The First Nine Years
In 2003, I quit my job as a creative director at an animation studio to create comics full-time. Daisy Kutter was the first book I wrote and drew. Flight was the first anthology I ever edited. I worked on both projects concurrently.
For the first two years I lived on savings and freelance work while spending most of my time working on comics. Despite struggling, I loved it. It was the first time I felt in command of my work, and not because I had creative control - that was something I nearly always felt I had - but for once I felt like a true expert at the work I did (I had drawn comics all my life), and that if I continued, it could somehow turn into a full-fledged career. I felt that comics did so much for me as a young reader. And I saw that there were very few books being made that my younger self would have gravitated towards. My ten year-old self was disappointed- with both the small selection of books available- and with me, for worrying more about my career than about fulfilling a need I knew I could fill.
When I sat down to draw Daisy Kutter, and to work on Flight, I remember for the first time feeling like my ten year-old self was proud of me. He could stop pulling my hair and just cheer me on. While I was drawing some of the sequences in Daisy Kutter, I remember actually jumping up and down, getting so excited I would often have to walk away from the table and grin from ear to ear. In those long nights at the drawing table- music playing, crickets chirping- my life finally felt it was back on the road it was meant to travel, and things have progressively gotten better.
I did not make any money drawing Daisy Kutter, nor did I expect to. In the years since the book has gone out of print, I never thought back on the book in a negative light. I loved my experience with the publisher, I loved drawing the book, and I absolutely loved all of the great people I met along the way. Without Daisy there would be no Amulet, and without Amulet I would not still be here today, drawing comics, working on projects that make my ten year-old self (and ten year-olds around the world) jump up and down.
That said, what an awesome feeling to see so many people show up to support this old, out-of-print project, and to watch them share it with new readers who may not have read or seen it. Thank you so much, everyone, for helping to keep this book alive, if only for a very short time.
- Kazu
1,791
Backers
$51,955
pledged of $2,000 goal
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Funding period
May 8, 2012 -
Jun 7, 2012
(30 days)
- First created · 46 backed
- Kazu Kibuishi 1336 friends
- Website: boltcity.com
Pledge $15 or more
497 backers
One copy of the book. Add $5 for international orders. Add $12 for each additional book.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $25 or more
93 backers
U.K., EUROPE, ASIA, AUSTRALIA - I made an error in my initial post for International orders. This is the ACTUAL pledge amount for a single unsigned copy of Daisy Kutter, w/ international shipping. For multiple copies, just double, triple, etc. the full pledge amount. For Canada, the previous post (domestic +$5) still applies.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $25 or more
850 backers
A copy of the book, signed by Kazu, including a small sketch of Daisy on first interior page. Add $5 for international orders.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $35 or more
217 backers
U.K., EUROPE, ASIA, AUSTRALIA - I made an error in my initial post for International orders. This is the ACTUAL pledge amount for a single signed and sketched copy of Daisy Kutter, w/ international shipping. For multiple copies, just double, triple, etc. the full pledge amount. For Canada, the previous post (domestic +$5) still applies.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $45 or more
54 backers
Two copies of Daisy Kutter, signed by Kazu, w/ a small sketch of Daisy on the first interior page. Add $10 for international orders.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $55 or more
6 backers
5 copies of Daisy Kutter: The Last Train, to share with friends. Add $10 for international orders.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $56 or more
0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)
Regular 5-PACK not available for INTERNATIONAL ORDERS other than Canada. Just posting this here as an addendum to the post above. If you are in international territories other than Canada, and would like multiple copies, please use proper international order tiers above.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $60 or more
26 backers
FOR US RETAILERS ONLY - 10 copies of Daisy Kutter: The Last Train.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $65 or more
11 backers
INTERNATIONAL 2-PACK - For international territories other than Canada, please choose this reward tier for the correct pledge amount, and NOT the one above. This is for 2 signed and sketched copies of Daisy Kutter.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $75 or more
9 backers
5 copies of Daisy Kutter. The first two copies will be signed w/ a sketch. Add $10 for international orders.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $76 or more
0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)
Above 5 copy pack with two signed copies NOT AVAILABLE for INTERNATIONAL territories outside of North America. Posting this here as an addendum to the post above.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $150 or more
12 backers Limited (38 of 50 left)
CHARACTER DUOS + SIGNED/SKETCHED BOOK - 5.5 x 8.5 inch piece of Original Art featuring any two of my characters (from any of my books), slipped inside of a signed and sketched copy of Daisy Kutter. Just send me a message indicating which two you want, or I will choose two at random. I don't do commissioned drawings, so this a chance to get one. Add $5 for Canada, or $10 for other International orders. The premium ORIGINAL ART reward below ($500 pledge) is 11 x 14 inches, on better paper stock, and I am spending a lot more time on those images (equivalent to drawing a cover for Amulet). Also, ORIGINAL ART backers will receive a CHARACTER DUOS piece along with their main reward. See update posts for more details.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $250 or more
0 backers Limited (10 of 10 left)
SKYPE VISIT - We (myself and the rest of the studio) will do a 30-minute Skype visit for you and your friends, or students, or family. Plus a signed/sketched copy of Daisy Kutter, personalized to you or your group. Note that the delivery of this reward coincides with the release of Amulet 5: Prince of the Elves. See update #10 for more details.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $500 or more
6 backers Limited (4 of 10 left)
ORIGINAL ART - Original drawing of Daisy Kutter, plus a copy of the book, signed w/ a sketch by Kazu. Add $5 for international orders.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $777 or more
1 backer Limited (6 of 7 left)
ORIGINAL PAGE FROM THE BOOK - You can choose the page (first come, first served, limited based on availability), or take a chance and let me choose one for you. The original art will include a nice large print of the finished page w/ grey tones and a signed/sketched copy of the book. LUCKY 7 BONUS: One of the seven backers will also receive a new work of original art ($500 reward).
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012
Comments
Creator Kazu Kibuishi on May 15, 2012
Thanks for the kind comments, and all the support, everyone! We'll work to make this a really nice book!
Creator Dani Jones on May 14, 2012
I discovered your work through Amulet and have been working my way backwards! I love the Copper and Flight books. I am super excited that Daisy Kutter is being made available since I never got to read it with the first printings.
Creator Bill Gathen on May 11, 2012
So inspiring to see someone putting in the hard work required to make their dream come true, and in the process bring such beautiful dreams to children of all ages around the world. Thank you for taking a chance: on yourself all those years ago and now on us. The world is a brighter place because of you.
My children (8 and 10) and I adore Amulet, Copper, Flight and Flight Explorer. I've wanted to read Daisy Kutter since I first discovered your work. I'm ordering a few extra copies for their school library, since this is a bit outside their normal purchasing process, but Amulet sells like gangbusters at their Scholastic sale every year. ;-)
Creator Suzie Q Sailaway on May 11, 2012
Thank you for sharing! I'm so happy I found this project of yours. :)
Creator Style over Substance on May 11, 2012
Thank you for doing what you do, Kazu. My own inner 10 year old rejoices at having a chance to read something cool.