Welcome to this week’s installment of The Beat’s Comics Crowdfunding Round-Up! Join us for a look into a fantastic comic inspired by Indonesian folklore, a comic anthology from an esteemed organization, a fantastic new fantasy comic made for fans looking for a deeper connection, and much more!
BANDITS OF BATAVIA
Creator: Bryan Valenza (Creator/Writer), Henry Barajas (Co-Writer), Ario Murti (Artist), Ray Chou (Editor)
Goal: $4,500
End Date: $4,500
Goodies: Get the digital PDF for $6, the standard issue for $15, the Kickstarter exclusive bloody variant $25, or at higher tiers get the manga variant, the homage variant, art prints, and much more!
Inspired by Indonesian folklore, our story begins in 1865 when a massive WILDFIRE burns down the Rawa Belong Village, causing many residents to lose family, friends, and homes. The police enact a large-scale manhunt for those responsible: a group of supernatural bandits – the BANDITS OF BATAVIA.
Genuinely, Murti’s artwork is breathtaking. Browsing through the preview pages of this project leaves you wanting more. The comic looks fantastic, and that impression is only heightened when you see the amount of work Valenza has put into it. With stunning characters, a great protagonist, and great rewards, any comic fan should have this comic in their collection.
Become a backer here.
REBOUND
Creators: Rising Star Comics
Goal: $500
End Date: July 7
Goodies: Get the digital PDF for $5, the standard issue for $15, multiple variants for $15, or at higher tiers you can get signed copies, foil variants, and prints.
New York City is the Coolest Place on the Planet…depending on who you ask. One thing is for sure, it is a place quite unlike any other, as the unofficial Superhero Capital of America. Here we follow the life and times of KYLE MERCER. A post-graduate, a full-time superhero, trying so hard to make it all fit together in a way that makes sense.
Rebound states that it’s a classic superhero action adventure, looking through the Kickstarter page that becomes apparent quickly. With enemies like an electric power villain named Coil, the focus is on our protagonist Rebound, a 19-year-old full-time superhero at the beginning of their life. It made this project endearing, and looking through the great covers and seeing the explanation of the current issue, we can’t help but want to see more of this content. It would be a shame not to check out this project.
Become a backer here.
Monkey
Creators: Zeo Niu (Creator/Writer), David Monge Bautista (Artist), Nikos Koutsis (Colors)
Goal: $2,500
End Date: July 11
Goodies: Get the digital copy for #10, the standard issue for $20, the variant cover for $30, or at higher tiers bundle sets, prints, stickers, and more.
A vibrant, new take on the Chinese classic, “Journey to the West” – follows the legend of Monkey as he’s hatched from a dinosaur egg in the middle of the Nevada Desert at the height of the Cold War. Monkey is a rebellious anti-hero with unlimited power and the US government’s attempts to destroy him will lead to World War 3, taking our story to a post-apocalyptic wasteland 500 years later.
When you scroll through their campaign page, the first review at the top states, “I think I just smoked weed with a monkey,” and that truly sets the tone for this story. You then see our protagonist monkey lighting up some mutated soldiers with a flamethrowing hair dryer, along with some fantastic redesigns of the characters from Journey to the West. To top it off, the entire story is based on a punk rock reimagining, which is truly fantastic. Monkey looks like a whole lot of fun, I’m excited to see the campaign reach its goal and for that reason, we at The Beat wouldn’t be doing our jobs if we didn’t tell you to check out this comic!
Become a backer here.
The WCCD Comics Collection
Creators: Leo Loviero (Artist/one of many), WCCD (Working Class Creatives Database organization)
Goal: $575
End Date: July 11
Goodies: Get the digital copy for $7, the physical copy for $11, and a sketch bundle at $36.
This anthology aims to platform and celebrate the work of 12 illustrators and cartoonists with the help of the WCCD- a UK volunteer-led organization by and for working-class creatives. The need for this project comes from the fact that a sustainable career in the arts is notoriously hard to attain for people of lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
At The Beat, we tend to mention these independent anthologies a lot, but in the case of this project, this is truly special. The WCCD is volunteer-led, it was made to provide a platform for working-class creatives in all fields and stages. Although based in the UK supporters have a chance to help this organization by funding this campaign and receiving over 56 pages of beautiful art in a comic anthology. The goal is well on its way to being met and with your help, that goal will reach even greater heights. If you would like to support some truly fantastic artists make sure to check out this campaign!
Become a backer here.
Horizon Walkers
Creators: Lio Pressland (Creator/Writer/Artist)
Goal: $2,301
End Date: July 6
Goodies: Get the digital PDF for $11, the physical copy for $13, and a merch bundle for $32!
Horizon Walkers are a group of mysterious and rarely seen people who hail from beyond the ever-moving Horizon. They have the ability to hide their true faces which are naturally that of animals.
Rosemary believes she may be one of these people; she doesn’t remember who she is but she does have the head of a rabbit, which she is forced to hide. Lost and looking for answers, Rosemary goes in search of a man called Cairn Ackerman, a known Horizon Walker.
Pressland, also known as Kroov, is a trans-masc/non-binary comic artist and illustrator from Scotland. Their work is award-nominated, and they have worked for organizations such as Critical Role, Dark Horse, Simon & Schuster, Blizzard, and Lego. This is, of course, all the information you can find on their Kickstarter page. However, what we can tell you is that this is a project you will not want to miss. If you are a fan of fantasy, Kroov has something phenomenal in store for you. Their reputation precedes them; looking through their artwork and even just the preview pages on their campaign, you can see how much effort and time went into this project. Horizon Walkers looks amazing, with an already planned ten-part series that includes themes like trauma and self-acceptance. I truly believe that fans will be able to connect to this series in ways they may not have been able to with previous series. We at The Beat give Horizon Walkers our highest recommendation.
Become a backer here.
Miss any of our previous Comics Crowdfunding Round-Ups? Check out the archive here!
