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 that both fit the Broken Frontier coverage ethos and that we think deserve your support and backing!
Welcome to Crowdfunding Corner…
Pirate Fun
The who and what: From the moment it debuted, back in 2013, the original Dungeon Fun series was something of a small press phenomenon, going on to awards recognition and universal critical acclaim. Now Fun Mudlifter, the spirited star of that first series, is back alongside ghostly chum Games the Knight in the first part of a new all-ages fantasy series.
Writer Colin Bell (nominated as Best Letterer in last year’s Broken Frontier Awards), artist Neil Slorance and colourist David B. Cooper promise the duo will “face down pirates, pirate audition judges, mermaids, manmaids, and the might of the KRAKOCTOPUS (which is a kraken made of octopuses)!” in this eagerly anticipated sequel.
What’s on offer: The uninitiated can catch up with the first arc Dungeon Fun and there are prints and a sticker set (on the verge of being unlocked as a stretch goal) too.
Why you should back it: It’s already romped home well past its funding target with nine days still to go which is obviously a sign of the support the book has and the belief of its fanbase. This one has a proven track record and it’s exactly the kind of work to get into the hands of a younger reader new to the form as well.
– Andy Oliver
Runners Vol. 1: Bad Good – IN COLOR!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/621975803/runners-volume-1-bad-goods-graphic-novel-in-color
The who and what: Sean Wang has been working on his creator-owned Runners series since 2000. The first volume, ‘Bad Goods’, was produced with black and white before Sean decided to color his work for the second volume, ‘The Big Snow Job’.
After taking some time off to work on other projects like Tick and Arthur and the Broken Frontier Anthology, Sean is back to Runners with the full 10 volume series plotted out. But first, he’s going back to the beginning to color Bad Goods so the entire series can be in full color.
What’s on offer: The new color edition of Runners Volume 1 is offered as both a hardcover and in softcover. You can also get sketches, prints and original artwork.
Why you should back it: There are only a few truly epic creator-owned series out there. It just takes too many resources to keep an indie series going that long. But that’s what Kickstarter is for, to help make these dreams a reality. Runners is off to a great start, delivering two volumes of this highly-entertaining sci-fi comedy about space smugglers, but it’s time to help this adventure make the lead to hyperspace.
– Tyler Chin-Tanner
Hot Lunch
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/401125455/hot-lunch-the-all-ages-manga-style-graphic-novel
The who and what: More distinctive all-ages manga adventures with an anthropomorphic and culinary twist from the Mayamada writing team of Nigel and Lao, and artist Pinali. This latest tale follows “Taishi, an aspiring chef forced into making a dramatic career change to master thief. Framed for a crime he didn’t commit, he sets out to bring down the cabal known as the Circle of Flavour (the dastardly ones who framed him) and protect his friends.”
What’s on offer: Variant cover, colouring book, stickers, previous Mayamada books, a chance to be a background character, original art… they’ve got it all covered in the various project tiers. Even personalised chopsticks, a laser-engraved wood print and a personalised plushie are on offer. Lots of thought has gone into the rewards for backers here!
Why you should back it: Broken Frontier’s own Jenny Robins reviewed a previous Mayamada offering Samurai Chef here last year and was very impressed with not just the “Mayamada universe”, so to speak, but also the marketing behind it. If that review doesn’t whet your appetite there’s also a preview of Hot Lunch available for you to read here.
– Andy Oliver
Being True: LGBTQ Comics Anthology
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/586200780/being-true-lgbtq-comics-anthology
The who and what: Initiated by a group of indie artists from Boston (from the Boston Comics Roundtable) but including work from international creators as well, Being True is an uplifting anthology that celebrates LGBTQ lives, narratives and experiences with a focus on that titular theme. The stories range from slice-of-life accounts to more obvious genre-inspired storytelling.
What’s on offer: This campaign is more focused on making the project happen in print and digital form so the rewards tiers are more stripped back but there are a number of sponsorship tiers for those wanting to give an added level of support to Being True.
Why you should back it: With its celebratory approach and community feel, the book’s ideals of representing LGBTQ people across comic genres and exploration of the theme of “what being true means to you, and the joys that come from that” mark this out as a project we want to see happen here at BF. Give it your backing if you’re in a position to do so!
– Andy Oliver
