Penny has set every possible failsafe so she can see the legendary "Nebula Sirens" without risking her life. What could go wrong? Read more
Penny has set every possible failsafe so she can see the legendary "Nebula Sirens" without risking her life. What could go wrong?
About this project
UPDATE: You will notice that we have reached our goal. However, this is our minimum funding goal to guarantee the comic can be produced, including a small on-demand print run, while exhausting my personal savings. If we can reach $4,422.50, then we can print a full professional print run, making this project an unqualified success. If we can reach $2,681, then I won't lose my shirt.
Captain Penny Laertes's latest freight run has taken her past a nebula that's reputed to be home to Nebula Sirens. Over the ages, various space-faring cultures have encountered the mysterious, beautiful, and strange black-bodied beings that live unprotected in space. Early explorers are said to have believed the creatures to be predators of a sort, tempting men to space-walk into the nebular clouds. Penny is about to find out whether they are as dangerous as all the rumors say. (This story combines elements of space-going adventure, a theme from the Odyssey, and a darker survival story.)
"Failsafe" is a one-shot comic story told in 22 pages. Written by Ian Struckhoff (The Deathlings, The Dark Age) and illustrated by Ryan Cody (Icarus, Popgun, Jesus Christ: In the Name of the Gun). It will be printed as a stand-alone issue, and as the feature story in an issue of the Black Label Comics anthology.
We're raising funds to produce this comic, including paying the artist and printing the first run of copies. With your help, once it is done and copies are available, we can also submit to publishers. From the beginning, all books from Black Label Comics (writer Ian Struckhoff) have been funded thanks to Kickstarter, and we're proud and active members of the community here!
VERY SPECIAL THANKS
- Tim R. - Our "Space Ghost" whose likeness and/or name will appear in the story!
- Norah R. - Our "Spaceage Cheescake" whose likeness will appear in the story!
REWARDS AVAILABLE
- Signed first printing copy of "Failsafe" comic (22 pages color)
- Special exclusive variant edition with a new cover and bonus content inside
- Your name printed with our thanks inside the comic!
- Space Ghost! Your likeness and/or name will appear in the story
- Original sketches by the comic's artist Ryan Cody
- Original inked FAILSAFE pages by Ryan Cody!
PROJECT BUDGET:
- Artwork (remaining rate): $1650
- Small Print Run (100 copies, on-demand): $300
- Full Print Run (2000 copies, professional) : $1975
- Rewards: Approx. 20% of funds raised (current average)
- Processing Fee: 9%
- Minimum Expense: $2681
- Ideal Goal: $4422.50
- Fundraising Goal: $1750 to $4500
FAQ
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At the lower pledge levels, there's an international shipping option to make sure that we cover the expense. For the higher pledges, it is basically built in, but if you can contribute some extra it will help us reach the goal without having to spend too much of the funds on shipping rewards. (It typically costs an extra $10 to ship a comic or two overseas, or $45 to ship a box of merchandise.)
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The artist will continue work on Failsafe after the Kickstarter is successful. It then takes some time to letter the book, and 6-8 weeks to print. Rewards will only be sent once everything is ready to send out. That being the case, it could be a few months before you receive your rewards.
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As long as it is one of the characters from this comic, then yes! As this is a story about survival in isolation, there aren't many characters to choose from. (You can also choose a character from any other Black Label Comics book.)
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The pages given as rewards will be decided by the artist, after the book is complete. You will have a chance to request what sort of page you want, but the final call will be his.
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We want to be sure there aren't too many options, as it tends to make it harder to pledge. With international shipping doubling up the earlier options, we don't have one specifically to get our other books. However, the "THANKED IN THE BOOK & COMICS" ($60) and "SPONSOR A WEEK" ($250) levels include all of the Black Label Comics books printed to date.
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The overall minimum cost of the project is about $2681, including the remaining rate for the artist, a small on-demand print run, plus rewards, shipping, and fees. The fundraising goal of $1750 leaves a great deal to be paid out of pocket. From there, $4422 would allow us to do a full professional print run.
The maximum cost is $4500. This will allow the writer (me) not to lose hundreds of dollars, ensure we can provide all rewards within budget, and most importantly allow us to produce a traditional professional print run.
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Two things. First, it's the name of Ian Struckhoff's own small press comics publishing imprint-- Any comic books that I write and self-publish come from "Black Label Comics". Second, it's the anthology of my short comic stories, which goes by the same name and comes out 1-2 times a year.
