Category Archives: Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding Campaign: Radiator Comics announces UM Volume One by buttercup

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Backer Beware: Crowdfunding projects are not guaranteed to be delivered and/or delivered when promised. We always recommend to do your research before backing.

UM Vol. 1

UM is a magical girl comic about Eugenée, a Black, nonbinary, aspiring birth-worker who finds themself mixed up in a millennia-old conflict between the powers that be and a faction of cosmic, shamanic midwives.

UM is an ongoing webcomic, updated most Saturdays. buttercup mixes mysticism, superhero tropes, and slice-of-life drama into a compelling narrative. With UM, buttercup seeks to craft a text with the essence of the storied history of resistance within the African Diaspora against global imperialism using imaginative play and science-fantasy as a liberation praxis, and a foundation for realizing Black continuity into the distant future.

UM Vol.1 collects the first six chapters of the webcomic, along with minicomics that support Eugenée’s story. This first volume is edited by Jamila Rowser (Washday Diaries, Ode to Keisha) and Steenz (Heart of the City, Archival Quality).

buttercup (b. 1988) is an Afroindigenous animator, illustrator, and sequential artist whose previous works include Dawn Richard’s Voodoo (Interlude) video clip, various bumpers for Adult Swim, and illustrations for Real Realm, a minicomic written by Jamila Rowser. Their illustration series ARTHROPOD explores the eponymous phylum of animals through the playful imagination of a Black, gender-nonconforming child. buttercup views their work, including and especially UM, as an exploration of the Black Imaginary and Prophetic Tradition as well as a visual excavation of the esoteric through a materialist lens.

The campaign ends April 1st, and uses an all-or-nothing crowdfunding model.

Crowdfunding Corner: Zoop launches its own equity crowdfunding campaign

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Backer Beware: Crowdfunding projects are not guaranteed to be delivered and/or delivered when promised. We always recommend to do your research before backing.
Disclosure: Graphic Policy’s founder Brett is a member of the Zoop team.

Des Taylor variant cover

Crowdfunding is an ever growing market that has seen consistent year over year growth. For creators of all kinds, crowdfunding has become their primary channel for bringing their work to the world. On the front lines of this growth industry is the crowdfunding platform Zoop, which has launched a different type of crowdfunding campaign.  

As a way to raise capital for the growth and expansion of their company, Zoop is offering comic fans, crowdfunding fans, collectors, investors and all those interested the opportunity to own a piece of the company through an equity crowdfunding campaign.

As opposed to rewards-based crowdfunding, where a backer is supporting the creation of a single project, equity crowdfunding provides working capital to a company, in exchange for a piece of ownership. Backers become investors. And not only do they get to own a piece of Zoop, but there are other perks as well, such as exclusive limited edition comic books with multiple variant covers, and graded copies. The more a backer invests, the more copies they receive and the more rare the books become.

Crowdfunding Corner: Discover the Orchard of the Tame

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Backer Beware: Crowdfunding projects are not guaranteed to be delivered and/or delivered when promised. We always recommend to do your research before backing.

Comic book creative couple Troy Little and Brenda Hickey are expanding their boutique publishing line Pegamoose Press with Orchard of the Tame – the stunning debut graphic novel from Nick Cross and Marlo Meekins.

This beautiful coming-of-age/dark fantasy is an absolute feast of imagination as we follow River Siren, a young mermaid navigating the beauty and horror of the world outside of her prison, on her journey towards self actualization. With help from her newfound friends she must overcome her fears and confront the monster who kept her caged.

Pegamoose Press emerged quietly during the pandemic as a venue for both Little and Hickey to test the waters of crowdfunding their creator owned books. With three successful Kickstarters behind them, and a growing number of industry award nominations, they’ve decided to expand beyond their own titles and support fresh new voices, starting with the whimsical B&W fantasy epic, Orchard of the Tame.

Orchard of the Tame‘s crowdfunding campaign runs until Sunday, March 31, 2024 at 11:03 AM EDT.

Crowdfunding Corner: Oni Press and Devolver Digital team for comics and graphic novels

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Backer Beware: Crowdfunding projects are not guaranteed to be delivered and/or delivered when promised. We always recommend to do your research before backing.

