Our July so far...
“I drifted into a summer-nap under the hot shade of July, serenaded by a cicada lullaby, to drowsy-warm dreams of distant thunder.” - Terri Guillemets
COMICTOPIA: BLITZ Takes Off!
We are thrilled to announce that BLITZ has made a stunning debut on Backerkit’s “COMICTOPIA.” Thanks to the immediate and enthusiastic support from our incredible community, our campaign was fully funded within hours of its launch. The hard work and dedication we poured into this project have truly paid off, and we are immensely grateful.
Our heartfelt thanks go out to all the creators involved and everyone who has supported us. BLITZ isn’t just a comic book magazine—it’s a community-driven project, and we can’t wait for you to hold it in your hands!
Since the launch, we have hit our initial stretch goal of $8K, which means we are adding an extra 16 pages to BLITZ #1, transforming it from a 64-page book into a monstrous 80-page edition!
Our next stretch goal is set at $10K, which lands all backers a copy of the second sensational issue of BLITZ! As of this post, we’re sitting at $9,155! So, let’s gather the masses, spread the word, and hit our marks to get as many copies of BLITZ into the hands of the people!
On top of all of this, our collaboration with Magnetic Press has been fantastic — ranking us together at #1 of most backed cross-collaboration! This journey has been nothing short of amazing.
You can still back BLITZ until August 8th!
Let’s roll along now and meet a beautiful member of our RAID family: Eric Vedder, watch out, he’s a hugger!
Eric Vedder's career has spanned over 25 years in the entertainment industry. From comic book artist, illustrator, animator, and painter to concept artist and art director, he's enjoyed working on many high-profile projects. Currently, he is the Concept Director at Digital Extremes, a triple-A studio responsible for the smash hit game, WARFRAME and soon-to-be-released SOULFRAME.
He has also been a card-carrying member of The RAID Studios in Toronto, since 2008. His forthcoming cinematic novella "Aardehn: Awakening," is a cyberpunk-fantasy thriller co-created with writer S.M. Carter. In 2017, he began co-hosting the War With Art podcast (editor’s note: scroll down for a current link!), focusing on the creative struggles we all face with art. He also enjoys making chopping wood and making fires.
What is your favourite word, and why?
Eric: Wow that’s a hard one to choose so I’ll pick one of my many favourite words and that would be Samurai! I grew up loving ninjas, samurais and their sword, and pursued martial arts as I got older. It represents a lot to me, so yeah, I think that is a good one for me. Dragon, wolves, vampire, cyberpunk... my nerd list of favourite words is long though!
What is your least favourite word, and why?
Eric: Hmm… my least favourite word. That’s a tough one. I think it would have to be onomatopoeia (editor's note: corrected!). Mostly because it’s almost impossible to spell! HAHA. (I probably didn’t spell it right) but also, it seems like an unnecessarily long word. I think we could have done better there.
What turns you on creatively?
Eric: Nature, art, science, poetry, the human figure and my friends and family…basically life and being alive!
What turns you off creatively?
Eric: When the world is cruel to each other. We can do such wonderful things as a species but we really know how to make life hard for others and that bums me out.
What is your creative routine?
Eric: My creative routine usually involves a lot of thinking and talking to myself. I spend a lot of time in my head before I put anything down on paper. In fact as soon as I wake up in the morning, I like to roll ideas around in my head to try and push my initial ideas further. I guess my brain is empty at that hour so it’s not distracted by anything yet haha.
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Eric: I’ve definitely thought about what it would be like to be a police officer or a fireman. I like helping others and enjoy talking to people. However, now, I think I’d like to learn about blacksmithing and make swords, knives and axes since my cop days are over heh.
How would you describe your upcoming book, the first volume of Aardehn?
Eric: Aardehn has been in my head for more years than I can count. It’s a massive, sprawling sci-fi/fantasy epic that starts out small and intimate only to reveal itself as an intense, deep, wonderful, beautifully, chaotic universe that we can’t wait to share with you all. That’s the grand overview of the world itself but perhaps Sheldon can speak to more of the details of the first, of what will be many, cinematic novellas.
