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Hero Tomorrow Comics Switches To Kickstarter For Punchline

Hero Tomorrow Comics president and writer, Ted Sikora has issued the following open letter about these difficult times, and what's happening with his Punchline character. He writes;

Punchline sees Tomorrow Comics Switch Distribution To Kickstarter
Main cover to Punchline & The Vaude-Villains #1

Hero Tomorrow Comics (Tap Dance Killer and Apama The Undiscovered Animal) has traditionally distributed through Diamond Comics. Additionally, an equally large portion of our business model came from sales at comic conventions. With the convention industry shut down I had to make the difficult decision to halt all new releases and wait for shows to re-open. And we waited… and waited…

It's time for a new path.

While I look very forward to continuing our relationship with Diamond Comics and our beloved retailers, Punchline & the Vaude-Villains is launching directly to readers through Kickstarter (Oct 13-Nov 12). We've had terrific success with the platform for our previous trade collections, but this is the first time we're launching a single issue series through it.

The character Punchline debuted in Tap Dance Killer #1 back in April of 2018. He was an instant fan favorite, and I have long promised a battle between him and the main superhero in our universe, Apama. Punchline was originally conceived as a villain for the Apama series before getting snapped up by TDK.

I speak with my peers in the indie comics field daily, and it's hard to find a sector that has been hit harder by the shutdowns than ours. I hope whether you support our book or someone else's, you spend some time on that Kickstarter convention floor. There's hundreds of talented creators waiting to give you a solid pitch and a great deal.

Thanks for supporting indie comics in all flavors. I look forward to seeing everyone again on those physical convention show floors that we love and miss so dearly.

Stay safe, and healthy :)

Ted Sikora, President Hero Tomorrow Comics

Here's a look at the Punchline character and the new comic book.

Punchline & the Vaude-Villains is a five issue series. Story, Colors, Letters by Ted Sikora. Art by Donny Hadiwidjaja

Drayton Hayes was a heavyweight boxer when his career was abruptly sabotaged. He was kidnapped by a bizarre troupe of scoundrels calling themselves the Vaude-Villains. The mysterious mobster troupe convinced Drayton to join them, and he underwent a transformation which turned him into a super-powered murderous clown named Punchline!

Punchline is about to meet the main superhero of the Hero Tomorrow Comics universe, Apama, for the ultimate throwdown. Then he'll be introduced to a new nemesis from beyond the grave in a match for his very soul.

Hero Tomorrow Comics Switched Distribution To Kickstarter
interior art from issue 1 of the new series.
Hero Tomorrow Comics Switched Distribution To Kickstarter
First appearance of Punchline in Tap Dance Killer #1, April 2018
Punchline sees Tomorrow Comics Switch Distribution To Kickstarter
Issue 2 featured his first full appearance.

Drayton Hayes was a heavyweight boxer when his career was abruptly sabotaged. He was kidnapped by a bizarre troupe of scoundrels calling themselves the Vaude-Villains. The mysterious mobster troupe convinced Drayton to join them, and he underwent a transformation which turned him into a super-powered murderous clown named Punchline!

Punchline is about to meet the main superhero of the Hero Tomorrow Comics universe, Apama, for the ultimate throwdown. Then he'll be introduced to a new nemesis from beyond the grave in a match for his very soul.


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Rich JohnstonAbout Rich Johnston

Founder of Bleeding Cool. The longest-serving digital news reporter in the world, since 1992. Author of The Flying Friar, Holed Up, The Avengefuls, Doctor Who: Room With A Deja Vu, The Many Murders Of Miss Cranbourne, Chase Variant. Lives in South-West London, works from Blacks on Dean Street, shops at Piranha Comics. Father of two. Political cartoonist.
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