Comic publisher Oni Press and indie video game giant Devolver Digital have teamed to create the first ever comic books and graphic novels inspired by the deviously horrifying, heretic-smashing video game phenomenon Cult of the Lamb, developed by Massive Monster.

Beginning with an all-new graphic novel adapting and expanding Cult of the Lamb’s sprawling cosmology by writer Alex Paknadel and artist Troy Little, this ongoing publishing program has begun with the launch of the Cult of the Lamb: The First Verse as an Oni Premium Direct pre-order campaign on Kickstarter.

Featuring a treasure trove of exclusive and limited-edition items created in close coordination with Devolver Digital Cult of the Lamb: The First Verse includes deluxe versions of the Lamb’s landmark comic debut with an exclusive softcover edition, featuring cover art by Troy Little; an exclusive hardcover edition, featuring cover art by Juan Gedeon; four single issues featuring brand-new, never-before-seen interlocking cover art, also by Little, printed on high-quality cardstock and enhanced with UV spotgloss; or, at the campaign’s highest levels, one of four extremely limited Heretic Editions, featuring the complete series embellished with alternating suitably demonic foil and featuring brand-new, never-before-seen cover art by acclaimed Cult of the Lamb key artist and character designer Carles Dalmau. 

Additionally, throughout the latest Oni Premium Direct pre-order campaign, Cult of the Lamb: The First Verse also includes limited-edition apparel and merchandise, including high-quality ringspun t-shirts and patches silkscreened by Holy Mountain Printing; blotter paper posters and giclée art prints; devotional candles and match sets; original sketches and art pages by interior artist Troy Little; and much, much more. 

Since its debut in 2022, Cult of the Lamb has grown a millions-strong following with amusingly dark, satirically biting adventures that cast players into the role of Lamb – a supernaturally resurrected cult leader empowered by an impossibly ancient deity to recruit followers into the thrall of their doom-laden gospel. Most recently, in January 2024, Devolver Digital and Massive Monster released Cult of the Lamb: Sins of the Flesh – the game’s much anticipated DLC expansion, garnering millions of downloads in its first week of release.

In a land pervaded by cruelty and evil, the most innocent among us – young Lamb, the last of their kind – was selected to become a final dark sacrifice. Their death would forever seal the darkest of the Old Gods from our realm and usher in a new age ruled by the four eldritch Bishops of the Old Faith. So Lamb died… then forged a deal of their own.

At the crossroads of eternity, Lamb was met by the imprisoned deity known as The One Who Waits, who revealed the lies and distortions of the false prophets who rule the world above. And so, Lamb was bequeathed the power and responsibilities of the Red Crown and returned to the land of living with unholy powers to exact vengeance and deliver a new cult unto the Earth.

The Bishops of the Old Faith must fall. The disbelievers must be destroyed. And, as Lamb assembles their flock, a new master shall reign over creation. Praise be to the Cult of the Lamb!

Running through April 11 with new surprise items and stretch goals to be unlocked throughout, Oni Premium Direct’s Cult of the Lamb: The First Verse deluxe pre-order campaign is now live and features extensive “Day One” discounts for backers who place their pre-order within the first 24 hours. All items included in the campaign will be fulfilled directly to backers directly in December 2024.

Crowdfunding Corner: Seven Dead Stars: A Universe Begins

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Backer Beware: Crowdfunding projects are not guaranteed to be delivered and/or delivered when promised. We always recommend to do your research before backing.

Grammy-nominated artists and producers, Unsecret and DJ Form, are back on the comics scene with an exciting new Kickstarter campaign, Seven Dead Stars: A Universe Begins! 

This exciting dual release of the space adventure series includes two foundational comics: Issue #0, the 24-page origin story, including a variant edition by Butcher Billy, and an official 34-page guidebook overview of the characters and storyline.

Seven Dead Stars features a star-studded roster of creators, with art by Cliff Richards, colors by Michael Bartolo, and letters and layout by Kathryn Renta.

FORM, who is one of the last humans in the galaxy, and UNSECRET, a helmeted mercenary who doesn’t remember who he truly is, make their living as GRID RUNNERS, smuggling energy from the Seven Dead Stars for alien communities living off the grid.

