Here’s a roundup of what we’ve been working on at the Cartoonist Co-op–a collection of comics, zines, webcomics, and crowdfunding, plus all new articles, news and features.
Want to join the Cartoonist Co-op? Send us your info here or email us at cartoonistcooperative@gmail.com , and become part of our community of indie comics creators! The Cartoonist’s Co-op is committed to helping build the community of comics artists and to improve and protect the labor rights of comic industry workers worldwide.
As a member, we’ll help you find collaborators, share resources, get the inside scoop on the industry, and have your stuff promoted in this very newsletter! Members of our cooperative gain access to career development resources, creative feedback and assistance, promotional campaigns for members’ comics, exclusive discounted benefits, and more.
Let’s dive into it!
Featured Comic Campaign:
MARU KIRU DESTROY THE MOON by Brendan Albetski
Barbaric bloody knuckle pulp fantasy in explosive color!
KICKSTARTER
Maru Kiru is out for bloody vengeance on the Cult of the Moon and their charismatic high-wizard-priest Manotautus. The strength of steel falters before the might of the cult’s magic, but Maru Kiru is hiding a secret power that may be the undoing of the cult and their iron grip on the people of Tulth.
198 pages of fantasy adventure for teens and older.
Visit Brendan’s work on Twitter, Bluesky or at their website: https://www.brendanalbetski.com/
Cartoonist Cooperative “Buy an E-Sim for Gaza” Donation Drive:
As you may know, Palestinians in Gaza are being subjected to internet and communications blackouts as part of the ongoing siege by Israel. Members of the Cartoonist Co-op are getting involved in a new way to combat this violence by offering art in exchange for those who donate e-SIMs to Palestinians through the Connecting Gaza Campaign.
This campaign has been running since early November, but we want to make sure that everyone who’s interested in our activities is kept up to date. Click here to see how you can contribute to these efforts!
Featured Comics For Purchase From Our Members:
Written by Cheero Deemartsio, art by Luca Albenese
https://editions-sarbacane.com/bd/les-grimaciers
Luigi, a Neapolitan in the midst of a midlife crisis, is at a standstill. At home, he has one argument after another with his wife, who reproaches him for being a resigning father and husband, while at work, his shop that sells santons is far from flourishing. Not to mention the intimidation that the dirty men of the Camorra put small shopkeepers like him through on a daily basis.
One day, after the umpteenth bullying, Luigi puts on a Punchinello mask and goes out at night to settle his score with the small-time thugs. Galvanized by the experience, the brand-new vigilante gets back in touch with Nunzia, his high school sweetheart, now a failed actress, who is tempted by these punitive arte.
Soon, the little band in disguise is joined by a unionist boxing champion, a hot-headed ex-military man who has turned to selling paintball guns, a bodybuilder who is a bouncer in a gay club and an upright policeman who is fed up with the corruption among his colleagues.
Les Grimaciers tries to revisit the Naples of the early 90s, a city full of promises and dream which ended up burning in the flames of a much harsher reality.
By Lorry Jamison
Uh oh, is my new crush the cause of all those missing townsfolk? Sure, he seems really sweet, but he and his dad are hiding something, I just know it! When the sun goes down, that’s when people start to disappear. And there are reports of someone lurking in the shadows, always near the scene of the crimes…
It’s love at first sight for Caleb and Hunter, but a deadly secret is about to wreck their romance. Will their love story be cut short in the face of a shadowy onslaught? Blush is a blossoming love story with a whole lot of bite, perfect for fans of Twilight and Love, Simon! $10.00 for download.
WEBCOMICS:
SOLANACEAE
By DarkChibiShadow
(18+ ONLY) Sal, a thief, concocts a get rich quick scheme to try and make Battam, a witch, fall in love with him. But, upon learning him and his target share more in common than he originally thought, Sal starts experiencing feelings he’s never had before and must make a decision between money or the potential for love.
Gay, erotica, romance, pinning, slow burn, BDSM, enemies to friends to lovers.
