A look at new, ongoing and completed comics related Kickstarter campaigns.

In 2013, comic Kickstarters generated nearly $12.5 million in pledges. Comparatively speaking, that's a small chunk of change compared to the $402.3 million of sales Diamond reported last year, but I believe that more and more creators and fans are looking to Kickstarter as a source of new comics.

The Kickstarter Pipeline is a periodic article that highlights new comic campaigns on Kickstarter, tracks ongoing campaigns, and keeps a tab on funded projects. This is one part link drop, one part curated list, one part whatever the hell I want it to be. I'll also try to include artwork and other stuff, and basically make this a list that's worth reading, as opposed to the tired, obligatory type of column that most Kickstarter articles are.

This is not intended to be a inclusive, catch-all list. As of this morning, there are 136 active comic Kickstarter campaigns, which is way too many for one person to cover.

If you'd like to be featured on the Kickstarter Pipeline, please contact me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and I'll take a look

New Projects

Sherlock Holmes: A Scandal in Bohemia by Petr Kopl and Steve Emecz - £500 goal (July 28 Deadline)

English translation of Petr Kopl's award winning Czech Sherlock Holmes comic adaptation. Approximately 160 pages in length. Absolutely astounding illustrations, and high praise from various European critics. Image above taken from Kickstarter campaign.

The Somber Crown by Lee Milewski - $2,000 goal (July 29 Deadline)

Fantasy comic by Naples, FL artist Lee Milewski. Milewski previously funded a sci-fi comic in March 2014. Art has an interesting quality to it.

Not So Super Comics by Jacques Nyemb - $3,500 goal (August 1 Deadline)

Not So Super Comics is publishing three new comics using funds from campaign, to be released at NC Comic Con in November. Artists include Joe Hunter, David DeGrand, Justin Wood and Kayla Miller. Very diverse range of stories and art styles.

Here We Go by James Young - $1,500 goal (July 25 Deadline)

Anthology of short stories written by James Young and illustrated by a number of artists including Joanna Estep, Michael Odom, and Anwar Madrigal. Campaign will be used to print comics, story and artwork already completed. Very high quality artwork.

Fiction Squad by Paul Jenkins and Ramon Bachs - $60,000 goal (July 25 Deadline)

Noir crime spinoff of Jenkins' Kickstarter funded Fairy Quest, with art by Ramon Bachs. Boom! will print and distribute comic when completed.

Sum of Light #2 by Brian McCranie - $2,000 goal (July 24 Deadline)

Second issue of a Lovecraft inspired horror series. First issue was successfully funded via Kickstarter in May 2013.

Last Week of Funding

Calculus Cat by Hunt Emerson - 100% of £10,000 goal (July 1 Deadline)

Collection of popular 80s comic strip Calculus Cat by Hunt Emerson.

Cringe: An Anthology of Embarrassment - 177% of $2,125 goal (June 30 Deadline)

Anthology containing over 20 stories of "personal humiliation, shame and awkwardness" from indie cartoonists. Cover by Noah von Sciver, stories by JT Yost, Elijah Brubaker, Box Brown and others. Image above (comic by Sam Spina) taken from Kickstarter page.

Doctor Atlantis: Vol 3 by Ian Ally-Seals and Carl Mefferd- 66% of $4,000 goal (July 4 Deadline)

New volume of steampunk water adventure comic produced by Hartford, CT small press publisher Rare Earth Comics. Volume 1 was funded via Kickstarter in 2012.

Illustrated Girl # 1 by Jackson Compton and Natasha Alterici - 187% of $3,300 goal (July 6 Deadline)

Horror comic by a pair of Oklahoma City, OK creators about a girl who discovers arcane images living under her skin.

In Need of Support

Gates of Midnight by D Lynn Smith, Amelia Woo, Mirana Reveier, Jessica Jimerson - 11% of $35,000 goal (July 8 Deadline)

Supernatural horror comic starring female combat medic in NYC. Campaign will fund issues 5-8. Gates of Midnight is published by Kymera Press, a women-focused comic publisher.

Shepherd: Graphic Novel by Nic J. Shaw - 30% of $17,000 goal (July 9 Deadline)

64 page graphic novel about two former hunters protecting the last of a rare wolf breed in 1930's Japan.

Where is Home Anthology by Vanessa Stefaniuk - 74% of $4,000 goal (July 9 Deadline)

Anthology of fifteen former Sheridan College artists. Common theme is "home".

Amiculus: A Secret History of Rome by Travis Horseman and Giancarlo Caracuzzo - 62% of $9,350 goal (July 12 Deadline)

Speculative history comic by Columbus writer Travis Horseman. I read the preview comic of Amiculus a few months ago, and found it to be well-paced and enjoyable. Most of Amiculus' characters are based in history, and the comic is set in a very fascinating era of European history. I interviewed Horseman here.

A Single Day of Night and Misfortune by Will Deonne - 2% of $3,000 goal (deadline July 15)

Graphic novel about the fall of Atlantis by Columbus artist Will Deonne. Banner at top of article taken from Kickstarter page.

