Crush: First Love, New Talent
A project in Dana Point, CA by Tara Avery000days
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Funding Unsuccessful
A comics anthology from up and coming queer comics creators about those first forays into romance.
Backers: 422
Average Pledge Per Backer: $32
Funded: $13,547 of $19,200
Dates: Jun 10th -> Jul 10th (30 days)
Project By: Tara Avery
Backers: 422
Average Pledge Per Backer: $32
Funded: $13,547 of $19,200
Dates: Jun 10th -> Jul 10th (30 days)
Project By: Tara Avery
$13,547
current pledge level
Last Updated: July 10 @ 13:01 -0400 GMT
70%
of goal
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Latest News
Less than 48 hours to go! Help us make our goal! 
July 8th - via: kickstarter.com
A long way to go and a short time to get there! We are still well short of our goal as we enter the final 48 hours! For those of you who have pledged, we thank you! If you'd be so kind, please get the word out to friends and comics readers who might... (Read More)
Love remains as gender is in flux! Meet Potassium!
July 7th - via: kickstarter.com
Love beyond gender and to the stars! French trans cartoonist Potassium shares a tale of love that transcends gender in "StarKids"! Check out this preview then back our campaign today! Only 3 days left! from "StarKids" by Potassium (Read More)
Magical boys need love too! Meet Cin Woodworth and Hendrick Kneeland!
July 6th - via: kickstarter.com
A secret crush flowers and magic is in the air! Cin Woodworth and Hendrick Kneeland are yet another creative team from Crush: First Love, New Talent who are partners in life as well as art! Their story "In Bloom" documents the unusual romance between... (Read More)
Birds of a feather fall in love! Meet Jaime Aguilar!
July 5th - via: kickstarter.com
A young crush is remembered throughout the years! Gay, ace, and Filipino, Australian cartoonist Jaime Aguilar brings a gentle sweetness to "The Calamansi Tree"! This story from Crush: First Love, New Talent is about a budding romance between two... (Read More)
Crush: First Love, New Talent at San Diego Comic-Con!
July 5th - via: kickstarter.com
Join us at SDCC for a panel discussion about Crush! This year, Crush: First Love, New Talent will be featured in a panel discussion at San Diego Comic-Con! If you will be attending the show come see us on Thursday, July 18th at 6:00 PM in room 28DE!... (Read More)
A bisexual awakening! Meet Caroline Cao and Marie Wu!
July 5th - via: kickstarter.com
Inspiration from the theater lays the ground for a romantic awakening! Caroline Cao is a screenwriter and playwright from Houston, and she worked with illustrator Marie Wu on her story "How I Got Less Hetero" for Crush: First Love, New Talent! In... (Read More)
We're at 50% of goal! Help us rally to make it in the final week!
July 4th - via: kickstarter.com
Crush: First Love, New Talent is over 50% funded! We have finally crossed the 50% mark for our campaign! However, there are only a few more days to go. Please let people know about this project and how to pledge! Let's get this special anthology to... (Read More)
Never too experienced for sneaky feelings! Meet Hayden Harwood!
July 4th - via: kickstarter.com
First love can be right in front of you before you know it! Hayden Harwood is a Crush: First Love, New Talent contributor and cover artist as well! I'd say a few words about them, but they were kind enough to share this video... You'll need an... (Read More)
Love takes flight! Meet Letty Wilson!
July 3rd - via: kickstarter.com
A moth queen has a crush on the moon, or is it someone else? Letty Wilson is a Scottish cartoonist whose story "Luminous" combines fantasy and romance. This contribution to Crush: First Love, New Talent is about a moth queen whose demanding attitude... (Read More)
Crush: First Love, New Talent on WeHo News!
July 2nd - via: kickstarter.com
West Hollywood makes Crush part of its One City One Celebration! You may know that this past weekend, we had a reading of stories of Crush: First Love, New Talent as part of West Hollywood's One City One Pride Celebration. However, we were also... (Read More)
Space opera meets young romance! Meet Max Spragovsky!
July 2nd - via: kickstarter.com
Even heroes can have a hard time with first love! Max Spragovsky is the creator of the self-published comic Woof Galaxy, and his contribution to Crush: First Love, New Talent is a prequel to that series! The story Cold Morning Light is about one of... (Read More)
We're in the final 8 days! Get the word out about Crush!
July 1st - via: kickstarter.com
We've come a long way, but we have more to share! In the past 21 days we've shared moments from Crush: First Love, New Talent, taken word about our anthology to comic conventions, and even had a launch party with the generous help of the City of West... (Read More)
Crush: First Love, New Talent at One City One Pride!
