Welcome back to another installment of Indie Comics Showcase, the weekly blog where we signal boost a few truly independent comics that are currently crowdfunding their projects, crowdsourcing their funding in some way, or just completely self-publishing on their own. Every little bit of support for these creators matters, from a single dollar pledge to the twenty-five dollar bundle, and of course the higher tiers are usually fun too! Even if you can’t back a campaign or buy a book, you can share or tweet about these projects to your friends and followers.
On Indie Comics Showcase, we interview the creators, show off some art, and tell you how you can check out the product for yourself. Below we have some outstanding crowdfunding campaigns this week for you to learn about, enjoy, and hopefully support by backing one or more of them! Thanks for checking these out and for being the best part of Indie Comics Showcase. Let’s jump in!
Check out the campaign here!
Chris Braly: Welcome to Indie Comics Showcase, Scott. Give me your elevator pitch for your comic Last Light.
Scott Zambelli: Facing a relentless terror in an unforgiving landscape, survival becomes unlikely as bloodthirsty hordes seek to devour any who live. 32 full-color pages!
CB: Where did the idea for this comic come from, and made you decide to self-publish it?
SZ: Darren O’Brien approached me with a story idea he’s been working on. In describing the backstory of his idea, I found the backstory to be very compelling and something worth expanding on. Inspired to flesh out the backstory further, we wrote up a great story arc to bring to our readers. The book is 100% complete, and we are currently working with our printing partner to finalize the print run.
CB: What kind of comic readers is this suited for and who is it aimed at?
SZ: Last Light would be considered “Historical Fiction” with the foundation of the story rooted in the true people and events surrounding the Tunguska Event that occurred in the remote regions of Russia back in 1908. Ideally, this book is targeted towards readers that are 15 years old and up.
CB: Who is the full creative team that contributed to this project?
SZ: We have a great team that came together for this book, and they are; Darren O’Brien (Creator and Co-Writer), Scott Zambelli (Co-Writer, Penciler, Final Colors), Kevin Meinert (Inks), Shara Lima (Flats), and Brett Pinson (Letterer). Darren and I have known each other since our high school days, and Brett, and Kevin, and I have been working/traveling together since we met in 2010 on the comic con circuit.
CB: What have you been learning from self-publishing / crowdfunding and creating through this process?
SZ: We’ve successfully funded & fulfilled 15 previous crowdfunding campaigns. Through that time, we have learned a lot. The hardest adjustment is working with various printing partners where each one has their own formatting requirements that we need to accommodate.
CB: Are there more stories to tell in this universe?
SZ: Last Light’s first story arc is planned to extend through 3 to 5 issues. If the demand is there, we have additional stories we would like to tell in this universe.
CB: Anything else you would like to share with our readers before we sign off?
SZ: Check out our online store at bonanza.com/booths
CB: Thanks, and good luck on the campaign!
Check out the campaign here!
Check out the book here!
Chris Braly: Welcome to Indie Comics Showcase, Chris. What made you want to write this book about comic book stores?
Chris Denmead: I wrote a book 12 years ago called the New England Horror Film Makers and it sat on the shelf for a decade. I finally got it published in 2023 with Bear Manor Media and a few years before this I always said If I got this published I’d do another called the New England Comic Book Store Owners. Retailers really are the backbone of the comic book industry. We would not have the MCU or DCU without these stores pushing the book to the customers to get us great stories.
CB: What were some challenges in doing a book like this ?
CD: Some retailers don’t like reporters and aren’t interest. Some retailers just disappeared and it was hard to do follow ups. Some would only do interviews if I came to the store in person. Some stores closed down or the owners died. It’s not alway rosy in the retail world of comics, but I hope those who do read about these shops in the 6 states of New England and beyond learn a bit about the current state of comic book retailers.
CB: Name some of the stores listed in the book and what made you choose them?
CD: My local comic Shops (or LCS as they are referred to) are my top choices. BedRock Comics or That’s Entertainment! in Worcester, which I’ve been going since I was 16 and I’ve known Paul the owner a long time. Hall of Comics in Westboro. I really wanted to include so many stores, but there are 32 in the book and one on the cover who didn’t make the book just because of scheduling. I wanted stores that had something unique about them or a great story to tell. Harrison Comics In Salem, or Wonderland Comics in CT which I’ve been going to since I was 17. Coffee and Comics in Deep River Ct. The owner there was a generally nice guy and true comic fan like me, and just so many more. I can imagine there are a lot of stores I could not reach out to, and maybe I should have tried harder to schedule an appointment with them too.
CB: What’s the struggle these stores find with the world of comics?
CD: I kept hearing complaints about companies not putting out consistent material, distributors being late all the time, and TOO MANY COVERS for one comic book. It’s so bad when a single comic has 25 covers, some stores complain. It’s hard to keep up with that. Books arrived damaged and no way to return them. Dealing with buying collections from customers who think they have 1,000’s of $$ worth of product because they saw some over priced comics of a different grade on eBay, but in fact they have maybe $10 bucks worth of garbage.
CB: What surprised you about the retail world of comic books?
CD: It was fascinating to hear the stories behind these stores. Some it was very heartbreaking to hear, some stores in the book don’t exists and some are doing better than ever. It’s a complicated mixed up world and the comic book industry really needs stores like this to help keep the characters we love alive outside of the theater and tv. I hope people who read this book track down these stores and visit them throughout Ma, RI, NH, CT and ME and VT.
CB: Fascinating. Thanks for telling us about the book. Hopefully our readers will check out the link below for more.
Check out the book here!
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That’s it for this installment. If you’re a creator ramping up your own campaign or have a comic available for purchase online and you want to be featured in our weekly column, click here so we can hopefully help you get more eyes on YOUR crowdfunding comic project. Until next time, support indie comics!
