Reward Surveys & Big News!
over 6 years ago
– Sat, Aug 12, 2017 at 11:07:56 PM
Hey Gang,
I wanted to check in with everybody. We are still waiting on the funds to be transferred over, but we will be sending out your reward surveys soon. As I mentioned during the campaign, we will be using BackerKit this time around to help organize pledges, provide add-ons, and pre-orders. Those of you that already manually upped your pledge and messaged me regarding add-ons, you're covered. I have you recorded already.
Soon, you’ll receive an email from us with a special link to your BackerKit survey. It’s important to respond to your survey as quickly as you can since we need this information to fulfill your rewards.
You don’t need to create a BackerKit account to fill out your survey. When you receive the email with the survey, click the survey link to respond. Answer the questions about your reward preferences, provide shipping information, and purchase add-on items if you like. You don’t have access to this survey link yet, but it will be coming soon via email!
After you respond to your survey, you can go back later and change your responses at any time before we close the surveys and get our final counts.
If you need to review your information or pledge status, you can return to your survey by clicking the link in your survey email or requesting your survey link under "Lost your survey?" on our BackerKit project page at https://rum-row-1-2.backerkit.com.
If you used your Facebook to log in to your Kickstarter account, the BackerKit survey is sent to the email address you use for your Facebook account. If you have another email address that you prefer to use, please contact support at https://rum-row-1-2.backerkit.com./faq.
Alright enough with the surveys, onto the big news! I was waiting for the issue to be going to print, and I just got an email last night that the strip is in the digital proof, so we're good to go. We will be debuting our mini strip in the "Funnies" section in the back of Erik Larsen's Savage Dragon published by Image!
As I mentioned in an earlier update, it will be a four part old-timey adventure strip like you might've see in an old newspaper from the 30s. Starring this guy:
The story follows Take Away, a 13 year-old aerial taxi cab driver, as he leads a group of newspaper reporters on a tour of the Row. Let me tell you, shenanigans ensue. So if you read Savage Dragon, let us know what you think!
That's all for now. Surveys should be coming out soon in your inboxes. I will send out another update when they go live. Thanks again for making this project a reality. We can't wait for you all to read it!
Best,
Andrew
Thank You!
over 6 years ago
– Sat, Aug 05, 2017 at 01:27:15 AM
Wow. You guys are...
I had to completely rewrite my update, since we got funded as I was in the middle of creating it!
Despite this being my closest campaign to date, never have I felt more support. The constant sharing, kind messages, comments, and enthusiasm for this project has been a huge encouragement to both Michele and myself. We garnered more press, more backers, and more unsolicited shout outs from fellow creators than any project either of us have been a part of before. It's moments like this that make me proud to be a part of such an awesome and tight nit community.
Making indie comics can be a humbling experience. This was my third Kickstarter project, after two very successful campaigns. We really came down to the wire on this one. But the entire time, you were all there fighting for us, and fighting for this project to come to fruition. That shows passion and faith in our idea, which means the world to us.
Also, since we are officially 100% funded, we have unlocked our final milestone goal comic: Captain Ultimate by Joey Esposito, Benjamin Bailey, and Boy Ackerman. You can download this comic, and all other milestone goals here.
I hope you guys enjoy these bonus comics, because you more than earned them.
Thanks again for everything. I will check back in with all of you in two weeks when the funds come through, and surveys will be sent out. Don't hesitate to message me if you have any questions.
Best,
Andrew
Another Milestone Unlocked!
over 6 years ago
– Fri, Aug 04, 2017 at 09:28:06 PM
Hey Gang,
With just 11 hours to go, we are so close to being funded at 81%! Thank you to everyone who has gone above and beyond to try and make this project a reality. I still think we can pull it off!
More importantly though, we unlocked another milestone goal at 75% funded. That means another great comic for you to download and read for free. This goal brings us Armor I, by another great creative team: Marcel Dupree and Carlos Trigo. Marcel is a prolific and talented indie creator that some of you may have recognized from his successful Kickstarter Delilah Blast.
Earth invasions, powerful armor, and plenty of sci-fi goodness for you to absorb. Check this book out, and the previous milestone goal comics here.
In the meantime, I've been staying busy, trying to keep my mind occupied in these final hours. I wandered over to Copenhagen's local comic shop (or should I say shops), and let me tell you, they did not disappoint.
This place is incredible. So many beautiful hardcover albums. Plenty of great toys and paraphernalia as well.
It was full of amazing and beautiful looking books. Most of them weren't in English, but I splurged on a few just because they were too cool looking to pass up.
