By Autumn Daughetee
Kymera Press is dedicated to expanding the role of women in comics. It celebrates women creators, writers and artists. Kymera’s first project is Gates of Midnight, a comic book about a female combat paramedic, Raven Moon, who returns from Afghanistan to discover a supernatural world in her own hometown. She now has to fight gods and monsters to protect our world.
Now, Kymera Press is initiating a Kickstarter campaign to fund additional projects. The campaign will kick off on June 13. Before the campaign gets going, I’d like to share some of its objectives with you. Here is a brief synopsis of what your Kickstarter contributions could create.
Graphic Novel of Gates of Midnight
Kymera Press has already produced issues 1-4 or Gates of Midnight. If we reach our goal, your Kickstarter contribution would fund issues 5-8. These would be collected together with the first four issues in a Gates of Midnight graphic novel. The graphic novel will also feature additional material—stories, artwork, special character insights—for added value. We will take Raven on an incredible journey with your help.
Stretch Goal #1/$75,000
If Kymera Press is able to reach its first stretch goal of $75,000 raised, we will be able to fund an additional project. Reaching this goal means that one of these projects will become a reality.
Furious, a Comic Book Series
You can help bring a proposed original series to life as a comic book. Furious, the proposed series, reinvents the Furies of Greek mythology as identical triplet sisters, Karen, Kathy and Kira. Raised by a mother who was not their mother and a sister who was not their sister, they’ve been taught to stay hidden, to stay on the run, ever since they can remember. They have powers, powers that they don’t understand and do not want. Over the years, each sister has developed unique survival mechanisms, but when Kira uncovers her own and her sisters’ true identities, all three must face down their creator/pursuer and meet the fourth sister they never knew. These encounters will transform the triplets and change their lives in ways they never could have anticipated.
Comic Book Series of Classic Victorian Women’s Horror
I’m really excited about this project that will translate classic Victorian horror stories into a series of comics and, eventually, into a collectible graphic novel. Your Kickstarter support could make it happen. Even before Queen Victoria’s era, women writers wrote horror, most famously Mary Shelley. But it can’t be surprising that the rules and regulations of prim and proper Victorian society gave birth to violent and terrifying tales. That so many were written by women may be a little surprising at first, but it won’t be once you recognize the famous names of many of these writers, including Maryann Evans (better known as George Eliot) and Emily Bronte.
Pet Noir, a Comic Book Series
What do you get when you blend together a police procedural, science fiction, romance and cats? The answer is Pet Noir. Pati Nagle’s creation, feline investigator Leon, has opposable thumbs, the ability to talk, and is possibly the most dangerous cat in the galaxy. Indentured to the Security department of Gamma Station until he’s worked off the cost of his “creation,” Leon alternates between harassing his human partner and roommate Devin and fighting sleazoid criminals, yet he still finds time to flirt with the lovely Leila, an exotic Burmese who lives in the swankiest level of the station. Will he win her heart, and more importantly, will he win his freedom?
Are you hooked yet? I am. You have the opportunity to bring Leon to full-color life. Just head on over to Kickstarter.
Stretch Goal #2/$150,000
I know this is a bit ambitious, but I believe reaching this goal is completely possible. If we reach this level of funding we’ll be able to develop all of the projects above and expand their reach. That means you’ll get more issues of Gates of Midnight, more issues of Furious, more Pet Noir and more Victorian horror. In addition, this will mean one of these projects will become a full-fledged graphic novel.
Stretch Goal #3/$250,000
Our final stretch goal is to raise $250,000. In addition to funding all of the previously mentioned projects, this would allow Kymera Press to organize and host an all-women comic con. If you’ve ever been to a con, you’ll know that the panels and presentations are almost exclusively male. This comic con would invite only women to be guest speakers. Men are welcome to attend, but the ladies will have control of the podium.
Doesn’t that sound awesome? I think so and if you agree with me, head over to Kickstarter beginning Friday, June 13. Help us reach our goals. Together we can achieve them all.
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