June 30th - via: kickstarter.com
We’re at the City of West Hollywood Public Library after our reading from Crush: First Love, New Talent! Ravi Teixeira, Max Spragovsky, and Mike Ciriaco shared their delightful stories with us! Co-editor Viktor Kerney, Prism Comics President Ted... (Read More)
Stacked Deck Press and Prism Comics at Hi De Ho Comics Pride-Con!
June 29th - via: kickstarter.com
SDP and Prism Comics are hawking our wares at Hi De Ho Comics Pride-Con in Santa Monica! Crush contributor and Woof Galaxy creator is here with us today! Special deal: if you pledge to Crush: First Love, New Talent here at the show I will draw you a... (Read More)
Pictures when words won't suffice! Meet Mylo Choy!
June 28th - via: kickstarter.com
A lyrical meditation on silence in the face of love! Mylo Choy is a Brooklyn-based cartoonist and illustrator, and their story for Crush: First Love, New Talent is "Unspoken". This quiet, visually lyrical story deals with the difficulty that queer... (Read More)
Video update! Crush at WonderCon 2019!
June 27th - via: kickstarter.com
See Crush contributors talk about comics and culture! This past March at WonderCon 2019 we held a panel discussion with Crush: First Love, New Talent contributors Mike Ciriaco, Mylo Choy, Cin Woodworth, Hendrick Kneeland, and Max Spragovsky as well... (Read More)
Love without cliches! Meet Katya Granger!
June 27th - via: kickstarter.com
Falling in love rarely goes to plan! Katya Granger is a queer cartoonist from Florida, and her story from Crush: First Love, New Talent is "How to Fall in Love", a look at her own path to romance. Gone are the soap opera drama and the romantic... (Read More)
Another couple tells their story! Meet Priscilla Wu and Teloka Berry!
June 26th - via: kickstarter.com
A long distance relationship both creative and romantic! Priscilla Wu traveled 17,000 km (that's more than 10,500 miles for us Americans) to meet Teloka Berry! Their romantic relationship thrived despite the odds and also fostered a creative... (Read More)
We have reached 200 backers!
June 25th - via: kickstarter.com
200 backers strong and climbing! Crush: First Love, New Talent has reached 200 backers! We thank all of you who have pledged and ask that you spread the word about our project! The Crush anthology is an ideal summer read for queer comics fans,... (Read More)
Kitchen magic and romance! Meet Tate Brombal and V. Gagnon!
June 25th - via: kickstarter.com
Cookery casts a spell on a special someone! Tate Brombal and V. Gagnon share a silent comics story about the magic of food and romance in "I Put a Spell on You". Check out these delightful moments from this captivating tale then back Crush: First... (Read More)
Game together, love together! Meet Lyn Straine and Twolle!
June 24th - via: kickstarter.com
What gaming brings together let no one put asunder! Writer Lyn Straine and artist Twolle tell a story of two teen brought together, and nearly driven apart, by their shared love of a role-playing game! Will these two young women reconcile their... (Read More)
Quiet Moments Speak Volumes! Meet AmyEYE!
June 23rd - via: kickstarter.com
A young couple shares their personal history! AmyEYE is a trans illustrator and cartoonist from New Zealand! Her story for Crush: First Love, New Talent, "Candy & Sophie", details the conversation that a young couple has about their previous... (Read More)
A word from Prism Comics President Ted Abenheim about Crush!
June 22nd - via: kickstarter.com
Prism president Ted Abenheim has kind words for Crush! Stacked Deck Press is fortunate to be working with Prism Comics again on Crush: First Love, New Talent. This long-lived non profit organization supports LGBTQAIU comics, comics creators, and... (Read More)
Third wheel good! Meet Rachel Gorman!
June 22nd - via: kickstarter.com
Sometimes it takes more than two! Bi and poly Texas animator and illustrator, Rachel Gorman shares a slice-of-life story about finding your place in a polyamorous relationship. "Middling Dreams" traces the development of a longtime friendship into... (Read More)
Fast times at Stonewall Prep! Meet Mike Ciriaco and Terry Blas!
June 21st - via: kickstarter.com
High school just got a lot gayer! First-time comics writer Mike Ciriaco teams up with veteran cartoonist Terry Blas for "Stonewall Prep"! This story is about a gay teen who leaves his old high school and all its bullies behind for a one-of-a-kind... (Read More)
Meet E.J. Oakley!