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Go to the second Update here, and leave a comment to join. Then just comment again with a link (or other news) whenever you spread the word. At the end, your reward will be updated to reflect your contributions!
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Failsafe is a done-in-one story, but we both love the lead character Penny. If this story is popular enough, and the right publisher was interested, you could well see more stories in this series.
Rewards
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Pledge $10 or more
39 backers
THE COMIC (US Shipping) - A signed copy of the very first printing of "Failsafe" (22 color pages) shipped within the United States.
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $10 or more
21 backers
DIGITAL COMICS (PDF via Email) - Digital copies of "Failsafe" (22 color pages plus bonus materials) and three of our other comics. For people outside of the USA looking for a less pricy option, or those who prefer a digital version.
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $20 or more
9 backers
THE COMIC (International Shipping) - A signed copy of the very first printing of "Failsafe" (22 color pages) shipped anywhere.
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $40 or more
4 backers Limited (86 left of 90)
EXCLUSIVE VARIANT - You'll receive two copies of FAILSAFE, one with an EXCLUSIVE variant cover and extra bonus material including production art. We will produce no more than 100 copies of this variant, ever. (Cover artist to be announced.)
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $60 or more
11 backers Limited (19 left of 30)
THANKS IN THE BOOK & FIVE COMICS - Your name will be printed with Thanks in "Failsafe", as a supporter. Plus you'll receive your own signed copies of Failsafe, and the first four comics released by Black Label Comics.
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $70 or more
0 backers Limited (2 left of 2)
ORIGINAL SKETCH BY RYAN CODY - Your own original sketch of a character from "Failsafe" by the artist Ryan Cody, plus a signed copy of the comic.
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $99 or more
1 backer Limited (9 left of 10)
COMIC SHOP PACK - 10 copies of FAILSAFE, 5 copies each of The Deathlings #1, The Dark Age #1, and Black Label Comics #1 (25 comics, cover price $145 total). Plus a pack of posters and postcard fliers to promote the books-- and we will thank you and your shop by name in the comic and online. Finally, if you're near the Boston area Ian will do a signing at your shop. (Shipping to the US only.)
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $100 or more
1 backer All gone!
SPACE GHOST - One lucky person will have their likeness and/or name appear in the story somewhere-- It could be you! Plus you'll receive a copy of the comic signed to you personally.
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $125 or more
2 backers Limited (3 left of 5)
ORIGINAL PAGE - Your own one of a kind, original inked (black and white) page from FAILSAFE signed by the artist, plus your copy of the FAILSAFE comic and THREE of our other comics.
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $125 or more
1 backer All gone!
SPACEAGE CHEESECAKE - We're adding a special reward, but this one is only available for the ladies! One lucky person (or someone they gift the reward to) will have her likeness and/or name appear in the story as a space-age pin-up girl. It could be you! Plus you'll receive a copy of FAILSAFE signed to you personally, and three of our other comics.
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $250 or more
0 backers Limited (2 left of 2)
ORIGINAL ART BONANZA - You will get first choice of one original inked page from FAILSAFE, as well as a sketch commission, both created and signed by artist Ryan Cody. On top of that, you'll get a signed copy of each of our comics-- "Failsafe", the "Failsafe" variant, "The Deathlings" #1, "The Dark Age" #1, and the rare variant edition of "Black Label Comics" #1. Plus your choice of three Black Label Comics posters or a t-shirt, and of course your name printed with Thanks in the book.
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $300 or more
0 backers Limited (5 left of 5)
SPONSOR - For making a major pledge, your name will be printed in the comic with Special Thanks as a sponsor and major supporter, and we'll track down a UNIQUE mystery reward only for you. On top of that, you'll get multiple signed copies of a bunch of our comics-- "Failsafe", the "Failsafe" variant, "The Deathlings" #1, "The Dark Age" #1, and the rare variant edition of "Black Label Comics" #1.
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $440 or more
0 backers Limited (1 left of 1)
PUBLISHER - NOW REDUCED! For saving the day at the last minute, be listed in the book as the official publisher, with Very Special Thanks. We'll also include everyitng from the "Rescue" reward, plus a t-shirt, a poster pack, and another dozen signed copies of the comic.
Estimated delivery:
Funding period
- (81 days)
