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: Monster Drive-In: The Hunchback of Naughty Dames
What it’s about: Illustrator and director David Hartman returns to the drive-in with his latest full-throttle horror graphic novel, Monster Drive-In: The Hunchback of Naughty Dames.
Best known for directing Phantasm: Ravager and working on genre series like Transformers Prime and Twilight of the Gods, Hartman continues his love letter to vintage exploitation cinema with this all-new 108-page, full-color graphic novel — a continuing series designed to feel like long-lost cult horror films from the ’50s, ‘60s, and beyond, complete with retro ads, intermission breaks, and grindhouse flair.
A twisted blend of hardboiled noir and occult horror, The Hunchback of Naughty Dames follows Modo, a hunchbacked private eye navigating the underbelly of Hollywood, where fame is fleeting and something far more sinister lurks behind the camera.
When a young actress disappears after auditioning for a mysterious film, Modo’s investigation uncovers a secret society, a cursed production, monsters and a group of women forever changed by what they experienced. These former starlets—scarred, hardened, and dangerous—band together as the “Naughty Dames,” turning the tables on the nightmare that created them.
But all roads lead to a private screening… where the film itself may open the door to something monstrous.
Click here to visit the Kickstarter campaign.
Project #2: Villains
What it’s about: From GLAAD Award-winning creator Richard Fairgray: Things are getting crazy right now. The world is sliding into a puritanical mindset. New and arbitrary restrictions on what is allowed on a site that caters for grown ups is not something we should stand for. So, in this window of uncertainty, I’m saying we throw a party while our parents are out of town. I made a surprise book of dicks!
Click here to visit the Kickstarter campaign.
Project #3: Area 51 Studios #3
What it’s about: From Ernie Altbacker, writer of animated movies such as Batman: Hush, Justice League Dark 1 & 2, Aztec Batman, and Teen Titans: The Judas Contract, along with artist Josh White, comes the real story of what goes on at Area 51.
It turns out that Area 51 is a secret government base, but not for storing alien corpses and crashed spacecraft. It’s actually a studio lot where aliens make galactic reality shows and movies. From high art to low drek, you’ll find it filming here with all the backstage drama you get on a regular set, but now with aliens!
If you like behind-the-scenes Hollywood comedy like Seth Rogan’s The Studio or The Larry Sanders Show, mixed with Men in Black, then this comic is for you! Based on a sci-fi comedy novella by Ernie Altbacker, Area 51 Studios is for fans that like an irreverent tone, comedy, and a little mayhem.
Click here to visit the Kickstarter campaign.
Project #4: 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.
