Welcome back to another installment of Indie Comics Showcase, the weekly blog where we signal boost a few truly independent comics that are currently crowdfunding their projects, crowdsourcing their funding in some way, or just completely self-publishing on their own. Every little bit of support for these creators matters, from a single dollar pledge to the twenty-five dollar bundle, and of course the higher tiers are usually fun too! Even if you can’t back a campaign or buy a book, you can share or tweet about these projects to your friends and followers.
On Indie Comics Showcase, we interview the creators, show off some art, and tell you how you can check out the product for yourself. Below we have some outstanding crowdfunding campaigns this week for you to learn about, enjoy, and hopefully support by backing one or more of them! Thanks for checking these out and for being the best part of Indie Comics Showcase. Let’s jump in!
El Cabrón Pistolero
by Ramsey “Raz City” Sibaja
A Demon infested Spaghetti Western
Chris Braly: Tell our readers your elevator pitch for El Cabron Pistolero – Briefly tell our readers the pitch.
Raz City: Lone Gunslinger travels the plains killing demons. Think Evil Dead mixed with the Good, the Bad and the Ugly, A monster spaghetti western with plenty of blood and gore.
CB: What was the genesis for this project, where did the idea for this comic come from, and what led to you deciding to crowd-fund it?
RC: Grew up watching a lot of Sergio Leone spaghetti westerns and low budget horror movies. Certainly had a few cool different ideas over the years that never got past concept stage but the Cabron Pistolero was so fun to draw and started filling out my sketchbooks with him and just started creating scenarios, demons and short stories and just couldn’t stop drawing him. I figured I needed to create a full on comic of him and develop this character further but before developing him further I just wanted to have him kill a shit ton of demons. Crowd-funding seems like a great place to help create a fan base while having that same fan base help get this printed and in peoples hand.
CB: What kind of comic fans do you expect this comic will entertain the most?
RC: Fans of B horrors movies like Evil Dead and 70’s westerns like Fistful of Dollars. Fans whose idea of fun is six shooters, swords, blood and gore while keeping the art style a bit old school in style. But honestly I really hope its more than that, certainly want to create more intriguing stories that just straight shoot’em ups (which I admit this first issue is just on long fun shoot’em up) delving into Latin American folklore and other things. With this first issue I just wanted a fun ride which I think is what you’ll get.
CB: Let’s get into the creative and production side a little. Tell us a bit about your creative team that have contributed to this project?
RC: Originally this started more as a creative exercise in sequential art. Drawing a page a day was the goal with no pre written story of guide, just completely improvised story telling, ending the page one day without knowing what I’ll be drawing the next day or even knowing what will happen next. Only thing I knew is it needed to be at 31 pages long without drawing/writing myself Into a corner. Definitely a fun exercise to do but which I recommend any comic creator do. With future issues I do definitely want to delve more into the story development of El Cabron Pistolero and the world he lives in.
This project is pretty much a one man deal taking on the writing, scripting, art and coloring, The coloring being the biggest pain in the ass to do which is why I went 2-tone with the coloring keeping it simple and I believe fits better with the story and art.
CB: You took a swing at crowdfunding this last year and almost hit your goal. What are you doing differently?
RC: I know I aimed high but fell a bit short but definitely learned a lot. Took all the feed back from all the backers. Nearly $3k raised with over 100 backers, these were all good numbers. Many overseas backers voiced their concerns over shipping cost preferring digital files because of that so i beefed up the digital rewards with more, stream lined the rewards focusing on the comic rather than too many add-ons, budgeted down what my expenses will be and was able to have a smaller target goal which I am completely sure I can meet. Completely excited to get this rolling.
CB: What have you been learning from crowdfunding and creating through this process?
RC: I’ve backed lots of different projects and waiting for the item has always been the worst, I definitely want to make sure I have everything done and ready to go when I start a crowd-funding project. I have a few other projects I want to get funded and having them finished means I can get them out sooner and hopefully building up my fan base and backer loyalty. And just make sure what you create is fucking awesome never hurts.
