Sidekicks - The Official Thread

[Russell Brettholtz]

Hey, everyone!

Hope you're all enjoying a wonderful holiday season.

The book is almost done. We had some color revisions to make and my editor is taking a final look at the colors and the script before sending everything off to HdE for lettering. As you can imagine, the back-to-back-to-back holidays have slowed everything down a bit.

But, I'm ready to announce that Sidekicks will be published by Darby Pop Publishing.

"In early 2013, Jeff Kline founded Darby Pop Publishing in order to use the incredible visual medium of sequential art, better known as comic books, to tell new stories. Comic books presented a way for Jeff to tell interesting visually driven stories from a variety of genres in a way that fostered creation and collaboration unlike any other medium. So Jeff started talking to other writers, artists, and comic professionals to put together a talented team of creative minds to create a new line of comic books."

I am very excited to be working with Jeff Kline, Renae Geerlings, Joshua Cozine and the rest of the Darby Pop team.

In other news, I have received the pages of original artwork from Miguel. I hope to have them in the mail to those of you who Backed at the $150 and $300 levels this week.

Rick is still working on the Inks for issue #2, but Bong has been moving quickly and delivered the pencils for Issue #3 this past weekend.

I know it's been a long wait for Issue #1. I'm doing everything I can to not only get it to you as soon as possible, but to also have as much finished for the remainder of the series before I launch the next Kickstarter for Issues #2-4.

Thank you for all your support in this amazing year.

See you in 2015.

Happy New Year, everyone!

[Russell Brettholtz]

Hey, everyone!

As I mentioned in the last update, we had a final round of edits (colors and script) to make before we could have the pages lettered.

I am very happy to share that those edits have been made and the final pages and script have been sent to HdE for lettering.

I know we've been here before, but every revision and delay has been in service to providing you with the highest quality comic book we can produce.

Thank you, again, for your continued patience.

Please enjoy this sneak peek at yet another villain from Issue #2.


Ferrous - Concept Art by Jeff Bonesteel

[Russell Brettholtz]

Hey, everyone!

The letters are done! I sent them off to my editor for one final lookover, but then they'll be off to the printer. I'll be spending this week (and maybe next) putting the pages together for the digital version.

The digital version will got out pretty much once it is compiled.

Almost there, folks!

Thank you for your continued support.

What better way to celebrate than a sneak peek at the final member of the villainous Board of Directors from Issue #2.

Quarrel - Concept Art by Jeff Bonesteel

[Russell Brettholtz]

Hey, everyone!

You're reading this right. Sidekicks #1 is finally finished.

HdE sent me the lettered pages last week, and I spent all weekend getting the files ready for print as well as putting together the digital copy.

I have sent the Dropbox link to those Kickstarter Backers who pledged at a level with the Advance View, and so long as I don't hear back that the link doesn't work or the comic is incomplete, I'll be sending the link to the rest of the Backers on Friday.

I also sent the order for Sidekicks #1 to the printer today. I should be getting the proof shortly, and once approved I should have the printed copies within the next few weeks.

I'm currently working on the Behind the Scenes PDF, and hope to have that out to Backers next week.

As for the rest of the mini-series:

Issue #2 is completely penciled and is in the progress of being inked.

Issue #3 is completely penciled.

Issue #4 has completed rough pencils and is being edited before being sent back to Bong for completion.

I can't wait to get Sidekicks #1 in all of your hands. It's been a long year, but we finally made it.

That's it for this week.

[Russell Brettholtz]

Hey, everyone!

The proof of Sidekicks #1 arrived from the printer today, and it looks amazing.

I gave the approval, so I'm hoping I'll have the physical copies of Sidekicks #1 in my hands in two weeks.



In other news, I sent out the Behind the Scenes PDF over the weekend to those Backers who pledged at a level that included that Reward.

I hope you enjoyed it.

And finally, I hope you ALL enjoyed the digital copy of Sidekicks #1.

Feel free to swing by our Facebook Page or Twitter Account and tell us what you think. Good, bad, indifferent? We want to hear it all.

Thanks, again, for taking this ride with us. And we hope you'll join us for the next Kickstarter to help fund the rest of the mini-series (Issues #2-4).

[Russell Brettholtz]

Just a little update:

The physical copies of Sidekicks #1 have been mailed out to our Kickstarter Backers. It feels really good to finally be getting this book into the hands of those who helped make its existence possible.

Bong Dazo is finished with the pencils for Issues #2-4, and the look AMAZING! I can't wait to start sharing some of those pages.

Rick Ketcham is hard at work inking Issue #2.

The only problem is, I'm out of money.

With the Rewards from the previous Kickstarter nearly all sent out, and running out of money to continue paying my art team, that means it's back to Kickstarter to raise the funding for Issues #2-4.

The current plan is to launch on Sunday, March 1, so keep your eyes on this thread for updates.

