Bill Hook reports that many Kansas City area creators are developing contributions for the upcoming comic book horror anthology titled 86’d. In addition to Hook, creators who have been associated with the project include co-publisher Nick Perry, C.W. Cooke, Kelsey Wroten, and Bobby Bierley.
Hook says that the final list of creators isn’t finalized yet. “We have many people working on contributions for the book. We have many creators from the KC area but we have reached out as far as New York, Los Angeles, and even a group of artists from France.â€
The publication will be in magazine format with black and white interiors. “It will be 52 pages and will contain lots of extras,†Hook said. “We plan to insert an uncut sheet of trading cards featuring art from all contributing artists. It will also feature a flip cover, one side featuring art by Nick Perry and the other side will feature my artwork. We have many other extras in the works but we will announce them closer to the release of the book.†Hook gives the target publication date simply as “Spring 2012,†allowing the team some flexibility to shift the release.
It’s important to Hook for 86’d to feature a variety of styles and voices. “I think the diversity and originality of the project are cool,†he said. “I work with Nick at the day job, but we come from different worlds creatively. I grew up on comics and that led me to the art world; the art world eventually led Nick to comics. We chose horror as the genre because it was an interest that we share. We feel like the marriage of art styles and approaches is very unique. We have creators in the book who are experienced pros and some who have never tried anything like this before. No two artists in the book have much in common in terms of style or approach. And, if we do our job, we could make this project a very special one.â€
Hook and Perry will be funding the project at least partially through an online campaign. “We will be attempting to raise money to pay some production costs and to compensate the creators. It will be launching in December on indiegogo.com.â€
Meanwhile, some creators are working to firm up their contributions to the project. Writer Bobby Beirley is actively searching for a collaborator. “I’m looking for an artist to work on my submission for the 86’d horror anthology. I have one story basically done, although there are a couple more I could also do if anyone is interested in drawing them.†Bierley’s story is six-pages long and includes drawing horses. Artists interested in contacting Bierley with samples can contact him through Kansas City Comics (kirk@kansascitycomics.com) to have their messages forwarded.
You can follow the project as it develops on the 86’d workblog at http://86dstudios.blogspot.com.