CB: What is your purpose for telling this story and what are your plans beyond this book? Are there more stories to tell?
RC: Definitely more stories, a ton lots more, Ideas and concepts I really want to get into especially getting into some of the crazy haunting Latin folklore that are all over Latin America, where el Cabron Pistolero does his demon hunting. This first issue met my first goal, which was getting a completed Cabron Pistolero story down now next is to develop more intriguing but equally violent and fun stories. I really want to push the horror boundaries with in this western genre but also beyond that. I think this is gonna be a really fun ride and certainly want as many people as possible to come along for that ride.
CB: Thanks for chatting with us! Good luck and we are rooting for you!
RC: Thanks really appreciate. I had fun creating this, fun drawing all the dismemberment and gore. Hope everyone can go back this sucker so you too can enjoy all the flying body parts and blood splatters. You’ve got till July 22nd to back it and get your own copy
Check out the El Cabrón Pistolero campaign here
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Outlaw Nights: Genesis of a Renegade
by Ben Fuselier
Check out the Outlaw Nights campaign page here!
Chris Braly: Tell our readers your elevator pitch for Outlaw Nights, Ben.
Ben Fuselier: Cyrus Lawson, colonial security officer, finds himself caught up in a high stakes heist! Pirates, guns, spaceships; everything you need for the underworld of the 31st Century. Can Cyrus survive? If he does, will he still be him? Only one way to find out!
CB: What was the genesis for this project, where did the idea for this comic come from, and what led to you deciding to crowdfund it?
BF: I have been playing around with this idea for about 15 years. I came to love the romanticized concept of piracy and juxtaposing that with a futuristic setting. Every space pirate property I have seen has left me wanting for something more or different; thus, I decided to provide. This idea evolved from a movie idea, to a novel, and finally, to a comic. It is better now than I ever imagined!
CB: What kind of comic fans do you expect this comic will entertain the most?
BF: I believe Outlaw Nights will have appeal for fans of action, grunge, cyberpunk, espionage, and sexy thrillers. I did my best to combine aspects of different genres to provide a little something for everyone.
CB: Let’s get into the creative and production side a little. Tell us a bit about your creative team that have contributed to this project?
BF: I am the creator and writer. Our line artists are Render Contender (Graveyard Shift Vol. 3, Chrono Mechanics) and Simon Pothier (Bloodhunt, Nat the Merc). Render was going to do the book himself, but sadly, COVID created too many complications. Sim generously stepped in and gave the book a new life and new edge. Our colorists are Press Color and Michael Beacon (The Seven Legions). They blow me away with their depth. And, last but certainly not least, our letterer/all around helpful good guy, Eric Weathers!
CB: What’s the workflow like? How do you like to work?
BF: Most of it has been coordinating via email. I took the time to write out the script before signing up a team. I wanted a solid blueprint. However, I also do some last minute edits and revisions once I see it all laid out. It took some time to get a good footing, but I think we have an efficient system.
CB: What have you been learning from crowdfunding and creating through this process?
BF: A LOT! I ran this campaign once before and did not succeed. I learned that quality and social media posting is not enough. People need to get to know the creators they are backing. Establish trust. I started going onto YouTube channels promoting like crazy. It made all the difference in the world.
CB: What is your purpose for telling this story and what are your plans beyond this book? Are there more stories to tell?
BF: I wanted to create a fun world to explore. I find most space operas and fantasies nowadays are too mired in real world issues or blatant propaganda to provide true escapist fun. Outlaw Nights seeks to tell a fun and interesting story, building up a new Golden Age of Piracy in the future. Endless possibility. This will be the first of about 8 issues, dealing with a specific arc <while telling other stories in the meanwhile>. I would like to do spinoff books afterwards as well, but time will tell.
