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The Details on Zoop, A New Crowdfunding Platform for Comic Book Creators!

Zoop’s plans to open their platform to everyone in the comic book and publishing world.

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Visit the website here.

There’s a new crowdfunding platform called Zoop which is specifically tailored for comic book creators to get their works published in a timely manner. This alternative is now live and one of the first books to be featured is Slow City Blues, an Indiana Jones-style action adventure with Who Framed Roger Rabbit-esque insanity to boot! This series will run for five issues and features the talents of Samuel Haine (creator), Shawn Moll (Black Panther), John Livesay (The Flash) and David Baron (JLA) with many cover artists contributing. This title has been years in the making and many fans, myself included, is excited to see this hit the stretch!

The people behind this platform plan to start with a curated site featuring notable creators with “original” ideas they want to get published. Sometimes the big names aren’t interested for one reason or another. I’m glad the independent scene have options. It used to be with the big two–Kickstarter and Indiegogo–but sometimes these entities don’t step in when problems arise and the fans are mad. They also take a considerable cut and the creators don’t earn the money they deserve. I’m more hesitant these days because of this fact and most have delivered despite personal health or other issues preventing delivery. Tech goods are a different beast altogether as sometimes these ideas and those people disappear, taking away the money of those supporters and there’s little recourse.

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How to Bridge a Peace in Beasts of Burden: Occupied Territory #3

The first issue was merely a tease, the second dealt with tanukis and witches, the third goes deep with Kappas, Kitsune, Yamawaros and many more. This release may well be the Mononoke Hime of the franchise, as it deals with some overarching themes from the Ghibli anime in a subtler context.

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Dark Horse Comics
Available Now

Spoiler Alert

The many yokai that Emerys has to face in Beasts of Burden: Occupied Territory shows that not even the weight of the world can stop him in his obligation to keep the humans safe. I’ve skipped looking at an issue because there’s still a lot to address in this mini-series and I knew #3 will focus on more than the rising action. This latest tale by Evan Dorkin and Sarah Dyer nicely introduces readers to the supernatural side of Japan. Benjamin Dewey’s style remains beautifully solid, and this latest shows he can bring a tear to this reader’s eye.

The first issue was merely a tease, the second dealt with tanukis and witches, the third goes deep with Kappas, Kitsune, Yamawaros and many more. This release may well be the Mononoke Hime of the franchise, as it deals with some overarching themes from the Ghibli anime in a subtler context.

Continue reading “How to Bridge a Peace in Beasts of Burden: Occupied Territory #3”

Fandom Events for the Lower Mainland & Greater Victoria Region Update

The countdown is on! Cosplayers have more time to fine tune and make their wear as best as they can be, and the silver lining is that with patience, these mass gatherings can resume without restriction.

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Two more fandom events in Victoria and Vancouver, BC have confirmed they won’t be taking place in 2021. They made the announcement this week, and the list may continue to grow. Potential fatalities on this list include Sidney, BC’s Van Isle Comic Con and Westshore’s Phenomacon; little activity exists on their social media channels.

Capital City Comic Con decided February of this year–a weird call only a month away from their traditional date–and the sister event, Victoria BC’s Ultimate Hobby & Toy Fair, is not happening for the spring season. If restrictions lift for Autumn, this event may take place. But that depends on how many people are vaccinated as the pandemic is well into its second year. The good news is that the dates for 2022 have been booked. To keep up with the situation, please visit their Facebook page.

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When Stranger Things Hit Dungeons and Dragons Dead On

I get the sense that each issue of Stranger Things and Dungeons and Dragons will not only follow the boy’s life through school but also trace this game’s legacy up to but before advanced edition.

Stranger Things and Dungeons & Dragons Dark Horse Comics
Available Now

Spoiler Alert

Anyone who wants to know how Dungeons and Dragons enriched the lives of the boys from Stranger Things are advised to pick up the comic book! Jody Houser and Jim Zub‘s tale is familiar. Although they are not yet fully a team (Dustin joins in the fun midway), I remember how I was introduced to the game by my friends and how I scrimped for money to buy the various editions. Although this tale sees them play in the school cafeteria and the clubhouse, I had the school library of all places!

