Crowdsourced Projects – Page 2

Get your claws on a large format Ploog & Bisley “Thicker Than Blood” art book

There’s nothing I despise more than a tiny-ass art book. Ink all piled up on the middle of minuscule pages like pepper on a playing card because you don’t respect the art? Get your small format reproductions away from me. I don’t want to see it. Get me a nice big tome like this new Thicker Than Blood art book from FPG.

Thicker Than Blood is a three-issue comic series written by Simon Reed, with pencils by Mike Ploog and paints by Simon Bisley. For an overview of the story and an assessment of why the series is considered a stand-out effort, may I direct you to this Werewolf News review from 2011. Suffice it to say that what grabbed most folks’ attention was the art, which is what this new book depicts, at its original size and in a variety of states.

This will be a large hardcover book that measures 12” x 17”. We will take full advantage of this format by reproducing Mike’s graphic pen and ink pages on the left-hand page and Simon’s richly painted artwork on the right-hand page. So, each and every cover and interior page can be compared and enjoyed in both mediums; one right next to the other!

This is a Kickstarter project but it’s already 200% funded with over a month to go on the campaign, so chipping in at this point is essentially a pre-order. Every pledge tier – ranging from $10 to $175 – gets you a copy of the book, so if you’re an interested party, your only quandary is just how fancy you want to be.

Thanks to Doruk Golcu for the link, and apologies to the Internet in general for the following – my first and last foray into the world of Drake memes.

Angela Quinton Jul. 18th 2017

“Can I Pet Your Werewolf?” anthology full of werewolves you can (try) to befriend (or smooch)

Werewolf depictions fall on a spectrum ranging from “murder monster” to “fluffy friend”. I tend to prefer the former, but every now and then something comes along – a children’s book or a plush toy – that makes me say “aw, how sweet”, followed by “aw, shit, I definitely have to post about this”.

Kel McDonald and Molly Muldoon are co-editing an anthology of “cute or goofy” werewolf stories (predominantly or maybe exclusively in comic format) called Can I Pet Your Werewolf? It’ll be available as a PDF and as a physical book, funded by a Kickstarter campaign that’s currently on pace to be 100% funded in less than two weeks.

Can I Pet Your Werewolf? is a light-hearted anthology featuring tales of friendship, family, and romance shared between those who get hairy under a full moon. Just because they have sharp teeth and claws doesn’t mean they have to be a monster out for blood. It is organized by Kel McDonald (Sorcery 101 and Misfits of Avalon) and co-edited by Kel McDonald and Molly Muldoon.

It contains 160 black and white pages of stories by Alina Pete, Aud Koch, Kendra Wells, Mariah McCourt, Aliz Fernández, Meredith McClaren, Monica Gallagher, Rashad Doucet, Rhiannon Rasmussen-Silverstein, Cat Farris, Seanan McGuire, Caitlin Like, Shauna Grant, Sophie Goldstein, and Zach Lehner. Stretch goals include radical concepts like “paying our contributors more”, plus goodies for you in the form of art prints by additional artists like Abby Howard and Nina Matsumoto.

One of the backer reward levels includes a print by Melanie Ujimori and I really hope it’s the “werewolf pile” cover art she did. It takes a lot to make me post a “tfw” or “this is me” tweet, but folks, this is me.

I would describe Kel McDonald as “insanely hyper-competent” when it comes to publishing stuff through Kickstarter, so I have no doubt that this new project will be an adorable success. Check it out!

Thanks to @BlondieSheep and @eatyourlipstick for the link!

Angela Quinton Jun. 7th 2017

Indie werewolf horror comic “WereWolf Run” shows why putting “werewolf attack” on your auto insurance is a good idea

WereWolf Run is a four-issue indie horror comic written and drawn by Daniel Leister, an artist who’s turned his dream of a self-created “good and bloody werewolf story” into 100 pages of werewolf horror, gunfire and lovingly-rendered entrails.

