Friday, March 30, 2012

Kickstarter Update #10: We've Hit $10,000! ...How About a Bonus Gift Incentive? (Issue #2!)


Go to our Kickstarter page at the link below and join the team!


Okay, as of this writing we are actually at $9990. Close enough!

To keep things moving as we enter the last week of funding, we are announcing a BONUS GIFT to everyone who has pledged or will pledge at least $5 IF we hit the $12,000 stretch-goal.

If we hit our $12,000 funding stretch-goal, then in addition to sending a PDF of Issue #1 to everyone who has pledged any amount of $5 or more, we will also send a PDF of ISSUE #2! Believe us, the cliffhanger at the end of Issue #1 will make you beg for more, and Issue #2 is ACTION-PACKED! There are still a lot of awesome rewards to be claimed, including the chance to get your last name used for one of the main heroes for the entire duration of the series! We hope that this new bonus incentive will give you a good reason to increase your pledge and to further help us to spread the word!

Our funding cut-off date is coming up fast, so let's do this! And again, thank you with all our hearts for making this dream a reality and helping us get this far!!

And for an extra bonus, check out another page from Issue #1 below!
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Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Kickstarter.com Roundtable with Bryan Tillman!: DARKHAN CITY PODCAST #81


Go to our Kickstarter page at the link below and join the team!



Welcome to Episode #81 of the Darkhan City Awesome Comics Culture Podcast!

(click HERE to Subscribe and / or Listen, or HERE to download the individual episode)

Dreams come true! Thanks to all our amazing fans, followers, and friends and to the genius of Kickstarter.com, Elders of the RuneStone is on its way to full production and release! With fellow SCAD alumnus and successful Kickstarter.com beneficiary Bryan Tillman, the Pantyhose Ninjas discuss how to make Kickstarter.com work for you. Now THAT's better than eight simultaneous Chuck Norris boots to the face.

The Elders of the RuneStone Kickstarter Page!

EPISODE LINKS:





Bryan Tillman's DARK LEGACY Kickstarter Page!



New Live Action Ninja Turtles Movie: They're Aliens?? (original article at Dark Horizons)



*Robert's Art Blog!

*Quinn's Portfolio website!

 

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Kickstarter Update #8: LEVEL 2 GOAL UNLOCKED! And an in-depth interview!


Go to our Kickstarter page at the link below and join the team!



**LEVEL 2 FUNDING GOAL UNLOCKED!**

Our new funding goal is $12,000! The first four-issue miniseries ends on a HUGE cliffhanger. If we hit this next funding goal, we can produce ISSUE #5! The closer we get to this new goal, the more exclusive rewards will become available, including more chances to have your name and / or likeness inserted into the story! Please help us spread the word! And let us know of any new rewards you'd like to see, we're totally open to your ideas!

Also check out the in-depth interview we had with Comics Experience, where we chat about the secrets behind Elders of the RuneStone.

Also look below for another page from Issue #1 to whet your appetite, and get a load of Ryan Landvatter's incredible fan art of Adder! (See more of Ryan's awesome work at his website, http://itsokaytobeanerd.blogspot.com/.
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Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Kickstarter Update #7: NEW TITLE LOGO Revealed! ...and Get a Sneak Peek at ISSUE #1!


Go to our Kickstarter page at the link below and join the team!


Feast your eyes below on our ALL-NEW OFFICIAL LOGO for Elders of the RuneStone by the esteemed Chad Keyes! It went through a few different versions to nail just the right feel and look for the series, but when we saw it, we knew it!

Also be sure to check out a finished page from Issue #1 below! More to come!

(Psst...we passed our ORIGINAL funding goal of $9000 today!)

"IT'S OVER NINE THOUSAAAAAAAND!!!" (That was for you, Travis!)

But we're nowhere near stopping yet! We've still got 18 days and tons of awesome rewards left! If we can hit $12,000, then that's another issue we can produce for the first major story arc. The more issues we can produce, the more opportunities we'll have to release even more rewards, including more chances to see your face and / or name in the pages of Elders of the RuneStone! More to come on that!

Last of all, a big thank you to all of you backers who have made this dream a reality. There are not words adequate to express our deep appreciation. Please keep spreading the word and let's take this series to the next level! (And a big thank you to Planet-Pulp.com for kindly giving us promotion space on their website. Be sure to check it out for awesome artwork by many stellar artists!)
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Monday, March 19, 2012

Kickstarter Update #6: Ever Wanted to BE in a Comic Book? Now's Your Chance!!


Go to our Kickstarter page at the link below and join the team!


