Update 10/19: The new campaign is now also over, but you can still check out the campaign page and (pre)order all the stuff by sending a mail to preorders@donrosaclassics.com.
Update 9/7: Exciting news! The third and final book in this Classics series is happening. Please visit http://www.indiegogo.com/donrosa-art?a=148782 - you can also preorder all stuff from this campaign there (while stocks last)!
Who Is This Don Rosa Guy And What Are His “Classics”?
You might know Don Rosa for his Eisner Award winning work on Uncle $crooge and Donald Duck comics, but even before he started working with those world famous characters, he was a well-known comic book artist. His creator-owned strip series, “The Pertwillaby Papers,” started in the newspaper of his college, and was later continued in a fanzine. A second series with the main character Lance Pertwillaby, now transformed into the superhero parody “Captain Kentucky,” followed in a local newspaper later on. For more images of both characters, see our “Updates” and “Gallery” tabs.
What Are the Strips About?
In case you've never read them, here's a quick synopsis: The Pertwillaby Papers are about the adventures of Lancelot “Lance” Pertwillaby and his friends and colleagues around the world. The adventures start with the political satire of Lance's admittance into college and his life there, and a treasure hunt to the Andes in search of the Inca temple of Manco Cápac. Afterwards, Lance, together with his friends and enemies, is searching for the sizeable art collection hidden in the North Pole by the Nazis, and in another story they find and capture a black hole, and travel to the centre of the Earth. Finally, there's a story in which Lance is sent to King Arthur's time. As for Captain Kentucky, it's a sequel of sorts to the Pertwillaby Papers, featuring Lance becoming the superhero parody Captain Kentucky. Lance has taken up job as a newspaper journalist in Louisville, Kentucky, and due to toxic waste being dumped into a sewer where he was happening to be writing a story, he discovers that by drinking the toxic waste, he is temporarily given super-powers. He salvages a large barrel and keeps a small vial of it on his person, in case of an emergency. The strip often features real events and local celebrities from Louisville and Kentucky as backdrops, or, occasionally, as supporting characters in storylines.
What's With These New Books?
While there have been a few reprint editions of those two classic Rosa series, the only book set that featured the complete run of them in English was a hardcover version published in Norway in 2001. This old edition has been out of print for quite some time now, and to celebrate Don's return to Germany this fall (he'll be doing a signing tour sometime around September/October), a new deluxe edition, consisting of two hardback volumes, is in the works to be sold before and during his signings. However, as the printer has to be paid before the books go out to the readers, this campaign was started to secure the production. The project is being organized by Jano Rohleder, a longtime friend of Don Rosa's, who is also the German editor/translator of his Duck work. Therefore, it's a given that the books will aim at the highest possible quality standard.
Why Should I Contribute?
This will be a hardback edition of probably about 350 to 500 copies each (depending on how many preorders come in), and only available while stocks last. Contribute at least $35 and lock your copie(s) in right now, even if you're living outside of Germany and can't attend the signing tour. Free shipping (to everywhere) is included! Or, if you don't want the books themselves, you can also get some exclusive Rosa goodies by contributing -- see the list on the right. Contributors will also get a thank you credit in the book!
What Others Say:
- “Very funny!”
– Scott McCloud
- “The Pertwillaby Papers is great, great stuff! They’re Wonderful!”
– Kurt Busiek
- “One of my all-time favorite cartoonists.”
– Ed Brubaker
And don't forget: Spread the word! :)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Shipping to My Country Included?
Yes! Free shipping to anywhere in the world is included in your contribution!
Which Language Will the Books Be In?
The books will be all English (the comics as well as the bonus features).
What Will the Comics Look Like?
The strips will be presented in their original black and white. They were designed by Don to be printed in black and white (as they appeared in newspapers and fanzines), and will look excellent printed on high quality art paper. We'll use thicker paper than any edition of these strips has ever before!
What Size Can We Expect?
The books will be about A4 size, maybe slightly bigger. While the Pertwillaby Papers will have the regular “portrait” A4 page orientation (21 cm × 29,7 cm = 8.27 × 11.69 inches), the Captain Kentucky book will be presented in “landscape” orientation, due to the “sunday strip” format of the CK comics (29,7 cm × 21 cm = 11.69 × 8.27 inches).
Is Don Rosa Himself Involved?
Yes, Don will act as an advisor and oversee every stage of the books before they are printed. He'll also write a new introduction for both books.
Will There Be Bonus Features?
Yes, absolutely! We'll include a whole lot of articles, old ads, fandrawings etc. as well as a promotional episode of the Pertwillaby Papers that hasn't been reprinted in English ever before! Oh, and we'll also include the whole run of Don's short-lived newspaper strip, “Phalanx,” an adventure-comedy like “Asterix,” set in old Greece, that never made it to the papers! And you know what? There's even more to come! Watch our “Updates” tab above to see all bonus feature information as they come in!
