by Joshua Werner
Art Director at Source Point Press
Lover of Good Comics

I’ve worked with writer Travis McIntire on several different titles now over at Source Point Press, so knowing that he’s a creator full of passion and ingenuity it’s no surprise that I was more than a little intrigued when he told me about his script for the first issue of Bayani and the Nine Daughters of the Moon. The story is based on actual Filipino folklore and explores themes seen in stories such as Alice in Wonderland, but in the style of something more akin to Indiana Jones. And luckily, as a friend and fellow creator, I was able to continue to see the process, from pencils all the way through to the lettering.

Bayani and the Nine Daughters of the Moon is a kid-friendly story that has enough monsters, mythology, and adventure packed into it that adults will have no problem enjoying it also. Because of the combination of this appeal and the impressive creative team, Caliber Comics immediately agreed to publish it. But the reality of creator-owned comics is that often times they still need a boost to get them off the ground. And sometimes a finished product has to be delivered to the publisher. And that’s where Kickstarter comes in. Kickstarter can help to create those initial funds to put the comics into print, and also to introduce Bayani to the world. So Bayani creator Travis McIntire has started a Kickstarter for Bayani on July 16th. What impresses me the most about this is that Travis has decided to make the goal only $5,000. This is half of what he needs to cover the printing cost for the first 3 issues. That means he already plans to cover the other $5,000 out of his own pocket for the printing on this title, something that’s quite refreshing to see in the world of crowd funding.

Bayani and the Old Ghosts is the title of issue #1, which has already been completed. I was able to see each stage of the art process, and it looks fantastic! Grant Perkins (Penguins of Madagascar, 2000AD) is doing the penciling, inking, and coloring. Taylor Esposito, a long time letterer for DC Comics, is handling the lettering, while Rich Bloom (C.O.W.L.) designed the logos for each issue. Together the team brought Travis’ story to life, which is packed with cool visuals. The story kicks off with 11-year-old boy Bayani finding himself responsible for feeding his family as he tries to care for his sick father. The sun has been shining down on the islands for a full month without a single nightfall, causing a horrible drought that even drives the fish away from the surrounding area. Before he knows it, the rain god Pati’ has sent Bayani on a quest to rescue the daughters of Lady Moon, who have been kidnapped by horrible monsters from Filipino lore. With his friend Tala along for the journey, they must battle these monsters in hopes of ending the curse on the islands.

If you enjoy old-school adventure stories packed with mythological beasts, I can’t recommend this enough. Travis McIntire and Grant Perkins have really created something special here. The Kickstarter has some amazing rewards, with several wellrespected comic book industry pros jumping in to help make the rewards that much more exciting. I hope you’ll take a moment to check out their campaign and help to spread the word. While Bayani’s adventure may be a bit more perilous, I’m excited to give to this Kickstarter and have an adventure of my own: engaging in the production process of creator-owned comics!

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