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Friday, August 18, 2023
NUCLEUS X - Now Launching -
Tuesday, July 27, 2021
Deandra “Nika” Tan's Kickstarter launches
We talked with Nika in 2019, and now she's going to collect her webcomic.
VIENNA, Virg. 7/27/2021 — SIGNALS, a queer mystery-adventure webcomic created by Deandra “Nika” Tan,
will be coming to Kickstarter on July 27th, 2021 to fund a limited print run of the complete series.
SIGNALS follows amateur sleuth Mel Song as she tackles her first big case: searching for a woman
who has disappeared with her boyfriend into the heart of New York City. To all appearances, there’s nothing awry...
but lurking beneath the surface are uncomfortable secrets, forgotten memories, and a criminal underworld
about to tear itself apart in a decades-old conflict. Mel may be a fish out of water, but luckily she’s got one
major trick up her sleeve: the ability to read minds. Now, if only she could be sure that she isn't the only telepath
with an interest in this case.
SIGNALS blends mystery, comedy, romance, and action into a thrilling comic full of twists and turns that
mature readers will enjoy. Since its launch in 2018 on digital publishing platform Tapas as part of their
premium comics program, the webcomic has gained over 20,000 subscribers.
The Kickstarter campaign will run for 30 days from July 27th through August 26th, and funds raised will support
a full-color printing of the complete two-volume collection. Backers will also have the opportunity to receive
Kickstarter-exclusive rewards contributed by special guest artists. You can visit the Kickstarter page here
to learn more.
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ABOUT THE CREATOR
Deandra “Nika” Tan is an artist and writer born in New York City and living in Virginia. Her work is inspired by
action movies, Japanese comics, and young adult fantasy novels.
Thursday, August 02, 2018
Kickstarter for The Middle Age Webcomic
Sunday, March 19, 2017
Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Anthony Dortch
I was recently at a local business asking about a comics-related item they were selling, and one of the staff told me that his colleague did comic books. After some followup, we interview Arlington's Anthony Dortch who currently has a Kickstarter campaign to turn his comics into film (warning: contains body-painted nudity).
What type of comic work or cartooning do you do?
I am currently working on PURE. It's an epic tale of ingrained racism and the evils of inequality. It's a project where models get body painted to become the characters of a graphic novel and hopefully a feature-length movie.
How do you do it? Traditional pen and ink, computer or a combination?
PURE is a fumetti-style graphic novel.
Photo comics are a form of sequential storytelling that uses photographs rather than illustrations for the images, along with the usual comics conventions of narrative text and word balloons containing dialogue. They are sometimes referred to as fumetti, photonovels, fotonovelas, or similar terms.
Although far less common than illustrated comics, photo comics have filled certain niches in various places and times. For example, they have been used to adapt popular film and television works into print, tell original melodramas, and provide medical education. Photo comics have been popular at times in Italy and Latin America, and to a lesser extent in English-speaking countries.
When (within a decade is fine) and where were you born?
I always say I born in the blizzard of 1978. I was born Fri., 1/13/78 in Akron, OH. I was raised in Hamilton, OH.
Why are you in Washington now? What neighborhood or area do you live in?
I wanted something different, but wasn't ready for New York. I currently live in the Ashton Heights neighborhood in Arlington, VA.
What is your training and/or education in cartooning?
I went to SCAD for graphic design.
Who are your influences?
I am often fascinated by Van Gogh. Today, Van Gogh is regarded as an artistic genius and his masterpieces sell for record-breaking prices; however, during his lifetime, he was a poster boy for tortured starving artists and sold only one painting. I find this intriguing.
In time, Van Gogh’s work evolved from dark/somber artistic style to lightened up and more color one. I like use of color and energetic strokes.
If you could, what in your career would you do-over or change?
The time I gave up on myself. This was the time that I started believing that I wasn't talented and my art was no good as people from the outside kept telling me I should try to find a career.
What work are you best-known for?
My use of color to help tell my story.
What work are you most proud of?
I am most proud that I have stuck with this project. In 2009, I began working on a project called The Privileged Series. I traveled to Tybee Island, GA to work with fashion designer Anthony Canney, Tim Cabel and Julie Simser to do the first shoot. The goal was to represent differences between the rich and the poor through a surrealistic art form.
In 2010, The Privileged Series was displayed at Touchstone Gallery in Washington, D.C. and soon after traveled to galleries around the United States.
In 2012, The Privileged Series was displayed at Distinction Gallery near San Diego, CA. I partnered with Keifla Antonio and his team to take things to the next level. The team painted the models, bringing my outrageously colored characters to life.
This was also the first time the characters emerged from paper into live action in the first mini-video.
In 2013, I created the first pilot comic book called PURE. The project uses real people with a wide variety of body types to become the characters in the story.
In 2014, when I met Michael Coslow The Privileged Series: PURE exploded into a series of making short videos. The small team traveled to Europe and across the United States painting people for the videos.
