Tag: Arkhaven

MIDNIGHT’S WAR UPDATE

Days Left: 5

% of Goal: 202.9 percent

% of Stretch Goal 1: 101.5 percent

% of Stretch Goal 2: 67.6 percent

Backers: 359

It’s official. Castalia House will publish a short novel set in the Midnight World entitled OUT OF THE SHADOWS. As promised, chapter two:

MIDNIGHT’S WAR: Out of the Shadows

Chapter Two: Where All Roads Lead

All throughout the following day, Elliott found himself somewhat distracted. He zoned out during a conference call with Bank of America, and twice had to be pulled out of his reveries during a meeting with the Human Resources team by his executive assistant, Natalie.

He couldn’t stop thinking about what this mysterious meeting might entail, and what “very profitable,” might mean. It couldn’t be Blackrock behind this, could it? Even if they wanted to keep their interest on the down low in order to hide their intentions from the competitors that trailed them like remoras sticking to a great white shark, Elliott was pretty sure sending an executive to the site in question wasn’t their modus operandi. To paraphrase the Muslims, Mohammed would have to go to the Rock, as the Rock wasn’t in the habit of coming to him.

For a reason that he couldn’t quite rationalize, he felt there might be a European element lurking somewhere underneath it all, perhaps even a very old European element. Being a second-generation son of Silicon Valley, Elliott knew very little about the money markets of the Old World, the London oligarchs, the Swiss private banks, and the ancient Italian investment firms that seemed to own everything from Greek shipping firms to Vietnamese wineries without anyone ever even knowing their names.

So what would the play be, he wondered. That old generational money never seemed to be very interested in the stock markets, let alone in splashy public offerings and the media attention they attracted. But how would an outright buyout make any sense at this point in time? Making money was all about the multiple, but what potential buyer, no matter how well-endowed, could match the buying power of an entire market pumped up on hype and the hypothetical promise of longer life?

MIDNIGHT’S WAR UPDATE

Days Left: 7

% of Goal: 196.0 percent

% of Stretch Goal: 97.9 percent

Backers: 342

If we hit the stretch goal, I will post the second chapter of MIDNIGHT’S WAR: Out of the Shadows here.

UPDATE: And thanks to the backers, the first stretch goal has been unlocked! On Monday, I will post the second chapter here and a limited edition hardcover of MIDNIGHT’S WAR: Out of the Shadows, a 30,000-word novel set in the Midnight World, will be offered as an add-on. You can read the first chapter here.

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Days Left: 12

% of Goal: 179.5 percent

% of Stretch Goal: 89.7 percent

Backers: 308

Things have slowed down considerably, but the first stretch goal is still in sight for the MIDNIGHT’S WAR campaign. Allow me to provide taste of what that goal will be if hit, which is a short novel in the mode of Razorfist’s two Night Vale novels and Chuck Dixon’s two public domain Conan novels, called OUT OF THE SHADOWS.

Please also note that the MIDNIGHT’S WAR Issues 1-6 omnibus (hardcover) reward has added Canada as a destination, as requested, presumably by Canadians.

OUT OF THE SHADOWS

Chapter One: The Dance of the Unicorn

Elliott Grahame surveyed the spreadsheet with great satisfaction. The top line was increasing, the bottom line was more than healthy despite the recent operational expenditures, and the twelve-month trend was precisely in line with the shape of a ramp that the investment bankers were expecting. He didn’t turn around at the sound of his clear glass door being opened behind him, but pointed at the screen instead.
“And that, my friend, is what a billion-dollar company looks like!”
“You think we’re ready to push the IPO?”
“We’ve got to strike while the iron is hot!” He turned around and grinned at his CFO and executive vice-president, Immanual Boschwitz. “You know as well as I do that the stars aren’t going to align forever, Immy.”

We have finished with CHUCK DIXON’S AVALON Issues 1-12. We’re now in the process of printing the two omnibuses, 1-6 and 7-12. However, it was suggested that having one big omnibus that collects Issues 1-12 would be preferable since we managed to complete the whole thing before getting the first half out.

I inquired of The Legend and he said he would prefer “one big doorstopper of a book.”

However, this is something that needs to be left up to the backers. It makes virtually no difference to us, as very few backers only backed the first omnibus and we’ll just send them the whole thing. So, if you are an Avalon backer, please let us know if you prefer two separate omnibuses or one big one.

UPDATE: It belatedly occurs to me that if we do one big omnibus, we MIGHT be able to eventually do some leather editions – not Smyth-sewn, unfortunately – but by using the paperback covers as the endpapers. Apparently this is the technique Easton has used to do their Marvel leatherbound editions and it’s the approach we will likely take with Midnight’s War.

