Crowdfunding Corner: Water Monster, Chum, Red Sonja
Welcome to our revamped “Crowdfunding Corner” rounding up some of the latest crowdfunding news. We’re going beyond just announcement projects, we’ll be tracking to make sure these projects get delivered as well as what we think the “risk” of backing them are.
We’ll be updating the format as we get a better handle of the needs of this sort of coverage, so stay tuned and check out the first round of projects!
Water Monster 水鬼 – When Guillermo del Toro Meets Junji Ito
Publisher: N/A
Creative Team: Zeo Niu
Launch Date: Launching soon
Risk: Low – They’ve done this before so it’s a pretty low risk.
When Guillermo del Toro meets Junji Ito
Southern China, 1945.
In a quiet rural village, six-year-old Chai grows up surrounded by endless summer days, ancient traditions, and one rule he is never allowed to break:
Never go near the well.
No one explains why.
The adults refuse to speak about it.
But the well looks normal… and Chai has broken every other rule before.
When a mysterious boy named River appears and befriends him, the two children begin to uncover a secret the village has tried to bury. A lonely man once died under tragic circumstances, and something restless now lingers beneath the still water.
As superstition, grief, and childhood curiosity collide, Chai will discover that some stories adults refuse to tell… are the ones that should never be uncovered.
Water Monster is a haunting supernatural tale inspired by Chinese rural folklore and wartime history—blending the dark fairy-tale atmosphere of Guillermo del Toro with the creeping dread of Junji Ito.
CHUM | The Definitive Oversized Die-Cut Surf Noir Hardcover
Publisher: ComixTribe
Creative Team: (w) Ryan K Lindsay (a) Sami Kivelä
Launch Date: Funding Now – ends April 27 2026 11:59 PM EDT
Risk: Low – They’ve done this before so it’s a pretty low risk.
Summer Stanwyck is trapped.
She tends bar on the island she grew up on, the local cop is about to become her ex-husband, and she’s wasting time screwing the local reefer kingpin.
But when a bag full of cash and drugs appears, she sees a way out… and anyone who gets in her way is shark bait.
CHUM is pulp fiction on the sand, a surf noir story straight off the drugstore paperback rack from acclaimed artist Sami Kivelä (Abbott, Machine Gun Wizards) and award-winning writer Ryan K Lindsay (Eternal, A Fistful of Pain, Deer Editor.)
At last, ComixTribe is launching a limited edition definitive hardcover edition of this surf noir masterpiece, featuring a stunning composite die-cut cover with art from Justin Greenwood (The Fuse, Stumptown) and Kivelä.
Red Sonja Mystery Bags Brand New Rare Variants & Exclusives
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Creative Team: Various
Launch Date: Funding Now – ends April 28 2026 3:13 PM EDT
Risk: Low – They’ve done this before so it’s a pretty low risk.
Dynamite Entertainment has launched a limited-time Kickstarter campaign that offers fans and collectors exciting blind bags packed with surprises and exclusive items featuring the fierce Hyrkanian Heroine, Red Sonja.
Fans have flocked to the exciting new blind bags across the comics community, chasing the surprise and excitement as well as the chance for top tier ultra-rare collectibles from their favorite characters and series. Dynamite Entertainment and sister company Dynamic Forces have been leaders in comics and collectibles for over three decades collectively, and at the forefront of the blind bags explosion, featuring on top titles like Harley Quinn X Elvira, ThunderCats, and many more. This Red Sonja series is a way to bring the offering directly to fans and fill it with tons of extras and add-ons not available in traditional avenues. It also follows a popular offering featuring another top tier Woman of Dynamite, with fans receiving their Vampirella bags prior to this launch.
Priced at $100 each, these mystery bags are packed with five comics guaranteed to have a minimum value of $250, and they could exceed upwards of $500 with rare variants, premiums, ashcans, trading cards, and more. Red Sonja has been with Dynamite for over 20 years, and the vault has been opened to pull items from across that deep history. There’s something incredible here within every bag, and for every collector.
Each bag will have one high-end book; either a metal, foil, or rainbow holofoil variation on a gorgeous cover from a top artist. Superstars who could have their variants in the bags include J. Scott Campbell, Frank Thorne, Joseph Michael Linsner, Jenny Frison, Alex Ross, Jae Lee, Joe Jusko, Frank Cho, Mike Mignola, Lucio Parrillo, Shannon Maer, Jim Balent, and many others.
A file copy pulled from the Dynamite Archives will be included in each bag, topped with a proverbial cherry in superstar cosplayer and Red Sonja LLC representative Shannon Kingston. Fans of the franchise will recognize her from her gorgeous covers as well as how plugged in she is with followers across the character’s social media platforms.
Blank covers from Dynamite’s Authentix line will be in each blind bag, and a select few fortunate fans will receive covers adorned with sketches by the beloved Ken Haeser.
As a unique extra, these bags are not only including comic books as is traditionally the case. Each will include a trading card, including chromium cards exclusive to this offering. Last but not least, the fabulous fifth inclusion is an exclusive Red Sonja challenge coin which can only be collected through this Kickstarter!
The Kickstarter campaign offers even more exciting opportunities for collectors, including a tier offering blind bags guaranteed to feature a sketched cover within. Additionally on offer are one-of-a-kind original art from Roberto Castro’s gorgeously detailed covers, available at a limited-time pricing of $1973 in honor of the character’s debut. Fans who want more trading cards beyond the one included in the bags can opt for the few remaining cases from the Red Sonja Deluxe Ultra Premium set.
Every piece in this collection has been thoughtfully selected to honor the legacy of the She-Devil With a Sword, featuring high-quality items and limited availability for the most selective collectors. Make your pledge now to secure your blind bag before they disappear for good!
