with bad bosses and office politics. The trick with the erotica was to keep it personal, original and funny. Each of the creators finds their own balance of genre, many tending more toward horror than humor. I think modern audiences enjoy stories from different perspectives. These days erotica is considered a legitimate literary genre, rather than being dismissed as something illicit or shameful, which opens up a lot of possibilities for creators.
HIGUERA: Dean Haspiel’s story draws inspiration from OMAC #1 and its vision of artificial companionship. Were there any other major influences—whether in comics, sci-fi, or real-world technology—that shaped the themes of Tales from EroTech?
HAINSWORTH: The original script grew out of my experiences as a software engineer. I started to think about what it would be like to actually build a working sex robot. What would it actually be like to have sex with a robot? This was the starting point from which all the creators developed their own stories and themes. The artistic influences really run the gamut, from mid-century illustration, to classic bronze age comics, to surreal and underground comix. It’s what makes the book such a great read: there’s so many different influences being brought to the table that each story is really unique.
DEAN HASPIEL: For decades I’ve been haunted by the first page of Jack Kirby’s OMAC #1 featuring a disembodied woman as part of a futuristic “Build-A-Friend” initiative. It foresaw love dolls, sex robots and artificial intelligence. I can only imagine what kids were feeling when they first opened up that comic book in 1974. Suffice it to say, I had to do something to honor yet exorcise that spooky electric stranglehold on my mind. And I’m grateful to have the opportunity to tell a tragic romance story between two unlikely lovers in the pages of EroTech.
HIGUERA: With such a wide range of creators involved, from Chloe Brailsford to Alan Flops to Dean Haspiel, how did you go about assembling the lineup? Were there particular voices or perspectives you wanted to make sure were represented?
HAINSWORTH: First and foremost, we wanted to showcase artists that we loved and felt could really vibe with the material. Beyond that, we wanted to include creators who express a wide variety of perspectives on gender, sex and technology. The ultimate goal is to make this a recurring series, so that we can give many more creators a platform as well!
HIGUERA: The campaign is launching on Kickstarter, which has become a major platform for indie comics. How has crowdfunding changed the way projects like Tales from EroTech come to life, and what’s been the response from backers so far?
HAINSWORTH: Crowdfunding has made projects like EroTech (genre-bending, NSFW) possible. It is not easy to get a project like this off the ground. We have had three successful campaigns for EroTech, which have allowed us to continue to develop the material and stay true to our original vision. The backers for these campaigns are truly mini-investors, helping to bring a story to life that otherwise could not get made.
HIGUERA: Tales from EroTech explores a wide range of themes, from darkly prophetic sci-fi to playful satire. Was there a particular tone or message you hoped would tie all these different stories together?
HAINSWORTH: I think what ties these stories together is that they each represent the personal vision of the creator. Each story is shaped by the unique perspective, artistic style, and creative passion of its creator. This is what I hope makes Tales From EroTech a great comic anthology.
HIGUERA: Any last words for fans and readers!
HAINSWORTH: Whether you plan on backing the project or not, check out the project page and the project updates. We have written profiles of all of the artists with links to their personal pages and social media accounts. We hope you will find another artist that you love and want to follow.