As a comic book artist for the past 10 years, I’ve worked on such books as Hack/Slash, Army of Darkness vs. Hack/Ash, the Wonderland series, and the recently funded Lord of Gore. WereWolf Run isn’t the first comic book that I’ve done, but it is the first comic that I’ve completely written and illustrated myself.

Last year Leister ran a successful Kickstarter campaign to help fund the title’s production, with the primary reward being print and digital copies of the completed graphic novel. Production is a little behind schedule, (owing to the happy arrival of a second child and a colourist who acquired a day job) but I don’t think that’s a big problem. Lots of solo or small-staffed Kickstarter projects miss their deadlines, but as long as communication’s good and the backer community is kept informed, the end result is usually worth the wait. Judging by the steady stream of updates and art he’s posting on the campaign update page and Twitter, Leister’s working his ass off.

I’ve read the first issue and it reminds me of something Stephen King would’ve written in the early 1980s. Sometimes bad things happen to people for no reason, or through a series of coincidences, or because a government transport truck does a Mario Kart banana peel wipeout on the body of a (disturbingly graphic) injured deer. The werewolf doesn’t make an appearance in that issue, but from the sketches and additional pages Leister’s shared, I can tell I’m really going to like the design.

So where can you get WereWolf Run if you missed the Kickstarter?

Head over here to read the first half (or so) of the first issue,
visit Leister’s Patreon to get a PDF of the whole first issue for free (no money required), plus lots of behind-the-scene sketches and ongoing updates as pages are finished (money required, but come on, it’s two dollars), or
pre-order the completed graphic novel and forget about it until the whole thing arrives in your inbox (or mailbox).

Angela Quinton Jun. 5th 2017

Crowdsourced werewolf movie “Bonehill Road” seems very successful and a little weird

The crowdfunding campaign for Bonehill Road, a “fun, scary old school style monster flick” from Todd Sheets, has a week to go and it’s 429% funded.

Bonehill Road is my newest film. It is an homage to classic monster films like The Howling and An American Werewolf In London. In some ways, it is a throwback to the films we grew up with… the real horror movies that we all love so much, and in another way it is a modern horror flick that uses old school techniques, including Practical Monster Effects. NO CGI at all here. Our goal is to make an exciting, scary monster movie with some really cool werewolves. Every dime will be put into the monsters. This whole campaign is ALL about the werewolves. We have our base Budget and distribution is already in place, we just need extra funds for our creature effects. If we are lucky enough to go OVER the budget listed here, we will use every dime for more effects and production costs. No salaries are ever taken by me, the director. EVERY dime will be put on screen, so the more money we have, the better. This budget listed was our BARE MINIMUM for extra creature stuff. But if we go OVER what was listed, that is simply amazing and it will mean MORE Monsters, MORE special effects, MORE stunts… a bigger and better movie!!!!!

This project has generated a lot of interest from Werewolf News readers and grindhouse horror fans in general. I can definitely see the appeal of practical creature effects, and there’s no doubt that Sheets has made his bones in the world of low-budget monster movies, but I don’t know if this project is for me.

They’re leaning heavily into the practical effects, which the campaign updates say are being handled by GDS-Fx. The GDS-Fx Facebook page has lots of photos showing the two masks that have been created so far, and they look appropriately grotesque. Curiously, the campaign also shows (uncredited) photos of pre-made werewolf suits, including a $1,700 Midnight Studios FX werewolf suit with the caption “this is one of the Werewolf suits we will be getting with YOUR help!!!” They obviously want as many werewolves as possible in the film, which, hell yeah, but it seems strange to have them all look so different.

Then there’s the fact that they’re leading off with unlicensed Narnia concept art, there’s no plot summary or story cues mentioned anywhere, and they’re making a character’s non-humanity (“a very cool TRANSFORMATION scene of a WOMAN into a Werewolf!!!”) a stretch goal. The whole concept seems a little… unfinished.

