Welcome back to another installment of Indie Comics Showcase, the weekly blog where we signal boost a few truly independent comics that are currently crowdfunding their projects, crowdsourcing their funding in some way, or just completely self-publishing on their own. Every little bit of support for these creators matters, from a single dollar pledge to the twenty-five dollar bundle, and of course the higher tiers are usually fun too! Even if you can’t back a campaign or buy a book, you can share or tweet about these projects to your friends and followers.
On Indie Comics Showcase, we interview the creators, show off some art, and tell you how you can check out the product for yourself. Below we have some outstanding crowdfunding campaigns this week for you to learn about, enjoy, and hopefully support by backing one or more of them! Thanks for checking these out and for being the best part of Indie Comics Showcase. Let’s jump in!
Check out the campaign here!
Chris Braly: Welcome to Indie Comics Showcase, Simon! Give me your elevator pitch HELLZONE!
Simon Pothier: A mysterious ship, a distress signal, a salvage team, demons-welcome to HELLZONE! Follow the adventure of Hannah, a highly trained combat medic and member of a salvage team, who can kick ass as well as save lives. She faces a ship infested by blood fiends and demons, armed with a HELLGUN fueled by her own blood attached to her right arm, and aided by Orin, a priest monk. This book delivers 78 pages of bloody mayhem in full color.
Chris: What inspired HELLZONE, and what led you to self-publish it?
Sim: The idea came from my friend Aaron Calimeri, who, like me, loves sci-fi horror movies. He approached me with the title and the first five-page teleporter-scene pitch, asking if I’d be interested in co-creating, developing, writing, and illustrating the book. He helped with dialogue and got the book lettered. I plotted the story, wrote and drew the first 32 pages in two months, but the project was shelved after a year due to personal issues on his end. Later, he gave me the green light-and the rights-to complete the book myself, so I did.
HELLZONE is my love letter to the sci-fi horror films of the ’80s and ’90s-like the Alien franchise, Galaxy of Terror, Predator, Lifeforce, Forbidden World, and newer ones like Event Horizon and Pandorum. I also grew up reading Heavy Metal magazine, French comics by Juan Giménez and Jodorowsky, mature manga, and watching animated films like Heavy Metal and anime. All of these have heavily influenced my writing and art style.
Chris: What kind of readers will enjoy this comic?
Sim: It’s for mature readers who love space adventure and sci-fi horror in the spirit of classic Heavy Metal Magazine. Manga and anime fans will also appreciate it, as those are big influences for me-just like with many of the original Image Comics founders. If you love action-packed stories, want to be entertained, and aren’t into preachy comics, this is for you!
Chris: How would you describe your artistic style and creative process?
Sim: My art style is a blend of American and French comics with animation influences. Artists like Art Adams, John Byrne, Frank Miller, Marc Silvestri, Jim Lee, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Rob Liefeld, Whilce Portacio, Dale Keown, Jeff Campbell, Joe Madureira, and Adam Warren have all influenced me. Manga-wise, I draw inspiration from Masamune Shirow, Yasuhiro Nightow, Katsuhiro Otomo, and Yukito Kishiro. For French comics, it’s Philippe Druillet, Juan Giménez, Enki Bilal, Moebius, and Ledroit.
My process starts with plotting the beginning, middle, and end. I come up with key scenes-the “money shots”-and start layouts and notes around them. Once the pages are done, I use my notes to write the final dialogue. It’s similar to the Marvel method, which keeps the story development organic and allows it to evolve as I work. For example, HELLZONE was originally going to be 68 pages, but I ended up making it 78.
Chris: Who else contributed to HELLZONE?
Sim: Besides myself, I hired my girlfriend Alex Ayala to flat pages 25 through 78, and brought in David Vila as a lettering assistant to help with finalization and effects.
Chris: What does your production workflow look like, and where does the project currently stand?
Sim: My workflow is straightforward since I write, draw, and color the book myself. As of April 29th this year, the art is fully completed. I’m currently reviewing the pages for final touch-ups, then it’s on to finalizing dialogue, lettering, and proofreading. We’re aiming to go to print in May 2025.
Chris: What have you learned from crowdfunding withthese projects?
Sim: I’ve learned that anything can happen, especially when multiple people are involved. It’s important to get as much of the book done as possible and always have a plan B. Most importantly, always update your backers with complete transparency-communication is key.
