As shelter-in-place orders continue to impact businesses of all shapes and sizes, an all-star list of female comics creators have come together to support female and non-binary comic book retailers.
Jen King, owner of Space Cadet Collections in Texas, will administer The Insider Art: Female Comic Book Retailer Fund, which will raise money in three key ways:
- A digital comics anthology, details on which you can find below.
- An Insider Art fabric: Two fabrics will beavailable in the coming months via Spoonflower — one featuring cat art by noted comic book professionals, and another by a host of young female artists.
- An auctions of exclusive artwork, signed prints and various collectibles: King, who is also host of CBSN, her Comic Book Shopping Network FaceBook Channel, will run auctions, live on FaceBook and on eBay, to raise money.
“We couldn’t think of a better way to acknowledge the female comic book retailers who are on the front lines every day, spreading the good word about our favorite medium,” said former Vertigo and Black Crown editor Shelly Bond, who helped put the project into motion. “Over 50 female comic book creators have donated their time and mad skills to support female retailers who have lost incredible amounts of money due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Here’s how the press release describes the anthology: Chock-full of crafts, comics & cats, INSIDER ART is a digital anthology designed to entertain readers of all ages who are stuck indoors or just in search of new creative outlets. Set within the walls of eight different rooms in one peculiar house, eight editors were tasked to curate and edit comics, prose, games and how-to crafts. From recipes for comfort food and quarantine bread, to attic treasures and a brief history of Garage Rock, INSIDER ART is guaranteed to conquer the tedium of the great indoors.
“Creative people have a need to share stories, ideas, projects, and the love of making things. Insider Art is a way for us to help each other, to make new things, tell new stories, give each other hope and support in a pretty scary time,” said editor and writer Mariah McCourt.
Contributors include Gail Simone, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Stephanie Hans, Lilah Sturges, Janet K. Lee, Trina Robbins, Lola the Illustrator, Myriam Bloom, Jessi Jordan, Amanda Gonzalez, Tini Howard, Chynna Clugston Flores, Magdalene Visaggio, Margaux Saltel and Vita Ayala, among others.
The 200-page anthology will be available via Gumroad using a “pay what you want” model. It will come out in June.
“I’m super proud of what Shelly Bond and the seven editors have achieved in such a short time, in assembling the talented creators that are giving from their heart and soul for this project,” King said. “I am thrilled to be able to use my skills to help turn these unique donated items into money to help female comic store owners pay the bills during this difficult time.”
For more information, visit the Insider Art website.
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