'Hullabaloo': A Steampunk Animated Adventure Film

'Hullabaloo' is the story of Veronica Daring, a brilliant young scientist who returns home from an elite finishing school to find her father--the eccentric inventor Jonathan Daring--missing without a trace! The only clue left behind points Veronica toward Daring Adventures, an abandoned amusement park used by her father to test his fantastical steam-powered inventions. There she discovers a strange girl named Jules, a fellow inventor who agrees to help Veronica in locating her missing father and discovering the secrets of his work.

'Hullabaloo' is a 2D (hand-drawn) animated steampunk film that hopes to help preserve the dying art of 2D animation; and by supporting their Indiegogo project, you get to help save 2D animation from an untimely demise and help fund a full length 2D feature.

They also hope the film will encourage girls to explore science and adventure. The film's two protagonists are both young women and both scientists who use their intellect, wits, and courage to fight greed and corruption. They hope that Veronica Daring and her friend Jules will serve as positive role models for girls of all ages and encourage them to get excited about science, engineering, and sci-fi.

Funding has already been met for this cool project, currently at $218k, 273% of their original $80k goal, and with the campaign set to end on October 1st, there's still plenty time to pledge your support and help fund the additional stretch goals. Stretch goals met so far is a new 'Hullabaloo' short; 'Curse of the Cheshire Cat' plus the opportunity to produce a full orchestra soundtrack for the short too. If they successfully get to the next stretch goal of $240k, then that will unlock a third 'Hullabaloo' short; 'The Mysterious Island'.

Check out the campaign trailer below and go here to their Indiegogo project.

Details For The First Ever Leamington Spa Comic Con

designed
Michelle Abrahall

Back in February, I highlighted the Indiegogo campaign by Dan Mallier hoping to launch Leamington Spa's very first Comic Con at The Royal Leamington Spa Pump Rooms on Saturday October 18. Well, that Indiegogo campaign was successful, with 72 people backing the project, myself included, helping to raise £1786, which was more than the original target of £1500!

As the level of interest in the project grew, due to support from local media and blogs, including a couple of appearances on local radio to promote the cause, the team behind the Leamington Comic Con were left with no choice but to move the event from the original choice of venue, the LAMP, to the Royal Pump Rooms.

Their main aim is to have a Comic Con which actually focuses on comics, mostly indie and small press, and also giving local talent a platform to show off their work, an example being the Leamington Spa Comic Con poster, which was designed by Leamington Spa-based artist Michelle Abrahall. They also want to work with local comic and memorabilia traders as well as raise money for local charities by having events on the day.

The Leamington Spa Comic Con has lined up some great guests so far:

• Neil Gibson / T Publications - Creator of 'Twisted Dark' and will be doing a talk at the event.
• Mike Garley and the creative team behind his new project the 'Kill Screen'. Mike has also worked on 'Wallace & Gromit', 'Adventure Time' and the 'Dead Roots' anthology. Mike and his team will be hosting a Q&A on The Kill Screen
• Haylestorm Comics
• Geeky Comics
• Al Davison / Astral Gypsy
• Leon McKenzie / Bluewater Publications - 'Misadventures of Adam West'
• Borderline Press - 'Zombre'
• Time Bomb Comics

And more to come! Also confirmed in attendance at the Comic Con is the UK Garrison, one of the foremost 'Star Wars' costuming groups in the UK and part of the 501st Legion, plus there will be comic and memorabilia traders, a photo booth and a comic cosplay competition on the day to crown Leamington's first cosplay champion!

They are giving away goodie bags to the first 100 adult guests that have bought an advance ticket or have the free entry Indiegogo perk. Advance adult tickets are £5 + booking fee, with a group ticket of four adults cost £16. Under 13's go free with a paying adult.

Go here to buy tickets.

Follow them on Facebook, on Twitter @LeamComicCon and on their blog to keep up to date with the latest happenings at Leamington's first ever Comic Con.

From Stalls To Walls - Help Fund Leamington Spa's First Comic Store

Fresh from news that my local town, Leamington Spa, will be hosting it's first ever comic con on Saturday October 18 at The Royal Leamington Spa Pump Rooms after a successfully funded Indiegogo campaign, the guys at Comics Etc, a locally based pop-up comic book store which has been appearing locally at film festivals, music festivals and events in the local area, are hoping to find a more permanent home and open a bricks and mortar comic book store. They want their store to offer a unique experience where customers can interact and meet like minded individuals while at the same time promoting local small press and hosting local community events such as film nights and game nights.

And over the last year that they've been popping up, the most repeated question they've had is "Have you got a store?" Well that is where you and their Indiegogo campaign can help make this happen.

They hope to raise a minimum of £5000 which will go a long way towards opening a small retail unit, with the sourcing of basic fixtures and fittings and also help add additional stock such as small press, manga and classic back issues.

And as with any crowd funding campaign, there are the perks to tempt you. These range from getting your name read out in their inaugural podcast thanking you for your contribution, to gift bundles, special T shirts, tote bags, engraved comic art and locally commissioned art.

Check out their campaign video below and head over to their Indiegogo campaign page and help make Leamington Spa cool with it's own comic store!

Cool Art: 'Illusory' by Kelly McKernan

Inspired by 'Pan's Labyrinth' and originally created for Gallery 1988's 7th annual "Crazy 4 Cult" show last year, 'Illusory' by Kelly McKernan is a $60 perk exclusively for her Indiegogo Studio Project. The project is hoping to raise $7500 to help fund extra studio space and there are some pretty cool perks as incentives for you to help fund this project, such as this print

This print will be 16" x 20" including a 1" white border and will come signed and is limited to up to 25 prints (the edition will be determined by the number picked up during this campaign). It will also include a certificate of authenticity.

Go here to check out Kelly's Indiegogo Studio Project.

Help Fund Leamington Spa's First Comic Con!

I love my comics and I've been a regular at the MCM Memorabilia Expo and Comic Cons at the NEC in Birmingham the last few years too, plus the London Film and Comic Con as well. And now there are plans afoot to bring the fandoms and fun of a comic con closer to home.

Dan Mallier is looking to launch Leamington Spa's very first Comic Con at The Royal Leamington Spa Pump Rooms on Saturday October 18, and he's seeking the help from local heroes (writers, illustrators and fans) to unite and use their powers (love) for comics and memorabilia, with the aspiration to one day transform this project into a permanent Hulk-sized fixture.

The Indiegogo project is looking at raising £1500, with 100% of the profits going back in to fund more Leamington Comic Cons. The total raised will go towards:

• Leamington's first comic con
• Venue hire, furniture
• Q&A panel of writers and illustrators
• Super hero/villain photo booth
• 501st Stormtrooper Legion appearance
• Goodie bag for first 100 visitors
• Live event podcasting
• Promotional material

And being a crowd-funded project, there are cool rewards for helping fund this project too which include free entry into the Comic Con, a free comic and a free T-shirt!

Head on over to the Indiegogo page, and follow them on Facebook and on Twitter @LeamComicCon and help spread the word on this exciting project and bring a slice of geekdom to Leamington Spa.

The Batman Chronicles - Web Series on Indiegogo

Here's a trailer for a new web series that's looking for funding on Indiegogo.

'The Batman Chronicles' is new fan-made (non-profit) web series chronicling the adventures of a young Bruce Wayne, exploring his struggle to clean up the streets of Gotham City. They want the series to be a realization true to the comic books. Dark and gritty, but not afraid to stay true to the source material.

For more information, go their Indiegogo page or visit their Facebook page.