This is the first time I’ve ever promoted a Kickstarter campaign, but that’s because this is the first time I’ve ever been so excited for one!
I won’t talk too much about my thoughts on this incredible webcomic series because I’ll review Volume 1 once I get my hands on a print copy, but what I will say is that if you like any of the following:
– magic and the supernatural
– lovable characters (one always smiling, one always scowling)
– adorable M/M relationships
– freckles
– 1930s gangsters
– beautiful artwork
– amazing stories
then you need this graphic novel in your life. And the prequel novel. And maybe some swag. You guys, there’s this deck of cards—I haven’t even played cards since probably high school, but I NEED these because they’re just so pretty!
(I swear I’m not getting compensated to say any of this. I just love this comic so much. The characters are my phone background.)
If I’ve already convinced you, you can go support the project and get yourself a copy here!
Not only that, the wonderful creators of Bang! Bang! BOOM!, Melanie “Croik” Schoen and Del Borovic, have five interesting, spoiler-free things to share about their world and characters that you might not know, so let’s get to it!
5 Things Readers Might Not Know about the BOOMverse
1) Despite possessing magical powers that can reduce all things living or not into ash, Cheshire is very easily frightened by ghost stories. If you were to ask him, he would insist that the supernatural and the demonic are NOT the same. This came about when we were looking up popular books from his time and were reminded of H.P. Lovecraft.
2) Jakub is naturally gifted when it comes to learning and speaking new languages. He is fluent in Yiddish, Polish, and English, and knows bits of Hungarian and French. Though in Polish his name would be pronounced Yah-koop, he has deferred to the American pronunciation ever since entering the States, as a means of fitting in and avoiding questions about his heritage. Though in the print version of the novel Mel did sneak in its diminutive Polish form, Kuba.
3) One thing we’re surprised that no one has questioned us on yet is Bunny’s sigil: it’s based on a demon listed in the Ars Goetia, known to have gifted those who summoned them with wit and courage. Bunny isn’t the only demon that will be appearing in the story, and we do have plans to introduce other varieties of inhuman characters as well.
4) In designing our main boys, Jakub was the easier of the two, and he has changed very little from Del’s second time drawing him onward. Without discussing it we both felt he should have wild dark hair. Cheshire was more of an interesting challenge, being a marriage of the muscle/strongman but also the fancy clothes, nice hair and glasses. In appearance, and to a lesser degree in temperment, he started out more serious, which changed over time, along with the length of his bangs. His expressive personality means it’s easy for him to span from doe-eyed and sweet to villainous, so he’s always fun and difficult to draw. From the beginning we were interested in designing against type, with our suited, glasses-wearing blonde be the playful one, and his rough-looking, shorter partner be more composed and serious.
5) Some original ideas for the novel that didn’t make it into the final cut included: a larger role for the Foucher bootlegger family in the fued with the Foleys; a span of a few years between Barney’s Wedding and Backfire where Jakub fell out of love with Cheshire for a while before the face-bandaging scene dragged him back in; and most importantly, Jakub’s love of animals. Mel toyed with the idea that Jakub would set out food and water for the local feral cats and maybe had one in particular that would hang out, but never got around to it. Maybe a little too on the nose. But we will get to see him interact with more animals in volume 2 of the comic!
Thank you so much to Melanie and Del for sharing those facts and artwork! I can definitely see Jakub being friends with feral cats 😂
About Bang! Bang! BOOM!
Description from the Kickstarter: “Bang! Bang! BOOM! takes place in an alternate history version of Jazz Era America, where a handful of companies have taken technology beyond what it was at the time, and magic is a curiosity rather than an impossibility. Our story follows the adventures and romantic relationship of a pair of gangsters out to make a name for themselves: Jakub Danowicz, the ridiculously stoic pointman with a secret, sentimental side; and Cheshire Bloom, bombastic and ever-smiling, who is in possession of explosive magical powers. Together, they commit crime!”
Head over to the Kickstarter page to learn more, see all the awesome stuff you can get, and back this project! And whether you back the project or not, you can always help the creators and those of us who really want print copies by spreading the word 🙂
You can also find the webcomic and social media links to stay up to date on the series here!
I love how Kickstarter is making all kinds of projects like this happen. This sounds like lotsa fun and I love the idea of alternate Jazz age! Definitely going over to check it out.
I agree! Whoever came up with Kickstarter is a genius. It’s great how so many things are able to be created that otherwise wouldn’t. And this comic is so much fun!
Well… this sounds awesome. I’m gonna go check out the webcomic and I may end up pledging money I don’t have on this Kickstarter. I love the look of the artwork and the spoiler free things you might not know was pretty damn interesting. I think that along has got me interested. I’m not usually one for kickstarted campaigns (mostly because they could easily make me broke) but now I think I should pledge.