So as this Kickstarter project has been going along, we've kept a close eye on which rewards have been the most popular. Besides getting an actual copy of the collected graphic novel, undoubtedly the fastest to be grabbed were those that let backers BE in the story, either to be drawn into at least one panel, or have their name inserted into the dialogue (or even to be killed off!). Well if you missed your chance the first time around...you're in luck!! We've added NEW rewards that are now up for grabs! Check 'em out:

-NEW! Pledge $45 or more (limited reward of 30): Get a copy of the collected graphic novel, AND a limited black & white sketchbook with Elders of theRuneStone art, story notes and interviews! Sketchbook includes pre-production art from both series artist Robert Atkins (G.I. Joe, X-Men Forever, Amazing Spider-man) and series writer Quinn Johnson (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Kung Fu Panda, Megamind) that established the look of the series, with revealing behind-the-scenes commentary! Both the graphic novel and the sketchbook are hand-numbered and signed by Quinn, and Robert will also sign the sketchook. AND get a PDF (special “Kickstarter Team” edition) of the double-sized first issue, AND get your name printed in the “Thank You’s” at the end of the book and on the Elders of the RuneStone website under the “Silver Contributors” section!

-NEW! Pledge $50 or more (limited reward of 4): Get a random original inked page from the series, signed by comics inker Juan Castro (Elders of the RuneStone, G.I. Joe)! AND get a PDF (special “Kickstarter Team” edition) of the double-sized first issue, AND get your name printed in the “Thank You’s” at the end of the book and on the Elders of the RuneStone website under the “Silver Contributors” section!

 -NEW! Pledge $60 or more (limited reward of 9): Your name (not likeness) will be used for a minor character that appears briefly in Elders of the RuneStone before getting killed! AND you’ll get a copy of the collected graphic novel, hand-numbered and signed by series writer Quinn Johnson (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Kung Fu Panda, Megamind)! AND get a PDF (special “Kickstarter Team” edition) of the double-sized first issue, AND get your name printed in the “Thank You’s” at the end of the book and on the Elders of the RuneStone website under the “Silver Contributors” section!

-NEW! Pledge $75 or more (limited reward of 5): The artist will hand-draw you into at least one panel of an issue of Elders of the RuneStone! AND you’ll get a copy of the collected graphic novel, hand-numbered and signed by series writer Quinn Johnson (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Kung Fu Panda, Megamind)! AND get a PDF (special “Kickstarter Team” edition) of the double-sized first issue, AND get your name printed in the “Thank You’s” at the end of the book and on the Elders of the RuneStone website under the “Gold Contributors” section!

-NEW! Pledge $200 or more (limited reward of 1): Get a promotional inked illustration featuring all five heroes from Elders of the RuneStone, with art by series artist Robert Atkins (G.I. Joe, X-Men Forever, Amazing Spider-man)! AND get a PDF (special “Kickstarter Team” edition) of the double-sized first issue, AND get your name printed in the “Thank You’s” at the end of the book and on the Elders of the RuneStone website under the “Gold Contributors” section!

 -NEW! ULTIMATE REWARD! Pledge $500 or more (limited reward of 2): Original cover art by series artist Robert Atkins (G.I. Joe, X-Men Forever, Amazing Spider-man) from one of the first four issues! It’s 11 x 17” original art inked on illustration board. AND a copy of the collected graphic novel, signed and hand-numbered by series writer Quinn Johnson (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Kung Fu Panda, Megamind). AND get a PDF (special “Kickstarter Team” edition) of the double-sized first issue, AND get your name printed in the “Thank You’s” at the end of the book and on the Elders of the RuneStone website under the “Gold Contributors” section!

 -NEW! ULTIMATE HERO REWARD! Pledge $500 or more (limited reward of 4): Your surname will be used for one of the main characters (Scott, Jenny, Kat or Dain) in Elders of the RuneStone! That’s right! For the entire run of the series (beyond the first four-issue miniseries) your last name will belong to one of the core heroes! (Creators reserve the right to choose which surname is the most appropriate for which character.) AND you’ll get a copy of the collected graphic novel, hand-numbered and signed by series writer Quinn Johnson (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Kung Fu Panda, Megamind)! AND get a PDF (special “Kickstarter Team” edition) of the double-sized first issue, AND get your name printed in the “Thank You’s” at the end of the book and on the Elders of the RuneStone website under the “Gold Contributors” section!

-NEW! KICKSTARTER KING REWARD! Pledge $1000 or more (limited reward of 1): Series artist Robert Atkins (G.I. Joe, X-Men Forever, Amazing Spider-man) will custom draw 11 x 17” original art inked on illustration board of YOU (or anyone of your choosing) posing with the heroes from Elders of the RuneStone! This illustration will then be colored and included in the collected graphic novel! AND get a copy of the collected graphic novel, signed and hand-numbered by series writer Quinn Johnson (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Kung Fu Panda, Megamind). AND get a PDF (special “Kickstarter Team” edition) of the double-sized first issue, AND get your name printed in the “Thank You’s” at the end of the book and on the Elders of the RuneStone website under the “Platinum Contributors” section!

