NOW ON KICKSTARTER – The Legend of Jamie Roberts, Volume 3!

A young genderqueer person with blonde hair and glasses sits on the edge of a mesa. Two young men stand behind them, one with dark brown hair and the other with light blonde hair. All three wear a light green cape and are gazing out over the horizon. In the distance is a long, winding path leading to a mesa and a castle town sitting on top of it. Text next to them reads "The Legend of Jamie Roberts, volume 3"

It started with a pirate raid…

Jamie, Thomas, and Daniel found an unfinished treasure-map to a land they had never seen before. Once they took the map, they left the seas and became bodyguards for a wandering king. Now, after encountering strange spirits, fighting Eldritch creatures from another plane of existence, and bearing witness to their boss become A MOTHER-FUCKING DRAGON…

There is more adventure to be had!

This! Is! The Legend of Jamie Roberts, volume 3, continuing the fantasy adventure epic that started as a webcomic back in 2018 and that has grown since then. While the webcomic is free to read, print editions like volume 3 feature re-touched art, bonus material that’s not on the website (like concept art and a peek at the process of making comics), and even additional comics exclusive to the print editions.

The Legend of Jamie Roberts, volume 3 is 110 pages of full-color glory, continuing the adventure from where it left off in volumes 1 and 2 (those are also available in this KickStarter campaign, so if you’re new here, you have a chance to catch up). Volume 3 also features bonus content like extra character bios, concept art, and an exclusive short comic that will *only* be in volume 3.

two wide comics panels. Panel 1: a genderqueer person in a green cape, blue pants, brown boots, and white sleeveless short falls, a look of shock on their face. They are in freefall. 

Panel 2: two hands clap the hands of the genderqueer person. Sound effects say "GRAB"

WHY NOW?

I’ve said it before in past KickStarter campaigns, and I will say it again – The Legend of Jamie Roberts is the story I wish I had growing up. As a teen, I wanted stories with genderqueer leads, dragons, magic, and fresh challenges on gender stereotypes. I wanted to see adventures featuring someone I could relate to – and most importantly, I wanted a story where the main character had best friends who would stick by them no matter what.

Turns out, a LOT of readers felt the same way! This comic has gotten successfully funded on KickStarter *and* Crowdfundr, and gets regular support from members on Ko-fi. Thank you, members! (You’re getting a special, exclusive reward included if/when you back this campaign.)

It is by the grace of support from fans like you that The Legend of Jamie Roberts exists. I cannot get this to print – let alone send it off to the far reaches of our readership – by myself. That’s why I ask patrons like you to chip in and help bring this book to print.

This might surprise you, considering the political moment of being a genderqueer artist in the United States making a webcomic about a genderqueer pirate…but I’m not stopping anytime soon. Come hell or high water, I’m making this comic, and I’m going to get this comic to as many readers as I can reach.

Maybe I’m biased, but I think MORE people need to read this comic. And with your support, we can make that happen.

3 comics panels, all showing the same angle of a young blonde man talking to his two friends - a young man with brown hair and a young genderqueer person with blonde hair and glasses.

Panel 1: Daniel says, "HOLY SHIT SO PRINCE ODINON CAME UP TO ME IN THE PALACE AND -

Panel 2: Daniel passes a bag to Jamie the genderqueer one. Daniel says, "Oh. Here's our payment." Jamie says, "Thank you. Please continue."

Panel 3: Daniel goes back to screaming as Jamie counts coins out of the bag. Daniel says, "AND HE WAS ASKING ME QUESTIONS AND I THINK HE KNOWS ABOUT THE CAPTAIN!"

This campaign runs UNTIL NOV 13. If we hit our base goal before then, then there can be a 24-hour late pledge grace period.

With any luck, once we hit our goals, all rewards will be shipped out in time for the holidays! I will post regular updates in the Campaign Updates (as well as in my email newsletter) to keep everyone in the loop. After backers get their rewards, volume 3 will be available for the general public.

So if you’re ready to nab this treasure, ya’ best be grabbin’ it before it sails away!

Broke? Share this campaign far and wide! Good pirates know to spread the word when the gettin’ is good, and shares help more than you know. Use the link tinyurl.com/tlojrvol3 when you spread the word on the virtual seas.

