FUNDED! And now we make this thing!
about 7 years ago – Mon, Mar 06, 2017 at 12:56:17 PM

THANK YOU!

Thanks to each and every one of you fabulous backers, we not only hit our initial goal, but enough stretch goals to make this a book of beauty, 200pgs, hardcover, with nearly 100 contributors (as of now, we're still hoping to lock down another 6-7 shortly). 

And because of your continued generosity, we'll not only be contributing over $1000 to the BLACK INK project, but bundling 250 copies of their finished film with a special DVD edition of the book, too!  Their campaign still has another 47 days left, so there's plenty of time to spread the word and help them hit their finishing goal!

So what's next?

First, Kickstarter will start collecting funds from everyone. If they run into a problem with your payment method they will contact you immediately. PLEASE address their notice and try to correct the issue as soon as you can! If they can't collect your funds within 7 days, your pledge will be marked as incomplete/cancelled, and you won't get the stuff you registered for.

Once they've collected the funds, we'll send everyone individual survey-links through BACKERKIT -- this will be the place where you can enter all of your shipping information, item preferences (like Tee shirt size, etc), and add any extra items to your pledge, including the optional upgrade to the limited BLACK INK DVD edition.  Backerkit makes organizing such a large-scale fulfillment process as this a whole lot easier for you and us both! (We may even add some new merchandise to that storefront, who knows...) From that final tally, we'll know exactly how much stuff we need to make so we can get things out to you ASAP.

We're aiming to have everything finished and ready to upload to the printer by the end of April, so that we can have books in hand by July.  (We really want to have copies to show at San Diego Comic-Con!)  If we can hit that goal, we'll ship all rewards at the same time, starting in July.  Our goal is to have everything IN YOUR HANDS by early August.  We know the reward tiers said "July", but the book nearly doubled in size in the course of the campaign! With so many artists involved, wrangling artwork from everyone in the right resolution and format will be the biggest challenge, but we're on that task already!  Plus, assuming BLACK INK hits their goals, they'll need until August to finish editing and mixing too.  So July/August is the goal, and it seems plenty reasonable at this point.

We should have Backerkit set up this week, and we'll follow up with another update the minute its ready!

There are still a number of contributors we haven't had a chance to spotlight in an update, and we're still nailing down a handful more, so we'll share those soon, in future updates.  We're not stopping the updates cold turkey, but they will slow down to maybe only 1-2 a week while we shift focus to actual book production.

If you have any questions, ideas, comments, etc, please hit us back! We love to hear from you, and truly owe all of this to you and your support.

THANK YOU!!!

Final 48hours! And BCR Spotlight on Tanna Tucker, Chris Visions, Jerome Walford, and Joseph Wheeler III!
about 7 years ago – Sat, Mar 04, 2017 at 08:38:20 PM

Hey everyone,

This is it, the final stretch -- less than 48hours to go... not much left to do at this point but gather as many people behind the project as possible, and help BLACK INK hit their goal for the DVD bundle upgrade!  They could use some support, so if you've got friends or family who would be interested, please send them over to the project to help them out!

We had hoped to have Backerkit set up by now so we could explain how it will work, and how it will allow folks to upgrade their copies to the DVD edition, or to add extra items or copies to their order.  This WILL be the case, even if it isn't set up until after the campaign ends on Sunday, so don't worry -- we've got you covered. It's just a matter of waiting on Backerkit to get the project entered into their system.  We'll let you know as soon as its up!

So close to the end, and we still have so many contributors to spotlight... Honestly, we may not get to them all before Sunday, but here's a bunch more for tonight:

 TANNA TUCKER

Tanna Tucker is a San Francisco-based illustrator who describes as having a “very painterly yet line-driven style influenced by comics and animation.” Inspired by art and music of the Afro-futurist movement, Tucker’s work “combines interests in folklore, African diaspora and race/gender representation in art and comics.” Tucker states that the “common thread” in all of her work “is a desire to represent characters that were absent in the stories I read growing up. I’m doing my best to combat the misogyny prevalent in this industry, by designing strong, diverse, and complex female characters in my work. In fact, I think we are in a very exciting and revolutionary time with comics. With social media, crowdsourcing and alternate ways of publishing and getting your work out, creators are empowered more now than ever to tell their unique (and needed) stories.”

