July 15th, 2024
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
By Julian Cormac & Arden Ripley
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/feralroyal/the-vow-an-adult-queer-horror-graphic-novel
The Arcana Imperii — a secret organization dedicated to investigating magical anomalies — has enlisted two of its most powerful agents to capture a beast wreaking havoc in the northernmost province of the land. Agents Lalo Ludovico and Oz Samokhina have been at each other’s throats ever since they met, and the only thing that matches the intensity of their rivalry is the heat of their repressed desires for one another.
Forced together on a dangerous mission where survival is uncertain, neither of them are prepared for the sparks and blood soon to fly.
FOR PURCHASE
By Mar Julia, Pa-Luis, Sunmi
https://sunmiflowers.itch.io/daturaissueone
Datura Magazine is a queer josei-inspired anthology series featuring a range of speculative and realist stories for an adult audience that, like the poisonous datura flower, might have an edge to them. We look to expand on ideas of “Girl’s Love,” along the lines of how its counterpart BL can be a gender-expansive space for exploring alternative sexuality.
This first 40-page issue includes four brand new comics from Pa-Luis, Emma Jayne, Mar Julia, and Cathy G. Johnson. Cover illustration by Steph Bulante, title design by Mar Julia and produced by Mar and Sunmi.
By Vexx Daniel
https://thenoirgal.itch.io/call-your-reps
Ever hear people say you should call your reps about some issue but you’re not sure how? Or who to call? Or you’re nervous about calling? Well here’s a comic to answer all your burning questions about calling your elected representatives! You’ll learn:
-who to call!
-why to call!
-what to call about!
-how to write your own call script!
-getting over anxiety about calling!
-what else you can do to help!
-phonebanking for candidates during election season!
Includes helpful links to various websites and numbers. Help out and be active by finally calling your reps!
WEBCOMICS
By Charles Brubaker
https://laurenipsum.thecomicstrip.org
Lauren Ipsum is a professional librarian, part-time writer, and an intellectual culture enthusiast (nerd). Join this looney rabbit and her friends running the esteemed St. Paws Library!
“Lauren Ipsum reminds me why I love comic strips so much. From the adorable artwork to the charming characters to all the wacky hijinks, it’s an absolute treat to read!”
– Olive Brinker, creator of Rae the Doe
“No proper library is complete without at least one comics-and-fan-fiction-loving librarian scribbling away in their downtime, writing stories during lunches and breaks and quiet moments between borrowers. Lauren Ipsum is such a librarian, and it is a delight to follow her adventures in book lending!”
-Georgia Dunn, creator of Breaking Cat News
By Maiji/Mary Huang
https://smallquiet.humangray.com
1 small quiet somewhere is an address of sorts to a little place. It’s a retreat looked after by Kanthaka, a gandharva Buddhist monk, and Little Yì, a very small yì. Every day here is full of soft, mindful moments, and at least two cups of tea. You’re most welcome to visit, wander around, rest, and contemplate.
This project is intended for dipping in and out of in no particular order, with snippets and stories that can be enjoyed on their own or as a gradual, cumulative experience of a world. It includes short standalone comics, illustrations, writings, and music.
By Kelci D Crawford
https://www.thelegendofjamieroberts.com
The Legend of Jamie Roberts is the story of a genderqueer pirate named Jamie, and their two best friends, Thomas and Daniel. One day, during a raid, they discover an unfinished map and decide to go explore in search of treasure.
Kelci D Crawford is the artist and writer of The Legend of Jamie Roberts, as well as other comics projects. You can find more of their work, as well as their blog about the life of a comic artist, at kelcidcrawford.com. Most of the time you can find them offline, at either a comic convention or some social event somewhere in the northwest Ohio area.
CROWDFUNDING
By Mariah Currey
Mathilde is a newly transformed vampire re-entering society after having been held prisoner in a monstrous vampire’s underground lair for the last 14 years. Rightfully pissed off and at a loss as to what to do with her newfound freedom, Mathilde embarks on a sexy journey of self discovery (with a variety of supernatural lovers) to find direction in un-life and assert her bodily autonomy. But has she bitten off more than she can chew with Norman – a morally grey Nasty Man™ with weird uncle energy, loud shirts, and a lewd tongue?
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/noahsark/slake-house
One day, the front door is open. You feel a pull, a sensation that you cannot attribute to any of the five senses. You understand it’s welcome all the same. Will you find out what lies on the other side?
SLAKE HOUSE is going to be an erotic horror choose-your-own-ending anthology with (at least) 10 different routes, each written and illustrated by a specially selected author/artist pair.
Artwork by MEANBOSS
take a look at the campaign page for the contributor list! all of our favourite horror creators are there for real! Please help us create our sexy fun evil nasty horror porn!
OF INTEREST
A New Type of Shonen: A Choujin X Review
Written by E.B. Hutchins
I’ve been a shonen manga junkie since I was 15, and have no plans of stopping now that I’m almost thirty. I’ve seen it
However, every once in a while, I dip my toes into the dark shonen genre, shonen’s edgier older brother. The gore is more noticeable, the language is more harsh and the characters might even get with the love interest. Or the love interest and main character could just have the typical rushed ‘marriage and kids’ ending..unless you’re Sui Ishida at the helm.
Cartoonist Cooperative “Buy an E-Sim for Gaza” Donation Drive
E-Sims for Gaza
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!
