Hello Lifeline Comics subscribers!
We’re excited to announce the debut of our Early Access Substack Tier - a chance for super fans to see early announcements/art before they’re revealed in the main newsletter!
We’ll also discuss the cost/benefit of Small versus Medium-sized Cons, our thoughts on movies Challengers and I Saw the TV Glow, and more!
Let’s dive in!
Before we get into our main topic, let’s quickly highlight the Pre-launch Page for our next LGBTQ+ Anthology - Transphoria: A Trans/Nonbinary Graphic Novel Anthology!
A new 90-page graphic novel anthology featuring nineteen brand new stories about Trans and Nonbinary experiences of Gender Euphoria across a wide range of genres! There’s sure to be something to enjoy for everybody!
Phil’s brother, Dan Falco (he/him), is our lead editor on this project after having been an assistant editor on Bi Visibility: Still Bi. He is so excited to share his own story in this anthology and to give other Trans/Nonbinary creators the opportunity to do so as well!
We’ll be launching on May 28th! Follow the Pre-Launch Page below to be one of the first to support the project!
Follow the TRANSPHORIA Pre-launch Page
We’ve been on Substack for a few months now, and we wanted to up our game and give Lifeline Comics Super Fans more goodies through the platform.
Following the Slice of Life Patreon model, we’ll be leveraging Substack’s paid tiers to offer early access to our upcoming projects!
Don’t worry, the free newsletters will not change. This new paid tier is just for readers who want extra content and sneak peeks at our upcoming projects weeks or even months before we officially announce it to the world.
There’s a Paid Post up right now where we run down all our big projects and showcase never-before-seen art from each. Including new pages from Like Father, Like Daughter #9, cover sketches for HAUNTING #7, a The Beast & Snow #2 sneak peek, a first look at a new series, and SO MUCH MORE!
Paid Early Access posts will go live at least twice per month (in the off weeks we don’t post our usual newsletter, which is also bi-monthly). The subscription is priced at $5/month or $50/annual!
Check out our first Paid Post!
Let’s talk about some of the stuff that’s kept us busy since our last post!
Kickstarter 15th Anniversary Dinner
Kat: I can’t thank Kickstarter enough for inviting us to their very intimate 15th anniversary dinner.
One valuable lesson I learned during my time on Kickstarter’s Creator Council is that they are an organization that truly listens. Most of the suggestions we entered our term with had already found solutions or were in progress of finding solutions by the end of the year.
This dinner had a very similar vibe as we talked for hours to the amazing people that run the platform about our love for Kickstarter, all while brainstorming ways to improve it.
Kickstarter truly treated us like royalty with a candle lit dinner hosted by a private chef, Chef Lana, and drinks solely created for the event.
Happy 15th anniversary Kickstarter. Here’s to another fifteen years!
Over the last couple of weeks, we coincidentally tabled at Small/Local, Medium-sized, and Niche events with our comics.
Each event has its own unique identity and Pros-and-Cons, so we thought it would be fun to discuss them all!
Fan Expo Philly - Are Medium Sized Cons Worth Tabling At?See AlsoSong 174A: “I Heard it Through the Grapevine” Part One, “If At First You Don’t Succeed…” – A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs – PodcastBest Heroes in Marvel Rivals: Tier List Rankings (Alpha)Marvel Rivals: Hero tier list (Closed alpha test, May 2024)Light of the Stars Tier List – Select the Best Heroes in May 2024-Game Guides-LDPlayer
Phil: This was our third year in a row in Fan Expo Philadelphia Artist Alley. It’s a solid medium-sized show that is just over an hour from where Kat and I live, so it’s always felt like a no-brainer to attend the show.
We had a wonderful time at the show this year connecting with friends and fellow creators David Doub, JaVon Stokes, Heather Antos, Michele Abounader, Pat Shand, and more. And our Artist Alley neighbor this year, Bornasin, absolutely KILLED IT with her Hazbin Hotel merch.
She also set up a hilarious “Confess your sins to Garfield” display right behind us that got some truly hilarious confessions throughout the weekend.
But one truth we found ourselves facing is the difficulty of giving up an entire weekend (Friday-Sunday) for a medium-sized show that didn’t turn a monster profit. Lifeline Comics has grown pretty rapidly in a short time. And with the aggressive production schedule we now have, losing this weekend set us back more in the writing and fulfillment department than we would have liked and didn’t turn enough of a profit to justify the setback. Oftentimes, we felt ourselves wishing we’d instead attended one day as a fan to meet up with our fellow creators.
That’s not to say we wouldn’t attend Fan Expo Philadelphia or other medium-sized shows in the future. But we definitely plan to be more discerning as we plan our con schedules for future years in order to maximize the value of our time.
New Dorp Comic Con - Are Local Shows Better?
Kat: New Dorp Comic Con is the most local shows of local shows, since it’s right in Staten Island. It’s one of our favorite shows to do every year because we get to see familiar faces from the Staten Island comic scene, and alluding to what Phil was saying - it also doesn’t take up the whole day to set up or travel to. It’s a rather short event running from 12-5pm! That’s a rarity when it comes to conventions.
