Indie and self-published comics are in a bit of a renaissance right now as the major comics powerhouses are on the decline and tools for independent creators are becoming much more plentiful and accessible. As a result, comic readers can find whatever niche comic they want to read just by going to Kickstarter or Zoop and pitching in a few bucks to whatever suits their fancy.
But, with thousands* of projects across multiple platforms, how does the average reader decide where to put their hard-earned money? Hopefully, this article will help narrow things down, starting with...
Writers: Kat Calamia & Phil Falco
Artists: Valeria Peri
Campaign Ends: November 22nd
Status: fully funded
PITCH:
When gritty anime protagonist, Lady Vengeance, is brought to the real world by a super fan, she'll learn there's more to life than darkness and revenge...and she'll find love with the super fan's twin sister - a kind-hearted cheerleader.
Slice of Life is a queer romance that deconstructs the "slice of life" genre, unpacking the importance of everyday narratives to tell a larger story about the meaning of life from the point of view of a fictional character.
WHY SHOULD I BACK IT?
Slice of Life has gone from a fun curiosity to a full blown phenomenon with a hefty Webtoons presence, a story that's only gotten better with time, and some of the best swag on Kickstarter. Deconstructing some of the tired tropes associated with slice of life webcomics was always a fun hook, but giving readers some of the best realized characters in the genre is what elevates this to a must read. If you're curious about this whole Webtoons thing and want to know where to start, it's right here.
Publisher: Second Sight Publishing
Campaign Ends: November 30th
Status: 35% funded
PITCH:
SHOOK! A BLACK HORROR ANTHOLOGY is a 160 page graphic novel comprised of tales of horror, sci-fi, and suspense from a collection of a few of the most talented African American writers in the comic book industry. Dubbed "The Dream Team", these creators represent black excellence in the horror genre.
The project represents a long discussed collaboration between CEO Bradley Golden and COO Marcus H. Roberts of Second Sight Publishing,LLC and Professor John Jennings of John Jennings StudioLLC. Stemming from a love of horror; specifically what is referred to as Southern Gothic horror by Jennings, the companies wanted to come together and tell engrossing stories, and also bring along what they felt was some of the great talent already burning up the horror scene.
WHY SHOULD I BACK IT?
This book has a big, ambitious goal and the creative muscles to actually go after it! For ages, we've been seeing a hunger for black voices in comics and this anthology feeds that with some of the most impressive talent of a generation. The southern gothic themeing is just the cherry on top of what's bound to be a horror anthology for the ages.
Writers: Bob Frantz & Kevin Cuffe
Artist: Nick Noons
Campaign Ends: November 25th
Status: Fully funded
PITCH:
Get Lich or Die Trying is a fantasy/comedy comic steeped in tabletop gaming lore that is sure to appeal to fans of Coda or Rat Queens with enough laughs to hook the Rock Candy Mountain and I Hate Fairyland crowd. “Get Lich or Die Trying” is fantasy story-telling filled on its head. It’s Lord of the Rings told through the eyes of the orc,” says series co-writer Kevin Cuffe. "We are putting a fresh coat of paint on a very classic and time-tested adventure," says co-writer Bob Frantz.
WHY SHOULD I BACK IT?
This comic is written by the same team behind Metal Shark Bro. That should be enough to pique your interest, but just in case it's not, the idea of exploring a fantasy world through the eyes of a mischievous goblin should be activating the rotten part of your brain that wants to leave your dishes rotting in the sink and play harmless pranks on your roommate. It's going to be a wildly fun time and the adorable, grinning energy of the series protagonist should be all the invitation you need to check this one out!
Writer: Dave Cook
Artist: Clark Bint
Campaign Ends: December 4th
Status: 200% funded
PITCH:
KILLTOPIA: is an award-winning cyberpunk comic book series created by Dave Cook (BPM: Beatdowns Per Minute, Ninja Baseball Spirits, Deadliner) which is currently being adapted for television by Voltaku Studios, with Love, Death + Robots writer Philip Gelatt.
This campaign is for the fifth and final Killtopia book - a 55-page epic finale that completes our story of Mech hunters in Neo Tokyo. We're running this campaign to help us fund production of the book, including art, colouring, lettering and printing. With your help, we'll ship in June 2023.
In the series, Neo Tokyo's Sector K district is infested with killer mechs. Heavily-armed soldiers of fortune called Wreckers are paid to hunt them for money, fame and glory in Killtopia, the world's most brutal bloodsport. Get good enough at killing Mechs and you can become richer, more powerful and more influential than a small country.
WHY SHOULD I BACK IT?
Killtopia has been the well known secret among Kickstarter fanatics for a while now, proof that incredible, prestige stories can come from this little crowdfunding platform and that you don't always find the best comics on a shelf. If you like high concept sci-fi, completed story arcs, and/or some of the most interesting art and panelling in any comic on the market, this is the perfect place to figure out what all the fuss is about.
Writer: Evan Carothers
Artist: Jezreel Rojales
Campaign Ends: November 12th
Status: Fully Funded
PITCH:
Some folks would describe this story as that of a man afraid to let go of the past, as he deals with shame and regret, while unknowingly searching for a purpose. Others (including myself) would just describe it as a not-so-serious jaunt around a familiar yet unique space setting, cut with halfway-decent humor and a big splash of action and adventure.
THE IGNIS QUADRANT world and characters draw from a plethora of influencing sources - from science fiction classics like Star Wars® and Firefly, to spaghetti westerns of yesteryear, and even pulp staples like Back to the Future and Indiana Jones. You'll feel right at home in The Quad - comfortable and familiar - while also finding yourself exploring something entirely new and exciting!
WHY SHOULD I BACK IT?
Confession time: I'm an absolute sucker for space westerns. Ever since Firefly, if you put a cowboy hat on a man in a spaceship, I am there for it regardless of quality. Luckily, the quality on display in this series is pretty spectacular! Gorgeous, sleek art, bombastic action set pieces, and incredible design all around, if you like your sci-fi with a bit of yee-haw, this is definitely the book for you.
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
These are projects we were impressed by, but couldn't put on our list for one reason or another. They're also great!
SACRIMONY #1-5 by M. Sorcier
SPARKS, VOL. 1 by Luke Henderson
GILGAMESH: ETERNAL #1-2 by Cam Kerkau
*DISCLAIMER: Comics are selected from a very large pool of projects, some sent to us for review, some come across on the websites themselves. We tend to favor first issue comics by indie creators that haven't already hit their campaign goals 5 times over, so keep that in mind. While we feel this list is representative of projects most worth the time and money of a comic reader, it is by no means exhaustive and there are many, MANY more projects that you can and should explore on Crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter and Zoop.
-Wells Thompson, Resident Kickstarter Expert