Chris: Do you have plans for future projects beyond HELLZONE?
Sim: HELLZONE is a one-shot, but I plan to return to Bloodhunt, my first crowdfunded book, with Bloodhunt 2. I already have nearly 80 pages in black and white completed, followed by Tales From The NATverse #3.
Chris: Are there any special features, perks, or exclusive editions for HELLZONE?
Sim: Each platform has its own exclusive covers-the Kickstarter edition, for example, features a very sexy variant. The first 100 physical book backers on both Indiegogo and Kickstarter will receive a free sketch card.
Chris: Anything else you’d like to share with our readers before we wrap up?
Sim: The sign-up for Bloodhunt #2 is live on Indiegogo, and you can also join my Inkslayer website mailing list. I want to thank all the backers-current and future. Indie creators might be the dreamers, but you are the dream makers by supporting us. For that, I thank you all. YOU ROCK!
Chris: Thanks Sim! Good luck, sir.
Check out the campaign here!
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Check out the campaign here!
Chris Braly: Welcome to Indie Comics Showcase, Jason! What’s Tales From Neroesville all about?
Jason Meadows: With the highest number of superheroes and villains of any city in the world, life in Neroesville is never boring. It’s an old-school superhero comic built on modern, captivating stories. Well-written with beautiful artwork, Tales From Neroesville is everything fans miss in modern comics from the big publishers. You get 9 full-color comics, 274 pages, for only $22.
Chris: What inspired the idea for this comic?
Jason: As a teenager, I fell in love with the indie comics of the 80s and 90s. Those comics had a massive impact on the type of characters I wanted to create and the stories I wanted to tell. (Shout out to Roland Mann, Kris Silver, Jan Strnad, and so many more!) Wanting to create my own universe, an anthology series made sense, and crowdfunding made it possible. This is my universe, my baby, and, with self-publishing, I’m free to create it however I wish.
Chris: Who is this book aimed at?
Jason: Readers who enjoy superhero books, especially those from Marvel and DC’s glory days. It’s rated Teen or Teen+. There is cursing and violence in my books, but nothing too over the top and no nudity.
Chris: Can you walk us through your style and creative process?
Jason: It can be anything from a song lyric to a turn of phrase or a line from a novel that sparks an idea. From there, it’s off to a fresh spiral notebook where everything and anything is fair game. Then it’s time to trim the fat, trim a little more, and trim again before fine-tuning the dialogue. Inspiration is everywhere, you just need to see it.
Chris: Who else is behind you omn this project?
Jason: One of my greatest and unexpected joys in doing an anthology book is being able to seek out a specific art style to suit each story. Andi Kurniawan (who drew the first 2 issues of TFN) is a great human being and an incredible artist, and has come back to illustrate TFN issues 9 and 10. It’s nice to have talented and reliable artists like Andi (and others); I know I can come back to and count on them when I have a book ready to go.
Chris: What does your production workflow look like?
Jason: I write a script and, based on the mood or feel of the book, I seek out an artist I feel will best bring it to life. When the art is turned in, I do all the lettering and pre-press work before sending files to the printer. This campaign is for 9 issues, all ready, printed, in hand, and ready to ship. It’s a jumping-on point for new readers while we are working on the next 3 books (we do 3 books per campaign and launch only when they’re completed).
Chris: What have you learned from self-publishing through this process?
Jason: One of the main things I’ve learned is that I can be too wordy. Comics are an artistic medium-let the pictures tell the story. From a crowdfunding aspect: Self-promotion is very important, and I am horrible at it. It takes far more time and effort than I’d anticipated. I’m working on getting better at it. One of my favorite aspects of self-publishing is that I am not restricted by page count. Whether it’s 20, 24, 35 pages… whatever the story warrants is fine. I’m free to tell the story as I see fit.
Chris: Are there more stories in the works?
Jason: Aside from the 3 issues launching later this year, I have at least 6 more TFN story ideas in my back pocket that are in various stages of completion. I also have a horror mini-series I’m working on for launch either later this year or early next year.
Chris: Are there any unique perks or tiers on this campaign?
Jason: Being a “catch-up” campaign, there really aren’t any special perks. The main draw of this campaign is offering 9 first print full-color comics-274 pages-for only $22! I think that’s a pretty great deal. Also, each one of our books features a short backup story. Just a little something extra we throw in for the readers.
Chris: Anything else you’d like to share with our readers before we wrap up?
