About
Focus Comic - An Autistic Super Hero Arrives
$6,612
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Stretch Goal Announcement: We are pleased to announce that we have raised enough funds to publish Focus comic and fund one community outreach event in 2018. Please help us reach an additional $1,500 (Bringing the total to $7,500) so we can fund a second community outreach event for Focus Comic in 2018. Thanks!
About our Project:
Focus is an autistic super hero, founded and created by Yvonne Wan (A Social Cultural Anthropologist & Autism Documentary film maker). We have a large creative team who have previously done with DC comics; Marvel, Disney, Lucas Film, Dream Works and Nintendo. Artist Douglas Hebert (Award winning Artist who is also an Elementary school art teacher with experience in teaching some autistic kids) and Yvonne Wan (Award winning artist) will be leading the creative team.
Contributing artists include:
- Ian Dorian who is known for his work with Marvel.
- Eddie Holy who is known for his work on Lucas Film; Marvel, Disney, Nintendo and Dream works.
- Jenn Corella who is known for her work on IDWs Woman Thology; Markosia Publishing and Living Dead Press
- Jenn Hopkin whose notable art include Fantasy, Surrealism and Werewolves.
- J Gonzo who is known for his work on La Mano Del Destino
Contributing colorist:
- Luis Guerrero, who is a colorist for DC comics; Titan Comics and Vertigo
There will be an internship program for two aspiring artists in the new year. Douglas and Yvonne will also be in charge of an internship program where two candidates will have the opportunity to have their work published within the community page in the comic. We have already appointed Steffani Siverheart (who is an aspiring artist and has autism) as our first intern. The second intern will be announced at the end of January (The position is available to the general public to apply). The action adventure comic challenges the stigma associated with autism. The comics purpose is to entertain; inspire hope, help autistic kids feel like every day heroes and save lives. The comic will be available in 9 languages.
Celebrities such as Tony Todd, Jesse Kove and Bryan Dodds have volunteered their voices as actors for the short animation film trailer (See below).
In an exclusive interview with Focus Comic, Tony Todd said: “Focus the comic book, is worth supporting because so many people need new heroes. Making the titular character, someone who’s struggling with social norms. And one who finds clarity while called to duty, is empowering. So many children struggling with autism find power and serenity in either drawing, or playing with crystal clear colors. Focus hopefully, will not only provide a hero worth cheering for, but a hero for the unspoken, on all platforms, for years to come. Focus” (Tony Todd: November 2 2017)
Celebrities who support Focus Comic & Autism Awareness include Tony Todd; Jesse Kove, Brian Dodds, Ming Chen, Lisa Marie Varon, Randy Rogel, Gail Kim, Jed Rees and Kevin McNally.
We recently had a Focus Comic Panel at Tucson Comicon 2017. Check it out:
We are in the process of raising funds to publish our first Focus comic book. Our aim is to raise autism awareness and acceptance on a global scale. We need to raise a minimum of $4,500 to publish the digital and paper comic book in nine languages (Chinese; English, Japanese, German, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, French & Italian). Commercial Anthropologist Yvonne Wan will work closely with fluent interpreters to translate the comic into different languages. We have created a comic cover, sample pages and animation trailer films in 9 languages for you to view at http://focuscomic.com
We would also like to raise an additional $1,500 so we can have a community outreach event within Q1 of 2018.
If we raise a total of $7,500 we will be able to fund the comic and two community outreach events.
Autism Awareness is an important issue that affects everyone in society and our community. Autism Currently affects 1 in 68 kids in the USA, and it is one of the fastest growing developmental disorders in America. Autism is a global issue. People with autism are our neighbors, friends and family. Autism is currently under represented in the media. When autistic individuals are seen in the media, they are often portrayed in a negative way. We hope to address this issue by devising a long term communications plan that will allow people to learn about what autism is, and accept and celebrate human diversity.
So what is special about Focus as a super hero? The source of Focus’s power derives from his Autistic condition. He has the power of ‘pre-cognition’ because he is able to predict the future based on probabilities. He is well read, and has a helmet which gives him access to unlimited live and historical data so he is to able to predict events before they occur. Focus does not possess any super natural powers, because we want autistic individuals feel they could be every day heroes. Focus is a strong fighter. He also has a high-tech invisibility cloak that is able to bend light, and also display light according to any configuration he wants. He is able to camouflage or draw attention to himself by controlling his costume through his computer helmet. We will learn about Focus’s identity through his actions, thoughts and beliefs as well as the way he interact with others. Other notable characters in issue one include members of his super team. We have co-created a team of 6 super heroes, of which 4 have amazing super natural powers. The short animation film involves a bank robbery scene in Phoenix, Arizona.
This is a unique comic, with a unique approach to character development and story telling. We will apply Yvonne's anthropological understanding of social cultural phenomena surrounding autism and society into the communication planning so that we will have a comic that resonates with the audience and raises autism awareness and acceptance at the same time. In addition to this, the comic creation process will involve showing sample pages to autistic individuals and kids for feedback so we can create a truly effective comic that people will love. We have a long term communications plan in place so that the social cause campaign can make considerable impact on society. This is why we have chosen to translate the comic into 9 languages.
Yvonne's ethnographic research into the lives of autistic families is an on going process. We will also continue to film stories about autism at public outreach events such as Comicons to raise autism awareness. We are advocates for autism awareness. Any surplus funds that we raise will go back into our social cause campaigning, such as improving the production values of the comic, maximizing our reach such as attending more community out reach events and producing future issues of Focus.
Here is one feature interview with Nick Jones (who has autism). Interview conducted by Anthropologist and co-creator Yvonne Wan:
Visit our main website if you are interested in viewing our tv appearance on KGun News; Fox News, CBS 5, CBS Philly and ABC news (Phoenix and Tucson) regarding our comic campaign. Yvonne is a broadcast standard film maker and so she will be able to update everyone with regards to the campaign using digital media and film.
Please support our campaign by making a pledge today.
Super Team:
CGI City:
Rewards:
Note: Concept art is presented at this point of our campaign. Final Art will be released in early 2018.
Sponsors will have the option of receiving merchandize featuring concept art or final art prior before product shipment (The vinyl banner will be delivered as photographed). We will communicate with all backers in the new year regarding design options.
Risks and challenges
Yvonne Wan have significant industry experience having worked for the top advertising agencies handling multibillion dollar international campaigns for clients successfully. She has also worked for Cartoon Network. She has a historical track record for planning and executing campaigns effectively and on time. Yvonne has the skills, and the passion to pick up the gauntlet and challenge the stigma associated with autism. I look forward to producing an exciting comic for the general public. I will make sure everything will be delivered on time, and to a high standard. I will communicate our progress every step of the way. Feel free to reach out to me any time. I would be happy to answer any questions you may have.
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Funding period
- (59 days)