SMALL PRESS PREVIEW: Holy West

By Zack Quaintance — When you’re running your own Kickstarter (as I currently am!), you become acutely aware of how many excellent comics are being made through this indie-enabling crowdfunding platform. When I came across Holy West, I was so impressed that I immediately thought to myself — now this is what a Kickstarter comic should be. It really is that good and well put together.

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SMALL PRESS PREVIEW: Skrawl - Comix Magazine

By Zack Quaintance — As readers of the site are well-aware at this point (sorry!), this month I’ve been running my first Kickstarter campaign for a comic that I wrote, Next Door. As a result, I’ve been spending exponentially more time on Kickstarter, checking out other comics to back as well. And you know what? On that platform I’ve found some of the most exciting comics projects I’ve been made aware of all year, and chief among them is Skrawl: Comix Magazine.

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Brokenland No. 2 - SMALL PRESS PREVIEW

By Zack Quaintance — We’re back today with a new small press preview (after some time off from the feature), and I’m absolutely thrilled that it is Drew Morrison’s Brokenland No. 2, a comic that tackles introspective environmental comedy with a style of artwork that is among the most striking I’ve seen on Kickstarter in some time.

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Like Father, Like Daughter #6 - SMALL PRESS PREVIEW

By Zack Quaintance — Today marks the return of one of my personal features on the site, Small Press Previews. The selection for today is Like Father, Like Daughter #6, which is currently on Kickstarter. The book — written by Kat Calamia, illustrated by Wayne A. Brown, colored by Lisa Moore, and lettered by Matt Bowers. While there are still seven days remaining on the Kickstarter, the book has already been fully funded, so you can rest assured that this project is happening.

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HOWL, a sci-fi graphic novel - SMALL PRESS PREVIEW

By Zack Quaintance — It always feels like there are too many good projects on Kickstarter, with too many great writers and support talented artists to keep up with…which is to say I particularly enjoy Kickstarter projects that give me a chance to interact with the work of a large group of creators. Today’s small press preview is certainly one of those. I’d like to introduce all of you to Howl, a community comic written by Tom Abbosh that aims to hire a new illustrator for each chapter of the book.

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KITH + KIN, an anthology - SMALL PRESS PREVIEW

By Zack Quaintance — This isn’t a new or insightful statement, but the breadth of new comics being made these days is really stunning. For example, I recently read Spitting Image, which was published by the Nashville Review, a literary magazine out of Vanderbilt University in that city. Spitting Image is the work of writers Brittany Matter and Heather Ayers, and artist Sally Cantirino. In this story, they’ve collaborated for a tale that spans 10 pages.

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SMALL PRESS PREVIEW: Two Swords Til Mercy

By Zack Quaintance — I am so pleased to bring you today’s small press preview, which features Two Swords Til Mercy from writer Brentt Harshman, artist J. Paul Schiek, colorist A.H.G., and letterer LetterSquids. The writer and artist on this book are a couple of my favorite up and coming creators to follow on Twitter, both effusive with praise for other creators and open with insights into their own careers and processes.

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Small Press Preview: SHE Vol. 1

By Zack Quaintance — There were no new direct market comics today, and this was the first Wednesday in my lifetime that I can remember that happening without a holiday or some other long-planned reason for delay. Today’s absence of new books was due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the resultant shelter in place orders, and the ripple effect it’s having on the economy. All that said, there are still plenty of excellent comics out there for fans and readers to find and support.

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SMALL PRESS PREVIEWS: White Ash - Chapter Five

By Zack Quaintance — When I think of Kickstarter comics, I think of White Ash, the comic series from writer Charlie Strickney, artist Conor Hughes, and colorist Fin Cramb. White Ash is a fantasy comic set in a modern day mining town in rural Pennsylvania. It has some loose commentary about places like that, but the main engine for the book is a story of forbidden love.

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