Nevertheless, I’m all for more werewolf movies, and I wish Sheets and his crew all the best.

Angela Quinton May. 3rd 2017

Help indie werewolf film “Betsy” raise a few bonus bucks for better blood and beasts

There are three days left to help nudge the Indiegogo campaign for Concept Media‘s indie werewolf movie “Betsy” across the finish line. Written by Shawn Burkett (who also directs) and Ayse Howard, the film boasts a great visual identity, a solid cast, and a… well, not a stunning plot, based on the synopsis, but you never know.

The story follows a young woman “Betsy/Kelci C. Magel” who survived a violent attack while leaving work [according to an older synopsis she’s an escort – AQ]. After a month Betsy has relocated to a new town with her friend “Kayte/Marylee Osborne”.

A new town. New friends. A fresh start. However, as the full moon gets closer something begins clawing it’s way into her new life.

The film’s core budget was covered by a prior crowdfunding effort; this campaign is looking to raise an extra $1,000 to help pay for better costumes, practical effects and cast/crew expenses. As of this post, they’ve raised $878. They’re not asking for a lot, and they plan to shoot in late February and get it into festivals by May, so they’re not wasting time, either. Check out the campaign and the Betsy Facebook page for more info.

Thanks to Michael P and Somnilux for the links!

Angela Quinton Jan. 30th 2017

Chloe Borders Werewolf Plush Update

Chloe Borders’s Autumn 2016 werewolf plush Kickstarter wasn’t successful, but both Chloe and I have faith in this excellent boy, and he will return! Chloe’s bringing him back with a new Kickstarter campaign in Spring 2017, timed to line up with tax return season and increased cash flow from potential backers. The new campaign will feature an updated prototype and additional rewards like enamel pins and these 3″ weather-proof stickers she just had made.

I was a giddy proponent of the original campaign and I know many Werewolf News readers were too. I’ll be posting about (and pledging to) the new campaign as soon as it launches, but if you’d like to get details from Chloe as they become available, ~~you can sign up for her werewolf plush mailing list~~.

Update: mailing list signups have has been disabled, but you can get the latest in the original campaign’s Update section, where Chloe continues to share new info.

Angela Quinton Dec. 19th 2016

Bernie Wrightson “Cycle of the Werewolf” Art Portfolio on Kickstarter

Bernie Wrightson and Nakatomi, Inc are collaborating on a deluxe fine art portfolio of Wrightson’s artwork for Stephen King’s 1984 calendar-turned-book, Cycle of the Werewolf.

This Kickstarter project is to fund a high-quality artist edition collection of the full color illustrations from Cycle of the Werewolf as a print set, along with a book collecting the Black and White illustrations and never-before printed concept and process sketches.

This campaign is less than two days old and it’s already raised over $45,000 against a $12,000 goal, with many of its limited quantity higher-tier rewards quickly on the way to being sold out. Those extra rewards include a 2017 calendar, a 1984 calendar(!), a t-shirt, and a special boxed set of prints featuring a real (inert) silver bullet and original hand-drawn Cycle of the Werewolf art from Bernie’s archives. Some images of the 2017 calendar reward and Bernie’s concept sketches are below.

The campaign ends on November 11th, and Nakatomi, Inc is optimistic that they can have backer rewards in the mail in time for those 2017 calendars to be hung on walls by January 1st.

I resisted the PCS Howling statue pre-order, but my financial restraint has crumbled. Cycle of the Werewolf stands with An American Werewolf in London and The Real Ghostbusters Now Comics #5 as a catalyst for a young AQ’s werewolf fandom. I simply can’t ignore the chance to own such high-quality editions of this artwork.

Thanks to Doruk G. for telling me about this!

Angela Quinton Oct. 13th 2016

The best werewolf plush I’ve ever seen is now on Kickstarter

Let’s not mince words: Chloe Borders has designed the best plush werewolf I’ve ever seen, and I want him. This boy is so grumpy, cute and well-designed that I want three, in fact, and the only thing standing in my way is a 35-day Kickstarter campaign.