Jason: Tales From Neroesville is the most fun comic you’re not reading. It’s gotten great reviews, and backers keep coming back. Here’s your chance to see why.
Chris: Looks good Jason. Thanks for sharing it with us!
Check out the campaign here!
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Check out the campaign here!
Chris Braly: Welcome to Indie Comics Showcase, Kevin! What’s the elevator pitch for Arkfyre #2?
Kevin Davis: Arkfyre issue 2 picks up a few months after issue 1, with Kateo searching for other supernatural beings like himself to figure out his identity. Along the way, he meets Keviryse, a vampire, and Coffee, a witch, who are searching for the truth behind Keviryse’s sister’s death. Kateo embarks on a journey with them to uncover the nature of his own situation-and discovers there may be even more sinister forces at play than he imagined.
Chris: What inspired Arkfyre?
Kevin: The idea was inspired by my love of science fiction horror movies like Alien and shows like Stranger Things. I decided to self-publish because I want to keep the rights to my work and make sure people can get it directly from me, not through a third party.
Chris: Who is Arkfyre intended for? What kind of readers will enjoy it most?
Kevin: Arkfyre is suited for anyone who enjoys coming-of-age stories, horror fantasy, and science fiction. It’s aimed at anyone with an imagination who likes having fun and enjoys piecing together a story’s mysteries.
Chris: How would you describe your creative style and process?
Kevin: My style of writing comics is heavily influenced by my passion for storytelling and visual art. I’ve always loved the combination of words and images to convey a narrative, and comics are the perfect medium for that. My process usually starts with an intriguing idea or concept. I flesh out the characters, setting, and plot, often sketching rough drafts of scenes or panels to help visualize the story. I let my ideas marinate and evolve before diving into the actual writing. Inspiration comes from books, movies, art, personal experiences, and sometimes just going for a walk. Over the years, through practice and feedback, I’ve learned to trust my instincts, take risks, and continuously refine my craft to develop a unique voice.
Chris: Who else is on the creative team for Arkfyre?
Kevin: My creative partner on Arkfyre is the talented artist Raffy Florentino. Raffy handles the pencils, inking, coloring, and lettering. His detailed and dynamic illustrations really bring the story to life. Working with Raffy has been incredibly rewarding-he translates my vision into stunning visuals and helps shape the overall look and feel of the comic. We’ve built a strong working relationship based on mutual respect, open communication, and a shared passion for storytelling.
Chris: What does your production workflow look like?
Kevin: Our workflow is collaborative and iterative. First, I brainstorm ideas, develop characters, and outline the plot. Then I write the script, detailing dialogue, narration, and panel descriptions. After that, Raffy and I discuss the artistic direction, share references, and align on the visual style. Raffy then produces the artwork-penciling, inking, coloring, and lettering. We regularly review and revise the pages to ensure consistency and quality. Right now, the book is about 90% complete, with most of the artwork finished and final touches being applied. We’re excited to share Arkfyre with readers soon!
Chris: What have you learned from self-publishing the first issue?
Kevin: Self-publishing and crowdfunding have been valuable learning experiences. I’ve learned a lot about project management-coordinating tasks, timelines, and resources to keep things on track. Marketing and promotion are crucial for reaching a wider audience, so I’ve focused on creating compelling campaigns and building a community around the project. Collaboration and communication with my creative team have been key, as has being open to feedback and iterating on the comic. Most importantly, I’ve learned the value of persistence and resilience-seeing a project through to completion even when challenges arise. Overall, it’s been a transformative journey that’s deepened my skills as a creator and expanded my understanding of publishing and crowdfunding.
Chris: Will there be more issues in the future?
Kevin: Absolutely! I have about 15–20 issues mapped out in my head, with directions being filled in as we go. I’m also considering spin-offs once the characters become more established and recognized.
Chris: Good to know. Any last words for our readers today?
Kevin: Sign up for my Kickstarter and get ready for a new adventure! You can also subscribe to my website at kevisyde.com or Kevisyte Media. Thanks for your support!
Chris: God luck on the launch, Kevin!
@kevisytemedia @Simon_Pothier @EllyX2063
Check out the campaign here!
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That’s it for this installment. If you’re a creator ramping up your own campaign or have a comic available for purchase online and you want to be featured in our weekly column, click here so we can hopefully help you get more eyes on YOUR crowdfunding comic project. Until next time, support indie comics!
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