If you were a Backer, and have read the comic, please let me know your thoughts on Sidekicks #1. Loved it? Hated it? Forgot you even ordered a copy?

Shoot me a message here, or on our Facebook page, or on Twitter.

I want to hear from you!

Thank you all, again, for joining me on this incredible journey. Thank you for your patience with all of the delays. Every delay was in an effort to provide you with the best possible comic.

Please let me know how we did.

Thanks, everyone.

[FromAboveComic]

Cool concept and I really like the artwork. Will have to definitely check out more!

[Russell Brettholtz]

Cool concept and I really like the artwork. Will have to definitely check out more!

Thank you. I appreciate the comment.

[Russell Brettholtz]

Hey, everyone!

We haven't launched the Kickstarter for Issues #2-4 yet. We're just waiting on a couple more pieces to complete the Campaign page.

While you're waiting, please enjoy this sneak peek at the cover for Issue #2.


Sidekicks #2 - Cover by Miguel Mendonça

We'll be launching the Kickstarter for Issues #2-4 soon. Stay tuned, everyone.

[Russell Brettholtz]

The Kickstarter campaign for Sidekicks issues #2-4 is LIVE!

Please don't wait to pledge. Momentum is very important to a successful campaign, and we need to come out of the gate sprinting.

Thanks, everyone!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...cks-issues-2-4

[Russell Brettholtz]

24 Hour Achievement!

Thank you!

After only 24 hours, the Kickstarter Campaign for Sidekicks Issues #2-4 is 19% funded with 55 Backers contributing $1878 toward our goal of $10,000.

If you haven't become a Backer yet, What Are You Waiting For?!

Kickstarter campaigns are all about momentum. Help us keep ours going.

Many thanks to all of you who have Liked and Shared our campaign link (particularly those of you who have Backed the project).

For those of you who missed the Kickstarter for Sidekicks Issue #1, you can still get a copy.

Thanks, again, everyone, for such an incredible start.

[Russell Brettholtz]

Hey, everyone!

By popular demand I have added two new Reward Tiers:

$20: Catch Up #1 - Digital Only: You will receive a PDF copy of Sidekicks #1 plus PDF copies of Sidekicks Issues #2-4 (with Kickstarter exclusive Bonus Materials).

$30: Catch Up #2 - Physical: You will receive a PDF copy of Sidekicks #1, physical copies of Sidekicks #2-4 as well as the PDF copies (with Kickstarter exclusive Bonus Materials).

We are already 21% funded with 64 Backers pledging $2145.

But we can still use your help. Please consider helping to spread the word about the campaign. To make it easier to spread the word, just click the following link to to Tweet about Sidekicks to your Followers on Twitter:

"Become a super-hero #Sidekick by backing the #comic on @kickstarter. Help fund the 4-issue mini-series."

Thanks.

[Russell Brettholtz]

Day 5 Report

We are 27% funded with 82 Backers Pledging $2707.

If you're reading this and you haven't backed the campaign yet, What Are You Waiting For?

Momentum is key to a successful campaign. And while we're off to a great start, there is still a long way to go to our Goal of $10,000 (seriously, comic books are expensive to create).

Thanks to everyone who has already Pledged.

If you know anyone who would enjoy this comic, please send them the link.

You can also help by clicking the following to generate a Tweet:

"Become a super-hero #Sidekick by backing the #comic on @kickstarter. Help fund the 4-issue mini-series."

For your enjoyment, Issue #2, Page 8: Mr. Marvelous v Raptor

[Russell Brettholtz]

A HUGE thank you to BleedingCool.com for posting this article and giving a voice to independent creators.

Sidekicks in on Bleeding Cool: http://www.bleedingcool.com/2015/03/...-disrespected/

And don't forget to check out the Kickstarter Campaign: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...cks-issues-2-4

[Russell Brettholtz]

Hey, everyone!

With just under 3 weeks left we're still tracking to have a successful campaign. But like every Kickstarter campaign, the middle tends to be a bit slower.

To try and keep the momentum going I've decided to throw a little contest.

If we can get the total Amount Pledged up to $6000 by 11:59 PM EST on Sunday, March 22, I will give away one of the pages of Original Art from Sidekicks Issue #1!

This will be a random giveaway to anyone who is a Backer at the time the contest ends who has Pledged at a level of $15 or higher.

That person will be able to choose from one of the following 3 pages:


So if you or someone you know might be interested in supporting Sidekicks, this would be a perfect opportunity to get them to pledge.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...cks-issues-2-4

And for convenience, you can click-to-tweet the following:

"Want to own Original Art from #Sidekicks? One lucky @kickstarter Backer will win if we reach $6k by 3/23."

Keep spreading the word, everyone. Let's get some lucky Backer a piece of Sidekicks!

Thanks!