300 Backers unlocked!
almost 5 years ago – Mon, Apr 26, 2021 at 11:21:11 PM

With thanks to all of you, we've crossed the 300 Backers line, which bulks the comic up from 48 pages to 64 pages in total!

Not only will this make room for an extensive sketchbook section, I've already discussed with the team about adding a short epilogue to the story itself, so a few extra pages of story as well!

This is obviously the case not only for the physical backers, but for all of the digital backers as well!

20K STRETCH GOAL

One of the two remaining stretch goals is the GATEFOLD PRINT by Wayne Nichols and Sean Ellery. We're roughly $1100 away from unlocking this one, and with 3 days to go, this might just get there!

25K STRETCH GOAL

This one isn't out of the question, but the HARD ENAMEL PIN will be a tall order at this stage, as it's about $6100 away from unlocking. But never say never!

Incidentally, the results are in from the earlier poll, and this design was by far the favourite among you:

For an indication of how this will look as a hard enamel pin, just take a look at the quality finish of the previous pin we made for my first kickstarter campaign:

DIGITAL ADD-ONS

If you've selected the DIGITAL comic reward, there are a couple of digital add-ons you might have missed:

For an extra $11, you can get a grab-bag of more digital comics, or for an extra $91 you can get a digital copy of every Killeroo book ever made! (this includes the recently remastered colour edition of SCARS, and the 4Horsemen crossover).

That's about it!

There's still plenty of SKETCH & COMIC rewards, one remaining CAMEO reward and an unlimited amount of the HALO SLABBED & SIGNED rewards too (which you can get any of the 4 covers slabbed and graded).

All the best!

-Daz

18k stretch goal UNLOCKED means more goodies for you!
almost 5 years ago – Sun, Apr 25, 2021 at 11:04:31 PM

 18k Stretch goal unlocked!

Yesterday we cruised past the 18k mark, which unlocks the Killeroo Beer coaster! I've seen samples of these from the last kickstarter I ran from the folks at Stickermule, and they're pretty great! Printed in full color on 60 pt. coaster board, these coasters will soak up condensation and keep your table dry for the next round.

I'm still working on the text that will go around the outer ring, trying to think of a fun brewing company name to go around the outer circle. 

Any suggestions? 

Leave a comment below and I might just use it!

10 BACKERS TO GO!

We need only 10 more backers to get to that magical 300 number, and when we get there, we'll be adding a whopping 16 bonus pages to the book! This gives us room for an extensive sketchbook section, to showcase Ignacio's process from thumbnail to pencils through to finished inks and colours!

That takes the total page count to 64 pages, up from 48 - that's 33% more comic for you!

The 20k stretch goal

The next monetary stretch goal is the Gatefold Print - drawn by Wayne Nichols and coloured by Sean Ellery. This is basically the same size as a comic book opened up, but you won't have to pull it out of the comic, they will come packaged together.

It's a dynamite Killeroo image that I really haven't published before, so this is an exclusive!

But we're still about $1500 away from unlocking it, so as always:

• Share the campaign to your friends on social media
• Talk about how much value that comes with just a single book pledge
• Consider some of the great add-ons available to increase your pledge

The higher we go, the more you get!

And remember, if we can unlock this print, the final stretch goal is the enamel pin!

More Kickstarters to check out:

Some great campaigns to check out here! Look at that artwork!

THIS LAND #1&2 INTO THE DEEP

What if you had the powers of a god? What would you do if the gods wanted that power back?

THIS LAND is a Post-apocalyptic reimagining of a lands relationship with its gods  and how the future looks to the past to rebuild its present.  Moana meets the X-men in a future New Zealand.  Gods and Monsters will clash, Secret histories will be revealed and the world of this land will be broken.

