RAIDCON & BLITZ MAGAZINE!
Please bring your seats to an upright position, and make sure your seatbelts are fastened: We are landing in Comictopia.
Welcome to RAIDcon, a virtual gathering organized by RAID Press to celebrate and highlight the pioneering spirit of independent creators in the dynamic world of comic books, novels, and art books. Here, we honour visionaries who, with passion and ingenuity, forge new paths and bring their unique stories to life. RAIDcon shines a spotlight on emerging creators blazing their own trails, alongside industry veterans who have stepped away from the confines of DC and Marvel to create their own unique legacies!
RAIDcon is part of BACKERKIT'S COMICTOPIA, and to mark this inaugural occasion, we are launching BLITZ #1, a creator-driven magazine showcasing and celebrating independent talent from around the world. Backers will also receive exclusive branded badges and lanyards, access to unique RAID Tees, a build-your-own VIP Loot Box Tier with access to collectible items long unavailable — PLUS our first ever Member Club; The RAID Brigade, where fans can collect redeemable points, plus access special offers and events!
BLITZ is not just a magazine, and RAIDcon is not merely a virtual gathering — they are both expressions of our commitment to community. Immerse yourself in raw interviews with authors and artists, dive deep into discussions on the craft of comics, and explore the ins and outs of crowdfunding. We are here to champion the rebel spirit of indie comics. Join us on this revolutionary journey and discover the unfiltered voices of creative mavericks shaping the future of comics.
IT’S 2024, WHY IN THE HELL ARE YOU MAKING A MAGAZINE?
We’re tired of looking a screens, circumventing algorithms, and crave something beautiful and tactile that is a voice for creators.
BLITZ #1 features a cover by indie legend JIM MAHFOOD (Grrl Scouts, Miami Vice: Remix) and clocks in at 64 pages. This classic saddle-stitched comic magazine is a unique throwback to a simpler time in comics—a celebration of the art form and its creators! Inside, you'll find artist interviews, creator spotlights, galleries, and original creative content, including:
Creators Interview Creators on their on upcoming projects!
Industry tips and tricks from professionals with INKPULPS 'KEEP CRAFT ALIVE' feature with Shawn Crystal (Batman: Arkham Manor, Deadpool MAX).
Discover new artists in our PORTFOLIO SPOTLIGHT featuring international creators!
Get a sneak peek at TWO upcoming original graphic novels; AARDEHN: AWAKENING, and BLACKMOUTH: THE WITCHES MARK.
Learn WORLD BUILDING and STORYTELLING INSIGHTS from Karl Kerschl (Isola, Gotham Academy) as he talks about his new killer series: Tanager!
Fantasy and Science Fiction author Bill Coffin (Rifts: Coalition Wars) takes us on his emotional journey that laid the foundation of his upcoming novel series Omega Reign.
Kick back and enjoy our chat with Jim Mahfood about the upcoming 30th anniversary of his indie series GRRL SCOUTS - and what to expect!
A peek at new titles from various independent creators coming in 2025.
An original fold-out centrefold poster to hang in your home, shop, office, locker, or wherever!
PLUS a whole helluva lot more!
MAGAZINE BONUS FEATURE:
FLIP through THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK TO THE CREATOR UNIVERSE, a 16-page pull-out section showcasing characters from indie creators and where to find them! This section features amazing art by a variety of amazing and talented creators...
…and as if all that wasn’t enough, we’ll also have a BUILD YOUR OWN LOOT BOX and more! Read on, dear friends…
With our VIP LOOT BOX tier, you’ll receive a credit to build your own loot box from our post-campaign store! Items will include pre-packaged sets, heavily discounted individual books, and long-unavailable chase items from previous crowdfunding campaigns, such as limited-edition prints, signed editions, foil cards, sticker packs, and collector coins.
We’ll also have our RAID Retro T-shirts available! What’s a RAID Retro Tee, you ask? It’s us having a little fun recreating popular brand logos or campaigns as RAID T-shirts. We’ve got a dozen of these designs and they’re friggin’ awesome!
Now, last but nearly least, with this RAIDcon campaign we’re dusting off an idea we had back in 2017, reminiscent of the Merry Marvel Marching Society (MMMS) of yesteryear, we wanted to do up a fan club! So we came up with the RAID Brigade - our army out in the wild! While a fan club of sorts it’s also has benefits — collectable redeemable points, discounts, access to special events — and whatever other fun stuff we can funnel into it!
Backers backing the RAID VIP tier will get a Membership card, and will also receive a welcoming letter, stickers, pinback RAID Brigade button, a certificate of authenticity, maybe a scratch pad (we're looking into it!), but alas no one-sided, 33 - 1⁄3 rpm record with us singing our hearts out.
We’ll have more fun surprises during the campaign, and goals we hope to reach to build BLITZ into a voice of the greater indie community — and into truly something special!
WE HOPE TO SEE YOU ON LAUNCH DAY AT RAIDCON 2024 — SIGN UP HERE SO YOU DON’T MISS A THING!