Writes Chloe (@ZennyBleats on Twitter):

For my first ever Kickstarter, and designed plush, I’d like to introduce the werewolf! The werewolf is 10 inches tall and made from soft minky fabric… All rewards are exclusive to this Kickstarter, so if you pledge, you can say you own something that’s one of a kind!

Chloe has a goal of $11,000 USD and she’s raised over 10% of that in the first few hours. Much like the other plush animal Kickstarter I’ve recently pledged to, this campaign is not bogged down with a ton of gimmicky extras. You can garnish your pledge with some werewolf stickers and/or buttons if you want, and there are some glow-in-the-dark stretch goals, but every pledge level above $5 is focussed on getting one (or more) of these boys into your house (and mine)!

Click over to the Kickstarter campaign for a look at the extras, and for your chance to get one of these werewolf plushes for an early-bird discount!

Angela Quinton Aug. 28th 2016

HOWL CON 2017 is going big & it wants you

My wife and I were guests/vendors/attendees at HOWL CON 2015, a werewolf convention just across the river from Portland, Oregon, and it was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. After a year off, the organizers have regrouped with an Indiegogo campaign to bring HOWL CON back to Portland over the weekend of February 4th, 2017.

If it’s successful, this campaign will help HOWL CON turn into something even better than the future I imagined in my effusive 2015 post. May I suggest that you pledge at the $40 level to get your two-day pass, then mark your calendar?

From the campaign:

The global community of werewolf lovers has their very own convention . . . sometimes. Hi, I’m Stephen, and I produced two HOWL CON events in 2012 and 2015. Hundreds of lunatics just like you got our socks charmed off by GRIMM’s Silas Weir Mitchell, line-moshed in costume to GrimWolf‘s blood-boiling werewolf metal, laughed ourselves silly at the instant cult classic film Wolf Cop, and raised money & awareness for Wolf Haven International.

Those were great cons, but behind the scenes they were pretty threadbare, achieved on charm, cussedness, and borrowed capabilities. If we’re going to howl together again, especially in the wake of 2016’s failure to launch, let’s do it without begging pardons or cutting corners.

If they can reach their $15,000 USD goal in the next two months, they’ll be able to mount the convention at an ideal scale and with guests they really want to bring to werewolf fans. As Stephen says, though, even if they only make the halfway mark, they’ll have “the wherewithal to secure a hotel and book featured guests, and a regular pre-registration campaign will have August-January to finish the job.”

Frankly, $15k is a tiny amount of money considering the amazing time it would fund, and I would like to see them hit at least 200% of their goal. Even if you can’t make it, you can support the convention as an Absent Packmate or Absent VIP, which is a cool concept.

I want to go to HOWL CON 2017, but more importantly, I want you to go. Check out the campaign, share it with your friends, and start planning your trip. See you there!

Angela Quinton Jul. 6th 2016

A surly werewolf in the bathtub: “Wilde Life” Volume One

Add ongoing comic Wilde Life by Pascalle Lepas to the growing list of things I should be reading.

Oscar rented an old house off craigslist, then things got weird…

First it was meeting the ghost of a 1940s mathematician in the upstairs hallway, then it was finding a teenage werewolf in the bathtub. Now Oscar doesn’t know what will show up next. Maybe that’s okay, as long as nothing eats him.

Wilde Life is a supernatural adventure/horror series set in a small town in rural Oklahoma. It focuses on stories about creatures from Native American mythology as witnessed and documented by a journalist from Chicago, Illinois.

It launched on September 29th, 2014 and is written and illustrated by Pascalle Lepas.

You can read the whole thing from the start (almost 200 pages!) online for free right now, and there’s an already-funded Kickstarter for the first volume running until March 15th. If you like what people are making, try to support them!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lepas/wilde-life-volume-one

Angela Quinton Feb. 18th 2016