🔥 It’s Getting Hot in Here🔥
Grab an icy drink, find some AC, and enjoy some sweet updates!
It’s been a whirlwind spring as we roll into the official days of summer! A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for the sold-out launch of Maurice Vellekoop’s exhibit, where Maurice and Anita Kunz shared stories about life, art, and career — and answered some fantastic questions from the audience.
Just a week earlier, RAID the Closet welcomed a wonderful crowd of folks who came to shop vintage clothing and quirky knick-knacks (check our IG for snaps and stories). All of this was followed by a bustling Toronto Comic Arts Festival, with Dax Gordine signing and sketching for his wonderful Forest Folk fans, and Ramón Pérez offering up some insightful portfolio reviews to aspiring artists!
The ongoing support from our incredible community is what allows us to keep doing what we love — and for that, we are always grateful. So once again, thank you!
And speaking of love and support...
We are excited to share that Forest Folks: Mischief & Monsters is fully funded at over $30,000 CAD! Which means we reached every stretch goal in the campaign — so, all physical backers will receive a limited-edition art print, a Grumpy Gus magnet, and a Barry’s Beans coaster — and if you’d like a Barry’s Beans mug to go along with it — you’ll be able to snag one in the add-ons section during campaign fulfillment!
While the campaign is closed, funding for the base tiers is still open — so check it out and get all these great extras!
For our first campaign of the year, we couldn’t have asked for more, but this is just the beginning for us!
Our next campaign, the superhero epic Omega Reign by the brilliant Bill Coffin, launches July 8th — delayed from it’s orginal launch of Jun 24th due to some production issues — which means you have time to get in on the ground floor. So head over to Omega Reign pre-launch page to register!
Subscribe to Hot Off the Press to stay up to date on our past, present, and upcoming publishing endeavors — including project updates, behind-the-scenes insights, and spotlights on our incredible creators!
Congratulations to Maurice Vellekoop, whose illustrated memoir I’m So Glad We Had This Time Together has won the 2025 Doug Wright Award for Best Book at this year’s TCAF! The recognition doesn’t stop there — the book has also received accolades from The Toronto Book Awards, The Trillium Book Awards, and is nominated for a 2025 Eisner Award for Best Graphic Memoir.
If you haven’t picked up a copy of this stunning memoir yet, stop by the RAID Gallery & Café to grab yours — each book comes with a limited edition signed print. While you’re here, don’t miss the chance to view original artwork from the memoir currently on display in our gallery.
Missed the Exhibit Launch and conversation with Maurice? Don’t worry, true believers — we’ve got you covered! The full conversation between Maurice Vellekoop and Anita Kunz premieres on YouTube July 7th at 12am EST — but you can watch it now via early access!
📹 Enjoy the full conversation, and Q&A now.
I’m So Glad We Had This Time Together, A Memoir explores the complexities of growing up queer within a religious family in 1970s Toronto, the joys of self-discovery, finding community, and his evolving relationship with the city where he grew up.
The RAID Gallery & Cafe is located at📍1720 Queen Street West, and open from 9-4 weekdays, and 10-5 on weekends.
RAID’s very own big kahuna, Ramón Pérez, sat down for an interview with Jordan Middlebrook, host of the YouTube channel By the Wayside! They discuss Ramón’s career as a cartoonist, as well as his experience head of RAID, it’s legacy, and all it’s arms of operations; Press, Studio, Agency, and more!
If you're in the Newmarket area or visiting, be sure to stop by Wayside Comics & Cocktails 📍200 Main St. South, Newmarket, ON. This comic book store doubles as a cocktail bar, owned by Omar Saer (co-host of the Omar Recommends segment), and serves as the recording site for the By The Wayside channel!
Since we’re on a roll with video content, we’ve got to shout out our good friends at LETHAL COMICS in Montréal, QC — they’ve been crushing it with their new YouTube show!
Join Andy Belanger and Karl Kerschl every Wednesday at 2PM EDT as they dive into their favourite creators, killer comics, and fun, unfiltered conversations. It’s comics talk the LETHAL way — bold, passionate, and totally entertaining. New episodes drop every Wednesday at 2PM EDT!!
🎯 LETHAL COMICS YOUTUBE SHOW
Stay tuned, stay inspired — and don’t forget to subscribe to keep up with all things RAID and to support independent creators doing bold, original work!
To find us in a few other places online, check out out linktr.ee/RAID.world — where you’ll find our social media, discord community, meetup events calendar, and more!