120+ page sci-fi graphic novel. Mercy St. Clair faces a showdown in the stars with the fate of the galactic rebellion in the balance.
This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.
This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.
Great news to close out the month of June, Trekker Trooper--
Our TIES THAT BIND book is officially at the printer! This is always a huge-- maybe the most important-- milestone on our fulfillment journey. After all, nothing can happen if we don't get our book printed, right?
Delivery now expected for September.
The formatting, proofreading, and final touch-ups for this issue took a bit longer than I'd anticipated. Sam at PrintLore says print & ship turn-around time is about 8-9 weeks, so the books should be heading to our fulfillment warehouse in early September, and on to you faithful backers within that month, rather than my initial ETA of August. I regret this slight delay, but I DO feel confident that we'll be getting a better, sharper book by having spent just a bit more time cleaning up and polishing the details.
While that is happening, I'll be working with Backerkit to get our surveys out to you to collect your addresses. I'll be back soon with details on that. Just please remember that you must fill out and return this survey for me to send you your rewards!
While waiting for the TIES THAT BIND pre-press steps to get done, I've been diving into the next Trekker tale. All part of the mission to keep making #MoreTrekkerMoreOften, of course!
I have lots to say about the particular significance of this next tale soon, but for now I'll just say that the full script is finished and approved by our intrepid editor Alissa, and I'm working on the page "thumbnail" breakdowns now. I'm very excited with how the work is going. But-- first, let's get THE TIES THAT BIND into our hands, shall we?
Back with more Updates as we trek our way into summer!
Ron
Greetings, Trekker Trooper!
Summer draws ever closer, and now 'tis the season to get all of the pages and features of TREKKER:THE TIES THAT BIND finalized and off to the printer. And I'm happy to report that I'm polishing up the final details-- trouble-shooting tweaks to the copy, tidying up some details, etc., and should have everything in the capable hands of our printer within a week or two, which should be in time to hit our fulfillment target of August, barring any unusual delays. (And should any such glitches come up, I will let you know immediately, of course!)
Note! This means that before long, I'll be working with BackerKit to send out the all-important "Backer Survey", which is the way we collect your mailing addresses to ship you your TIES THAT BIND goodies. So please keep your eyes peeled for that announcement!
And even as that's been happening, I've had a blast breaking out my watercolors for another fanciful flight of commissions from our latest campaign:
As always, your prompts and requests are surprising and delightful! What a creative and imaginative bunch we have here in our Trekker community.
Yes, I know we still have to get Mercy's latest action-packed tale into your eagerly-awaiting hands, ASAP! And that remains absolutely my primary task. But making #MoreTrekkerMoreOften means that I have to already be laying the groundwork to get the next chapter in Mercy's journey underway, even as I work on the final touches for our current book. In other words, things are never dull here at Trekker HQ! And I've just submitted the outline for that next chapter to our intrepid editor (and newly-minted cover colorist!) Alyssa Sallah.
I am so excited to get to this next chapter, one that Mercy's journey has been leading up to for a long, long time. But-- first things first: THE TIES THAT BIND will be on the way to you with all the speed I can muster-- that's a promise!
Once our books are at the printer, I'll be stealing away from the drawing board attend the always-epic Heroescon!
Heroescon in Charlotte, NC is THE destination point for all creators, fans, and original art enthusiasts that are looking for a premier, comics-ONLY convention. I had to miss it last year, and am thrilled to my toes to be back in 2026 for their amazing 44th year!
Just two other shows on my convention dance card this year:
But beyond those two very pleasant distractions, I'll be right here in Trekker HQ, continuing to craft the best, most compelling and classy Trekker comics that i know how to make.
Thank you for supporting Mercy's journey, keeping me working on my dream project, and helping us realize our primary mission: #MoreTrekkerMoreOften!
Ron
Greetings, Trekker Trooper!
Progress continues on pace for fulfillment on our TREKKER: THE TIES THAT BIND book. I've completed the mildly playful backup story (see image above) where Mercy and Molly have an improbably old school science fiction adventure, and a few lucky backers are featured in cameo roles. I spent some time to get the tone, look, and style on this tale to look as much like a 1950s-era space adventure as I could. Hope you'll find the results as fun to read as I did to draw!
Along with our co-colorist Caitlin Like, I've also just finished the colors on the second backup story, with guest art by Steve Lieber! This tale has a vastly different, more sombre tone from the light-hearted retro feel of our other backup story, and Steve struck all the right notes. It's an honor to have this world-class artist grace the book with this short, five-page tale.
Our faithful pre-press and production ace, Allyson Willsey wasn't available to help us out this time, due to some intense, full-time job commitments. Allyson has been with us for every Trekker book that Scuff Print Press has produced, assuring that our books all come out consistently in quality, and matching our expectations. So filling her shoes was an essential step to make sure our books will continue to come out just as we want. Luckily, we have been able to bring on board another veteran from Dark Horse Publishing's excellent production crew, Brennan Thome, to take on this crucial role. I'll be getting all the files into her capable hands within a day or three, and once she's done her magic, we'll have the book off to the printer!
A Kickstarter Creator's jobs are manifold, so while tending to the files for the book, I've also been busy getting the requested commissions done for our campaign:
These are always delightful, and the requests this time were no exception. And next on my drawing board, the watercolor commissions. Like I say, the jobs on our road to fulfillment are many and varied!
If all goes well and the printing/shipping stage doesn't hit unforeseen complications or delays in these unsteady times, we're still on target for our projected August fulfillment date. And of course, I'll be keeping you informed each step of the way!
Thanks again to each and every faithful Trekker Trooper who helps keep us firmly on the march to making #MoreTrekkerMoreOften!
Ron
This 6th and final graphic novel completes the stylish crime thriller set in the lost culture of Los Angeles' country music clubs.
One of the few books I support instantly upon launch, no questions asked, is Stephan Franck's 100% brilliant PALOMINO series.
Stephen's work is restrained and spare while also being filled with power, immediacy, and dazzling draftsmanship-- a direct result of his years spent in mastering visual storytelling, and his uncanny ability to pick the essential details of each story moment and present them in a striking often unforgettable image.
If you're ready for a ride you won't forget, click right here, right now!
We'll talk again soon, Trekker friend!