By 2015, I released the first official graphic novel. I also collaborated with Yogabear Studio twice; once in Washington, D.C. and again in San Diego, CA. The collaborative efforts produced our first joint book. PURE: Yogabear Studio: 2015. This book captures 19 models as they portray a variety of PURE characters.
After a stroke in 2016, I'm back to settle a goal. The goal is to create my first movie. The Kickstarter is my first opportunity.
What would you like to do or work on in the future?
I would love to work in the television industry.
What do you do when you're in a rut or have writer's block?
I tend to visit the Smithsonian Portrait Gallery/American Art Museum and/or The National Gallery's East/West Wings. The two sites have both classic and contemporary in one space.
What do you think will be the future of your field?
I think it's evolving with technology. We now have moving comics, more comic books turning into movies, and more independent artist creating and producing their own companies. It is very exciting.
What local cons do you attend? The Small Press Expo, Intervention, or others?
I've attended SPX, Awesome Con, and Baltimore Comic Con.
Any comments about attending them?
Take your time. Their are many very talented indie artists that can be overshadowed by popular artists.
What's your favorite thing about DC?
The free museums. There is so much to see how can you not be inspired.
Least favorite?
The traffic (cars and metro). Grrrr!
What monument or museum do like to take visitors to?
I tend to visit the Smithsonian Portrait Gallery/American art Museum and/or The National Museum East/West Wings. The two museums have both classic and contemporary in one space.
How about a favorite local restaurant?
I like Cuba Libra for intriguing cuisines and decor. The inside of the resteraunt make you feel like you on a Cuban street.
Do you have a website or blog?
Facebook is www.facebook.com/dortchdesigns and web is www.dortchdesigns.com
Here's a photo gallery more of PURE work:
Wednesday, February 01, 2017
Jason Rodriguez's Little Particle Kickstarter continues
Jason Rodriguez's Little Particle Kickstarter continues with these new stickers. He points out, "The purpose of this Kickstarter is to print a book, sure - but my purpose with this book is science advocacy."As with his Colonial Comics series, Jason's focus on educational and entertaining comics is one I agree with.
He's also noted that someone has backed having an original unique story written for them. I'm finding that curiously tempting.
Saturday, March 05, 2016
JK Snyder III's Fashion in Action Kickstarter
Local cartoonist John K. Snyder III has a Kickstarter campaign to reprint his 1980s comic book Fashion in Action. I've just backed it and encourage our readers to do so as well. John can regularly be met at Baltimore Comic-Con.
This project is a restoration and reprinting of the 1980s series FASHION IN ACTION created by John K Snyder III. This comic starred a high-priced, and stylishly dressed, all-female protection agency and was set in the far future. It was an intriguing breath of fresh air that was a prime example of the best in 1980s independent comic storytelling!
It's the year 2086, and the 2080s haven't changed much from the 1980s - except of course for the jetpacks, Mars colonizations, and rocket-fueled cars. Frances Knight and her squad are "the world's highest priced and best dressed celebrity protection agency." They guard the world's rich and beautiful and make their base in the refurbished Statue of Liberty.
Fashion In Action square off against the diabolical team of the coldly manipulative Dr. Cruel, and his accomplices, Boss One - a henchman just happy to be involved - and the violently unpredictable Roxanne, Frances Knights' most psychotically devoted fan. Dr. Cruel plots to use the robot clone of a late night talk show host to turn the world's elite into gorillas during a snuff star's celebrity-filled wedding! Will they succeed? Will Frances defeat Roxanne? And will they look absolutely amazing doing so? Fund this project and find out!
Back in 1985, I set out to create an entertaining series that would reflect the times we were then living in by projecting it onto a futuristic society where the cult of celebrity and personality would become the status quo. It only seemed natural at the time to cast a group of strong-willed women as a symbol of reason and security in the middle of an ego-driven world full of social and political unrest. It was a creatively rewarding experience that was born out of the height of the creator-owned alternative market of the early/mid-80’s, but was a short-lived series that I have always hoped for the opportunity to re-introduce and return to and continue.
It is a pleasure to invite you to join Hope and I in bringing the Women and World of FASHION IN ACTION back to the twenty-first century, where they have always belonged.
Friday, October 16, 2015
Cartozia Tales second Kickstarter project
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Colorist Arsia Rozegar on crowdfunding his adaptation of Shahnameh, a 1000-year-old Persian poem
I grew up in the Washington, DC area. Had a tenure in Southern California for a while and then came back this way. I'm currently in Fairfax County.
I've been drawing and doing art as long as I can remember. No formal training. Just simply had the desire to do it and make it happen.
Friday, May 15, 2015
Laura Lee Gulledge on her career and her graphic novel musical
(all images courtesy of LLG) |
Laura Lee Gulledge came out of nowhere in the comics field, and now has two successful young adult graphic novels out, and is turning one of them into a musical. She's returned to the area after a sojourn in the wilds of New York City and tells us about her methods and her new project, which has ten days left to go on Kickstarter.
Do you have a website or blog?