Warnings for: sexual themes, light alcohol/drug use, blood, body horror and death imagery.
DEATH OF A CRESCENT MOON
By Kkha
Long ago demons roamed the earth freely, terrorizing humans. Humans were on the brink of extinction when a group of defenders arose. They pushed demons back to the demon realm and for generations defended the gate from a demon invasion. But with each passing decade the people soon forgot and the powers of the defenders weakened. Now the demons are planning a great return. Can the few defenders left protect the human realm? Or will it once again fall into chaos?
HOLE
By Cori Walters
Hole centers on 27 year old Jane Nowak who is forced to confront her tumultuous past when the ghost of her childhood best friend/rival Asenath “Nat” White begins to torment her. As the haunting takes its toll on Jane, forcing her deeper into a spiral that affects her performance at her job and tanking her mental health, she must relive the trauma of what happened between her and Nat in high school and the bodies left in their wake.
Crowdfunding:
SWEET ABILENE: A SHOT AND CHASER COMIC
By EK Weaver
SHOT AND CHASER, is a tense, emotional adult drama that takes place in May 2020.
The protagonists, Tre and Olly, are storm chasers, best friends, boyfriends, lifemates, soulmates—just a couple of messed-up dudes in their 30s doing their best to get by in small-town Texas.
This side story, SWEET ABILENE, takes place in April 2016, 4 years before the webcomic , and tells the very sweet and goofy story of the first time Tre and Olly hooked up. It’s an erotic story (i.e. for adults only) with a lot of heart.
SWEET ABILENE is 44 interior B&W pages—inked with screentones—with a color cover, printed at 8”x10”. Interior paper weight is 60# (heavier if goal is surpassed by a sufficient amount to cover costs), staple bound (perfect bound if goal is surpassed by a sufficient amount to cover costs).
THE SECOND SAFEST MOUNTAIN
in our time, and in your times as well, the world was swallowed by an unfair darkness.
The Second Safest Mountain is a brand new graphic novella from PRISM-nominated comic artist and writer Otava Heikkilä, creator of Letters for Lucardo, Sasha from the Gym, and The Shattered Spear. Originally released as a digital comic, The Second Safest Mountain is now available as a glorious hardback print edition.
The Second Safest Mountain is a story about leaving the mountain dedicated to sacred women, and the repercussions of entering the world below. When Aru ventures into the land beneath the mountain, they are soon confronted with what it means to leave the safety of being holy and beloved. Please note the comic contains violence, sexual imagery and body horror.
“The Second Safest Mountain is visceral, stunning and dreamlike. It grips me by the heart. Otava can say so much with one look, one glance, one cast shadow. This story is surrealism at its best, used to talk about the terrible thing we have all laid prostrate to. Yet there is hope here, our world is dark but we carry the light.” – Jess Fink, Chester 5000
Of Interest:
BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY: WRITERS-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM
The Associates of the Boston Public Library Writer-in-Residence program is now open for submissions for writers, including Graphic Novel writers. This program is intended to:
–Provide an emerging children’s writer with the financial support, editorial assistance, and office space needed to complete one literary work for children or young adults.
–Encourage the imagination of young readers, and in so doing draw attention to the importance of authors and the essential role they perform in nurturing developing minds and furthering our culture.
–Promote the awareness of the Boston Public Library and its resources, by establishing a living link between Library and the community.
What do fellowship recipients get?
$23,000 stipend.
Up to $2,000 of additional funding for coaching / editorial assistance.
Private office space at the Boston Public Library in Copley Square.
Completed manuscript will be added to the BPL’s Archives.
Opportunity to publicly present your manuscript at a fall reading.
What are the requirements?
All genres welcome! Eligible projects include fiction, non-fiction, a graphic novel, script, memoir, or poetry intended for children or young adults.
Since this program is intended for emerging authors, applicants should not have already published any books.
The recipient must work for a minimum of 19 hours per week during the year-long residency.
Applicants must be able to legally work in the US.
Applications are due Friday, May 17th, 2024 at 11:59 PM.
