New Kickstarter by Alex Lupp for Sand

 

Sand: Genesis Vol. 1 Hardcover Collection

Twin gods have accidentally created a new world! Now what?! 4 stories, 8 artists, 1 epic fantasy in the making!

 

 

 

What is Sand?

Sand is a series of fantasy comics set on a desert world made imperfect by twin gods. It is the story of a sibling searching for their lost twin. It is the story of a boy with red eyes confronting his destiny. And, ultimately, it is the story of a world looking to be made whole. 

So far I have self-published 5 issues, all written by me (Alex Lupp), and each illustrated by a different artist. The first 4 issues comprise the first volume (Genesis), while the fifth issue is the start of the second volume (Reunion), which should run for a total of 6 issues. Beyond that is a third volume, which might run for 8 issues. That puts us at a total of 24 planned issues, and three volumes. 

For the time being each issue is illustrated by a different artist. This started as a matter of practicality, but has become a part of the identity of this project. As the story becomes more focused on characters & locations, the plan is to have some artists return and have them illustrate several consecutive issues. For example, while the second volume is planned for six issues, it should only feature four artists, with one artist illustrating the final three issues.

The Hardcover (Genesis)

This is the first volume of Sand. It collects the first four issues, illustrated by Jade Lee, Erin Lisette, Margaret Huey, and Raven Warner. It also includes reproductions of three art prints featuring highlights of this world, illustrated by Angela Hsieh, Nika, and Cat Caro (Study of Monsters). Plus a whole new cover & logo by Jade Zhang, and interior design by Neil Brideu. 

The four issues collected in this volume, alongside the additional art, backmatter, and character designs, introduce the world of Sand, as well as the characters who will play a role in the story to come. It is both prequel and worldbuilding anthology. 

144 pages // 6.625" × 10.25"

Genesis #1: The Tale of Luc & San

"It begins with an unanswerable question, a moment of light dispelling darkness and birthing life. Behemoths, Beacons, and Feys - a pantheon of celestial beings destined to shape the rest of creation. Now, if only they could figure out where to begin. Enter the twins, Luc & San. Hailed as luminaries, veritable geniuses - will they discover the spark of a new world before their sibling rivalry snuffs it out?"

Illustrated by Jade Lee, this issue was originally self-published in 2017, and features the creation of the world of Sand! Jade retuned in 2023 for a brief four-page epilogue, which better connects this first tale to the stories ahead, and is collected in this volume.

Genesis #2: Of Wolf & Prey

"Kayla Red Eyes, the First Explorer, describes the world of Sand as a desolate place full of dangerous creatures like Dune Dragons and Sand Wolves. In such an unforgiving place, can a newborn Sand Eater find any safety - any sanctuary?"

Illustrated by Erin Lisette, this issue was originally self-published in 2023, and features a story of unlikely animal friendship, as well as a field guide told from the perspective of Kayla Red Eyes. 

Genesis #3: Eyes of Red

"Before the Republic brought order and long before the Great Oasis, a child was born upon the shore of a river. She is named Kayla, and her red eyes prophesize a great destiny. But the road is long and heavy with tragedy. How much hurt can anyone accept before taking matters into their own hands?"

Illustrated by Margaret Huey, this issue was originally self-published in 2025, and features the tragic story of Kayla Red Eyes, the first human explorer of Sand, as well as a continuation of the field guide from Of Wolf & Prey. 

Genesis #4: Twin Blades

"Rayko is the son & heir of a powerful Senatorial family in the Oasis Republic. Bryn is the daughter & heir of the greatest Sand Nomad caravan. Their futures have been written for them. But what if they don't have to be? What if a pair of blades can change everything for them and for the world of Sand?"

Illustrated by Raven Warner, this issue was self-published in 2024, and features the first swashbuckling adventure of Bryn & Rayko, as well as our introduction to Jona, the protagonist of the rest of the series. Set about fourteen years before the start of the second volume, this story introduces the final pieces of the puzzle.

The Prints

"The God Tree, born from the heart of a fallen red star, it is a place of sanctuary for all creatures on the world of Sand. It is captured here at the peak of its glory."

Illustrated by Angela Hsieh.

"These are the characters of Genesis, the pillars upon which the world of Sand is built."

Illustrated by Nika.

"Bryn & Rayko’s Caravan. Sand Eater Caravans are the means by which trade & transport occur on the world of Sand. This is the greatest of them, and it is so much more - a home, a refuge & a place of rebellion."

Illustrated by Cat Caro (Study of Monsters).

