FEAT. JIM MAHFOOD, SHAWN CRYSTAL, KARL KERSCHL, RAMON PEREZ, ANDY BELANGER, ERIC VEDDER, S.M. CARTER, KATIE SAWATSKY, KYLE J. SMITH, BILL COFFIN, & MORE!
RAIDcon 2024, BLITZ Indie Comics Magazine premier issue, and VIP LOOT BOX!
RAIDCON is here to celebrate independent creators. We're launching our premier issue of BLITZ, the official magazine of independent creators, plus deep discounts on books, art, and collectibles, with our VIP LOOT BOX! Also RAID BRIGADE memberships!
Welcome to RAIDcon, the ultimate celebration of a new wave of indie comics, novels, and art books. We’re all here to salute the passionate and creative rebels who are forging their own paths and bringing their unique stories to life. Get ready for BLITZ, our creator-driven comics magazine that spotlights emerging artists who are tearing it up and industry veterans who have stepped away from the big publishers to make cool stuff THEY want.
Thanks to BACKERKIT'S COMICTOPIA, we're bringing you exclusive content and swag to honor the launch of BLITZ #1. Physical backers will score exclusive branded badges and lanyards, access to unique RAID Retro-Tees, and a VIP "BUILD YOUR OWN" LOOT BOX Tier! PLUS, no joke, there's more: our first-ever Members Card to rack up redeemable points and access special events and offers!
BLITZ, THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF INDEPENDENT CREATORS!
In a world where subscription services rent us content and algorithms call all the shots, PRINT IS PUNK! With this ethos at our core, we're diving in headfirst to create something fun, beautiful, and hands-on — something anyone can hold, fold, scribble on, cut up, pin to their wall, crumple into a ball, whatever! It’s yours. You actually own it!
Step into a space where independent creators and publishers bet on themselves and rewrite the rules. Creating what you love is a wild ride, full of risks and worries, but that’s where the magic happens! Meet BLITZ, a VOICE for creators, by creators — a place to unite and celebrate the risk-takers, those who do what they love, their way.
DIGITAL MOCKUP OF BLITZ #1 - NOT FINAL COVER DESIGN OR ART [placeholder Jim Mahfood art]
Featuring a cover by indie legend JIM MAHFOOD (Grrl Scouts, Miami Vice: Remix), BLITZ #1 is a 64-page, classic saddle-stitched comic magazine, a throwback to the glory days of comics! Inside, you'll dive into raw, unfiltered interviews with authors and artists, get the lowdown on the craft of comics, explore the ins and outs of crowdfunding, discover creators outside of your algorithm, and so, so much more!
Get a sneak peek at TWO upcoming original graphic novels; AARDEHN: THE AWAKENING, and BLACKMOUTH: THE WITCHES MARK, in a fresh Creators Interview Creators feature.
Learn tips and tricks from industry professionals with INKPULP’S "KEEP CRAFT ALIVE" feature with Shawn Crystal (Batman: Arkham Manor, Deadpool MAX).
Discover new artists in our PORTFOLIO SPOTLIGHT featuring international creators!
Read a crash course in WORLD BUILDING and STORYTELLING INSIGHTS from Karl Kerschl (Isola, Tanager, Gotham Academy)
Take an emotional journey with Fantasy and Science Fiction author Bill Coffin (Rifts: Coalition Wars) as he recalls the experiences that inspired his upcoming superhero novel series, OMEGA REIGN.
Kick back with JIM MAHFOOD as he reflects on the upcoming 30th anniversary of his indie series Grrl Scouts!
Experience a SNEAK PEEK at new titles from various independent creators coming in 2025.
Get your hands on an original fold-out, CENTERFOLD POSTER to hang in your home, shop, office, locker, or wherever!
PLUS, we'll say it again, a whole helluva lot more!
BONUS FEATURE!
WE HAD A LOT OF FUN WITH THIS ONE — WE’RE ABOUT TO BLEND THE NEW WITH A BIT OF NOSTALGIC FLAIR...
DIGITAL MOCKUP OF BLITZ #1 Interior 'Pull Out' Section!
Flip through THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK TO THE CREATOR UNIVERSE, a 16-page pull-out section showcasing independent characters and where to read them. This booklet features killer art by a variety of amazing and talented creators!
[ THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK TO THE CREATOR UNIVERSE - Interior Page Mockup ]
We’re connecting with a diverse lineup of global creators for our debut issue, and with each subsequent BLITZ magazine, we aim to amplify this focus even more! Our mission is to showcase not just seasoned comic veterans but also rising talents who are crafting their own stories and building their audiences.
To help show your support for indie creators, each copy of BLITZ #1 comes with an exclusive lanyard and badge featuring original art by Eric Vedder (Warframe, Aardehn). Write your name on it and rock it at conventions to let everyone know you're there for the creators and the worlds they build!
1.5" Hard Enamel Pin, Lanyard, and ID Badge digital mockups - DESIGN MAY CHANGE
We’re also hooking you up with an EXCLUSIVE NEW hard enamel pin celebrating our community and creators. Pin it to your lapel, backpack, or anywhere you want, and show off your support of independent creator community!
To celebrate the launch of BLITZ # 1, we’re dropping a stunning LIMITED EDITION NUMBERED 9" x 12" Silkscreen Print, featuring original art by indie comic legend JIM MAHFOOD. Hand-screened by Kid Icarus Print Shop in Toronto, ON, on gorgeous archival watercolor paper, each print will be numbered.
This print will be available in a special EARLYBIRD VIP LOOTBOX TIER, but rest easy, we're also holding back a few to drop in the Add-Ons Store throughout our campaign — so, stay tuned!
As if our new BLITZ Comic Magazine, Badge, and Lanyard weren't enough, we're introducing our RAIDCON VIP LOOT BOX, limited to 300 dedicated fans! Backers pledging to this VIP Tier will gain access to a RAID treasure trove of happiness.
With the VIP LOOT BOX Tier, not only do you snag BLITZ #1, the Badge & Lanyard, and a Pin, but you also get to BUILD YOUR OWN LOOT BOX in our post-campaign shop, which is full of deeply discounted backlist titles and rare collectibles from our archives. Missed out on some collectible stretch goal items from previous crowdfunding campaigns? We’ve collected the rare remainders so you can have another crack at them!
Grab YOUR CHOICE of our hottest low-stock items at UP TO 50% OFF! Books, swag, merch, and collectible items long-unavailable until now are here for the taking!
TAKE A PEEK AT A SELECTION OF OUR OFFERINGS BELOW...
Want to rock your RAID colors with pride? We've got just the thing: our RETRO TEE DESIGNS! These tees let you strut your stuff with a wry smile and a wink to those in the know.
We've had a blast designing these, riffing off retro logos, brand identities, and classic marketing campaigns of from back in the day. And this is just a taste of what we've been cooking up. We'll drop more designs throughout the campaign!
Tees will only be available during this campaign as part of the RAIDCON BLITZ & TEE Tier or as an ADD-ON to any physical pledge level, including VIP. Backers will choose their T-shirt design and size post-campaign during the fulfillment process.
[ SAMPLE RAID RETRO TEE DESIGNS - WITH MORE TO COME! ]
We launched RAID Press in 2017 and began our journey as a publishing house, we dreamed of an army of indie comic lovers marching a new frontier, The RAID BRIGADE — a member’s club like the Merry Marvel Marching Society (MMMS) of yesteryear. Well, we're bringing back the Brigade, and giving YOU, our fans, something more for all your support over the years.
[ Digital Mockup - Art & Design may change ]
ALL BACKERS who OPT-IN to the RAID BRIGADE will receive a plastic membership card and be enrolled in our upcoming members program! With your membership, you'll rack up redeemable points, enjoy special discounts and early bird offers, snag exclusive promotional freebies, and gain access to select RAID Press projects and events. We’ve got even bigger ideas too — so this is just the beginning!
The RAID BRIGADE CARD lets you to collect points via our online shop, trade shows, and crowdfunding events, which you can redeem for books, prints, and exclusive merch.
PLUS, all VIP Backers during this campaign will receive Brigade Points equivalent to their total pledge value, on top of their pledge tier rewards!
BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE...
Alongside their membership, RAID BRIGADERS will also receive a welcome letter and a certificate of authenticity, stickers, a RAID Brigade button, maybe a scratch pad (we're looking into it!), but alas, no one-sided, 33-1⁄3 rpm record with us singing our hearts out!
Our campaign goal is to cover the cost of BLITZ #1. The lanyard, badge, and enamel pin are on us as a thank you. Anything we raise above and beyond our goal will go to future volumes of BLITZ (per our stretch goals) and helping fund upcoming creator-driven projects! We've kept our campaign tiers simple, giving you maximum 'bang for your buck!’
