About
Shade: The Dying World
$20,703
374
360 pages. A project 8 years in the making.
Shade: The Dying World is a graphic novel from creator Nathan Heigert that's been over a decade in development and 8 years of production. The first six chapters were published as Shade: Part One at San Francisco's Alternative Press Expo in 2010. Now, with your funding, all twelve chapters will be printed in one handsome paperback book for the first time.
All 360 pages of illustrations are already complete, with 200+ finalized with color. The successful funding will jumpstart the coloring of the remaining pages.
A dystopian, sci-fi epic set on a planet orbiting a decaying star, the story is set on the planet Dañub, whose orientation as it orbits its red-giant star scorches the north and leaves its south in relative calm.
The culture in the north, the Dañubi, struggle to endure infighting between tribes and the brutal elements, but they are capable of greatness.
In Part One of the book, the northerners embark on wooden airships, and begin their journey of thousands of miles across the desolate land between the hemispheres. After months of enduring hardships, they reach their distant objective, believing their quest to be over.
Only then do they discover their paradise has already been claimed by a great unknown civilization called Ethenon. Blessed by good climate and resources, its citizens have built an empire of wealth that amazes the voyagers.
The Etheneans are fascinated by the new arrivals and invite diplomacy between their two worlds. With the northerners' knowledge of ship-building and the southerners' unlimited resources and manpower, it seems they can combine their skills to begin a new era in their planet's history. But they soon learn that this clash of cultures will test them all. The story of their conflict makes up the second part of the book.
Mathos is the old scholar whose life's work is to discover the oasis to the south and rebuild society in its shelter. Mocked for his beliefs, he is unrelenting in his effort with the help of his apprentice, Djantu.
Young, idealistic, and possessing an almost clairvoyant insight, Djantu loyally follows his mentor towards their goal of reaching the legendary land of shade and water. But when he is confronted with the task of leading his people, he must rise to the occasion.
Together, they go forth on their quest, enlisting the guidance of a courageous warrior, Jocabo.
Haunted by a loss from his past, Jocabo seeks redemption by shielding his companions from harm, though he fears their mission is doomed.
In the south, the Etheneans are led by the Emperor Nerod and General Darus, who see great potential in interacting with the Dañubi. But are their motives pure?
Special Promotions: Bernies! Non-Alcoholic Home Brews! Bookmarks!
To keep up momentum for pledges, each week I will introduce a new campaign promotion. This week the promotions are:
Since the first week's "514 Trumps" illustration was such a hit, we are announcing a companion piece to that illustration: for every $10 backed between today and the end of the campaign, I will draw one (1) Bernie Sanders talking to himself about math! I'll be on the hook for literally hundreds of these unkempt little fellas! And just like the Trumps, the top backer for this week will win the full illustration when the campaign hits its goal!
Also, anyone who gets someone they know to pledge for even the $10 tier will receive an elevated "Chieftain Level" thanks in the back of the book and a "Chieftain" bookmark with their book as token of thanks! If the friend you refer pledges for a hard copy, they will get a "Mercenary" bookmark! And if they refer someone, they will also get a Chieftain bookmark! Refer as many people as you can and get a bookmark for each one! To participate, confirm that the person you referred has pledged, then message me their name through Kickstarter. Also, if you simply increase your existing book order by one book, you will receive both bookmarks.
Past Promotions:
Week 3:
The five highest pledges between Sunday Oct 18 and Saturday Oct 24 won their choice of needle felt figurine: Trump, Dañubi, or "Barrel Roll" Izzy Starfox designed by Kelly McLachlan, to be received within 2 weeks of the successful funding of the campaign!
Week 2:
53 people pledged at the $35 level or higher to get a barrel roll in their name by my dog, Izzy Starfox. In addition, the highest pledge of the week won the 514 Trumps illustration and will receive it upon the successful end of the campaign!
Week 1:
Backers pledged enough money for me to draw 514 Trumps! See the illustration and read more in Update 4 here.
Read more page selections at www.shadegraphicnovel.com.
