Here at Fanbase Press, we strive to provide an outlet for up-and-coming creators to promote and showcase their incredible works. With thousands of creators utilizing crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo to make those works a reality, we will highlight these talented creators and their noteworthy campaigns through #CrowfundingFridays! We hope that you will join us in giving these projects a moment of your time (and possibly your support).
Project #1: Warhead: Into the Void – Tarot Deck
What it’s about: Warhead is a surreal graphic novel trilogy about mental health (graphic medicine, if you will) by Kaj Kunstmann.
The story follows Adam, an American graffiti artist living in London who has a giant acid green atom bomb for a head- and if he can’t get it together and make it through therapy, the world ends.
Everyone in Adam’s life sports object, animal, or monster heads, which reflect how Adam feels about, or perceives them. Adam struggles to find his footing and get a leg up in his career as he navigates increasingly bizarre landscapes that depict his inner emotional world.
And when he finally loses it? Well, let’s just say it gets messy.
In addition to being a dedicated graphic novelist, Kaj is also an avid tarot enthusiast and couldn’t resist the parallels between the Journey of the Major Arcana, and Adam’s own Journey in Warhead. The itch to make a deck based on Kaj’s beloved characters grew until it could no longer be contained and Kaj went on a drawing spree and finished the art inside a two months.
The cards of Warhead Into the Void pull from pivotal moments, scenes, or encapsulate characters from the trilogy that stay true the meaning and intent of the Major Arcana cards. It’s a departure from the traditional Ryder-Waite iconography, with a few nods to it along the way (i.e., The Hermit, The Hanged Man, etc).
Click here to visit the Kickstarter campaign.
Project #2: Tales of Illuminatus! #3
What it’s about: Bobby Campbell and Todd Purse’s ongoing comic book adaptation of the cult classic Illuminatus! trilogy takes something of a detour in issue #3, delving into Robert Anton Wilson’s prequel material from his Historical Illuminatus Chronicles and his fan favorite Masks of the Illuminati novel.
Here we pick up the adventures of Sigismundo Celine in Paris, France, in 1789, on the cusp of revolution, and also pop in on Sir John Babcock’s 1914 cosmic initiation, guest starring James Joyce, Albert Einstein, and Aleister Crowley!
We’re breaking new ground and expanding the horizons of our Discordian story universe, but don’t worry if you’re new around here, there are no prerequisites to enjoy the ride. It’s my personal guarantee that all readers will be satisfactorily discombobulated, regardless of familiarity with the Illuminatus mythology.
Click here to visit the Kickstarter campaign.
Project #3: Shrub: The Collected Edition
What it’s about: GLAAD Media Award-winning and Eisner and Harvey Awards-nominated publisher and media outlet Fanbase Press is proud to announce Shrub, an 8-issue Graphic Medicine series which will be crowdfunded by the publisher on Kickstarter.
In this middle grade adventure, readers will join Shrub who is, well… a shrub… for a cross-country trip to Hollywood! Join Shrub and a grieving brother and sister as they hit the open road in search of connection. On their journey, pit stops, wacky plant enthusiasts, uprooting, and re-routing abound.
The series was created and written by Emmy Award nominee Shane Portman (Tumble Leaf, Shape Island), illustrated by Andy Alves (Cosmic Cadets), colored by Sophia Du and Celia FitzGerald, lettered by Oceano Ransford (Eisner Award-nominated Rikki), and with consultation from comics librarian Moni Barrette.
Shrub explores the various ways that we allow grief to take root, inspired by writer Shane Portman’s experience with the loss of his father. The series features “Letting Grief Take Root” essays written by individuals with a personal and/or professional connection to grief who relate Shrub’s story to their own lived experience.
Click here to be notified when the Kickstarter campaign launches.
If you have a crowdfunding campaign that you would like to have included in Fanbase Press’ #CrowdfundingFridays series, please contact barbra (at) fanbasepress (dot) com for details.