June 20th - via: kickstarter.com
A poker player is an ace in more ways than one! E.J. Oakley is a non-binary illustrator photographer, illustrator, and cartoonist based in London! Their story for Crush: First Love, New Talent, "Ace of Hearts", follows a professional poker player's... (Read More)
Meet Skylar Kardon!
June 19th - via: kickstarter.com
A custom designed fit for cybernetic love! Identifying as both gay and trans, Skylar Kardon is an illustrator and cartoonist from Portland, Oregon. His story for Crush: First Love, New Talent is "Bespoke" which asks the question: Can an AI pop star... (Read More)
Meet Stefani Vlusha
June 18th - via: kickstarter.com
New at school and new at love! Stefani Vlusha is queer cartoonist and illustrator based in Baltimore! Their story for Crush: First Love, New Talent chronicles a woman's reflections on a long-ago high school romance. Witty and heartfelt, "Thank You,... (Read More)
We're a Kickstarter Featured Project!
June 18th - via: kickstarter.com
We'd like to thank Kickstarter for their support! We're a featured project! (Yes, a little bit meta, I know...) Those of you checking in to Kickstarter this morning may have noticed that Crush is today's Featured Project! We'd like to thank our... (Read More)
Meet Daniel Stalter and Eleanora Kortzars
June 17th - via: kickstarter.com
Daniel Stalter and Eleanora Kortzars bring a tale of euphoria to Crush: First Love, New Talent Brooklyn-based writer Daniel Stalter and Argentinian artist Eleanora Kortzars provide Crush:First Love, New Talent with a story about love, sex, and... (Read More)
New Backer Reward Level: We Have a Crush on Bleeding Cool!
June 16th - via: kickstarter.com
We've added a backer reward level to show our appreciation to our friends at Bleeding Cool! We have just added the "We Have a Crush on Bleeding Cool" backer reward level to thank them for their support! This new rewards level includes both print and... (Read More)
We've reached 100 backers!
June 15th - via: kickstarter.com
100 backers strong and climbing! Thanks to all of you who have pledged to Crush: First Love, New Talent! With our 100th backer we are on our way to making our goal! Stay tuned to this campaign for more previews and perhaps a few pleasant surprises... (Read More)
Meet Mei Lian Hoe!
June 15th - via: kickstarter.com
A story about loving who you are! from "By Any Other Name" by Mei Lian Hoe Mei Lian Hoe is a nonbinary cartoonist and animator from Malaysia. They have a regular webcomic "My Husband is a Cultist" about everyday LGBTQ life, and they have worked in... (Read More)
CRUSH Launch Party June 30th in West Hollywood!
June 14th - via: kickstarter.com
The City of West Hollywood is throwing a party for Crush: First Love, New Talent! Join us Sunday, June 30th at 2:00 PM at the West Hollywood Public Library for a launch party for Crush: First Love, New Talent! There will be live readings by Crush... (Read More)
Meet Ravi Teixeira!
June 14th - via: kickstarter.com
A story that gives us a historical perspective on gender identity from "A Moment of Peace" by Ravi Teixeira Ravi Teixeira is a non-binary Cape Verdean American illustrator and cartoonist currently living in Massachusetts. Their story for crush "A... (Read More)
Have your name listed in the pages of Crush: First Love, New Talent
June 13th - via: kickstarter.com
We have added a $5 backer reward: we thank you in print! For a generous $5.00 donation you can get your name listed on the acknowledgements pages of both the digital and print editions of Crush: First Love, New Talent! Additionally, anyone who has... (Read More)
Meet Can Richards!
June 12th - via: kickstarter.com
Crush Presents a True Queer Tale from South Africa! from "Dream Gal" by Can Richards Can Richards is a non-binary cartoonist from Cape Town whose work prior to Crush has appeared in webcomics and zines. A charming autobiographical story "Dream... (Read More)
By popular demand! We are extending the Early Birds backer rewards!
June 11th - via: kickstarter.com
We have doubled the availability of the Early Bird backer rewards! The "Early Bird Gets the Crush" backer reward level went so quickly, we're doubling the limit on this pledge level to an even 50 backers! If you still want to get your print and... (Read More)
Meet the creators: atelierMuse!
June 11th - via: kickstarter.com
Meet atelierMuse! from "Non-Repro Blue" by atelierMuse Together KrisRix and Simon Gannon are the creative team known as atelierMuse! Both are ace, trans, and homoromantic, and they are partners in life as well as art! Their story for Crush: First... (Read More)
If you have additional news that doesn't appear here, shoot us a link!