The game introduced me to the fantastic. It eventually led to me discovering the myths and legends that inspired this game—including how it inspires the modern day pop culture—and I never looked back. I loved exploring the past and started writing about the fantastic. Back then, one of my favourite films was Dragonslayer.

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Mainframe Entertainment Digitizes the Comic Con Experience

Image may contain: text that says 'MAINERAME MAINERAME LIVE COMIC ONLINE APRIL 25-26 CON MainfameComicon.com' Having the Comic Con blues? Was San Diego’s online event not enough? Mainframe’s event kicks off today and everything will take place in real time. This experience is for fans of comics, pop culture, wrestling and more. All panels can be attended by fans for free, by visiting https://www.mainframecomiccon.com.

The convention experience will also include artist alley shopping and live comic book auctions. All donations made to Mainframe Comic Con will support the Hero Initiative, the first-ever federally chartered not-for-profit corporation dedicated strictly to helping comic book creators in need.

“The current health crisis has resulted in the cancellation of conventions and fan events worldwide, leaving the fandom community eager for something new, while remaining in the safety and comfort of their own homes,” said Mainframe Comic Con Co-Creator Chad Ramsden.

This event’s live format allows for audience questions and fan interaction with their favorite celebrities and comic creators. Fans can also purchase private celebrity meet & greets–which may very well be the norm for events until the world has proper safety measures in store to allow for real contact.

Media guests include cast members of AMC’s NOS4A2, cast members of the iconic Justice League animated show (Phil Lamarr, Clancy Brown, George Newbern, Michael Rosenbaum, Carl Lumbly, Susan Eisenberg, Maria Canals-Barrera & Andrea Romano), Clancy Brown Ozark‘s Lisa Emery, and Batman‘s Robert Wuhl. Comic book creators include Brian Bendis, Sophie Campbell, Al Ewing, Matt Fraction, KellySue DeConnick, Jock, Tom King, Jonboy Meyers, Paolo Rivera, Mark Waid, and Chip Zdarsky.

Panels will feature publishers including AHOY Comics, Albatross Funnybooks, AMA, Archie Comics, Heavy Metal Magazine, Humanoids, IDW, Magnetic Press, Source Point Press, and Top Cow, and showcase projects including THE BUSINESS OF INDEPENDENT COMIC BOOK PUBLISHING and INSIDER ART.

“Mainframe Comic Con is the biggest virtual convention space ever created, with four separate panel halls, each streaming 16 hours of live, Q&A panels,” said Mainframe Comic Con Co-Creator Chuck Lindsay. “What’s exciting is that fans will have the ability to go from one panel to the next with no lines. And if you miss a panel like The Walking Dead Cast Party, featuring more than twenty members of the cast coming together for a first-of-its-kind online dance party, you don’t need to worry, because all Mainframe Comic Con panels will be posted next week on YouTube.”

Having New Comic Book Release Day Woes? Fret not, True Believers!

Home Page - Back the Comeback After more than a month of no new books of sequential art to admire, some geeks are most likely truly suffering from cabin fever. Diamond Comic Distributors and Alliance Game Distributors have officially restarted distribution and many comic book and game stores are starting to reopen safely, following a pause and temporary closure of many retailers amid stay-at-home orders across many countries.

With new comics and games starting to ship to eager stores and fans, consumers can look forward to games from WizKids, Renegade Studios, Wizards of the Coast, and others as well as new stories from Image Comics, Dark Horse Comics, IDW Publishing, BOOM! Studios, Dynamite Entertainment, Marvel and DC Comics, among others in the coming weeks.

While this Back the Comeback campaign is very specific to operations in the United States, we shouldn’t stop there. In Canada, the UK, Australia and other points in between, the operations here also need fandom’s help.

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