I'm a Chicago area native living in the San Francisco Bay area since 2008, and am a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis. I've been drawing for most of my life, and have always aspired to be an illustrator, so my current work as a commercial storyboard artist and animator (and the creator of this book) has been a dream come true. This has included award-winning national ad campaigns, webisodes, apps, and YouTube videos. "Shade" has been my side project for years: first from when I came up with the original concept in high school, and then from 2007 onward as I worked on the story and script and illustrated the artwork. I count on my incredible fiancee Kelly and our mini-Cattle Dog Izzy for moral and emotional support.
• 360 illustrated pages
• Full color
• 7"x9"
• 3 lbs in weight
There is also a limited quantity of large-format hardcover books for those who prefer hardcover to paperback.
• 360 illustrated pages
• Full color
• 8"x10.5"
• 3.5 lbs in weight
Why set $20,000 as the goal? There's a simple reason for this: bulk printing.
With a book of this size, in full color, the costs for printing are huge compared to a 22-page black and white, light page weight comic issue. But the vision I have for this book mandates that the quality of the art comes through on heavy-weight paper in full color.
That means that to make the printing affordable, there have to be enough copies made to make the per-unit price reasonable. In fact, any order less than 250 copies would have a per-unit printing cost higher than the selling price! But as orders go up the costs come down dramatically. The cost to print 500 copies is 43% less per unit; at 750 copies it's 58% less per unit! It's at these quantities the cost of production becomes practical, but it means that enough backers have to join forces to make this happen. It's also why Kickstarter is a more ideal platform for the campaign than Indiegogo, where funding less than the goal met is still collected, which wouldn't guarantee a bulk-cost for printing.
Who is the audience for this book? Is there an appropriate age range for a reader?
As a fan of the science-fiction, fantasy, sword & sandals, and historical fiction genres, I would imagine anyone who shares one or more of these interests would enjoy this book, as well as anyone who enjoys comic books and graphic novels broadly.
The book does include sections of war and fantasy-related violence, which as a point of reference I would compare to the levels you see in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, which is rated PG-13. To see for yourself, you can read the first chapter of the book online at www.shadegraphicnovel.com, which contains a war sequence which is probably the most graphic part of the entire book. If you think a reader you have in mind can handle this, then they can handle the book as a whole.
A rising tide lifts all boats, and with funding beyond the goal of $20,000 fun new features will be added that will be accessible to all eligible funders.
$22,000 – BONUS supplemental map art to book design!
I'll illustrate new art to be included as inside cover or bonus page art showing the areas of Dañub in the North, the Ethenean Empire to the South, and the path of the voyagers for easy reference.
$28,000 – BONUS digital "Making of" booklet!
I'll design a booklet featuring early art, historical and visual inspiration, storyboards, sketches and more, along with a short history of the conception and making of the graphic novel, as a digital download available to all $10 and up backers.
$35,000 – BONUS fold-out airship comparison diagram 11x17 poster to print books!
I'll illustrate new art showing the various airships of Dañub seen throughout the graphic novel as a size-comparison diagram that will be included with every print copy of the book.
$50,000 – UPGRADE: Project expedited by hiring colorist to split workload!
Imagine getting the graphic novel a couple months earlier than expected! If we reach this goal I'll be able to afford to hire a colorist to help finalize color on the remaining pages of the book.
$75,000 – BONUS digital advance copy of preface chapter to follow-up book!
If we reach this goal, not only would I be floored by the level of interest in the book, but I will be eager to share some more stories of the planet Dañub that I have in mind. Within a year of funding (Nov. 2016) I'll commit to releasing a first look at the follow-up story as a digital download to all $10 and up backers.
Links:
FB: www.facebook.com/shadegraphicnovel
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/comics/comments/3o0nur/shade_the_dying_world_kickstarter_graphic_novel/cvsxexs
Risks and challenges
With all 360 pages already illustrated, the project is nearly complete. Around 140 pages remain to be colored, which will be assisted by the funds raised by a successful funding. The projected timeline for completion is about 6 months.
However, life has a way of intervening, and while dedication to completing the project would be utmost in my mind, I will still need to devote some time to unrelated projects in order to keep the bills paid. Hopefully this won't affect the timeline, but if so the delivery date might be pushed back by a few months at most.
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Funding period
- (31 days)