Oklahoma comic, indie classics seek crowdfunding
Midweek update: Looking at three comic-book projects seeking Kickstarter backing
Oklahoma-based publisher Literati Press has launched its Kickstarter campaign for “Glamorella’s Daughter” #6.
The project can be found here:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/literatipress/glamorellas-daughter-6
“Glamorella’s Daughter,” by writer Charles J. Martin and artist Jerry Bennett is the story of a brilliant neuro-diverse girl with a superhero mother.
Kirkus Reviews calls the middle-grade comic-book series “exciting and thought-provoking.” It’s distributed by Literati Press, of which Martin is the founder and creative director.
“This story reflects my experience as a father learning to adapt to a brilliant child with a mind that works so differently from my own,” Martin said in a previous interview that ran in my column for The Oklahoman. “I'm encouraged to have heard from other parents who've identified with Glamorella and Comet's struggle to relate to one another. I wish I'd known more as a young father about the gifts and challenges of parenting a child on the spectrum, so I'm hoping this comic might help families lucky enough to have their own Comet in their lives.”
The company seeks crowdfunding support for issue #6 of the title.
“I’ve been so excited about this issue, because emotions and tensions rise for Comet as she gets to know her grandfather, the Poet King,” Bennett said on Facebook.
“THANK YOU for driving us all the way to issue six! Your love for our comic has been so heartfelt. We truly depend on your continued support to make this happen.”
Other Kickstarters of note
Some other Kickstarters that might be of interest to comic fans include the following:
Poison Elves Book 1 Hardcover Edition
Indie comics in the 1990s welcomed several black-and-white titles with diverse takes on the world. One of the favorites of these artistic mavericks at the time was Drew Hayes, who passed away in 2007 at age 37.
His title, “Poison Elves,” focused on the sarcastic, lethal assassin elf Lusiphur.
Hayes started out self-publishing in 1991 under the label Mulehide Press, with the book titled “I, Lusiphur,” later renamed to the more commercial “Poison Elves.” After 20 issues, Hayes moved his series to the independent publisher Sirius, where it started with a new issue #1. The series ran to issue #80, and Hayes was still working on the ongoing series at the time of his death.
Here’s the Kickstarter announcement:
At 22 years old, formerly homeless Drew Hayes overcame every obstacle an indie creator could face to launch the most original of the “outlaw comics” of the 90’s. In I,LUSIPHUR the young elf encounters all of the people and places that will propel events for the rest of this epic 90s dark fantasy.
Before his death in 2007, Hayes created 100 issues of POISON ELVES while sharing his own unique view of the world with his devoted readers. You are invited to explore both worlds as we build the first complete edition of Drew Hayes' POISON ELVES, starting with I,LUSIPHUR #1 - #7 & POISON ELVES #8 – 20 in this volume.
Check it out here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/robbguy/poison-elves-book-1-hardcover-edition
Mike Grell's Jon Sable Freelance Deluxe Hardcover Vol 1 & 2
Meanwhile, Mike Grell fans may be excited to know that after the first Jon Sable Kickstarter has largely been distributed, the team is back to continue the collected editions!
Here’s what they have to say about the new Kickstarter campaign:
After a hugely successful Volume 1, we're finally back for Volume 2, and have great news! Not only is Volume 2 already well underway with the meticulous remastering (which is moving rapidly) but plans for printing are already being put in place, and our hope is to have this project wrapped up by the end of 2023!
Check out the new volume here, which also includes the option to get a volume one from the deluxe hardcover series.
Writer/artist Mike Grell is known for his work on “Warlord” and “Green Arrow” among others. He followed Dave Cockrum as the artist of “Legion of Super-Heroes” starting in 1974. In the 1980s, he steered his creator-owned comic-book series “Starslayer” and “Jon Sable: Freelance.” He returned to DC in 1987 with “Green Arrow: Longbow Hunters,” followed by a long run on the Green Arrow monthly series. For Image, Grell was the writer/artist of “Shaman’s Tears” starting in 1993, which guest-starred Jon Sable. In the 2000s, Grell has worked for both Marvel and DC Comics on titles including “Iron Man” and “Arrow.”
Matthew Price, matthew@matthewlprice.com, has written about the comics industry for more than two decades. He is the co-owner of Speeding Bullet Comics in Norman.
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