http://tannatucker.com/

CHRIS VISIONS

Chris Visions was found on the banks of the Mississippi by boxing legend Jack Johnson. The boxer, through his golden smile, spat in the infant’s eyes and stuck the child on the first train to Virginia. A policeman and an art teacher took him in as their own, raising him on the following: hellfire, holy water, James brown, Earth Wind and Fire, Norman Rockwell, Michael Jackson, a box full of comics, a stack of VHS’s and elbow grease. From there on, he’s been sketching, through the Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, the Virginia Governor’s School, Virginia Commonwealth University, and finally the Illustration Academy. Chris has worked in the fields of graphic design, game design, storyboarding, and illustration since 2006, and is currently creating comics with various publishers, including self publishing.

http://www.chrisvisions.com/

JEROME WALFORD

Jerome Walford is an accomplished illustrator and graphic designer. In 2008 he began rewriting an old concept he had for a graphic novel series. The idea found new life in his first graphic novel series "Nowhere Man" and he launched Forward Comix to be a platform for publishing his creator-owned work. Jerome currently continues his work in advertising while working on further installments to the "Nowhere Man" series and other projects.

http://forwardcomix.com/

JOSEPH WHEELER III

Joseph R. Wheeler III is the Artist, founder, and president of ONYXCON. Joseph is a proud southerner, born and raised in Atlanta, GA. An important fixture in the Atlanta art community with a commitment and experience working with Fulton County Office of Aging, Fulton County Arts Council, Atlanta Bureau of Cultural Affairs, Union City Parks & Recreation, Fulton County Parks & Recreation, Atlanta Fulton Public Library System, and countless other Arts & Culture institutions nationwide. Wheeler has been dedicated for over 20 years as an Arts Instructor and Therapeutic Creative Activities Specialist for both youth arts organizations and the Senior Citizen population (focusing on Adult Day Programs for Alzheimer's/Disabled Seniors). Currently, Wheeler is honing his skills for Film as a writer, producer, and actor. In growing the ONYXCON INSTITUTE and his appearances as a panelist/instructor he works with other conventions like MOMOCON and organizations such as Atlanta Fulton Public Libraries, and Emory University's Michael C Carlos Museum, to list a few.

http://www.onyxcon.com/

BCR Spotlight - Stephane Metayer, James Stanley, Juliana "Jewels" Smith, Ronald Nelson, Whit Taylor, and Lance Tooks!
about 7 years ago – Thu, Mar 02, 2017 at 10:30:07 PM

Hey everyone!

Less than four days left... this has been quite a marathon!  But it's not over yet!  We've still got more creators to spotlight! (With even more that we hope to add to the list before the final bell!)  So let's get to it --

STEPHANE METAYER

Stéphane Métayer, the creator and writer of Tephlon Funk, is an Artist and Writer from Queens, New York City. His inspirations include Akira Toriyama, Shinichirō Watanabe, Bengus, Akiman, Kentaro Miura & Hayao Miyazaki. Stephane’s biggest influence would have to be Rapper, Nas. Specifically his 1994 debut album “Illmatic” which finally pushed him to create TEPHLON FUNK! back in 2004. This is his 1st project which he hopes to help inspire and influence others. A true fan of both Hip Hop and Anime, more than 10 years later, he’s now ready to take the next step, with the help of illustrators/designers David Tako, Nicolas Safe, and James Stanley.

https://tephlonfunk.com/

JAMES STANLEY

James Stanley is an artist obsessed with Yutaka Nakamura, Charlize Theron, Nouvelle-vague, and the perfect waffle. He is also the artist/creator of PART TIME SHUFFLE and a storyboard artist on the TEPHLON FUNK team.

http://parttimeshuffle.tumblr.com/

JULIANA "JEWELS" SMITH

Juliana “Jewels” Smith is a cultural worker, educator, writer and organizer. She earned her B.A. in Sociology from UC Riverside and M.A. in Ethnic Studies at UC San Diego. As an educator in community colleges Smith decided she could reach more of her students through an unorthodox medium, a comic book. She created (H)AFROCENTRIC as a way to challenge students and readers alike about the presumptions around race, class, gender and sexuality through character dialogue. Her practice focuses on the links between racial justice, gender equity, and political literacy; using creativity to facilitate dialogue. In 2009, she helped co-found the first chapter of Red Bike and Green in Oakland, CA, a grassroots Black urban cycling organization that focuses on the key elements of environment, economics, and health in the Black community. Her experience organizing around cycling led Smith to found the first ever Clitoral Mass, a mass women's (and women identified) bike ride, in Oakland, CA in 2013.