Yes, you read correctly! Your last name can become the surname of one of FOUR OF THE MAIN HEROES for the entire life of the series! We've pretty much had their names picked out for almost 20 years, but if it helps the series to make it into the hands of fans worldwide, we will change them to your last name!

Again, thanks to all those who have been so generous in their backing and who have done so much to spread the word. It is very, very appreciated. We still have a long way to go, so please continue to do all you can to share the video and the link to this project with whomever you can.
*And if you've already pledged and would like to pledge again and grab another reward, you can create a second Kickstarter account and go for it!

We've got some awesome stuff to show off in the new few updates, including sneak peeks at finished pages of the series and our BRAND NEW LOGO! But until then, feast your eyes on the FINISHED ADDER ACTION FIGURE custom-created by the incredible Doug Brown. As a special surprise, he even added a custom-created figure of one of the psychotic Smiley killers from the series! As the creators of the character, we can tell you this is pretty mind-blowing! You can contact Doug at dbr3470@yahoo.com.
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Thursday, March 15, 2012

Kickstarter Update #5: The First Week is Over...Where Are We Now?


Go to our Kickstarter page at the link below and join the team!


Well, the first week of Elders of the RuneStone on Kickstarter has been astounding to say the least. Right now we're sitting at just shy of $6000, 2/3 of the way to make the project and its rewards official. Thanks again to all who have been so incredibly generous thus far!

Statistically Kickstarter projects tend to slow down in the middle, and we've still got a good ways to go, so any efforts in continuing to spread the word are awesome. Comics Experience just sent out their electronic newsletter and included a section on us, reaching over 1000 people! Also check out Michael's ComicsBoom network, which he was kind enough to feature our video on! Thanks so much guys!

Also a heads up to check out the awesome art blog Periodic Heroes, which is featuring Elders of the RuneStone as their theme this week. Thanks to Phil Sevy, creator of Heartless Dark!

Also remember that we've still got a ton of fantastic rewards for pledges, including personal art and writing critiques from series artist Robert Atkins and myself! Here's a little note from Michelle, who grabbed one of these rewards for herself:

"This is very exciting! I hope you do manage to raise the full $9,000 ~ and I can't wait to read this comic! I might be able to pledge more, later on. I think it is fantastic that these types of options exist for getting a comic book published. My fingers are crossed that your project goes through without a hitch!

"(I don't have a script yet... (eeek!) I've just finished the Comics Experience 'Intro to Comic Book Writing' so I'm JUST learning how to write scripts. I'll get to work as soon as I can!!)

"Have a lovely day! ~Michelle"

Can't wait to see your stuff, Michelle!

And last of all, here are more pics of Doug Brown's incredible process of custom-creating the Adder action figure! Check out his process of creating and molding Adder's kunai (throwing knives). You can contact Doug at dbr3470@yahoo.com.
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Monday, March 12, 2012

Even Kids Know That "Elders of the RuneStone" is Awesome


Go to our Kickstarter page at the link below and join the team!


Ryan Landvatter, a good friend and supporter of this Kickstarter project (and an amazing artist, check out his website http://itsokaytobeanerd.blogspot.com), sent in the following message:

"Quinn,
 My 4 year old son Jonas asked me to send you these pictures because he wants to help too. I read a few of your comics to him and he drew these pictures yesterday. He wanted me to send the drawings to you and he said, 'They are totally rad, Dad!'
-Ryan and Jonas"

So here we present Jonas's awesome artwork of Elders of the RuneStone heroes Kat and Dain in his Gremlin form. *Just a reminder that included in the rewards is the chance for your child to get his or her artwork inked or colored by the amazing Juan Castro and Bob Pedroza, who handle inks and colors on the series!*
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And here are more pics detailing the creation of Doug Brown's incredible custom-made Adder action figure. In Doug's own words: "I'm using liquid green stuff to build up the stitches [on the mask]. It's easier to control the sculpting material with a brush, but you have to build it up in layers....The MU arms have a slighty different construction than the Joe parts so I had to create a spacer using a styrene tube to give the new arms a tighter fit." Talk about dedication to detail! Contact Doug at dbr3470@yahoo.com.

Only five days in and we are almost at $5500! Thanks again to everyone for your incredible support and generosity. Not much further until our $9000 goal is reached and this project becomes official! (Can't wait to start sending out your rewards!)