STELLAR ODYSSEY

Fans of Sci Fi Fantasy properties like Star Wars, Firefly, The Expanse & Cowboy Bebop will want to check out Stellar Odyssey. On the run after stealing a rare plant that heals maladies, Atilla Banks and his crew of smugglers are desperately trying to keep the "herb of Marmuke" safe until they can meet up with their mystery client while also being tracked by bounty hunters. While in route they get roadblocked by a Knight of Belaterra that knows all about Atilla and his crew. The Knight is unwilling to let them pass, he's intent on bringing the criminal smugglers to justice. It's a showdown between the swordsman and the gunslinger and the bounty hunters want in on the action too!

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Thanks for reading!

-Daz

Closing in on 300 Backers...
almost 5 years ago – Sun, Apr 25, 2021 at 01:41:39 AM

Who wants 16 more pages?

If we get to 300 BACKERS in total by campaign's end, you all get an extra 16 pages of book!

Ignacio's art is truly something to behold, and in order to see his process from thumbnails to pencils to finished inks and colours, we just need 17 more backers!

So start spreading the word to your friends and social networks to get us across the line!

DOUBLE-BACKER PRINTS

Today the last of our double-backer prints launched, with the new campaign for GREED live now.

Dustin Brunell's GREED

STILL AVAILABLE

The other TWO double-backer prints are still available, being for:

Ben Slabak's AHMOSE: BOOK 1

and Big Tim Stiles' GORILLA MY DREAMS.

As detailed above - all you need to do is back this Kickstarter, and theirs - and this will get you both prints.

More great Kickstarters!

Here's a few great-looking campaigns you might have missed:

SPARROW #1

Sparrow is the first step into a new exciting universe of heroes and villains! Starring Alaina Yuen, the daughter of the worlds most legendary heroes of the past. She’ll find herself at odds with her father and a new wave of villainy when she decides to become Sparrow and follow in her parents heroic footsteps. A new legacy is born in SPARROW #1!

SUNDOWN: THE BOOKS OF JERICHO

Some truths should be left in the dark.

Over the years, Jericho thought he’d seen and fought it all—werewolves, wendigos, and doomsday cults—but now he finds himself face-to-face with a 500-year-old vampire.

Still reeling from his escape from the FBI, Jericho’s called in to investigate a mysterious death with no leads but millions of witnesses: an Instagram model murdered during her own live stream.

Remaining Stretch Goals

Nearly there, folks!

-Daz

One week to go! Can we make it to 25k?
almost 5 years ago – Thu, Apr 22, 2021 at 05:03:03 PM

Just (roughly) seven days to go!

I like to aim high, so we're still aiming for the 25k mark by campaign's end, with a pretty great reward item to shoot for (see poll below).

But for now let's look at what's coming up, which is both the 18K stretch goal, and the 300 Backer stretch goal.

We're currently about $700 away from unlocking this one. I'm still finalising the design for this one, going to add some text around the circle to give it a brewery feel. Got any suggestions? Leave them in the comments below!

These will be made by Stickermule, and have a really authentic textured cardboard feel to them. Perfect for keeping those coffee stains off your desk!

This is a BIG stretch goal, which upgrades the page count of the book itself. We'll be adding a detailed sketchbook section, showing Ignacio's process from thumbnail to finished page, and showcase a bunch of the great promotional art he has drawn specifically as part of this campaign.

Here's a mockup of what the design of these pages might look like:

POLL: Which pin design is your favourite?

We're still a fair way off, but if we can make it to the 25k mark by the end of the campaign, you'll get a really sweet HARD ENAMEL PIN as part of your backer rewards!

Ignacio has put together 5 different designs to choose from, so we're running a poll to find out which is the most popular. Click the image to go to the poll!

A word from our sponsor, part 2

Here's some comments from my collaborator and buddy, the writer of SEMPER FIDELIS, Matthew Soall:

What can I say other than, "Holy f***king crap, you guys did it!" Fully funded in less than 24 hours! It speaks volumes of the trust and support that Killeroo fans, WCIA fans, family and friends--and yes even the wondering Kickstarter stranger--have given us by backing this wonderful project. 

