Glarien of White Ash #1: a fantasy series for mature readers

The PDF is HERE!
over 2 years ago – Sun, Sep 05, 2021 at 11:41:51 PM

The PDF is HERE!

Hey there, Glarien backers, after a slightly longer than we would have liked delay, the PDF for Glarien #1 is now on its way from Backerkit to you. In addition, for those of you who just like looking at pretty things, we've sent out an artwork only version of the book (free from unsightly word balloons).  So check your inboxes (and junk mail). If you don’t see it in the next 12 hours, let us know and we’ll find another way to get it out to you.

For those of you who would rather wait for the physical copy, the file is at the printers. Like many printers, ours, due to paper and staffing shortages as a result of the pandemic, is a little backed up. We’re very hopeful that we’ll begin mailing out books in early October, but we will keep you posted as we hear updates.

Also, we wanted to give you all an update on the stretch goal Glarien short story that Emily Person was going to draw. Unfortunately, due to some health issues she had to step away from the project. We hope Emily is back at the drawing board very soon and we for sure will have her do more White Ash related content. But in the interim, Rosi Kämpe (Spider-Gwen, Batman Secret Files, Destiny, NY) has stepped in and will be drawing the short. Expect to see that one hitting your inboxes some time in November.

Speaking of November, White Ash proper is returning to comic shops with a whole new 8 issue arc "White Ash: Season Two" from Scout Comics. 

For those of you who have been with us for a while, you have not missed a kickstarter. Season One through Scout was everything that was in the Hardcover. The first issue of Season Two (as seen above) is kickstarter White Ash Chapter Five remastered, with a new cover (including an incredible variant by Jae Lee) and 2.5 new pages.

Originally our plan had been to Kickstart all White Ash issues first and then put them out through Scout. But Conor and his wife had a second baby right after Chapter Five came out and that understandably slowed down his productivity for while.  This left us facing the reality that if we were to Kickstart the next arc first and then bring it to Scout, it would have likely been over two years between the first arc and second arcs hitting the direct market, which may have killed any chance the series had to gain a foothold there.  That said, the only reason White Ash has been able to soar to the heights it's risen to has been the unwavering support of the Kickstarter community.  So here's our plan going forward to hopefully support both fanbases. 

Scout will be doing an 8 issue arc of Season 2. The first issue is out in November. The rest will be out monthly from February through August. These are all-new issues that haven't been out anywhere. There will then be a Scout Trade Paperback collecting it (likely in November). We will then RETURN to Kickstarter to do a matching Hardcover (of the Vol 1 one) for Season 2. That Kickstarter will likely be in early 2023. 

This gives you the kickstarter backers a couple of options in terms of how you get your White Ash content. If you just want to stay Kickstarter exclusive, you can wait till 2023 and get the next arc in one beautiful 200 page+, hardcover package.  If you love single issues and want to read the story as we finish it, please tell your Local Comic Shop you want to add White Ash to your pull (most stores will pull titles for you) and they'll make sure you get it monthly.  Or you can get both. (No judging).  Hopefully by having these options, it also reduces the cost for all of you looking to collect White Ash.  We know comics on Kickstarter come at a premium price.  Distributing through the direct market first gives us the ability to offer single issues at a lower price point. 

NOTE: if you do want to get White Ash through your local comic shop, PLEASE tell them now. The preorder window lasts for another two weeks. This helps make sure they will actually have it in stock for you.  If it's not a Marvel, DC or hot Image title, if you don't tell your comic shop, there's no guarantee they will have it. Indie comics live and die on preorders.  So PLEASE, tell your shops you want White Ash. 

But don't think we're abandoning Kickstarter. Glarien will continue to be kickstarter only for the run of the mini-series. We have at least one or two other White Ash mini-series planned after that as well.  And depending on how the direct market plays out, we may return here first for the third arc of White Ash (TBD)  I hope that clarifies things. We're just tying to put out the series in a way that feels equitable for both the Kickstarter and the direct market fanbase. Because we truly love our Kickstarter fans.

And speaking of Kickstarter love, one of the best series to launch on Kickstarter in the past couple of years, has about 10 days left in its campaign.  I'm talking about David Pepose's The O.Z.

