THE BOOK YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR IS FINALLY HERE!
Along with signed bookplates, Sketchbooks, and other characters co-created by Karl Kesel!
Latest Updates from Our Project:
Here's "THE CATCH"...
over 7 years ago
– Wed, Mar 27, 2019 at 01:17:39 PM
"THE CATCH" is a comic being put together by Steve Bryant. It's a fun-looking book about Lucy Chase, a bail bondsman who hunts down super-villains who skip town before their trial.
This "normal human against super human enemies" appeals to me a lot— it's at the very core of SECTION ZERO 1959— and Steve clearly loves it, too. The preview pages are engaging and entertaining, the art is beautiful, and the dialogue is spot-on. I'd quibble about some of the balloon placements, and I told Steve I hope Lucy does more in the rest of the story than just drive the car (he assures me she will), but this is a book I would really like to read.
Don't know if I'll get the chance.
The Kickstarter for THE CATCH ends TODAY, MARCH 27TH AT 11:53 AM PST. As I write this there are 6 hours left to raise $1700 to make Steve's goal. Still a good distance to go, and not a lot of time to do it.
If you can help make that goal, I'd appreciate it— I think it's a book we'd both enjoy reading— and something tells me Steve would appreciate it even more!
MAGGIE THE CAT
over 7 years ago
– Sat, Mar 23, 2019 at 11:33:39 PM
Back in the 80s, no one else did the sort of one-step-from-the-real-world adventure comics Grell did— and did FANTASTICALLY well, with taut action, unexpected plot twists and surprisingly subtle character nuance.
And now Grell is back— on Kickstarter!— along with MAGGIE THE CAT! And I could not be happier.
This book includes reprints of some earlier comics and I, at least, vote for Maggie getting a new look in the new material. I just don't think her outfit has aged well in the modern-day world of, say, Captain Marvel.
This sort of thing seems to bother me more than it does others, but more than that: it does a great disservice to Mike Grell's work, which is full of subtlety and charm, and feels more anchored in the real-world than most comics. Maggie is a strong, smart, admirable character who doesn't need to show her tits to win the day.
So I encourage you to look past the dated outfit and give this book a chance.
You won't be sorry.
Not Dead. Just Doing My Taxes.
over 7 years ago
– Tue, Mar 19, 2019 at 09:58:14 PM
Just a quick note to let you know— in case you're new to this whole Kickstarter-crowdfunding-thing— that we're in a holding pattern for the next week or so while Kickstarter collects the funds and then transfers them to my bank account. At which point I can start, y'know, paying people to do stuff.
First on the list, of course, is The Book. Tom and I are putting our heads together on Wednesday (the 20th) to hammer out SECTION ZERO 1959's schedule and some story details. Then it's full speed ahead!
But even as Tom and I produce page after pulse-pounding page, I can get other things rolling, too. Like the SECTION ZERO SKETCHBOOK, the cloisonne pins, the brown paper Mystery Bag, etc.
Oh— and I need to get a new tattoo, don't I?
But first: gotta finish my taxes. Because that's the kind of exciting life I lead.
In the meantime, if you're looking for some other cool comic to support, may I suggest:
LITTLE GIRL is a ghost story— told from the ghost's point of view. An angry and vengeful ghost, I might add. Written by Pat Shand— who has amazing energy; just watch the video and you'll want to be this guy's friend, trust me— with stunning art by Olivia Peleaz— if I had $300 I would SO get one of the original art covers! Well worth checking out.
Okay. Enough stalling. Back to taxes for me…
Thunderstruck!
over 7 years ago
– Fri, Mar 15, 2019 at 02:43:59 AM
"If you do everything you can, absolutely everything, leave nothing undone, you will win" -Lyndon B Johnson
Well, this was a win. A BIG win. And wasn't because I did everything I could do. No— it was because you did everything you could do. More, even. You took SECTION ZERO 1959 farther than I ever imagined it would go.
Thank you.
We were so close to the final Stretch Goal— only $500 away! I knew that was a Big Stretch, but still— that's a tough one. Especially since if I'd gotten my act together and offered a DIGITAL MYSTERY BAG like so many people like you asked for, we probably would have made it. But it seemed like there was always something just a little more pressing…
It's possible I can still make it work— still get SZ59 printed in the USA and into your hands that much faster. If it can be done, I'll do it. God knows you deserve it. Stay tuned.
Right now I'm going to sit back, have a special, celebratory habanero cider I bought, and generally be stunned and thunderstruck.
Then Tom and I have a book to finish.
For you.
THE LAST DAY!
over 7 years ago
– Thu, Mar 14, 2019 at 02:07:19 AM
In almost exactly 24 hours from when I'm writing this, the SECTION ZERO 1959 Kickstarter will be over!
(Did I just hear you say "Thank God!"— ?) ;-)
It's been a long road, and an exciting trip. A few ups and downs, but mostly a steady "Think I can! Think I can!" uphill climb. And once we hit the "top"— you kept going!
You've gone above and beyond— I'll never be able to thank you enough— but there's one more thing I'd like to ask.
During these last 24 hours, please write or share a post about SECTION ZERO 1959. You know why: because you know people I don't. People who like the same things you do. People who may well like SECTION ZERO 1959.
And that's how we make this work— by finding Our People, and bringing them together.
If we don't get one more pledge on this last day— I'm still happy as a kid on Christmas. How could I not be? But if we hit $70,000, a really cool comic gets added to the MYSTERY BAG. And if we hit $74,000…
If we hit $74,000 I'll be able to get SECTION ZERO 1959 printed in the USA. Which costs more. But also means the book will be out sooner. And: printed in the USA.
I can dream, can't I? We all can. That's what comics are all about.
Thanks again for your support. And encouragement. And questions. And ideas. It's made SECTION ZERO 1959 a much better book.
IN OTHER NEWS…
Every day there are more great comics Kickstarters out there. These are two of my very favorites…
Graham Nolan is best known for his work on BATMAN— but he and I share a deep and inexplicable love for the Kirby monsters from the early days of Marvel. This is Graham's love letter to those Creatures on the Loose, and Monster Island is, well, where those Monsters Dwell. I backed it the first day. You'll probably get a kick out of it, too.
I know very little about this comic— except it looks AMAZING! And the attention to detail and world-building is damn impressive! I love everything I've seen about this book— right down to the rectangular word balloons! Ccreators Vincenzo Ferriero and Ray Chou are clearly pouring their heart and soul into this dieselpunk dirigible epic, and the art by art by Pablo Peppino and Bryan Valenza is absolutely stunning. And they've got such cool prints and postcards— and paper cut-out airships! I haven't read this yet, but I backed it, and I can't wait to read it! Check it out. What could it hurt?
Okay. Next time you hear from me, it'll be all over but the shouting.