Follow Eric on Instagram [@eric_vedder_illustration], and X [@E_V_IL]
If you are interested in Eric’s work and want update on his upcoming projects you can subscribe to his Newsletter!
Speaking of Aardehn: Awakening — if you’re curious about this gem, follow the campaign landing page and be notified of our upcoming launch! Individuals who subscribe to the landing page, and also later back the campaign, will be treated to an extra little gem unavailable to any other backer! More to come…
Fellow RAIDer Danesh Mohiuddin has been a busy fellow over the past year, creating two stunning books — one on the history of the Mayan Empire, and the other, his premier book as both writer and artist! Let’s dive into the latter first…
Mummy & Me: A Monster’s Tale (Owlkids books)
An ode to little monsters and the caregivers who love them.
When the sun goes down, Mummy and Wee Wolf emerge from their coffin to start the day. Wee Wolf loves his mummy. She brushes his unruly fur, brews midnight stew for their lunch, and reads him his favourite Hairy Tales. And whenever Mummy and Wee Wolf have a disagreement, a little boogie helps them forget all their troubles!
But taking care of Wee Wolf isn’t easy. Wee Wolf’s efforts to be a perfectly well-behaved monster often hilariously sabotage Mummy. He interrupts her morning stretches, “helps” her cook by cannonballing into hot stew, and wiggles out of her grasp while she tries to clip his little wolfy toenails. By the end of the night, Wee Wolf notices Mummy becoming a little … unravelled. But just as Mummy is always there for him, Wee Wolf is there for her—ready to help re-wrap her bandages, toilet paper in hand.
This hilarious, highly original picture book plays with the phrase “little monsters” as it explores parent-child relationships. While the bold, detailed illustrations will draw readers in, Wee Wolf’s tender, thoughtful moments encourage both empathy and self-awareness. It’s a howling good time!
The Ancient Maya Times - Survival Guide by Nick Hunter and Illustrator Danesh Mohiuddin (Oxford University Press)
Could you survive in the Ancient Maya times? Spot your guide as you explore cities, what to wear, eat and drink and more. This book offers the perfect introduction to your study of the Ancient Maya.
Follow Danesh on Instagram [@daneshmo] and on www.daneshm.com
RAID Spaces: Introducing the Daily Desk membership!
We've been busy reorganizing the studio to kick off the summer in style, and we're thrilled to announce the launch of the Daily Desk membership! We’re always trying to incorporate ways to allow aspiring, young artists, and recent graduates, access to our creative co-working community — and this new lower price point tier allows just that.
The Daily Desk membership is a sort of “floater” tier designed to offer flexibility, convenience, and most importantly, affordability. Whether you're a new professional starting your career or someone curious about co-working spaces, this is the perfect way to be part of our community and inspiring workspace without a long-term commitment. Simply renew your membership month to month as you need!
Visit our website for more details!
Struggling with creativity?
You're not alone.
Everyone has experienced creative blocks at some point in their career. That's why professional game developers S.M. Carter and George Spanos, along with artist Eric Vedder, decided to discuss these challenges on their podcast, War With Art.
In each episode, they delve into specific "creator's wars," covering topics like procrastination, marketing, distractions, and even the occasional bad idea.
Listen to War With Art on Spotify:
As we prepare for FAN EXPO Canada, held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from August 22 to August 25, we’re also dreaming about summer escapes, far away from the city.
Dreaming of sea salt, drinks on the beach, good books, and wriggling our toes deep into the sand as we bask in the sun.
Since we’re just dreaming, and focusing on conventions we’ll let these lovely Real Italian Summer vibes ☀️ 🌊 captured by photographer Sam Gregg tide us over till we get there...
In the meantime follow us on our @theraidstudio Instagram and Tik Tok accounts for regular updates and shenanigans!