Details below on Horror Not Hate, a new socially conscious comics anthology to mirror the times we live in…
The newly minted Slow Feet Comics has announced a new horror anthology in the name of charity. Horror Not Hate is a horror comic anthology and art book hybrid that is being released to benefit LGBTQIA+ and Immigrant Rights organizations, in the wake of increased political and physical aggression towards those communities in the United States.
“I was waking up and reading the news, and it would make me physically sick every morning,” says horror writer J.M. Brandt, organizer for Horror Not Hate. He went on to say, “My wife told me that the only way to fight it would be to get off my ass and do something. She was right, and one day after I’d had too much to bear, I announced I’d be putting together a project on my Instagram. I’m not the protesting type, so I felt my energy would be better put to use putting my knowledge and connections into something people would want to buy… and then sending that money to charity.”
The end result is Slow Feet Comics’ first release. Over 200 pages long, the stories are written by a mix of established pro talent from major and indie comic labels, underground comic creators, and promising newcomers. Horror Not Hate features stories written by Stoker and Shirley Jackson award winner Tim Waggoner (in just his 2nd comic story ever), David M. Booher (Ghostbusters, Canto), Joshua Pruett (The Last Kids on Earth), Riley Silverman (Doctor Who), Rich Douek (Batman: The Brave and the Bold), Jonathan Hedrick (Recount), Joe Corallo, Frankee White, Joshua Rubin, Jeffrey Schiller, Lan Pitts, Ben Kahn, Holly Interlandi, Levi Cory, Travis B. Hill, Jonathan Chance, Zach Chapman, Moni Barrette, Louis Southard, Cameron Zavala, Ricardo Acevedo, Derek McCaw, Otie Marcus, Lynsey Hutschinson, Syril Pecson, and J.M. Brandt (Swamp Dogs, Swallower of Shades). The stories are all horror based around the themes of fascism, hate, transphobia, homophobia, xenophobia, racism, and toxic patriotism.
Art for the stories was provided by Francesca Fantini (Stake), Caleb Ady (In Bloom), Rafael Navarro (Bela Lugosi’s Tales from the Grave), Pat Higgins, Zak Kinsella, Kraig Rasmussen, Gerald Von Stoddard, Jade Lowder, Kurt Belcher, Vassilis Gogtzilas, Alan Quirk, Jacob Ian DeCoursey, Kev Tijerna, Dan MacLeod, Peter Arends, Daisy Church, Jay Kennedy, Jody James Brenton, Hope Dicanio, Russell Frechette, Alex Zief, Austin Baechle, Vladimir Popov, Damian Felitte, and more.
Setting this book apart from other horror anthologies is the fact that it is as much an art book as it is a comic collection. Coming from fine art, comics, underground comics, the low brow and outsider communities, and the world of heavy metal, the art gallery in the book features the talents of Skinner, Corinne Halbert, Stephanie Inagaki, David Gough, Stuart Holroyd, Evil Jay, Pyromallis, Brett Herman, Hans Rickheit, D.J. Bryant, Sammy Ruiz, Justin Weingartner, Filip Ivanović, Nathaniel Barter, Arjuna Susini, Claudia Balboni, Tom Neely, Sam Payne, David Le compte, Christopher Butler, Patrick Buermeyer, J. Christopher Schmidt, and more to be announced.
Horror Not Hate will be raising funds via a Kickstarter campaign, and all proceeds after printing and fulfillment costs will be split evenly between CHIRLA and Lambda Legal. The campaign will feature physical copies of the book with different variant covers by Chad J Keith, Skinner, Jonathan La Mantia, and a mystery artist that will be announced at a later date. The first cover reveal is the Chad J Keith cover. Chad is best known for his heavy metal artwork– including a collection in collaboration with the band Mastodon, and album covers for Danava, Atomic Witch, and Foreseen. He has also created covers for Creepshow (Image Comics) and Sweetie: Candy Vigilante (Dynamite). A variety of backer rewards and stretch goals will be provided– including apparel and stickers with artwork from many of the contributors, original artwork pieces, and commissions. Socially-minded companies will also be providing their wares as add-ons and backer rewards to ensure backers will be doing worlds of good with their money as well as receiving fantastic value. Tiers and packages will be available for interested retailers.
The pre-launch page for the campaign can be found at bit.ly/HorrorNotHate, and will allow anyone who signs up to be notified on the campaign’s start later this year. For more frequent updates and sneak previews of the book’s interiors, people can follow Slow Feet Comics on Instagram at @slowfeetcomics or J.M. at @j.m.brandt. J.M. will also be posting updates on Blue Sky at bit.ly/BSkyBrandt and on his newsletter. Media inquiries and businesses interested in supporting the campaign via their goods can contact J.M. at slowfeetcomics@gmail.com.
