Welcome to this week’s installment of The Beat‘s Comics Crowdfunding Round-Up! Let’s look at what happens when deep stories meet sci-fi fun!
BANDITS OF BATAVIA #1-2
Creators: Beyondtopia
Goal: $8,888
End Date: May 29, 2025
Goodies: Get the digital copy for $6, the physical copy for $15, the demon variant for $20, the homage variant for 420, or at higher tiers, get the regular bundle for $30, and much more!
This is the second time Bandits of Batavia has appeared on the crowdfunding round-up, and it’s for good reason. Set in colonial-era Indonesia and inspired by local folklore, Bandits of Batavia is a high-stakes martial arts comic blending mysticism, political intrigue, and raw emotion. At its core, it’s a story about justice and its side effects. That’s the kind of emotion that fills you when you follow Pitung, a silat student-turned-immortal bandit named Blackbull, who seeks justice, and possibly revenge, for the wildfire that destroyed his home and family. There’s a lot more to this story and I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the amazing artwork from Bryan Valenza, co-creator and color artist for the series. Alongside his co-creator Henry Barajas, Valenza has managed to come up with an immersive story that’s unique. With only a week to go on the campaign, I think it would be a crime not to see them reach their goal. So, you should make sure to give the project a look over ASAP, I promise you won’t regret it.
Become a backer here.
Little Red Ronin: Collector’s Edition Hardcover
Creators: Garrett Gunn (Writer/Creator), Kit Walls (Artist), Dave Lentz (Lettering)
Goal: $4,974
End Date: June 16, 2025
Goodies: Get the special slipcase bundle edition for $99, the digital copy for $8, and the legacy copy for $10, or at higher tiers, you can get the collectors edition for $39, and much more!
Deluxe Hardcover Limited Edition printing featuring Red; a determined warrior on a quest to vanquish The Great Wolf.
Little Red Ronin caught my eye because it looked like a love letter to Usagi Yojimbo, and to my enthusiasm, it is so much more than that. Little Red Ronin is a dark, thrilling reimagining of the classic Red Riding Hood tale, only this time, Red is on a mission to hunt down the monstrous Great Wolf and redeem her exiled grandmother’s name. Set in the eerie village of Poletown, where disappearances and bloodshed are dismissed as myths, Red’s journey is both deeply personal and violently urgent. And, the comic only gets better with the acclaimed team of Garrett Gunn, Kit Wallis, and Dave Lentz behind the project. There is so much to get from this series that I can’t help but mention it in the crowdfunding round-up, and the best part is if you’re interested they still have 25 days to go with the project fully funded. Don’t miss out on your chance to check the project out!
Become a backer here.
Starburst
Creators: Astre Press
Goal: $26,84
End Date: June 19, 2025
Goodies: Get the unsigned edition for $41 and the Signed edition for $47!
The Art of Audra Auclair
I don’t believe it’s often that I see pieces of art that leave me truly mesmerized. When you have to pour over so many different Kickstarters and independent series for a column every week, some of the shine of new series disappears. This was not the case for Starburst, and just like the name suggests, this comic really does feel like an explosion of bright hot colors and myriad emotions that pour from Audra Auclair‘s every brushstroke. For the first time, this renowned Canadian artist combines her stunning visual work with deeply personal reflections on navigating the art world, mental health, and the challenges of maintaining her creativity over a 15-year career. It’s worth your time to experience Auclair’s artwork alone, and I can’t recommend it enough.
Become a backer here.
Oddly Compelling: The Denis Kitchen Story
Creators: Tinto Press
Goal: $5,000
End Date: June 19, 2025
Goodies: Get the kitchen sink book for $25, the oddly compelling digital copy for $30, the chipboard sketchbook for $30, or at higher tiers, get the limited edition movie poster for $30, and much more!
A documentary film about counterculture, freedom of speech, and a comic book maverick
Denis Kitchen is a trailblazer of underground comics, a First Amendment warrior, and a true American original, and now, his life story is the subject of a captivating documentary. Oddly Compelling traces Kitchen’s wild journey from hippie cartoonist to influential publisher to founder of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. With interviews from comics legends, such as Alison Bechdel and Eddie Campbell, and rare footage of Robert Crumb and Will Eisner, this film is both a vital piece of comics history and a celebration of personal expression. Filmmakers Soren Christiansen and Ted Intorcio offer a deep, funny, and illuminating look at Kitchen’s legacy that’s nothing short of breathtaking. This documentary is truly a deep and emotional part of comics history that won’t soon be forgotten, so make sure to check out this project.
Become a backer here.
Death Transit Magpie
Creators: Karl Kersch (Writer/Artist/Creator)
Goal: $10,828
End Date: May 29, 2025
Goodies: The digital copy is $20, the physical copy is $30, cover B is $30, and at higher tiers, the double set is $50.
Death Transit Magpie stood out to me because of the larger-than-life characters prominently displayed on the front of the project’s crowdfunding page. They look amazing; thus, it comes as no surprise that it comes from the mind of someone like Karl Kerschl. To that end, I couldn’t help but notice that the project already amassed over $38,000, with seven days left to go. I do love it when a project has this much traction, and once you see the contents of this project, it comes as no surprise. You get murder mysteries, ghosts, and space, with Death Transit Magpie blending sci-fi, horror, and anime-inspired action into a phenomenal comic experience. There’s a lot going on in the comic, but if you’re a fan of these kinds of ideas, you will not be disappointed.
Become a backer here.
For more from The Beat’s Crowdfunding Round-Up, check out our archived posts here!
