Every fortnight-(ish) we sift through all the dozens of crowdfunding communications we receive here at BF every 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!
Dead Canary Comics Presents: Adventures in Science
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/deadcanarycomics/dead-canary-comics-presents-adventures-in-science
The who and what: British micropublisher Dead Canary Comics are back with a retro-titled anthology collection of ten tales of the future of humanity. This science fiction compilation includes work by Shaky Kane (fresh from Dead Canary’s Last Driver one-shot), Krent Able, Caspar Wijngaard and Mark Stafford among many others.
What’s on offer: Dead Canary have made their rewards tiers as elegantly simple and accessible as possible and let the creative voices on offer be the pull of the project. Outside of a print version of the book you can opt for signed copies, for your name to be included as an official supporter or a top tier choice that gives you digital downloads of the DCC back catalogue. There are also a number of stretch goals to unlock extra stories.
Art by Shaky Kane (left) and Caspar Wijngaard (right)
Why you should back it: You’ll find few more infectioualy enthusiastic lovers of comics on the UK indie scene than Dead Canary Comics. They make the kind of comics they’d want to read themselves in a variety of styles and genres. And with some cracking talent involved this looks to be a most suitable follow-up to Last Driver.
– Andy Oliver
This Nightmare Kills Fascists
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/epalicki/this-nightmare-kills-fascists-a-comics-anthology?
The who and what: What could be more timely than a political, horror project? This 160-page anthology is filled with stories reflecting the current state of international politics by top-level talents known incorporating edgy themes in their own work. Just take a look at the creator list that includes Justin Jordan (Spread, Luther Strode), Ryan Lindsay (Beautiful Canvas), and Ariela Kristantina (InseXts) among other.
What’s on offer: Besides getting the anthology, there are a number of combo book packs where you can get signed copies of the creators’ past or current work. And if you’re into artwork, plenty of the artists are offering sketch packs. There’s also script reviews and having your likeness drawn into a story.
Pages from Erica Schultz and Claire Connelly (left) and Forrest Helvie and Joseba Morales (right)
Why you should back it: Not only do the editors, Eric Palicki and Matt Miner, have popular titles of their own out now (No Angel from Black Mask and Gwar from Dynamite), but they have had plenty of experience running successful Kickstarter campaigns and delivering quality products.
Oh yeah, I’m contributing a story in this project. After writing two stories, co-editing and producing the Broken Frontier Anthology, it’s nice to take a step back an leave most of the work in Eric and Matt’s very capable hands.
– Tyler Chin-Tanner
Warmer
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/782452551/warmer-a-collection-of-poetry-comics-about-climate
The who and what: Co-edited by Andrew White and Madeleine Witt, Warmer has the subtitle ‘A Collection of Comics about Climate Change for the Fearful & Hopeful’. A 112-page poetry comics anthology about the most important environmental issue of our era, the book also contains contributions from the likes of Caitlin Skaalrud, Maggie Umber (with Raighne Hogan), Nick Soucek, Oliver East, Warren Craghead and Will Cardini.
What’s on offer: Prints, minicomic bundles of contributors’ previous work, original Nick Soucek art from the book, original art (featuring you!) by Madeleine Witt and a custom comic strip on climate change in your area by Andrew White are just some of the options at the various reward levels.
Art by Caitlin Skaalrud and Nick Soucek
Why you should back it: You need to be quick because there are just four days left for Warmer! But a stellar line-up of indie/alt talent combined with comics’ resonance when exploring and communicating issues in an empathetic visual shorthand means you should get this one backed as soon as you possibly can!
Drachein
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1342461273/drachein
The who and what: This fantasy epic pulls from the lore of the pre-colonized Americas. It stars a young girl named Aiyana who is the last of the royal bloodline. She must stand against the mighty Second Empire and reunite the people of Drachein.
What’s on offer: Beyond choosing between digital and print options for the first issue, there are a number of different art reward tiers at very reasonable prices. Whether you prefer head sketches or fully inked commissions, there’s something here for you.
Why you should back it: While you may not have heard of the creators yet, they’ve got a bright future ahead of them. It takes a lot of guts to put out an indie project like this one instead of playing it safe and trying to get work on established properties. This comic deserves your support!
– Tyler Chin-Tanner