After a disastrous encounter with the Scorpio Regime, Form and Unsecret embark upon an unexpected adventure when they crash land on a strange planet. What they encounter there will change their lives—and the universe—forever!

The campaign for Seven Dead Stars: A Universe Begins, ends April 5.

Crowdfunding Corner: Nock #1 is a dark, gritty tale of one man’s powerless journey through a superpower-filled world

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Backer Beware: Crowdfunding projects are not guaranteed to be delivered and/or delivered when promised. We always recommend to do your research before backing.

Nock #1 from writer Adam Barnhardt, art by Nicolas Santos, colors by Viviana di Chiara, and letterer Neil Allen Moherman is crowdfunding on Kickstarter.

With superheroes focusing on world-ending threats, crime has flourished across every borough of Cross City. No oversight from the powered has allowed the city’s most demented serial killer to revel in his kills. Enter John Nock, a member of the crime-fighting World Warriors. Only Nock isn’t a superhero; or, at the very least, he doesn’t think he is. All he’s got is a bow and some arrows.

After one failed mission, Nock faces expulsion from the World Warriors, so he sets out to do the unthinkable. Wanting to prove his worth not to just himself, but to the superheroes of the world, Nock makes the decision to take down the Bagface killer once and for all—all by his lonesome.

Green Arrow meets Daredevil in this dark, neo-noir tale. Nock #1 is the first in a four-issue miniseries.

For the process fiends out there, Nock #1’s Kickstarter Special Edition is a 28-page comic (24 pages of story!) that will be printed on 80# satin text paper.

The campaign ends on Friday, March 29, 2024 at 7:00 PM EDT.

Crowdfunding Corner: Cullen Bunn’s The Faraway follows a group of RPG enthusiasts trapped in a dark fantasy world

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Backer Beware: Crowdfunding projects are not guaranteed to be delivered and/or delivered when promised. We always recommend to do your research before backing.

Cullen Bunn has announced the Kickstarter campaign for first comic offering in the Outer Shadows imprint is now live! The Faraway #1 presents a new dark fantasy/horror world that will entertain, delight, and chill!

We know the story, right? While playing a fantasy role-playing game, a group of friends accidentally transports themselves into a fantasy world. Therein, they meet a friendly magical gnome who grants them magical weapons and guides them through their adventures. They face dark forces, but they rise into the roles of heroes and reaffirm the lifelong bonds of friendship in the process. 

Yeah. 

This isn’t that story.

Our heroes are transported into a magical kingdom of warriors and wizards and dragons and catacombs, yes. They meet a friendly magical gnome, yes. They are granted magical artifacts of great power, yes. But, within minutes of arriving in the fantasy world, this group of five college students finds themselves thrown into an adventure that is more horror than high fantasy. 

Our heroes have arrived, you see, in the DARKEST if dark fantasy worlds, where the “evil overlord” has already successfully conquered the realm and enslaved all of the free peoples. It is a nightmare realm populated by the most awful monsters and the most cruel sorcerers and warlords. 

Think of it as a tale of survival horror… in a land like Mordor… if the corruption of Mordor spread across all of Middle Earth. 

Trapped in this violent, vicious, unforgiving, terrifying (and terrifyingly lethal) realm, our heroes struggle for survival as, at every turn, they are faced with malignant monsters, foul magic, and fiendish foes. 

Written by master of horror comics Cullen Bunn and illustrated by high-energy artist Vitalii Kalchenko, The Faraway takes the familiar tropes of “gamers trapped in a fantasy world” and turns them on their decapitated head.

The campaign runs until Saturday, March 23, 2024 at 12:59 AM EDT.

Crowdfunding Corner: FairSquare Comics’ Mutiny returns!

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Backer Beware: Crowdfunding projects are not guaranteed to be delivered and/or delivered when promised. We always recommend to do your research before backing.

FairSquare Comics has announced the return of their flagship character (previously seen in Mutiny Magazine) with the arrival of Mutiny: Black Girl Magik. The Kickstarter campaign ends Tuesday, March 26 at 9:02 AM EDT.

