TOP 5 CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGNS OF OCTOBER 2022

Indie and self-published comics are in a bit of a renaissance right now as the major comics powerhouses are on the decline and tools for independent creators are becoming much more plentiful and accessible. As a result, comic readers can find whatever niche comic they want to read just by going to Kickstarter or Zoop and pitching in a few bucks to whatever suits their fancy.

But, with thousands* of projects across multiple platforms, how does the average reader decide where to put their hard-earned money? Hopefully, this article will help narrow things down, starting with...

Grandma Chainsaw, Cover by Brian Balondo, Source Point Press

#5 GRANDMA CHAINSAW (KICKSTARTER)

Writers: Allen Dunford & Will Radford

Artists: Brian Balondo

Campaign Ends: October 20th

Status: 200% funded

PITCH:

Four Friends get lost on vacation. They end up at Grandma Hazel's doorstep. Hazel seems innocent enough, but the group will soon discover that Evil has a perm!

WHY SHOULD I BACK IT?

Horror and comedy have a lot in common, so it makes a lot of sense that you'd get a lot of mileage combining the two. Grandma Chainsaw is a delightfully over-the-top comic with a super exaggerated art style and an unsubtle sensibility that more is more and chainsaws are awesome. If you're a fan of the horror genre, it's basically impossible not to giggle at the sight of four teenagers willingly walking into a cabin in the woods owned by an old woman with teeth like a viper fish: It's a situation constructed entirely out of red flags and I love it!

#4 MAGNI THE MIGHTY (KICKSTARTER)

Writer: Devin Arscott

Artist: David Monge Bautista

Campaign Ends: October 31st

Status: 40% funded

PITCH:

Magni the Mighty follows the sons of Thor, Magni and Modi, as they discover their place in the post-Ragnarök world. Within this 54 page perfect bound double issue comic, you’ll experience a brand new world influenced by Norse Mythology. Filled with new, exciting characters destined to become something spectacular in this opening salvo in the expansive world built within the Magni the Mighty Universe (MMU).

This is a comic that has been sitting impatiently within writer Devin Arscott's mind for many years. After much hard work, Devin's passion for comics and love of Norse mythology have combined to present an idea for all who enjoy comics to witness. This is the start of a brave new post-Ragnarök universe.

The Nine Realms are in disorder! Can Magni & Modi put their differences aside and be the leaders Asgard needs to rebuild? Back Magni the Mighty and find out!

WHY SHOULD I BACK IT?

This comic looked great when it attempted a Kickstarter campaign last year and it looks even better now that it's back with the Band of Bards' logo on the cover! A telling of Norse Mythology's lesser known Gods, Magni the Mighty brings God of War levels of drama and action to your pull box with intense art, excellent lettering, and sharp writing. If you love Thor, you'll love Magni the Mighty!

Fairytales from Mars, Cover by Sierra Barnes

#3 FAIRY TALES FROM MARS (KICKSTARTER)

Editors: Jamieson Alcorn

Campaign Ends: October 27th

Status: 45% funded

PITCH:

The young Martian child looks up at their parent from bed, all tucked in from a morning of classes and an afternoon of helping out on the family hydroponic farm. Blinking sleepily, they clutch their stuffed toy and request, yawning, "Tell me a story."

Fairytales From Mars is an anthology collecting the fables, folklore and, of course, fairytales from the colonies dotting the red planet. It is speculative mythology at its finest and we’re challenging creators to imagine the kind of stories that might emerge when humanity finally starts calling Mars its home. Early children’s stories were morality tales designed to warn against the dangers of their environment, impart a moral lesson, or explain the unexplainable. These stories are handed down from generation to generation and life on Mars will be no different.

WHY SHOULD I BACK IT?

An anthology often lives and dies on its theme, and I don't think I've seen an anthology theme in recent times more creative than sci-fi fairy tales and folklore. With a variety of stunning art styles and strong story concepts, this 80 page anthology promises to spark the imagination in every way you can think of and leave readers in awe of what life on the red planet might look like in its quietest moments.

#2 SIDEQUEST #5 (KICKSTARTER)

Writer: Grant Stoye

Artist: Alaire Racicot

Campaign Ends: October 18th

Status: 50% funded

PITCH:

Have you ever played a video game? Played a table-top role-playing game? Lost yourself in a book? Did you use that activity to escape reality for a bit, maybe blow off some steam? If so, you may relate to this book: when the stress of life gets to be too much for D'arik, he hooks up with his adventuring party to go on some quests! But what happens when he relies too much on escapism to cope? What happens when his choices begin to reflect his frustrations?

This is it, folks: the end of our arc! All the chips are on the table, and it comes down to choices from D'arik, his friends, and ultimately Barca. Which life will D'arik choose? Can his friends put an end to Barca's quest for vengeance? Who makes it out alive?

GRAB THE TISSUES AND FIND A STUFFED ANIMAL, THINGS ARE GONNA GET MESSY IN THIS 30-PAGE OVERSIZED FINALE!!

WHY SHOULD I BACK IT?

Sidequest is less a comic on Kickstarter and more an institution of excellence among the indie comic community. Improving with every issue (and starting out pretty strong), this is hands down the best D&D, swords and sorcery comic you can find anywhere, whether it's on a shelf by a major publisher or through a crowdfunding sight by a scrappy group of inspired storytellers. You'd be foolish not to get this comic in your hands!

Sharp Wit & the Company of Women, Cover by Tula Lotay

#1 SHARP WIT & THE COMPANY OF WOMEN (KICKSTARTER)

Editors: Brent Fisher & Michele Abounader

Campaign Ends: October 27th

Status: 69% Funded

PITCH:

Across millennia, society has preserved tradition through the use of storytelling. Our perception of the world, and each other, is held together by the glue of apocryphal heroes, villains, and larger than life figures that stand somewhere in-between.

Many tales that endure to this day begin and end at the point of a blade.

There's something about a hand-wielded weapon that invigorates the imagination. From the depths of antiquity, female heroes captivated the minds of those reading and listening. Women were leaders and keepers of wisdom. In many cultures, they were warriors of strength, will and acumen. In a time where the rights and autonomy of all women are threatened, this legacy must be reclaimed.

WHY SHOULD I BACK IT?

It's hard not to get excited for an anthology that unapologetically gives its audience everything they've been screaming for. A loudly LGBTQ collection of stories full of swashbuckling action, romance, and high pulp excitement. The enthusiasm around this project is infectious, and I invite you to lose yourself in the grandiose tempest that is Sharp Wit & the Company of Women.

HONORABLE MENTION:

• The Crow's Quill Magazine - Not a comic, but a gothic literary magazine run by some badass women that is dedicated to paying its contributors. Hell yeah! Ends October 13th.

*DISCLAIMER: Comics are selected from a very large pool of projects, some sent to us for review, some come across on the websites themselves. We tend to favor first issue comics by indie creators that haven't already hit their campaign goals 5 times over, so keep that in mind. While we feel this list is representative of projects most worth the time and money of a comic reader, it is by no means exhaustive and there are many, MANY more projects that you can and should explore on Crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter and Zoop.

-Wells Thompson, Resident Kickstarter Expert