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Saturday, March 10, 2012

Day 3 of Kickstarter--We've Broken the Halfway Point!


Go to our Kickstarter page at the link below and join the team!


WOW! Less than three days in and we've broken $4500--halfway to our goal of $9000! You backers are AMAZING!! This seriously would not be possible without your kind support. Thank you all again, and I am excited for you to soon be enjoying the rewards we have in store! Now all we have to do it bring in that other $4500...

Also thanks to all those of you who are spreading the word--it makes a HUGE difference and has gotten a lot more people to join the team.

Just a little side note: Robert's been in the UK the past few days at the "Roll Out Roll Call" 2012 convention. Dave at All the Cool Stuff, a comic shop there, was nice enough to invite him to the show as a guest and meet the GI JOE and Action Force fans over in the UK. Read more about it on Robert's art blog, http://robertatkinsart.blogspot.com. Not much rest for me either, as I've also been hard at work writing the script for issue #5 of Archie and Bongo Comics artist Bill Galvan's co-created series The Scrapyard Detectives. It's been a total blast, and it's awesome any time I get to work with Bill. He's one fantastic guy!

Alrighty, enough from me. Here are a few more pics of the step-by-step process of Doug  Brown's awesome custom-made Adder action figure. Check out the painstaking process of adding the finest detail, including sculpting the stitches on Adder's mask! Once again, you can contact Doug and lavish him with praise and questions at dbr3470@yahoo.com.
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Friday, March 9, 2012

Day #2 on Kickstarter: Kicking Serious Butt!


Go to our Kickstarter page at the link below and join the team!


Wow! Less than two days in and we've already reached $3300! That's $1300 just since last night! I am simply astounded and extremely humbled. Thanks so much to all of you who have been so generous, and also for doing so much to spread the word!

I will not lie, I'm exhausted! Working a full-time job, then coming home and tackling all the tasks inherent to running this project takes it out of you. (I've really been trying to send a personal note to each person who pledges, you are fantastic.) Plus I hadn't counted on being so wired these last couple days what with putting ourselves out there and seeing how the world reacts to Elders of the RuneStone--it's affected my sleeping for sure. (Yes, I've been having Kickstarter dreams.) It's extremely exciting and totally worth it! I think I'll breathe easier when we hit that holy $9000 mark and this whole thing becomes official.  :)

Here are six more pics of Doug Brown's unbelievably awesome custom-made Adder action figure. Check out his amazing process as he picks out just the right parts from existing action figures, assembles them, then adds his sculpting magic to make it look perfect! More to come after this! Once again, you can contact Doug at dbr3470@yahoo.com.
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Thursday, March 8, 2012

Kickstarter Update #1: Off to An Awesome Start!


Go to our Kickstarter page at the link below and join the team!


After years of working on Elders of the RuneStone and months of preparing for our Kickstarter fundraiser, I finally hit the "Launch" button last night at about 10:30pm. Naturally I was feeling pretty anxious. What would happen?

When I finally went to bed about an hour and a half later, we were already at $775. When I left this morning for my day job, we were already at $1200. Talk about an awesome start! I drove to work in somewhat of a daze; after years of struggling to find some way to fund this project, it finally began to hit me: "Holy cow. This series is actually going to happen!"

Now, less than 24 hours after launch, we're at over $1600.

All I can say to all of you who have pledged so far is THANK YOU. I am truly touched and humbled by your kindness and for believing in this series. It means more than you can imagine.


We still have a long way to go, so please keep spreading the word! Posting the link to this project on Facebook, Twitter, blogs and forums, etc. is extremely appreciated! The more money we raise, the more story we'll be able to produce! It'll be worth it, I can promise you!

As seen in the following pics, the amazing Doug Brown was inspired by Robert's awesome artwork and has used his customizing genius to create an action figure of Elders of the RuneStone's very own ADDER! I'll be releasing more photos of the process in the coming days as the project continues. Contact Doug as dbr3470@yahoo.com and let him know how awesome he is!

Also be sure to check out the write-up on the fundraiser from the fantastic folks at Comics Experience, who have also donated credit to their phenomenal online comics-creation courses as one of our Kickstarter rewards! Here's the link: http://blog.comicsexperience.com/2012/03/robert-atkins-launches-kickstarter-for.html
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Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Elders of the RuneStone LIVE on Kickstarter!

That's right, after years of work, it's finally here!

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1337098590/elders-of-the-runestone

1) Check out the link and video.

2) Decide if you think it's cool.

3) Click "Back This Project."

4) Follow the instructions.

5) Claim your awesome reward!

6) Re-post the link and video and share the dream!