When the only wizards left are a group of unwanted misfit familiars, can they save magic from being destroyed?

Hi there. My name is Ethan Kocak, and I'm a NYT Best-selling illustrator and comic artist. A long time ago, when I was still learning how to draw, my favorite artist was an incredible cartoonist and concept artist. His name isn't particularly important, but we'll call him Dirk. Dirk was responsible for the trajectory of my whole art career. I went off to animation school because I wanted to be like Dirk. And then the internet and social media made it possible to really get to know -on at least some level- the people we admire. And what I found out, was that Dirk was not a very nice person. He said some absolutely awful things about LGBTQ people. He said bigoted things about other marginalized folks. He used his religion to justify what he said, and it really caused me to examine my own thoughts. Up to that point, I had been taught to always separate the art from the artist.

Time went on, and Dirk continued being terrible. I watched him say awful things to people I counted as friends. I decided, and I'm ashamed to admit it took me longer than it should've- that Dirk's work was no longer for me. Although I was never one of the objects of his ire, I could no longer lie to myself about separating art and artist: the two were inextricable. Bad people can make good art. And learning this lesson was the seed of this book.

I struggled, as many have, with this idea that I had wrongly put someone on a pedestal and by doing so had hurt others.

I feel like fans of certain wizard books might know what I mean as well. Sometimes, we idolize the wrong people because they've made some truly resonant works. And how do we deal with that? How do we let go of works that meant something to us? This is a story for anyone who has ever had to deal with having to come to terms with their favorite creator being a less than adequate human being.

Our initial goal of $7000 will cover a first printing of The Unfamiliars.

Some sample pages - The Unfamiliars will be printed in black and white in homage to some of my favorite comics, like Scud: the Disposable Assassin, Sam & Max, and Johnny the Homicidal Maniac.

We plan to have the book ready for print by early 2025. Add in a couple months for production and we are looking at shipping the book around summer 2025.

Speaking of shipping, if this is your first time supporting a campaign on BackerKit, please note that shipping is not calculated and charged until after the campaign, in the Pledge Manager. This means that prices listed here do not include shipping.

Based on current shipping rates (although things could change by 2025), here are some estimated shipping rates:

- Small items alone (pins, zines) ~$5
- Media mail shipping for orders that only include books: ~$5 (more for multiple books, if you're bundling)
- Orders including both books and a few small items: ~$8-12
- International orders: $20-40 depending on the size of the package and the destination

Again, please note that these are only estimates! Final shipping prices will be determined when the books are ready to ship.

Everyone loves freebies! And boy do we have some special freebies for you.

Early-bird special! Backers who pledge in the first 48 hours will receive a FREE physical copy of a zine with a special side-story featuring Karrell the blind newt. This zine will also be available for $10 as an add-on.

Cross-collab! Every backer who backs both The Unfamiliars and The Adventures of Baby Zicky: The Wrath of the Rat King will receive BOTH a special limited-edition Unfamiliars trading card featuring Zicky and Gram the cat and a Rat King pin. Designs are not yet finalized.

Speaking of trading cards, all backers who pledge $20 or more will receive one free Unfamiliars trading card for every $20 spent. There will be 3 designs available at the start (not including the exclusive cross-collab card), and additional designs can be unlocked as stretch goals! Designs are not yet finalized.

Returning supporters! Backers who pledged to Ethan's previous crowdfunding campaign for Moistly Harmless and Patreon Patrons will receive a FREE limited edition colorway of the Karrell the blind newt enamel pin. This is a different colorway only available to returning supporters! Another limited edition colorway is available to all backers for $15.

Want more freebies? Check out our stretch goals to see what else we might unlock!

$1 - Sorcerous Supporter
We appreciate your support! You're helping make the magic happen.

$3 - Mini Print
Receive a 4x6 inch mini-print, the perfect size to use as an oversize bookmark or display somewhere. Each mini-print is a single full-color panel. Collect all 10 to put together a special standalone Unfamiliars side story featuring Skullumbo the flaming skull detective!

$25 - Mini Print Bundle - the complete story
Want to make sure you collect them all? We've got you covered. Get all 10 mini prints.

$15 - Limited edition Karrell the blind newt enamel pin
This 2 inch hard enamel pin will feature Karrell the blind newt, Ethan's TTRPG character who is joining the world of The Unfamiliars. This special colorway is only available via this campaign!

$12 - Digital Only Warlock
Receive a digital download of The Unfamiliars.

$25 - Physical Copy Wizard
Own your very own copy of The Unfamiliars in the physical plane! Receive a physical copy of the book to hold in your own hands or give to someone you love!

$32 - Digital + Physical Familiar
Own your very own copy of The Unfamiliars in both the physical and digital planes! You'll receive a physical copy in the mail plus a digital download.

$72 - 3 Book Bundle
Buy 3 physical books at the same time and get $1 off each copy PLUS a free digital download.

$110 - 5 Book Bundle
Buy 5 physical books at the same time and get $3 off each copy PLUS a free digital download.