That’s all for now…

THANKS FOR READING!

You. Are. Awesome.

What if Jamie Roberts Was NOT a Pirate??

a genderqueer human brandishes a sword with a dramatic sweep of the cape

You all know about Jamie Roberts, the genderqueer pirate who left the sea with their two best friends to go treasure-hunting in a land full of dragons.

But what if they weren’t pirates? Believe it or not, in very early drafts of this comic, Jamie and friends were not pirates at all!

In SUPER early drafts (we’re talking back in 2011 to 2013), they were students at a military school. In those versions of the story, they discover the top brass held an earth-shattering secret plan: to release a demon king and destroy their enemies. They would flee the military school and get refuge in the land where the demon king was sealed away.

In hashing out one draft, I had it that they were military school students, then turned pirate to escape. And the feedback I got was, “Why don’t you just…make them pirates?”

Honestly, storytelling 101: Keep It Simple, Stupid. Besides, I really wanted to get to the pirate bits more than the military school bits. People love pirates more than school, anyway.

So that’s how they became pirates!

Some of these concept sketches, though, will be making it into the bonus material of The Legend of Jamie Roberts, volume 3…Which is coming to KickStarter on October 14.

Be sure to sign up for my email newsletter to be the first to know! The newsletter is free and private, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

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That’s all for now. Stay tuned for more!

Thank you for reading.

You. Are. Awesome.

Two Ladies

two ladies copic marker illustration

Can you believe I drew these Two Ladies a decade ago?

Yep, I call this piece “Two Ladies.” I can’t think of the title of this without thinking of the song “Two Ladies” from the movie adaptation of Cabaret. Fun fact, the song eventually made its way to the Broadway version after the movie.

I drew them in Copic markers on brown paper to really make the earthy tones pop, and to give the other colors a more neutral tone. I wanted this to be down-to-earth, above all.

In 2015 I was on a kick of drawing LGBTQ+ couples for a while. This is probably my favorite of the bunch, though I have more. And I can’t wait to show you them!

To get the next piece of art before anyone else, sign up for the email newsletter. Newsletter subscribers get to see these pieces and posts before the rest of the internet.

That’s all for now. Thank you for tuning in!

You. Are. Awesome.

Fanart vs Original Art – Which Do You Make?

In today’s video, let’s discuss the age-old question asked anytime we walk into a room where comic artists congregate…”Should I make fanart or original art?”

As mentioned in today’s video, here’s where you can Join the Club!

🎨 Tools Used:

  • Music:
  • “Late Night Radio” Kevin MacLeod
  • “REST ZONE” Louie Zong
  • Video Editing: Olive Video Editor
  • Drawing Program: Clip Studio Paint
  • Microphone: Blue Snowball

👏 THANK YOU TO MY CLUB SUBSCRIBERS! 👏

To get your name added to this list, join the club!

  • magicalgirlkyra
  • All Unka
  • Raiden
  • Ella Q
  • Andrew Balch
  • Adam Vazquez
  • Maya Smith
  • Pat Jade
  • Jessica
  • RPZ
  • bryce bargar
  • Heidi Allison
  • Saphronia Maple
  • Cakes
  • Brandon E
  • Eileen M
  • Sean McGavin

And thank YOU for watching!

You. Are. Awesome.

P.S. I’m testing what it looks like to host videos myself rather than through YouTube.

Realizing now that by uploading my own videos, which take up a LOT of space, I need to be purposeful about the videos I *do* make and post.

I’m Going MIA

I’m going to be MIA and away from the keyboard from July 14 to July 20 or 21. Family is going to be visiting.

I WILL, however, be at the Toledo Comic Arts Festival this Saturday!

The event is at the Toledo Lucas County Public Library’s Main Branch in downtown Toledo, from 10 am to 4 or 5 pm. I will also be participating in a quick draw event at 3, competing against other artists to see *who can be the best*!

If you can make it to Toledo Comic Arts Fest, I hope to see you there! If not, I’ll be back online after the 20th.

Webcomics and newsletter updates will continue as normal, though!

That’s all for now. Thank you for your understanding!

You. Are. Awesome.