KID PARAGON is a superhero action genre (with a Calvin & Hobbes spin) with social commentary directed towards kids. The book focuses on problems that face our world as well as the issues we face in our day to day lives from a child’s perspective. This comic is the first comic to also be a storybook. The caption boxes have been set up so parents can read to their child like a traditional storybook. Also, the dialogue balloons can be followed by an early reader.
“Saving the day through flights of fancy.”
-THE REAL-LIFE IMAGINARY ADVENTURES OF A
TYPICALLY CURIOUS PRECOCIOUS CHILD-
Alden Bonnet is a little boy who questions everything around him which he translates into his “Kid Paragon” fantasy. Alden, as the hero, goes up against scary cookie monsters, noisy transforming robot vacuums and filthy giant bugs. While Alden filters the real world into an easier explainable creation, Mom has her hands full with him. Some of what her son does is troublesome but she continually finds a genuine intuitive view of the world. It is a perspective that challenges her to re-think how she takes care of her family.
This Ms Genuity Campaign is for publishing Kid Paragon and for compiling 4 issues of the self published independent comicParagon into a single Trade Paperback and/or the printing of Kid Paragon Issue No. 2 & 3.
Here’s my story: I came up with the concept of Paragon because I wanted to do an ongoing project about a subject matter that I believe in and one that no one else will ever do. The challenge was to come up with an idea that could follow through with many of the aspects of toxic chemicals’ effects on the human body. I chose to use the idea of a superhero or for this book a “PARAGON” to tell that story.
I did my first issues of PARAGON as a 1A and 1B. You could say instead of doing a variant cover I did a various issue. 1B is written in all narration and dialogue and is hand drawn & colored by Illustrator Gilbert Dudley. 1A is written all in exposition and is hand painted by Illustrator Godfrey Mawema. The first issues are almost entirely colored in monochrome blues and greys. This effect represents how sick we are as people. With each issue introducing color as the story evolves.
I sold copies of PARAGON 1A & 1B to over 50 comic book shops in California. I began with a limited run of 500 copies of 1A and 500 of 1B. Nearly all were sold. The few remaining issues will be given as rewards for this Kickstarter Campaign.
I did 18 months of market research with Paragon in shops throughout California. In that time, I was able to gauge comic store retail. I met a lot of comic fans and built report with many shop owners. Certainly, there is a market for new and creative ideas. Also, many comic book fans are willing to invest in a grounded reality based story with a character whose fantasy-like powers uncover true aspects about our world. I was happy to find that those comic fans that bought issue 1 bought again with issue 2 and 3.
Reviews for PARAGON have been positive from Comic Uno, The Long Box, DarkAvengerC86, Pete’s Basement,FanboyComics.net, GraphicPolicy.com & Impulsive-Reactions.com.
GraphicPolicy.com called PARAGON; “A poem in comic form!”
The Long Box said; “Some of the best Indie work being done in comics right now!”
The word is getting out there but I need help getting to the next level and really spread the word about the very different concept. Collecting the four issues into a trade paperback will open up the market a great deal. Even more retailers will buy a book as opposed to a single issue. And while many comic fans bought issue 1 of PARAGON there are many more that want to read a single completed story and will wait for the trade.
Here are the PARAGON issue covers as well as sample pages. Please contact me with any questions you may have.
Risks and challenges
The funds from this Ms Genuity Campaign will be exclusively set for printing. All design fees, paying creators, etc have been handled.
The great thing about this project is that all of the art for the books are done. So, there is no need to wait for art to be completed. The trade will feature some changes to the original books. The most significant of these changes will be added pages of the story that were not included in the original issues.
When the project is funded, the challenges and risks from that point will be minimal. I’ve already laid the groundwork for selling to shops across the united states as well many book chains. I am driven to make PARAGON not only something special but also something that will be a joy for readers to discover whether they are a new comic fan or an avid collector of comics.
Also, you can back either Kid Paragon or Paragon or both. Funds will be allocated accordingly. – See more at:http://msgenuity.com/sponsor/project#sthash.7Mriwp…