This first started after I contacted Darren to see if he would mind guesting on our Patreon interview series for my podcast Weird Crap in Australia. One of the many intriguing things about our chat was that Darren said he often took pitches from different creative teams who worked on various Killeroo projects. 

I had worked with Ignacio Di Meglio on a ton of design work from our WCIA t-shirts to the book cover for our first book WCIA Vol. 1 and on the sly I said to him, "How would you feel pitching with me on a Killeroo comic?" He could not have been more enthusiastic.

So I pitched a story idea to Darren, who gave me a resounding no. Okay, heart breaking a little, I say, "Well, what if I dropped this and did this?"

"Mmm, no, but what about Killeroo in the bush hunting Marines like the Predator?"

"Yes, Darren, yes. I think I can write that." 

See, Darren is the kind of guy who knows every single notion of his character, its world, and what and what would not occur in that world. What Darren also knows is how to encourage and nurture enthusiasm when it comes to independent creators. So a "No" from Darren is not a "No, I won't work with you," it's just the start of finding a project that you will be working on.

In writing this amazing book, I wanted to deliver on two promises. One, give Killeroo fans a complete Killeroo adventure in one single glorious graphic novel-type tale. The second was to recreate that amazing 80's action aesthetic that we either experienced as young adults or, in my case, experienced as re-runs on network television. I'm proud to say that Killeroo: Semper Fi nails it. 

So thank you to Darren for giving me this chance. Thank you to Ignacio for embarking on this adventure as a complete professional who is wise beyond his years and the best artist a writer could have. Thank you to my creative partner, life partner, editor and 24-hour supporter, my wife Holly Soall.

And last, but not least, thank you to everyone who has contributed your hard-earned money towards this project. We live in difficult times and so your support for us and this entire project is something remarkable that I will never forget.

-MATTHEW SOALL

More Kickstarters to check out!

 Both of these look really great, I'd check them out if I were you!

BLOOM - THE ORIGIN OF A PROPHET
 The year is 1969. Ramsey is an aspiring comic book artist who is trying to find inspiration for his femme fatale. When he meets wild dancer, Regina, at a street fair he invites her into the woods for a character photoshoot where she begins to break on through to the other side. Witness the psycho-delic origin of the most powerful character in the Hero Tomorrow Comics universe. A mind-bending 4 issue journey to reshape your reality!

BUSY LITTLE BEES

Myna is housed in a secure unit owned by her wealthy family. Her brother, Sebastian, is the only one who visits, the only one who believes she can recover. After securing a harpsichord, an instrument they played in their youth, he hopes to calm her mind with an impromptu concert at the unit. The night, however, holds its own surprises.

Written by Marielle Bouleau, with art by Emiliano Correa, colours by Willi Roberts and letters by Rob Jones, Busy Little Bees is a supernatural thriller full of twists.

The Last Leg

Not gonna lie, reaching that 25k goal is going to take a pretty huge week to get there. But I'm optimistic, I think it's achievable if you'll all help me to boost the campaign to your friends! 

If you'll help us to get there,  that hard enamel pin is a pretty great reward for your efforts! :)

Thanks again folks!

-Daz

THE LAST 10 DAYS!
almost 5 years ago – Tue, Apr 20, 2021 at 06:46:37 PM

And now, a word from our sponsors...

You've certainly heard from me enough throughout this campaign, I thought you might like to hear from my partners in crime - first up is artist Ignacio Di Meglio.

IGNACIO:

What can I say besides thank you from the bottom of my  extremely nerd heart? 

Well buckle up, because this cartoonist likes to rant. This is my first crowdfunding campaign. The day before we launched I was so nervous I could barely sleep. I was afraid we weren´t going to hit our goal. 

This feeling didn´t have anything to do with our amazing creative team nor our awesome project. No, my fear came from a notion that my art wasn´t good enough and people weren´t going to respond well to it. 

