Every few weeks we sift through all the dozens of crowdfunding communications we receive here at BF each week to bring you a handful of the more intriguing, exciting, experimental and daring uses of the form that we spot, along with some interesting campaigns we’ve found ourselves. These are comics or related publications that both fit the Broken Frontier coverage ethos and that we think deserve your backing!
Usually we look to push a few worthwhile projects your way in this Crowdfunding Corner section but every so often we’re alerted to something that needs immediate coverage attention. Hence these ‘Crowdfunding Corner Extra’ updates. Today’s pick is new anthology The Seas from debuting micropress concern Body Parts; a comic that features a number of creators very familiar to Broken Frontier readers.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/iestynpettigrew/the-seas
The who and what: The first anthology from Body Parts, The Seas is edited by Iestyn Pettigrew – a maker of zines often focusing on mental health or illustration – who describes it in the following terms: “Many seek the solution to isolationism and bigotry with big answers. The Seas quietly makes the point that being different makes things exciting for us all. Each creator was asked to express something of their self to the world; maybe an interest, maybe their spirit or maybe just a little memory of being by The Seas. Everyone delivered something personal so that, for just a moment, you can see and feel as if you were someone else. From the simple pleasures of a trip, to the dark moments of barely controlled rage, all life is dealt with in this anthology of brand-new work.”
Contributors include artists featured at Broken Frontier over the years of the likes of abstract artists Gareth A Hopkins (interviewed here), Miranda Smart (top banner image and interviewed here) and Simon Russell (reviewed here). Others involved include Ian Miller (bottom image), Dave Crane, Mr. Zinester (below), Iestyn Pettigrew, Sophie Ell, Vacuum Books, Jamie Nyx, Zeno the Cartoonist and Motobus.
What’s on offer: Reward tiers are stripped back on this crowdfunder to physical and digital copies. But there are options for backing at a higher level with the extra money adding to the artists’ share of the proceeds.
Why you should back it: In comparative terms to where we were a few short years ago there’s been something of a dearth of anthology books with a wider reach in the UK self-publishing world of late. Supporting a new publishing venture helps make this platform of delivery viable and gives a boost to a fledgling publishing concern. There’s also the obvious answer that this anthology is full of boundary-pushing creators whose work is always worth your time.