If you're ever in this city, definitely stop by. Even if you're just window shopping. I had a great time.
Lastly, I got a handful of messages regarding add-ons. The plan was to do those through the service Backerkit, which takes place after the campaign. But based on the current situation, if you are interested in additional items, you can add them to your pledge. Although make sure to please message me, so I can record it on my end. I don't want anyone to feel obligated. MANY of you have already upped your pledges which is above and beyond what is expected. This is mainly to answer questions I received in recent days. Here is the item breakdown:
That's all for now. By the morning, we'll know if this mad cap adventure takes off or not. Thank you so much for giving us a chance, and going on this journey with us. I've learned a lot, and you have all been fantastic.
Best,
Andrew
Final Laps!
over 6 years ago
– Wed, Aug 02, 2017 at 01:36:47 AM
Okay gang, this is it!
Regardless of whether we get funded or not, thank you so much for coming along for the ride. The amount of support from all of you on social media, the comments, and messages has been overwhelming. I hope you've enjoyed our little behind the scenes updates along the way. I'm currently a little loopy getting adjusted to the new time zones over here in Norway, so hopefully what I'm typing is making sense. Did I mention Norway loves it's trolls?
Sorry, I'm rambling. Before I go, I wanted to end on an exciting note. I'm currently waiting for the files to be confirmed and sent off to print before I officially announce it. But... As of right now, Rum Row is going to have a four-part old timey newspaper style adventure strip in the back of a long running comic series many of you know, and may even read. It's going to be a side story, featuring a new character in the Row. A young teenage cab driver - Takezo "Take Away" Urasawa.
The tale will focus on Take Away's tour of the Row for a small group of reporters as they prepare to write about their night on the "town".
Well that's all for now! Thank you again for you continued support. Please feel free to share the project on social media or with any comic book friends you have. Let's get Rum Row funded!
Best,
Andrew
Telegram
almost 7 years ago
– Thu, Jul 27, 2017 at 05:05:28 PM
Hey Gang,
Rum Row is going global! Okay not really. But I will be traveling out of the country for a bit, so I just wanted to check in and let everyone know.
I will be on a trip starting tomorrow the 28th, until past the end of the campaign. I'm usually quick to respond to messages or comments, but if I don't right away, that's why. Everywhere I'm going has internet, and I'll have my laptop, so it shouldn't provide any real problems. I'm just giving you a heads up in case I'm on a flight. I'll be in Bergen, Copenhagen, Oslo, and Stockholm in case anyone has any recommendations. Hell, if anyone lives in those areas maybe we can grab a beer. Let me know.
Regarding process stuff, here is a fun little interview I did with We are Nerdy if you're interested. I had a nice conversation with Josh on writing, my influences for Rum Row, and making indie comics in general.
You can check it out here.
In addition, I wanted to go into the process of creating Little Shanghai, another one of Rum Row's sky districts. I wanted the district itself to almost look like a parade or festival was happening in the sky. If there's a whole Row of vices, a district would need to stand out to get a patron's attention. I wanted some of the planes to resemble the Chinese junk ships like this reference picture:
The uber talented artist Joe Dellagata, did an excellent job of translating that in a pin up he did for the first issue:
I wanted the main dirigible to resemble a dragon you might see in a parade or festival, and I think Michele hit it out of the park:
In the first issue, you get a small glimpse of this ship, but in issue #2 it becomes part of the story, and we get to meet some of the Triad groups that inhabit the district.
Lastly, there was the district itself. I sent Michele a variety of pictures of the Lantern Festival like this:
Then Michele blew me away by sending this:
Pretty cool right? This is why the early concept stages and set piece creation can be one of my favorite parts of making comics. We're creating our own world, and we get to play in it. It's addicting to say the least.
Before I go, I wanted to highlight another fantastic Kickstarter I recently backed called Murder Most Mundane by Mad Robot Comics.
Murder Most Mundane draws on classic whodunnits and detective shows - but with a stronger element of horror - Lovecraft influenced B-movie violence and gore. It's Hot Fuzz with a healthy dose of Se7en and The Wicker Man thrown in. If that doesn't sell you, than I don't know what will... Make sure to check these guys out here.
That's all for now! Feel free to reach out with recs if you've visited or live in those areas I listed above. For new backers or for those of you who haven't downloaded the free milestone goal comics Archon, and Silence, make sure to get them here. They're fantastic and worth checking out.
Oh, and please continue to share the project if you can. We're getting close to the final week, and we're still just a bit over 62% funded. I don't want to say I'm nervous, but this is definitely cutting it close.
Thanks again for your support, and have a great weekend!
Andrew
