Indie Publisher Crowdfunding Comic to Teach Kids S.T.E.M.
On Monday, Independent comic book publisher PBS Media, headed by writer, creator and New Jersey robotics and math teacher Naseed Gifted, launched a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter to raise $8,500 for the production of the next comic book in its series. One of the unique stretch goals is a donation to a robotics camp for kids in Newark, NJ that teaches kids S.T.E.M.
Within 72 hours of launch, he reached over 50% of his goal.
P.B.Soldier is a science fiction adventure that follows covert operative Nat Cummings, a skilled computer hacker using his skills to help pay for college tuition when his activities are discovered and he becomes listed as an International Terror Threat – code red. The newly formed government/paramilitary organization called The Establishment, gives him a simple choice, either work with them to become a highly-trained assassin or be terminated.
The goal of the Kickstarter is to raise money for the production of the sixth installment of a thirteen book arc. Funds will go towards payment to line artist and colorist Abel Garcia (Bad Puppy, Nancy in Hell ,Drums, all through Image Comics) and actual production of the book, including printing and distribution. In addition, some of the proceeds are being donated to the Central High School Pre-Engineering Academy in Newark, NJ. – a program that Gifted has taught and led for the past 13 years.
S.T.E.M. or Science, Technology Engineering and Math Programs are often the lowest funded and the lowest graduated in urban areas and Gifted is working hard to change those statistics by using his own graphic novel, traveling the country speaking at schools, comic book conventions and after-school programs, introducing young African-Americans and Latinos to the world of P.B.Soldier one comic book at a time.
“These stories aren’t just about a group of assassins, but rather about the consequences of human choices made in the midst of impossible situations.” – Naseed Gifted, PBS Media
Naseed Gifted is a two-time Glyph Comic Awards and Urban Action Showcase nominee, an educator, engineer, and writer. A New Jersey native, he is also a graduate of the New Jersey Institute of Technology. He is also the founder of New Jersey’s Black Comic Book Festival “Khem Comic Fest” and travels across the country as a panelist for Full Spectrum: Why Color in Comics Matters and Using Comics to teach STEM.
P.B.Soldier titles are available at the P.B.Soldier website, Amazon, Itunes and PeepGame Comix.
To contribute to the P.B.Soldier Kickstarter Campaign go to bit.ly/PBSkickstarter
Follow P.B.Soldier on Social Media: Facebook – Twitter – Tumblr – Instagram
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