These three prints are currently only available for sale in person at festivals (including the risograph version of the Cast Print). This Kickstarter offers postcard-sized versions of these prints for sale, or as bonuses for the early bird pledges. They are also reproduced in the hardcover collection.

The New Issue (Reunion #1)

"Jona is a young boy who lives with his adoptive parents, Bryn & Rayko, among the dunes of Sand. It is a peaceful, if not always easy, life. However, his red eyes always heralded a great destiny, one which he can no longer be sheltered from when a blue star streaks across the night sky.

Now, alongside his trusty steed Tok, he must reluctantly embark upon a journey that will at last resolve what twin gods began eons ago when they accidentally made this world of Sand.

Will this journey bring new friends, or new enemies? And most important of all, what lies at the bottom of the crater formed by the mysterious blue star?"

Illustrated by C. A. P. Ward, this issue was self-published in 2026, and is the beginning of the second volume, Reunion. With the stage set in the previous volume, Genesis, this is where the threads start to come together. What will Jona find beyond the blue horizon?

24 pages // 6.625" × 10.25"

The Creators

Alex Lupp is the writer behind the world of Sand. Born in Bucharest, Romania, he found himself flung across the ocean at the tender age of thirteen. Landing in the Washington DC area, he has since somehow lived everywhere in the surrounding parts of VA & MD except the city itself. Along the way came comics, and a life long interest in experiencing and telling stories.

Jade Lee (they/them) is a multidisciplinary creature who can be found carving lino blocks and dyeing with plant parts around the wilds of Baltimore. Their practice is driven by a curiosity to learn more skills as well as a perpetual self-reminder to slow down, and learn from the natural world around them - from observing birds in migration to identifying mushrooms in the woods.

Erin Lisette is a cartoonist as well as an apparel and merchandise designer native to Washington DC. She is inspired by nature, food, and fun characters that make her laugh! Erin most enjoys illustrating comics about whimsical characters living in magical worlds. When she’s not illustrating comics she’s drawing detailed pictures of food she enjoys eating.

Margaret Huey is an artist and educator working out of Baltimore, MD, who loved the chance to lend her lifelong interest in the prehistoric to Eyes of Red. When not making art or teaching, you can find her performing as DIETANIUM for Super Art Fight, the greatest live art competition in the known universe.

Raven Warner is a Baltimore-based illustrator who loves to draw stories full of friendship, intrigue, and fantastical worlds.

Angela Hsieh is a Taiwanese American author, illustrator, and all-around nature enthusiast. Her debut middle grade fantasy graphic novel, Lu and Ren's Guide to Geozoology, has appeared on multiple "Best Book of 2025" lists. She has 1.5 cats.

Nika is an artist and writer based in the DC area. When she's not working on her upcoming sci-fi graphic novel, she can be found on her couch binge-reading romantic fantasy webtoons.

Cat Caro is a nonbinary comicker and illustrator living in Baltimore, Maryland. When not drawing weird critters, they enjoy hunting for rocks and fossils, and cuddling their two spoiled cats, Tadpole and Caterpillar.

Jade Zhang is a new generation queer Chinese-Canadian illustrator and comic artist based in Toronto. She tells stories about magic, memory, and the occasional eldritch horror.

Neil Brideu is a self-publishing cartoonist and freelance book designer. Neil spends most of his time running the minicomics distro, Radiator Comics.

C. A. P. Ward is a queer black cartoonist and illustrator working on heartfelt genre stories. They like vibrant colors, unusual paneling, and overburdening their characters. When they aren’t drawing they can be found longboarding around the illustrious east coast potholes.

The Campaign

With 5 issues already self-published, you might wonder why even do a fundraiser? Because, while I have been able to fund the single issues so far, both in terms of paying artists & funding the printing costs, things get more complicated when reprinting older issues. And, yes, my stock of those older issues is running out! 

So this campaign is about helping me take that next step. The collected edition! This cannot happen without you!

And not just any collected edition, but a hardcover with a fabric spine. Something that does justice to the work of the eight artists who have worked on Sand so far, but can also act as a comprehensive introduction and worldbuilding guide for future issues. 

The goal covers printing expenses, Kickstarter fees, and taxes. Any extra campaign funds beyond 100% will go directly into the next issues. Yes, Reunion #2 is well underway, and #3 is planned out. So far everything has been funded from my personal savings, or sales at festivals. If all goes well we can continue putting out 1-2 issues per year, but more money means we can speed up that timeline!

Any add-on items will be shipped with Genesis Vol. 1 Hardcover Edition and Reunion #1 once both have been received from the printers.