https://hafrocentric.com/

RONALD NELSON

Ronald Nelson is an illustrator originally from New York City. He studied at schools such as the School of Visual Arts, The Art Student’s League, and Cooper Union; all based out of New York. He also studied under illustrator Bill Weltman and has worked professionally for the last thirteen years. Ronald’s most recent exhibits were at the Adobe Art Center in Castro Valley and Jazz Heritage Center in San Francisco. He’s created artwork for Troma Films, working on and drawing the comic adaptations for their movies; most notable were Tromeo and Juliet, Terror Firmer, and Sergeant Kabukiman. He previously created flash designs for the Bullseye Tattoo Company, as well as CD cover art for various music labels. A multifaceted, multitalented designer, he designed the logo for the Forsythe Mortgage Company. An earlier project involved creating the technical illustrations for Original Ideas, a company that creates workout equipment. Ronald’s areas of expertise are in the fields of portrait drawing and sequential art. He is also very proficient as a storyboard artist and cartoonist. He’s created work in the fields of technical illustration, licensing, tattoo flash, and logo design.

ronaldrnelson.tumblr.com

WHIT TAYLOR

Whit Taylor is a New Jersey-born cartoonist, editor, and comics writer. Taylor won a 2012 Glyph Award for her comic Watermelon, and was nominated for a 2013 Ignatz Award for her series MADTOWN HIGH. She has also written about comics for Panel Patter, The Comics Journal, Comics Workbook Magazine, and others.

http://www.whittaylorcomics.com/

LANCE TOOKS

Lance Tooks has been drawing all his life. A former assistant editor at Marvel Comics, his artwork has since appeared in more than 100 television commercials, films and music videos. He has self-published the comic books DANGER FUNNIES (co-published with Cry For Dawn), DIVIDED BY INFINITY, and MUTHAFUCKA. He also illustrated THE BLACK PANTHERS FOR BEGINNERS, written by Herb Boyd. He has contributed to a Hurricane Katrina benefit comic, as well as to the Graphic Classics line of books, adapting the works of Edgar Allan Poe, Mark Twain, Robert Louis Stevenson and Ambrose Bierce. He recently completed NARCISSA, his first graphic novel for Random House/Doubleday (recently translated for publication in Spain) and a four volume series entitled LUCIFER'S GARDEN OF VERSES for NBM. He has also contributed to the Graphic Novel anthologies THE BEATS (Hill and Wang) in collaboration with author Harvey Pekar, Studs Terkel’s WORKING (the New Press) and THE GRAPHIC CANON (7 Stories).

http://lancetooksjournal.blogspot.com/

All stretch goals hit! The final week! Plus BCR spotlight on Ashley A. Woods, Anthony Pugh, Julian Lytle, Steenz Stewart, and Robert Roach.
about 7 years ago – Thu, Mar 02, 2017 at 06:46:44 PM

Hi everyone!

Wow, you all really came through with this last stretch goal... made it in only four days! And we actually hit two milestones at once:  we crossed $21k and broke 500 backers at the same time! (Thanks, Justin Newman! Even though your backer # says "509", you're actually #500 once we filter out the handful of folks who had to drop out!)

So that brings up two questions:

1) How can I upgrade to get the Limited Edition DVD bundle?

We will actually be setting up a Backerkit system in the next 24-48 hours that will not only help us collect and organize your shipping info, but it will give everyone an opportunity to add extra items to your pledge if you so choose.  Not only will you have the option to upgrade your hardcover copy to the DVD bundle (for an extra $20), but we'll also offer additional copies of the book, tee shirt, and portfolio prints in case your tier didn't include those items, or you decide you'd like to pick up some extras (they will certainly make great gifts...)

Once we get that Backerkit system set up, we'll post an update with all of the details and instructions separately.

2) What's the next stretch goal?

Honestly... we don't know! We're a little out of ideas so close to the end of the campaign!  We certainly want to help raise more funds to help the BLACK INK documentary, so the more we grow, the more they benefit, but beyond that, if you have ideas, feel free to suggest them in to us in a comment or direct message!

Now onto today's spotlight!