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Days Left: 23

% of Goal: 154.4 percent

% of Stretch Goal: 77.2 percent

Backers: 247

The journey toward the realization of the Midnight World continues apace. Thanks to all the new backers, and the original backers who picked up a copy of SILENZIOSA. Here is an as-yet-unreleased look at the way in which Lucius and Denisa spend their time when they’re not engaged in their usual nefarious skullduggery. Even monsters have their pedestrian moments; notice that Lucius prefers for Denisa to play white.

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Days Left: 24

% of Goal: 126.7 percent

% of Stretch Goal: 63.4 percent

Backers: 207

The MIDNIGHT’S WAR campaign is proceeding smoothly, although not spectacularly. About 10 percent of the people who backed the original ALT-HERO campaign have backed this one to date, which could be attributed to a broad spectrum of reasons, but regardless, we appreciate the support that permits us to continue the series.

It would appear we should have simply done a 96-page story about a black superhero fighting racism, that’s what conservatives love these days, right, Anon? If there is one thing we can be sure of, Anon, it’s that the market never lies. We obviously should have had bestselling author Mike Pence author the series instead of The Legend Chuck Dixon.

But economic gaslighting is what it has always been and it really isn’t any concern of ours what sort of public performance art is being performed. So, below is an image of the inks from MIDNIGHT’S WAR: NIGHT STREETS, which is already well underway. Apparently Celise isn’t much more concerned about her colleagues’ opinion of her smoking inside than Dynamique is.

And don’t forget, you can now obtain the first print edition of SILENZIOSA by backing MW.

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As the MIDNIGHT’S WAR crowdfund has successfully reached its initial target, Arkhaven Comics is pleased to announce that SILENZIOSA Volume One is now available as an add-on, in either paperback or hardcover. Those who have already backed the campaign can now add it to their existing pledge, new backers will find it as an option after making an initial pledge for anything from the Arktoons Backer level to The Rites of Cain level.

SILENZIOSA tells the tale of Alissabetta, Princess of the Blood, and daughter of His Majesty King Charles Arthur III of Inghiltar, Yrlandia, and the Skotian Isles, who finds herself forced to attend the Silent Academy when her uncle, the family assassin, meets an unexpected demise. Please note that if you’re only interested in Silenziosa, the best way to obtain it is back at the Arktoons Backer level, then add Silenziosa Volume One in your preferred format.

In other news, both Canada and Australia have been added as free shipping destinations for all rewards except for the leatherbound omnibus and the Knight of St. Michael statue for Australia. The shipping costs preclude the inclusion of Australia for those two items. We also believe we will be able to provide color in the leatherbound edition, although in that case the interior book block will be perfect bound rather than Smyth-sewn. We have also added a PDF Edition add-on for 15 at the request of several backers.

The next stretch goal will be announced when the campaign hits 60k. And speaking of MIDNIGHT’S WAR, Episode 57, Something Significant, is featured on Arktoons today.

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MIDNIGHT’S WAR campaign update.

Days Left: 26

% of Goal: 89.5

Backers: 154

It’s taken a little longer than previous campaigns, but we’re almost there. A new stretch goal will be announced tomorrow if the initial target is hit tonight. Bounding Into Comics has a nice article up reporting on the launch of the campaign. If you’re a backer, be sure to leave a comment there!

The series is currently free to read on Arkhaven Comics’ digital platform Arkhaven and currently has over 56 episodes published to date. According to the site’s metrics it’s one of the more popular titles on the site and has over 250,000 views.

The new Kickstarter will collect the first six issues of the series that are currently available to read on Arkhaven.com. However, it also offers collected editions of issues 7-12 as well. These issues continue the story of Dante Fitzalan, Arika su-Fitzalan, Julian Varney, Denisa Denue Remords, and Andre Montbard and “follows the bitter vendetta being fought between two of the rival vampire factions, a vendetta that was, unbeknownst to both factions, caused by a hostile third party.”

Not only that it also offers a collection of a new Chuck Dixon spinoff series, Midnight’s War: Night Streets, which is described as a “police procedural set within the Midnight World that features characters introduced in Midnight’s War as well as entirely new characters.”

On a related note, it is looking increasingly likely that we will be able to do the leather omnibus edition in color. We will run some test bindings in the new year in order to be sure.

UPDATE: Greenlight! We are currently at 102.6% of goal on Day 3. Thanks to all 171 of the backers! The first stretch goal will be announced tomorrow.

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A historic moment. Spacebunny and the SDL meet Captain Europa for the first time. I think I can assure you that both the art and the story will meet with the approval of the backers, without being predictable.

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