Initially launched on Kickstarter in 2021, Mutiny Magazine was then offered as a bimonthly magazine through Diamond, featuring the titular flagship character, Miss Mutiny. Now back and better than ever, Miss Mutiny finally receives her due with Mutiny: Black Girl Magik launching with an all-Black femme team featuring Kristal Adams, writer, comedian, and co-owner of FairSquare Comics, as lead writer, Asiah Fulmore as illustrator, and Amanda Meadows as co-editor. 

In the updated Mutiny: Black Girl Magik, Moriyah Pleasant is a charismatic and witty queen with the magic touch. As a successful NYC dating coach with a reputation as an “incel whisperer,” the results don’t lie –– until her latest matchmaking gig goes awry, leading to some irreconcilable differences.

The whole operation goes left when Moriyah discovers her client’s love interest is on the run…but from who? Moriyah’s dragged through spacetime and confronted with the tyrant Ezek, an Alchemist consumed with his murderous pursuit to destroy all magik in the universe. But now she’s trapped and wanted for a crime she didn’t commit— and she’s not having that!

The Kickstarter campaign includes six covers in total, including main cover, drawn and colored by talented artist Alitha E. Martinez, a digital deluxe edition, and more. 

Crowdfunding Corner: Animals Rule This Land in Black Panel Press’ Kickstarter

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Backer Beware: Crowdfunding projects are not guaranteed to be delivered and/or delivered when promised. We always recommend to do your research before backing.

Black Panel Press has launched a crowdfunding campaign for Animals Rule This Land by Australian cartoonist Luke Milton.

The world has ended, you’re the only human left in a village full of erratic, freshly-evolved animals, and a maniacal rabbit in a vest is gifting you a blood-covered toaster.

They say they want to be friends, so why are you constantly being drugged and threatened by henchmen, kidnapped and insulted by the dog next door, and falling prey to a seemingly friendly duck who’s running an unnecessarily complicated bread scam?

The animals have taken over, and it’s time to pay the price for drinking all that milk, eating all those eggs, and coveting an unquantifiable amount of chicken nuggets. And where the hell did your cat go?

The campaign runs until Thursday, March 21 at 11:59 PM EDT.

Crowdfunding Corner: Vault and Zoop team for Crowdbuilding. Get Barbaric: Born in Blood #1 for free!

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Backer Beware: Crowdfunding projects are not guaranteed to be delivered and/or delivered when promised. We always recommend to do your research before backing.
Disclosure: Graphic Policy’s founder Brett is a member of the Zoop team.

Barbaric "Join The Horde" Crowdbuilding Campaign

Vault and Zoop have partnered for a transformative new approach to fan engagement to celebrate the release of Barbaric: Born In Blood #1, the newest arc of Vault’s smash hit Barbaric series. What Vault is calling its first ever Crowdbuilding Campaign™ is live.

Throughout the Barbaric “Join The Horde” Crowdbuilding Campaign™, fans will be able to get FREE early digital access to the full issue of Barbaric: Born In Blood #1, which introduces a twisted new villain and gives readers a glimpse into the secrets of Owen’s past.

As more fans join the Barbaric Horde, new treasures will be unlocked for everyone, including more digital comics, more exclusive behind-the-scenes art, and more goodies direct from creators Michael Moreci and Nathan Gooden. Not to mention, the first fans to join the Barbaric Horde get their pick of rewards from the Vault library and access to a limited number of special early-bird gifts (see the “Horde Rewards” section for more details). Further, fans will be able to preorder other special exclusive covers, exclusive merchandise, and more. Last, to those barbarians with the most refined tastes, Vault will offer limited exclusive covers, exclusive merchandise, and more, available first through the Crowdbuilding Campaign™ on Zoop. These rewards will never be produced again; once they’re gone, they’re gone for good.

Unlike a traditional crowdfunding campaign, a Crowdbuilding Campaign™ isn’t about  funding, it’s about fandom. The goal of a Crowdbuilding Campaign™ is to bring together a league of both existing superfans and new fans, to give them unimpeded access to both free and premium rewards, and to create a path for greater fan excitement to unlock greater fan rewards.

The completion and distribution of Barbaric: Born In Blood #1 is not tied to the success of the Barbaric “Join The Horde” Crowdbuilding Campaign™; the book is already complete and ready to share with readers. There is no funding goal. It’s this simple: as more fans show up, more exciting rewards will be unlocked.

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