$160 - 8 Book Bundle
Buy 8 physical books at the same time and get $5 off each copy PLUS a free digital download.

If you need more than 8 books, please contact us directly for wholesale pricing.

$75 - LIMITED TIER - Avatar commissions
A limited number of Ethan's popular digital avatar commissions are available! Get a tiny portrait of yourself (or someone else) that you can use as an avatar on various websites. Ethan will also be offering his special gremlin-sona or dino-sonas, plus special just for this campaign, you could get yourself as a wizard or familiar. For an additional $20, add an extra shoulder critter or familiar to your avatar. Includes a digital download of The Unfamiliars.

$200 - LIMITED TIER - Group portrait commissions
Get a portrait of your friends, family members, pets, gaming group, or enemies (etc.). Includes up to 4 fully-shaded people or animals. For an additional $20, add an extra shoulder critter or familiar. Includes a digital download of The Unfamiliars.

$250 - LIMITED TIER - Unfamiliars cameo
Immortalize yourself, someone you love, or your original character in the world of The Unfamiliars. Ethan will collaborate with you to create a custom cameo in the book. You'll also receive a shout-out in the back of the book, plus a free digital download and physical copy of The Unfamiliars.

Stretch goal 1: Digital coloring pages
$11,000
All backers will get access to FREE digital downloads of select lineart and pages from The Unfamiliars to print for your coloring enjoyment

Stretch Goal 2: Ethan Gets A Raise
$12,000
Ethan gets a raise, so he can spend more time drawing The Unfamiliars and making cool stuff for you to enjoy without having to worry about his bills!

Stretch Goal 3: 5 NEW trading card designs
$12,500
5 new trading card designs will get added! If we hit this goal, there will be a total of 8 designs, not including the special trading card for cross-collab backers. Backers get 1 free card at random for every $20 spent.

Stretch goal 4: Sticker sheet
$13,000
Ethan will design a sticker sheet. Every backer $15 and up will get a free sticker sheet, and they'll be available as add-ons.

Stretch goal 5: Ethan Gets A Raise
$14,000
Ethan can spend EVEN MORE time drawing The Unfamiliars and making cool stuff for you to enjoy without having to worry about his bills!

Stretch goal 6: 5 new trading card designs
$14,500
An additional 5 new trading card designs will get added! If we hit this goal, there will be a total of 13 designs, not including the special trading card for cross-collab backers. Backers get 1 free card at random for every $20 spent.

Stretch goal 7: Moistly Harmless DLC
$16,500
Ethan will draw about 25-50 BRAND NEW Moistly Harmless pages, which all backers can have as a digital download to enjoy.

Stretch goal 8: Reprint Moistly Harmless
$22,500
This is a big jump, but with this much we could run a reprint of Ethan's popular (and almost entirely sold out) comic book Moistly Harmless: How to Appreciate Newts and Salamanders. Physical copies will then become available as add-ons.

Stretch goal 9: Ethan Gets A Raise
$23,500
Wow, even more time that Ethan can spend drawing The Unfamiliars and making other cool stuff for you to enjoy without having to worry about his bills!

Stretch goal 10: 5 new trading card designs
$24,000
An additional 5 new trading card designs will get added! If we hit this goal, there will be a total of 18 designs, not including the special trading card for cross-collab backers. Backers get 1 free card at random for every $20 spent. 

These add-ons are available to various backers. Please check your pledge to see what add-ons are available to you.

$3 Mini print
An additional mini-print.

$25 Mini print bundle
A complete collection of mini-prints, which together create a unique Unfamiliars side story.

$10 Karrell early-bird zine
This zine has a special side story featuring Karrell the blind newt, Ethan's TTRPG character who will be joining the world of The Unfamiliars. Early bird backers pledging in the first 48 hours receive this zine for FREE!

$12 Digital book
For anyone not already receiving a digital download, add one to your pledge.

$15 Karrell enamel pin
A 2 inch hard enamel pin featuring Karrell the blind newt. This is a special colorway only available via this crowdfunding campaign!

$25 Physical book
Add one extra physical book to your pledge.

$20 Add-on Familiar
FOR AVATAR AND PORTRAIT COMMISSION BACKERS ONLY - this pledge is available to avatar or group portrait commission backers, if you'd like to add an extra shoulder critter or familiar to your commission.

💥 Welcome to Comictopia — a celebration of creativity and collaboration from a diverse group of writers and artists collectively running comic book crowdfunding projects from July 18th - August 8th.

🔥 Limited Cross-Collaboration Freebies — All 30+ Comictopia creators have paired up with a fellow participant to create two unique and limited freebies together. If BOTH projects reach their initial funding goal, backers who support BOTH will get the TWO [2] cross-collab freebies listed on their campaign page, one will ship from each creator. The more pairs of Comictopia creators you support, the more limited freebies you will earn ✨

Don't forget to check out The Adventures of Baby Zicky: The Wrath of the Rat King! Back both projects to get your two free special rewards!