Fantagraphics Books,
the graphic novel imprint that, since the mid-1970s, has published a
large and varied line, with new works and classic reprints, and has
fought to establish comic books as a form of high art, has fallen on
hard times since its co-founder, Kim Thompson, was diagnosed with lung
cancer in February.
Mr. Thompson, who died in June, was in charge of the company’s
European graphic novel line, and was forced to set aside 13 projects
that were to have been published during the spring and summer. Not
having those books — about a third of the company’s planned releases —
in the stores has caused a hiccup in the company’s cash flow, and that,
in turn, has put Fantagraphics’s ability to publish some of its 2014
line in doubt.
The company’s solution is to turn to what it hopes is a devoted
readership to help foot the bill. Gary Groth, the surviving founder and
publisher, announced a
Kickstarter campaign
on Tuesday, with a goal of raising $150,000 by Dec. 5, with inducements
that include signed copies of the company’s books and a target-shooting
trip with Mr. Groth.
“If we were a big corporate publisher (or perhaps an avaricious
smaller one),” Mr. Groth wrote on the campaign’s web page, “we’d have
plenty of money to weather this temporary crisis. But we’re not.” He
added that the company, which is based in Seattle, has a staff of 20 and
publishes 100 titles a year.
The Kickstarter campaign is meant to support 39 books in the spring
and summer line, including installments in its series of “Peanuts” and
“Prince Valiant” reprints, as well Dan Clowes’s “The Complete Eightball
1-18,” in a two volume slipcase edition, and works by modern cartoonists
and graphic novelists like Eleanor Davis, Simon Hanselmann, Jim
Woodring and Tony Millionaire.
The company’s plea appears to have struck a chord among graphic novel
fans. Early Wednesday afternoon, barely 24 hours after the campaign was
announced, pledges exceeded $84,000.
