So, It's Called RED ANGEL DRAGNET, But What The Hell Does That MEAN?!
Don't worry about it. Seriously. Here's everything you need to know: After a chance encounter with a demon, bookseller Nate Reed covers his body in protective tattoos and endeavors to destroy the supernatural forces that haunt the streets of Chicago.
Nate's full story runs four chapters, or eighty-eight pages, but the intent of this Kickstarter is to raise funds to publish the 22-page first chapter. Like any good first issue should be, Red Angel Dragnet #1 -- which will hereafter sometimes be referred to as R.A.D., because it saves me time typing and because R.A.D. is an awesome acronym -- is self-contained. R.A.D. #1 provides you with a complete story, even as it sets the stage for chapters 2-4.
The book is in full color, illustrated by the talented Anna Wieszczyk, whose previous work includes LUCID for Archaia and GODKILLER for Halo8.
Who Is This For, and What's It Really About?
I am a big fan of dark fantasy and supernatural stories, and well, one of the first rules you learn is to write the sort of things you'd want to read. R.A.D. exists on the fringes of the horror genre, but it's more about people than about grisly violence. R.A.D. is more Buffy The Vampire Slayer or Hellblazer, and not so much Saw...and certainly not Twilight. No.
Thematically, Nate's story explores fear, how fear affects us, the lengths we travel to overcome fear, and how a little fear might not be such a bad thing.
The Kickstarter Money Is For What, Exactly?
The good news is, Anna has already completed all of the illustration work for Red Angel Dragnet #1 and is currently hard at work on chapter 2. The funds for the project will be used to pay for printing the issues and other rewards, shipping, Kickstarter and Amazon fees, and taxes. Any funds leftover will be used to reimburse Anna for the work she's doing to continue the story.
And Those Rewards Are WHAT Again?
Right.
The primary reward is the comic itself, available in print or as a digital download, if that's more your speed. The digital download, available to anyone who pledges 3 bucks or more, will arrive as a DRM-free PDF. (I like PDFs because they're relatively easy files to work with and you can open them on virtually any device). You'll be free to do whatever you please with the PDF, including (I hope) passing it on to your friends. The print version will be 22 pages of full color comics.
There will be two postcards, one with the R.A.D. logo and the other featuring Anna's unblemished cover art for Issue #1. I will sign and personalize them, if you want. Lower tier rewards include a postcard chosen at random. Some higher tier rewards include both, and you'll have the option to have them sent to separate addresses, if you want to surprise your friends.
The limited edition print will measure approximately 8" x 11" and will feature Anna's unlettered art from page 10 of Issue 1. This is my favorite page of the book so far. I've subtitled it 'The Reveal' because it finally explores the power behind Nate's tattoos and what those tattoos truly allow Nate to do. This print will be suitable for framing.
Now, as for the D-I-Y 'zine, that's a bit more complex. I have written an additional short comics script and written a few short prose pieces/essays, and this is how I choose to present them to you. Imagine you took the staples out of a comic and flattened the pages out. Those pages, when you look at them in a pile like that, don't make a lot of sense, but if you fold 'em back up, reapply a staple, then voila: comic book!
So, the 'zine is going to be a downloadable print-quality PDF, featuring original illustrations, comics and prose pages. It will come will instructions for printing, folding and stapling the pages (which might not make perfect sense on the screen) into a real book. It will have a very punk rock D-I-Y feel to it, which is something I'm into. Fun, right? Right.
There will also be a limited Kickstarter-exclusive cover, limited to just one hundred signed and numbered copies and featuring a design heavily inspired by the sigils and symbols that cover Nate's torso.
Sounds Cool. Did You Do All Of This On Your Own?
Dang. You ask a lot of questions.
But, no.
Anna Wieszczyk provided the illustrations. Carolyn Kraut (check her out on Twitter) is helping with logo design. ADix remixed "God's Gonna Cut You Down" for the video.
Brendan, Leah, Annie, Mike, Jason, DJ, and Steve provided invaluable advice and assistance as I put the story together.
Risks and challenges
The art for issue #1 is complete, and Anna's already at work on issue #2. Printers have been tentatively chosen to print the issue and the other pledge rewards.
I have every intention of having the issue in my hands in time for C2E2 in late April (and in your hands shortly thereafter). The challenge lies in meeting the tight deadline I've set for myself. I've taken step to ensure I meet that deadline, but I won't have the means to do so without your help.
Learn about accountability on KickstarterQuestions about this project? Check out the FAQ
Support
Funding period
- (29 days)