CB: Thanks for chatting with us! Good luck and we are rooting for you!
BF: Thank you so much! I appreciate all of the support! The CG network has been great to us and I couldn’t be more thrilled.
Check out the Outlaw Nights campaign page here!
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Amazon Arrow: Immortal Reign #1
by Recurve Comics
Check out the Amazon Arrow campaign page here!
Chris Braly: Tell our readers your elevator pitch for Amazon Arrow: Immortal Reign – Briefly tell our readers the pitch.
Recurve Comics: Three glamorous and immortal superheroines fight mythological monsters to save the world! The basic idea is that ancient mythological characters and monsters are real, and they have survived and remained hidden to the present day. Some of them think mankind’s reign has lasted long enough and they want to regain control of the world.
CB: What was the genesis for this project, where did the idea for this comic come from, and what led to you deciding to crowdfund it?
RC: Amazon Arrow was created in 2014 on DeviantArt as an ongoing webcomic (sort of) featuring my version of an adult Wonder Woman-esque fan fiction character. Over the years, she has evolved into her own thing with her own deep lore and mythology. In 2018, some DeviantArt users took offense at the mature elements in the story and attempted to deplatform me from multiple social media accounts. A significant percentage of my artwork ended up censored or lost as a result. I discovered ComicsGate at around that same time and aligned with their stance against cancel culture. The idea to crowdfund an Amazon Arrow graphic novel has been developing ever since.
CB: It looks mostly like a strictly cheesecake affair, is that the kind of comic fans = you expect this comic will entertain the most?
RC: Cheesecake fans will love it because there is no shortage of babes in skimpy outfits, especially in the digital-only pinup perks like the Swimsuit Special and the Lingerie Special. That said, there is also a very deep, serious and tragic story going on here in the main book. The characters are flawed, and those flaws lead to severe consequences. You will find well-researched elements of historical fiction and mythology mixed in with LOTS of action. I think the tone is most like early Witchblade comics, or perhaps Lady Death. Extremely sexy, but with a plot, lore and stakes that actually matter.
CB: Let’s get into the creative and production side a little. Tell us a bit about your creative team that have contributed to this project?
RC: For the book itself, I’m a one man show. I’ll be writing, drawing, coloring and lettering the entire book. It took me three years to launch the campaign because I wanted to make sure that I could actually pull that off and deliver on time. I’ve been a commercial graphic designer and 3D artist for over a decade, so I’m adapting those basic skills for comic book production. For stretch goals, I’m working with a magnificent cosplay model and costume designer who has appeared on the cover of Vampirella to portray Amazon Arrow. I’m also working with a friend who makes independent movies to create a live action Amazon Arrow short film that has already been unlocked as a stretch goal and will be sent free to all backers at all levels. You get a free movie with your book! Pretty sure that’s a ComicsGate first.
CB: What have you been learning from crowdfunding and creating through this process?
RC: It’s great to watch your crowdfunding peers for ideas and tactics, but don’t expect to be able to replicate someone else’s success. You have to do your own thing, set your own benchmarks, own your own successes and failures. My intention was to promote and produce at the same time, but for me personally, I’ve discovered that I just can’t juggle both. I’ve decided to focus on cranking out pages for now, but I plan to be more active on social media and YouTube once I have more pages under my belt. Delivering on time is my sole priority right now.
CB: What are your plans beyond this book? Are there more stories to tell?
RC: Amazon Arrow has been around for seven years and she isn’t going anywhere. She’s over 3,000 years old and there are lots of stories to tell about both her past and her future. My initial goal is to make a trilogy. Beyond that I’m hoping to crossover or collaborate with other indie creators and really immerse myself in the crowdfunding community, but first I need to show everyone what I bring to the table.
CB: Thanks for chatting with us! Good luck and we are rooting for you!
RC: Thanks! Love your site!
Check out the Amazon Arrow campaign page here!
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That’s it for this installment! Support indie comics!!!
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