ASHLEY A. WOODS

Born and raised in Chicago, Ashley A. Woods is an illustrator who got her start through self-publishing her action-fantasy comic series, “Millennia War”, while attending the International Academy of Design and Technology. After earning her degree in Video and Animation, she traveled to Kyoto, Japan where she presented her work in a gallery showcase called, “Out Of Sequence”. After returning to the states, her work from her comics were included in the “Black Comix” art book, which was used in college courses at various universities internationally. Ashley is also an artist on the comic Niobe: She is Life from Stranger Comics, and Lady Castle, from BOOM Studios. When Ashley isn’t working, she enjoys playing video games and studying Japanese.

http://ashleyawoods.com/

ANTHONY PUGH

Anthony Pugh is an illustrator and comic artist based in Brooklyn, New York. Over the past 10 years, he has worked various projects in the creative industry including marketing, advertising, storyboard art, character design and comic book art. A well versed savant in comic book art and graffiti aesthetics, Anthony graduated from Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD). He spent a fair amount of time toiling around the freight yards in his hometown of Minneapolis/St. Paul Minnesota. He fell in love with New York City after landing an internship Marvel Comics. Anthony brought his Midwestern roots to NYC and planted himself in a bustling metropolitan city to take on the adventure of a bubbling Gotham.

JULIAN LYTLE

Julian Lytle is the writer and artist of the Glyph Comics Awards-nominated pop culture satire Ants. Lytle started the comic in 2009 as a way to get his thoughts on rap music, politics and everything in between out to the masses. In addition to Ants, Lytle covers the many aspects of popular culture that interest him through his podcast Ignorant Bliss.

http://julianlytle.tumblr.com/

http://ignorant-bliss.com/

C. STEENZ STEWART

Christina ‘Steenz’ Stewart is a librarian and illustrator from St. Louis, MO, who also works as the Social Media and Community Manager for Lion Forge Comics. She likes ginger ale, Sailor Venus, comics, cats, and watching horror movies with her fiance. You can find her work in local comics anthologies, and in two upcoming anthologies: Elements: Fire and The Princeless Anthology. Archival Quality, her first graphic novel is out from Oni Press in 2017.

http://steenzartblog.tumblr.com/  

http://archivalcomic.com/

ROBERT ROACH

Robert Roach is a storyteller, writer, and an illustrator of storyboards, concept designs & comics. He has won Glyph Comics Awards winner for his independent comics. His independent comics projects include Menthu and The Roach.

http://hometownprods.com

Interviews and BCR spotlight on essayists Enrique Carrion, Shawn Taylor, and Stanford W. Carpenter!!
about 7 years ago – Wed, Mar 01, 2017 at 11:38:15 AM

HI everyone!

We may have less than 5 days left, but we're rolling out more press every day! Just today, both Women Write About Comics and Comics Alliance posted interviews with  Damian about the project!  Check them out!

 

http://womenwriteaboutcomics.com/2017/02/28/black-comix-returns/

 http://comicsalliance.com/black-comix-returns-damian-duffy-interview/

Today we're going to spotlight a few more of the folks contributing think-pieces and articles to the book --

ENRIQUE CARRION

Enrique Carrion is the writer/creator of the Image Comics book Vescell. In addition, Carrion has written the comic book Kill Godz and a story from Marvel’s Civil War II: Choosing Sides. Carrion is an international New Yorker, and world traveler, with a grasp of Global Culture and various local traditions.

http://www.enriquecarrion.com/

SHAWN TAYLOR

Shawn regularly writes for the website NERDS OF COLOR, a place to discuss, comment and geek out about stuff in the world of fandom through the culturally critical eye of people of color.

https://thenerdsofcolor.org

 

STANFORD W. CARPENTER

Stanford W. Carpenter is a cultural anthropologist, artist, and Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Institute for Comics Studies. Carpenter has done extensive research using anthropology, archives, data mining, ethnographic methods, and interviews to reconstruct and track cultural phenomena, creative processes, events, distribution networks, and institutional practices.  He is also an experienced educator that uses anthropology to give lectures and teach courses on artistic production, comics, media studies, pop culture, visual arts, and identity in a variety of educational settings including liberal arts colleges, research universities, arts institutions, and museums.  Carpenter has authored numerous articles and cartoon based projects that address research related topics.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stanford-w-carpenter-phd-46658a5