Heat Waves, Heroes, and Heart Throbs?
That post summer sunshine has put a spring in our step as we dip into cooler days...
Hey Everyone,
Ramón Pérez here, the wizard behind the curtain, grand poohbah of RAID chaos, I just wanted to drop in for a quick hello. First off, thank you for subscribing to It’s A RAID World (and It’s Hot Off The Press if you’re double-dipping with us there, too).
It’s been a whirlwind of growth this past couple of years at RAID, and honestly, I’m blown away by how the studio and the community around it have evolved over the decades. A community that is the foundation of RAID. It’s built on the shoulders of friends who have chosen to share a space and call it home, Marcus, Kalman, Katie, Kyle, and so many more, alongside all the new faces in our growing family.
Plus, we have new faces who are helping shape RAID’s future: individuals like Darcy, who heads up our publishing arm, Maria, who manages our studio space and gallery, Michaela, who coordinates our newsletter and growing PR, and my long-time brother-in-arms, Rob, who does way too much for me just to specify one thing.
Not to mention the lovely Leau and Naz, who head our social media and created such beautiful gems as the video below. If you haven’t been following us on IG — now’s the time to start and enjoy their genius
I feel like we bust our asses all year, especially over summer, and August is our Christmas. Everything building toward Fan Expo Canada, our biggest show of the year. It’s our largest RAID setup, with most (if not all) of our creators on deck. It’s a beast of a weekend and a helluva good time, and this year did not disappoint! We proudly rolled out two brand-new books, Cauldron: Forbidden Appetites and Blackmouth: The Witch’s Mark, with plenty more right around the corner.
To all the fans who stopped by to say hi, support our artists, or join us for panels — thank you. We hope you had as much fun as we did. We love every chance to connect with you and couldn’t be more grateful for your support.
Of course, our days at the show are capped off with wild nights catching up with friends and colleagues in town for the con, and this year was extra special as we marked the 10th anniversary of the RAID Social. Epic doesn’t even begin to cover it…
A big thanks again to everyone who helps make our world go round. We have more exciting things up our sleeves, and we hope you stick around and join us in the fun!
Sincerely,
Ramón.
A massive shout-out to our subscribers, supporters, friends, family and fans for getting Omega Reign fully funded on Kickstarter! This superhero novel is truly a labour of love by Bill Coffin, and we are so grateful to be a part of the journey to get this incredible story into your hands.
Although the project is funded, you can still support it and be among the first to receive an e-book, softcover, or hardcover copy!
With Omega Reign wrapped, fulfillment kicked off for Cauldron: Forbidden Appetites and Blackmouth: The Witch’s Mark. Hot on their heels, Dax Gordine’s Forest Folk: Mischief & Monsters, and Forest Folk: Beginnings, are at the printer, right alongside RAID Klaatu, Barada, and Nikto, our long-awaited anthology trilogy.
Next up on the press docket: BLITZ, followed by Aardehn, and finally Kukuburi before the year is out. We’ve had our heads down, focused on getting these amazing projects into your hands. The growing pains have been real, but the lessons invaluable, and we’re charging ahead smarter, stronger, and better prepared than ever.
Speaking of charging ahead, our next project is one we’re especially proud of: Heroes of the Homefront, a two-volume oversized slipcase set spotlighting the Golden Age of Canadian comics during WWII.
Written and curated by Ivan Kocmarek, lifelong comic fan, collector, and Comic Book Daily columnist, Heroes of the Homefront dives into a remarkable chapter of Canadian history. Born out of the War Exchange Conservation Act, which banned non-essential imports like American and European comics, this era saw young Canadian creators (some still in high school!) stepping up to produce homegrown stories and introducing the nation’s very first superheroes.
It’s a campaign tailor-made for comic fans and history buffs alike, and one we can’t wait to share with you.
This two-volume publication features:
📕 Heroes of the Homefront: Creators — A fully revised, redesigned, and expanded edition of the original 2018 crowdfunded book by Ivan Kocmarek, celebrating the brilliant and essential creators who defined Canada’s Golden Age of comics.
📘 Heroes of the Homefront: Covers — A gorgeous coffee table gallery featuring over 750 vintage comic book covers from Canada’s Golden Age. Each cover has been meticulously scanned by Ivan himself, drawing from Library & Archives Canada as well as rare private collections.
Backers will be able to pledge for either volume or grab both together in one deluxe slipcase set! Be the first to know when the campaign launches by visiting our pre-launch page and signing up.
📹 Want to dive deeper? Sit back and enjoy Ivan, Ramón, and Darcy, introducing you to Canada’s Lost Era Of Superheroes Iive at Fan Expo Canada…
RAID LIFE DRAWING IS BACK IN SESSION!
We’re rolling out some exciting changes to Life Drawing at RAID this fall — designed to make the experience even more dynamic, inspiring, and fun! Starting this season, each session will follow a rotating theme every three weeks, giving you fresh creative challenges and perspectives.
Our new themes include:
Sustained Pose Night – for focused, long-form academic drawing.
Boudoir Gesture Night – expressive, moody short poses with styled setups.
Costume Drawing Night – gesture-based drawing with theatrical draped setups.
Whether you’re a seasoned artist or just starting out, these sessions are a chance to sharpen your skills, spark your creativity, and connect with a vibrant community of fellow creators. Sign up on our MeetUp and don’t miss a night!
📅 Next Session is Thursday, October 9th featuring Shaifa.
📍 The RAID Gallery & Café – 1720 Queen Street West, Toronto
We’re also thrilled to launch our new Fidelity Program for Life Drawing! Book four sessions in advance and enjoy a discounted rate plus a complimentary coffee of your choice and a treat at each session. After purchasing your bundle, simply pick up your gift card at your first session — then sip, snack, and stay fuelled while you draw.
See you at the easel!
We’ve got a RAID Space just for you!
Join our community of in-studio co-working spots open for creatives of all stripes and budgets, whether you’re plotting your next masterpiece, collaborating with fellow chaos-makers, or just need a corner to let ideas run wild.
Spaces are limited, so claim your spot and join the madness today!
Curious? Feel free to reach out!
She’s ready for her close-up, Mr. DeMille!
The CBC sat down with the wonderfully talented Katie Sawatsky to chat about her journey across multiple creative industries and her collaboration with Kyle J. Smith on their gothic horror graphic novel, Blackmouth!
Click here to read the full article.
Last but not least, a friendly reminder that Issue #1 of Battleworld (2025) hits shelves on September 24th, featuring the incredible artwork of our very own Marcus To! Join your favourite heroes from across the multiverse for the ultimate showdown, written by Superior Spider-Man’s Christos Gage.
Run, don’t walk, to your local comic shop!
Thanks for reading, and for being part of our ever-growing RAID family! We couldn’t do any of this without your support, your curiosity, and your love for the stories we create together.
Stay inspired, stay creative, and we’ll see you in the next update!
— The RAID Team.
What an amazing, in-depth update! This has given me a bunch of new projects to follow - thank you!