Kickstarter

Outlier backers!

Happy New Year. One year ago - just days before Christmas - The Outliers was funded... thanks to you. Some great things that have happened since the completion of this book, and I thought I should end the year with one last post to share them with you.

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First up, MultiversityComics.com selected The Outliers as one of the "Top 10 Best Issues" of 2012, followed by an insightful review by Nathanial Perkins, who explores not only the themes of the story, but also the production of the book, it’s materials and the over-all unique colaborative nature of the comic (mainly due to it’s Kickstarter origins). 

Noting how different the book is from current industry comics, MultiversityComics lets The Outliers hold it’s own against other comic issues of the year including titles like Wonder Woman, Action Comics and... way up the list, The Unwritten (way to go Yuko!). This is a great honor, of course, for a little, self-published, alternative comic book. Please check out the article if you get a chance: http://multiversitycomics.com/columns/2012-in-review-best-issue/ 

Secondly, The Outliers was selected for the Society of Illustrator’s 55th Annual Sequential Art show in New York opening next Friday, Jan. 4th. It will also appear in the book that accompanies the show. (Below are a few pics of the framed pieces for the show.) http://www.societyillustrators.org/The-Museum/2013/SUMI/Illustrators-55--Part-One.aspx

Finally, the “Yellow Bus" print was selected for inclusion in the American Illustration 31 book (designed by Paul Sahre!), which I consider to be the top accolade in the illustration industry, and I am always humbled to be included in their comprehensive overview of contemporary illustrators. (pic also below.) http://www.ai-ap.com/AI/

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As with last year, it’s great to end on a high note. I’m also very excited about the year ahead. The Outliers has been to a few local comic and ‘zine shows in Minneapolis where it’s found it’s a good audience. I’ve been pursuing other opportunities to take the book to Chicago, Toronto and more. 

If there are any further worthwhile developments, I will let you know, meanwhile, thank you once again and have a terrific 2013. 

 Erik

Hello Backers,

Thanks again for hanging in there. I am happy to report a huge milestone in this project: The Outliers interior artwork has been completed! The book will be in full pre-production mode for the next few weeks. 2nd color separations are being added, and the cover + dust jacket are being designed. (Yes, the current plan - budget allowing - is for a full-color dust jacket wrapped around a heavy weight cover which shows off all the custom Outlier drawings!)

I'm now busy constructing dummy books, proofing and scheduling printing last week. I am thrilled to let you know that well known underground cartoonist and publisher (La Mano Press) Zak Sally has agreed to print The Outliers on his personal printing press, which he's run his amazing Sammy the Mouse book on. Years ago, I printed my first color mini-comics on a similarAB Dick press years ago in art school, so I feel in a way that Zak is helping me stay true to that DIY ethos! Please check out Zak's comics and other publications here.

Thank you again for backing this project, it's still hard to believe the opportunity you've given me. Many hours of thought, work and sweat have been invested - I truly hope that comes through when you see the final result! 

I will post again when we are on press! Cheers, Erik

Hello Outlier backers!--

It’s been a few months since my last update, and I’ve been deep into the production of the final comic book; first by resolving the Custom Outlier illustrations (which will appear on the endpages), and secondly by launching into the layout/pencilling/inking duties on the 2nd half of the book.

I am now racing towards that deadline of June 2012, and confronting the reality that although my artwork will be finished next month, much production work remains and it will likely push the printing date into July. 

I hope this delay does not present problems for any of you. Selecting that June deadline was a realistically optimistic goal set within the larger framework of the overall project. This target date has brought The Outliers near the finish line - but there will still be plenty of work needed to cross it.

I am posting below some of the artwork that has been created recently– including many Custom Outlier illustrations and three spoiler-free, work-in-progress pages of chapter 2! Happily, I can say that the story is coming together with a great balance of characters, suspense and action– plus a little humor on the side. 

There will be another update once we're on press. The closer that gets, the more I look forward to presenting you with the finished The Outliers. This project continues to be a huge, fulfilling, personal challenge and I thank you again for putting the wheels (or big feet) in motion! 

etj

It has been a busy month since the Kickstarter ended and I wanted to send an update with a big thank you again to all backers- what a great feeling it was to put artwork into production the two incentive pieces, and they've been a useful warm-up for the finished book itself.

INCENTIVE PRINTS AND POSTERS SHIPPED

If you are a backer who pledged the 3rd level on up, one of your incentives - either the Silkscreen Poster* or the Digital Archival Print** has been mailed. The prints both turned out beautifully thanks to the work of some exceptional local printers! I have photos and production details below. 

Please Note: if you are expecting an Original Outlier drawing, you have been shipped your Silkscreen Poster but not your Archival Print yet. The Print and Drawing will be shipped to you together in a single envelope in the next phase.

Second Note: a few rigid envelopes containing Archival Prints made it through the USPS in rough shape. If your poster or print arrived damaged in any way, please send me a note through Kickstarter and we’ll get you a new one. (Any backers who turned down incentives are more than welcome to change their minds and let me know as well.)

FINAL STAGES OF LAYOUT - OUTLIERS COMIC 

Finishing the second half of the Comic Book is still the biggest task ahead, but its following smoothly in the footsteps of the first. I had a few good, uninterrupted vacation days in January to thumbnail those remaining pages from the script (appropriately, the first half of the book was laid out on a similar break 2 years ago). I also had time to create rough sketches for the Original Outlier drawings for the endpapers of the book. 

WHAT’S AHEAD - LOTS OF DRAWING 

This month involves finishing the Original Outlier drawings while the final page borders and lettering are prepped before taking on the final inks on the Comic Book (which should be a topic for the next post).

Everything’s off to a wild and wooly start - and I’ll continue to update monthly until the books are shipped. Thanks again for making this project happen.

Sincerely,                                                                                                     

ETJ

Production notes: *the silkscreen posters are 3-color prints with a split-fountain technique on the orange orange and green layers (both fading to transparent but in opposite directions). Printed on French Paper Cement Green.  **The archival print is a high end Epson art print which employs a vibrant array of archival pigments. It is shipped in a one-color screen printed cardboard envelope. Additional posters and prints are available- please contact me or go to http://outliyrz.etsy.com where I’ve posted the remaining edition numbers.