It is! You should definitely check out the webcomic! Seriously, Kickstarter is dangerous website because I want to support so many things lol.
I actually don’t really know the difference between a comic and a graphic novel. And the only thing of the like I’ve ever read is the first 1 or 2 volumes of Saga. I like the *idea* of comics/graphic novels but I’m not sure they’re for me. And I feel like i wouldn’t even know where to start – so many options! This one does sound pretty great, though!
They’re the same thing, basically! But comic is the medium, and it comes in different forms, like webcomics (which you find online), single issue, graphic novels (which refers to kind of a whole book, but it’s also used by many to refer to volumes of collected issues, like the Saga volumes). At least, that’s my understanding 🙂 I mean, not everything is for everyone, but maybe it’s just that Saga isn’t quite right for you? I’d give you recs, but I don’t quite know your taste. You could always check out this one since it’s a webcomic and you can find it online for free 😀
Thank you so much for the opportunity to share our series with your readers!!
No problem! Hopefully it’ll get more people interested!
This sounds pretty cool! And I love that Kickstarter is making so many projects like this possible. And not even just books and graphic novels, but I’ve seen some of my favorite Indie musicians get their CDS out into the world this way too.
It really is awesome how many projects are able to happen thanks to Kickstarter! And yeah, there’s all sorts of things!
This sounds cool! I love supporting Kickstarter projects, I’ve backed quite a few over the years. And it looks like this will be funded, no problem! Thanks for sharing😃
It’s amazing and so much fun! Yeah, I saw your recent Kickstarter posts 🙂 This is only the second one I’ve backed because money, but I would back so many if I could! I’m definitely hoping this one will get funded!
I think I only promoted a kickstarter once on my blog as well, but it sure is a good way to spread the word about a campaign you’re excited about. I like the contradiction of the suited blond guy being the playful one and the rough looking one more serious. They do sound like a fun duo to read about. I might check out the comic for this one.
I remember you promoting a Kickstarter once! It is a great way to spread the word. The characters are so much fun, I love them! That’s the great thing about webcomics, you can try them out risk-free 😀
I adore this comic. I love the combination of the novelization and the comic. I am Jakub girl through and through. This had a lot of cool info about the guys, especially about Jakub’s name pronunciation. I’m a big graphic novel/comic fan.
thanks!
Yay, a fellow fan! And a fellow Jakub girl! I feel like we are all Jakub girls, because how could anyone not love him?? It was some really cool info they shared!
Oh wow, this sounds awesome. Thanks for the guest post too – fun to hear a little behind the scenes information. I have to check out the Kickstarter now.
-Lauren
It is! It’s always learning behind the scenes info, right? I hope you like the comic!
I’ve donated to a few Kickstarter campaigns for books and one of them (Certain Dark Things) ended up being picked up by a publisher so that was cool.
It’s great to have all these new paths that bypass what the industry thinks we want and won’t deviate from that.
Karen @ For What It’s Worth
That’s cool that one even got picked up by a publisher! It really is great that things like Kickstarter exist for things that people love but that wouldn’t be able to get published otherwise.
Kickstart is an amazing way to help those whose work we love. Like the idea of magic and Jazz era. Very cool mix. Hopefully music will play a part. 🎷 Thanks for the details and a glimpse of the MCs. Webcomic have come a long way. Can’t wait to see their work. Thanks for sharing Kristen! ❤️
It is such a great website! There’s not really much music involved, but there are gangsters 😉 There are some amazing webcomics out there!
Thanks for the shout out on this! I enjoy supporting Kickstarter campaigns so will take a closer look 🙂
It can be fun backing Kickstarter campaigns, and there are some great ones!
I hadn’t heard of this, but I’m glad you’re showing your support for a Kickstarter campaign you’re passionate about! (Love those freckles, by the way. 🙂 )
Ahhh you can’t really see them in these pictures, but he has so many adorable freckles lol.
I don’t really read webcomics although I know my younger sister does, so I think maybe this would be something more for her. But I do love the artwork here and I am a little bit tempted because I love the sound of the things you listed for why the comic is great. I love freckles, a good m/m romance and also the setting of the 1930s … I gotta admit you do have me slightly tempted to try it out. I think I could like it like I like some fanfics but don’t really read it much anymore because I’m trying to (mostly) quit.
I tend to read them when they’re complete, this is the only one I’m currently keeping up with. It’s fun to read as they’re being written! I just think I’d get confused trying to keep up with too many lol. I forget, do you read graphic novels? Because ones like this one are really the same thing, just free and online XD Anyway, I ADORE this one, and I hope you like it, whether you decide to back the Kickstarter or simply to check it out online!