If you don't know David, he's writing some of the best indie... and perhaps soon mainstream comics, out there.  Spencer and Locke, Going to the Chapel and Scout's Honor are all incredible and worth picking up.  In the O.Z., Pepose reimagines the classic L. Frank Baum mythology of the Wizard of Oz through the lens of war. It's a powerful and beautiful addition to both David's library of titles and to Baum's classic tale as it shows how Oz can be fertile ground for stories for a new generation of writers. Between the quality of the writing and the art, this is a must back on Kickstarter and it comes with my highest possible recommendation. 

Thank you again everyone for all your patience.  We hope you enjoy the first chapter of Glarien.  Romina, Fin and Conor have done incredible work on this book.  Part two should be on its way early next year.  We'll keep you posted on that as well as the progress of the print version.

All the best from White Ash,

Charlie, Romina, Fin and Conor

Art is done. The book is off to the letterer.
over 2 years ago – Tue, Aug 10, 2021 at 03:04:18 AM

Hey Glarien fans,

We're so very, very close now.  The art is finished and has been sent off to the letterer.  We'll be sending the PDF to you at the same time that we send it to the printer.  So look for that to come in about two weeks.

We'll keep you posted on the printing process and will be working overtime to get them out the door as soon as they arrive.  We're prepping bags and boards now, along with the assorted prints goodie bags as we want to ensure there are no further delays.

Thanks again for all your patience.  We're so excited to (almost) share Glarien with you.

Best,

Charlie

Juuuuuuuust about there.
almost 3 years ago – Wed, Jul 07, 2021 at 11:37:39 PM

Hey Glarien fans,

Thanks so much for your patience, we are ALMOST to the finish line. The coins came in the other day and large boxes of these beauties are filling up my house.

The coins are heavy, clocking in at over an ounce a piece. I think you're all going to love the quality.  Along with the coins and the prints, 3000 backing boards, bags and shipping material for over one thousand packages are currently sitting in my living room waiting to be taken to the post office. The only thing we're waiting on, are the books.  

As for the status of the books, we're really close.  The book is penciled, most of it is inked and Fin has completed all of his color-work on his 1970's section of the comic. Romina still has a couple of pages left to ink and then a few left to color. We know we're about a month and a half past when we were scheduled to deliver and I apologize.  It turns out, when you write large crowd and battle scenes into a comic and then an artist goes and takes the time to render those panels in incredible detail, it can push you a bit off schedule.  So even if it's the art we're waiting on, I blame the writer for delay.  And you should too.  I know my wife does, as she REALLY would like to have her living room back. 

So rest assured, Glarien is coming your way soon.  PDFs will be sent as soon as the pages are in.  And for the sake of my marriage (and living room) the 1080 of you getting physical packages can be assured that those books will be hitting the mail as fast as humanly possible. 

Thanks again for your patience,

Charlie and the rest of Team Glarien, (Conor, Fin and Romina)

Glarien Status Update
almost 3 years ago – Tue, Jun 01, 2021 at 06:36:14 PM

This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.

Catch up materials and PDFs are on their way.
about 3 years ago – Tue, Apr 20, 2021 at 06:18:18 PM

Hey Everyone, 

Just wanted to post a quick update and say thank you for filling out your surveys so quickly.  In less than a week, 86% of you have already turned yours in.  So to hold up our end of things, we've sent out out your Glarien Digital Shorts bundle and White Ash Volume One PDFs (for those of you who backed at the catch-up  level).  

We have also begun mailing out the White Ash hardcovers.  The first 40 hit the mail today.  We hope to get the rest of those (and the single issue, catch-up bundles) out by the end of next week.  That way, it won't be that long of a wait for those of you who'd perfer to read a print copy.

In terms of reading order, if you've gotten the White Ash: Volume One PDF, read that first.  Then read the three Glarien shorts in chronological order:

220, 1220, 1872.

Let us know if you have any issues accessing your digital files through Backerkit (they should send you a link tonight/ by tomorrow morning) and we'll make other arrangements for you.    

Otherwise, we'll be back in touch in a few weeks to update you on the progress of the rest of the Glarien material.  

Thanks again for the support everyone.  Hope you enjoy your first tastes of White Ash and Glarien.

Best,

Charlie, Conor, Fin and Romina.