1X by Charles Butler - 91% of $850 goal (deadline July 16)

Four short stories of various genres collected in 28 page comic. I interviewed Butler here.

P. Craig Russell Sketchbook Archives by Wayne Alan Harold - 55% of $20,000 goal (July 17 deadline)

A 250 page hardcover sketchbook containing selected sketches by P. Craig Russell. Sketches contain notes and commentary by the artist.

The Monsters of Jimmy Crumb by James Patrick and Jen Hickman - 59% of $4,000 goal (deadline July 18)

64 page horror graphic novel about an 8 year old boy who can channel serial killers. Comic is being published by 21 Pulp, a new imprint owned by Patrick and others.

EPOCHS Issue #1 by Epochs Comic - 66% of $3,000 goal (July 21 deadline)

First issue of an ongoing comic, "encapsulating the charm and versatility of short stories taking place within a common universe." Genres included in the comic range from noir to science fiction.

Knight's Legacy: Awakening of the Pen Ddraig by Heroic Tendencies Studio - 14% of $7,000 goal (deadline July 23)

48 page Arthurian graphic novel written by frequent Outhouse commenter Michael Sacal.

Yellow Zine Issue 5 by Roman Muradov - 99% of $2,000 goal (deadline July 24)

A new collection of comics by Society of Illustrator Gold Medal Award winning artist Roman Muradov. Muradov's artwork was featured on NPR's 2014 calendar. Image above taken from Kickstarter page.

Laying Lincoln Down by Kurt Kennedy - 16% of $3,000 goal (deadline August 18)

Wicker Press graphic novel about Abraham Lincoln's funeral train. Laying Lincoln Down was the 2012 Albert P. Weisman Award from Columbia College Chicago, which paid for the first 20 pages of comic. Creative team seeks funding for final 20 pages of artwork. A previous Kickstarter for $15,000 ended unsuccessfully in May ($1,815 raised).

The Galaxy Girls by Shawn DePasquale and Sherard Jackson - 16% of $11,000 goal (deadline August 22)

Sci-fi comic by television writer and comic book letterer Shawn DePasquale and artist Sherard Jackson. Coloring in particular on this project looks pretty fantastic. Image above taken from Kickstarter campaign.

Successfully Funded Campaigns

Of Dust and Blood - by Jim Berry and Val Mayerik- $33,020 raised

90 page graphic novel about the Battle of Little Big Horn. Please note that the Kickstarter ends on the anniversary of the Battle of Little Big Horn. I interviewed both Berry and Mayerik here.

The Mighty Titan #5 - by Joe Martino - $5,932 raised

Conclusion of Joe Martino's "superhero with cancer" miniseries. Issue #5 features a John Byrne cover. Byrne cover can be seen above.

Kyrie by Matt Crotts - $1,320 raised

16 page comic set in Roman era Egypt. Image above taken from Kickstarter campaign. I interviewed Matt Crotts here. Image above taken from Kickstarter page.

Open Campaigns Already Funded

The Will of Captain Crown: Book Two by Tristan Roulot & Patrick Hénaff - $7,000 goal

Second volume of a pirate adventure comic. Captain Crown was originally published in Europe, and proceeds from the campaign are to reformat the comic for American readers and translate dialogue into English. Writer Roulot received a Joe Shuster Award nomination for the first volume of this comic.

I had the opportunity to read the first volume of The Will of Captain Crown last weekend. It's a fantastic read, filled with intrigue, adventure and betrayal. I was impressed with both the strong artwork and the dynamic, twist-filled plot that avoided standard pirate tropes. Both volumes are available as an award at the $50 pledge level, and I highly recommend it.

I interviewed Roulot and Henaff here.

Four Arms by Cardbord India - $450 goal

32 page macabre fable comic involving a multi-armed girl and a wolf in a forest. Each illustration is 11 x 17. Image above taken from Kickstarter page.

The Last West: Volume 2 by Evan Young & Lou Iovino - $5,000 goal

Second and final volume of an alternate history comic set in 1945.

The Absentee by Kevin LaPorte and Rando Dixon - $2,000 goal

Sci-fi comic by Inverse Press publisher Kevin LaPorte.

Unsounded: Volume Two by Ashley Cope - $25,000 goal

Second volume of a fantasy-adventure webcomic. The Economics of Digital Comics by Todd Allen - $500 goal Updated book about the economics of online and crowdfunded comics by Beat editor Todd Allen. Interview with Todd Allen (by Jude Terror) can be found here.

Dave Cockrum's Futurians Return by Aardwolf Publishing - $6,000 goal

Graphic novel based on superheroes created and drawn by deceased creator Dave Cockrum. Featuring tributes to Cockrum by Jim Lee, Neil Gaiman, Bill Sienkiewicz and others. Project was coordinated by Cockrum's widow, Paty.

Little Nemo: Dream Another Dream anthology by Locust Moon Press - $50,000 goal

Anthology of comics inspired by Windsor McCay's Little Nemo newspaper strips. Over 100 different artists contributed comics, including Paul Pope, Mike Allred, Dean Haspiel, JH Williams III, David Petersen, Cliff Chiang, John Cassaday, Craig Thompson, and Peter Bagge.