Our ultimate aim with BLITZ is to create an ongoing quarterly comics magazine spotlighting independent creators and their amazing work, uniting our divergent community, and YOU — the fans and supporters of indie creators and growing masses YOU represent.
We hit our funding goal! THANK YOU. In an effort to bring you the best BLITZ possible, we're dropping our first INTERVAL STRETCH GOAL:
$8K: Adding an extra 16-pages to BLITZ #1 for more added content! This takes the first issue from 64-pages to a whopping 80-pages!
NEXT UP we have our MILESTONE STRETCH GOALS to bring YOU a full year's worth of BLITZ;
$10K: BLITZ #2 Print Edition for all Physical Backers and a Digital Edition for all Digital Backers!
$15K: BLITZ #3 Print Edition for all Physical Backers and a Digital Edition for all Digital Backers!
$20K: BLITZ #4 Print Edition for all Physical Backers and a Digital Edition for all Digital Backers!
Issues will follow a quarterly schedule and be mailed out to backers at said intervals, with an estimated shipping cost of $5 per issue.
$25K: FREE SHIPPING ON ALL SUBSEQUENT ISSUES OF THE BLITZ (issues 3-4)!
[ Digital mockups of issues of the BLITZ. Art & Design will change. ]
RAID PRESS was founded in 2017 as a boutique publishing initiative for creators, by creators. A space driven by collaboration, where ideas flourish, and an avenue for publication and distribution is provided.
We proudly publish our yearly RAID anthology showcasing international talent and in the past year have moved to create beautiful books for all to cherish and enjoy. Forest Folk: Picnics & Hijinks was our premier Kickstarter, which has been successfully funded and fulfilled - along with two follow-up volumes in the series! Other campaigns in our publishing repertoire include the fantasy heist novel To Steal the Sun, KLAATU our fourth anthology (the first three of which were self-funded) with volumes 5 & 6 on the horizon, the horror and grind house anthology CAULDRON: FORBIDDEN APPETITES, and our Official Trading Card Set: RAID - Creator Visions Series 1 which showcases a variety of independent publishers and creators in a 100-card set! Our genres are diverse, but our dedication is singular: nurturing creativity and passion for storytelling, art, and the vibrant talents of the artists and authors we collaborate with.
Long before RAID PRESS was founded, our collective of creators began as R.A.I.D., the ROYAL ACADEMY of ILLUSTRATION & DESIGN back in 2002, with four young creators looking to band together. It's been a 22-year journey of exciting growth and adventure, and we're glad you are doing us here as we continue to forge an ecosystem FOR CREATORS, BY CREATORS.
IMPORTANT NOTE • The pledge prices listed DO NOT INCLUDE SHIPPING OR VAT. Shipping will be calculated and applied by BackerKit when you fill out the final survey after the campaign is complete. This helps us ensure sufficient postage is collected without overcharging you with unspecific estimates upfront. With shipping rates fluctuating as rapidly as they have for the last 2 years, this is best for everyone!
Final rates will be calculated in BackerKit in conjunction with Chit Chats, an international shipping service, based on actual weights and current postage rates at the time of fulfillment. Our goal is to ensure the best prices possible for our supporters. Below is an estimate based on current rates and expected rates.
ALL RATES LISTED ARE IN CANADIAN FUNDS - for US DOLLARS divide by 1.30 (ie. shipping rates to the states would be an estimated $10 - $14 USD).
[ estimated shipping rates based on estimated weights ]
Our in-house fulfillment team here at RAID Press will be handling all our fulfillment. Our experienced team has fulfilled all of our campaigns over the past two years, as well as a few others for colleagues in the industry. Our man in charge, Rob Coughler, goes out of his way to ensure that this and all of our projects ship worldwide!
💥 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 ✨
MAGNETIC PRESS Press has been publishing award-winning graphic novels and art books for 10 years, with a focus on bringing some of the best international titles and talent to the English language market. With 31 Eisner Award nominations and nearly 40 crowdfunding campaigns to their credit, Magnetic Press has established itself as home for premium quality sequential art and luxury format publications. Recently, Magnetic Press has entered the tabletop gaming market as well with celebrated Role-Playing Games CARBON GREY and the Official Role-Playing Game of the PLANET OF THE APES.