I kept messaging Matt and Daz (we are 12 hours apart so imagine how annoying that can be) and they, always supportive, helped me to keep my insecurities in check. And then we launched and I was blown away by the response people had to our project. Getting fully funded in less than 24 hours was incredible. Flabbergasted is the word that, even today, keeps coming to my mind. 

This campaign has become a barrage of emotions and producing new original art for the backers and stretch goals, prints, cross campaigns, trading cards, etc... I´m overwhelmed by the positivity of everything that´s going on. I couldn´t imagine these results in my wildest dreams and now it´s all a reality. 

I owe all of this to Matt and Holly for always having faith in me. They keep bringing me on the most amazing creative adventures and I love it. I owe it to Daz for letting Matt and I play with his awesome toys. 

But, most of all, we owe it to you, the people that support us and help us make our dreams come true. To all of you thank you so very much. My gratitude towards you is infinite because you have given me a new level of confidence I didn´t think I could achieve.  I´ll certainly talk a lot more about this in the podcast we will soon be doing about our experience with this comic project you all help us bring to fruition.  

(Just in case you are wondering, it´s pronounced Eeg-Nah-See-Oh Dee-Meh-Glee-Oh.)

With just 10 days to go, how far can we go?

We'd really like to get to the 25k mark if we can, to unlock something like this:

The hard enamel pin from the first Kickstarter campaign I ran was by far the most well-received item we made, and Ignacio would love to design a companion piece to this great quality item (made right here in Melbourne).

If we reach the 25k mark, this new pin would be part of every physical backer reward. 

But it's going to take a fairly herculean effort to get there, and we'll need your help to promote the campaign for us!

Please:

• Share the campaign on your facebook & twitter page
• Message your friends that you think would also enjoy the book
• Upgrade your pledge to grab some of the great add-ons available

The higher we go, the more unlocked goodies we can send your way!

Remaining high-level rewards

There's a number of the big rewards still available, including:

COMIC & SKETCH

Ignacio has drawn a bunch of original A5 sketches, and you can get one sent with your choice of cover for the comic book - an original artwork all the way from Argentina!

SLABBED & SIGNED

For the serious collector, you can get your copy (and your choice of cover) of the book graded and protected by the good folks at HALO Certifications, and with thanks to GRAIL HUNTERS AUSTRALIA, it comes with a custom header made especially for this campaign. You'll also get a second copy of the book, so you'll have a reading copy too.

GET DRAWN INTO THE BOOK - $290

There's only ONE cameo left, which will see your likeness drawn into one of the scenes in the book. You'll also get an A5 sketch by Ignacio, the PDF Bundle of 12 comic books, and all of the unlocked stretch goals.

And don't forget, we have a great range of ADD-ONS available, with extra comics, t-shirts and more - just click the MANAGE YOUR PLEDGE button to add them to your order.

Kickstarters ending soon!

Here's a couple of campaigns ending soon, be sure to check them out while there's still time!

We Are Scarlet Twilight

A comic inspired by golden age comic pulp and cyberpunk aesthetics.

Enter the story's hero-- Captain Lancet. He's a 1930's All-American  crime buster* who accidentally creates the world's greatest villain  before waking up a century in the future. He'll need to adjust to a  strange new world-- Fritz Lang's Metropolis with some cyberpunk dystopia  sprinkled in-- if he wants to overthrow the totalitarian vampire cult  that now dominates the future.

Kickstarter Link: http://kck.st/3cmWfRx

Tavern of Dreams

Tavern of Dreams is a beautifully illustrated hardcover novel that is often described as "Night at the Museum" meets "Lord of the Rings". This novel takes you on a journey as you delve deep into the mysteries that haunt the quaint and friendly Grumpy Lion Tavern.  

This tavern is no ordinary tavern. Magical things happen at night when everyone sleeps hence the name "Tavern of Dreams".

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Thanks again for your support, folks!

-Daz