It’s an easy show to invest in: the table has a very low pricetag (and goes to a good cause), and it’s just an overall laid-back experience. Even if the profits aren’t as high as a 3-4 day medium sized show, the time spent and the audience we interact with makes us say yes quicker to a show like New Dorp Comic Con.
New Jersey Equity Alliance - Niche Events
Phil: We rounded out our events for the last few weeks with one of our favorites: the New Jersey Equity Alliance dinner!
This annual event is a summit for K-12 teachers across New Jersey about Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Equity - complete with dinner, panels, and vendors! We first connected with the committee behind the event at one of the Prides we attended and are so thankful we did. In only two hours, we sold a very solid amount of enamel pins and comics and got to connect to the most amazing teachers and hear their stories and successes.
It’s always so rewarding to spend time in this space and is a great reminder of why it’s so important to tell the kinds of stories that we do.
Conclusion
Kat: These were three VERY different events, and they did help us draw some conclusions for our 2025 con schedule. We obviously still want to do a good mix of different types of conventions, but we’ll be aiming to do fewer “medium-sized shows” to focus more on travel conventions/”big” shows, prides, and local/niche events.
Phil: As Lifeline Comics continues to expand, time management is of the utmost importance. Conventions and other events are the lifeblood of comics and are so important for connecting with fans and fellow creators. So we want to try to be methodical in planning the most valuable events - which also includes some small and niche events and some experimentation every year!
Let us take a quick moment to remind you that the Kickstarter for the first issue of our new Mystery/Slasher comic ends TONIGHT!
If you’re a fan of our other titles (particularly HAUNTING and The Dancer), then we think you’ll love this series. It’s some of our favorite writing to date and we can’t wait to share the book with you!
Heathers: The Musical in Haddon Township, New Jersey
Phil: For those who don’t know, Heathers: The Musical is my absolute favorite play. I’m always a sucker for (good) musical adaptations of movies, and Heathers checks all the boxes for me. I love the characters, the iconic costumes, the soundtrack, and the witty script. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve seen stage adaptations of Heathers but am confident that it has been at least ten times now.
So for my birthday a few weeks ago, my partner Julius got us tickets to see Heathers: The Musical performed by the Ritz Theatre Co in Haddon Township, New Jersey.
We actually missed the first half hour of the show because there are two “Ritz Theaters” in New Jersey…and we went to the wrong one. But Julius made the best of the situation as we raced to the correct theater and played a recorded version of another production from YouTube in the car so it would be “like we were watching live”.
Thankfully, we made most of the show and had an absolutely wonderful time!
The Ritz Theater Co’s production is definitely in my Top Two live performances I’ve seen of Heathers: The Musical. I unfortunately missed the original off-Broadway show and have yet to see the West End Production. But I’ve seen quite a few adaptations in smaller theaters and colleges since becoming a fan of the show - taking pretty much every opportunity to see the show within a three hour radius of where I live.
The Ritz production really nailed every aspect of the production - from set and costume design to spectacular casting. The performers were real powerhouses and absolutely killed their roles, especially leads Veronica and JD.
As Heathers has grown in popularity over the years, it’s been so great seeing the fandom for the musical. We see cosplays of the Heathers and Veronica at more than half of the Conventions we attend. And this production had TONS of cosplay in the audience. You could really feel the love for the property throughout the entire room.
I had a wonderful time (and strongly recommend Heathers: The Musical if you haven’t seen it) and am definitely hoping to check out more of the Ritz Theatre Co’s productions. They have a Dracula production in the Fall that I’m already eyeing!
New York Liberty vs. Indiana Fever - What Was It Like Seeing Caitlyn Clark Play?
Kat: I’ve been following Caitlin Clark’s career since last year (like most people), and it’s been a true ride to see her and so many other college all-stars (Angel Reese, Cameron Brink, Kate Martin) transition in the WNBA.
This was a fun game to watch because no matter who won I felt like a winner. The New York Liberties are a tremendously talented team. If they won then I got to celebrate a New York win. And if Caitlin won, then I’d witness her first WNBA win.
Surprising no one, the New York Liberties did end up winning the opening day game. Caitlin played hard, but sadly the Fevers still need to build up their chemistry to lock down a W.
It’s such a great time for women sports! There were so many types of people in the audience at a PACKED stadium. If you haven’t tuned into the WNBA this is the time to become a fan.
And let’s discuss some non-comics media!
Challengers
Kat: BACK TO SPORTS!
I truly cannot compare Challengers to any other movie. It’s not your stereotypical sports drama, and far from your by-the-numbers romance. Zendaya’s character, Tashi, is a puppeteer to two young athletes who desperately want to be seen by her, but Tashi’s love for the “game” will always be greater than what not just ONE but TWO men can give her.
This is the best movie I’ve seen this year, and one I’m sure will stay with me for many years to come. The script is SUPER tight with plenty of callbacks and room for audience interpretation. Challengers is thrilling, dramatic, and most importantly unique. It’s one that you’ll be talking about long after the credits roll.
Phil: Challengers didn’t grab me right away. Throughout the first twenty minutes or so, I found myself confused by all of the hype the movie was getting. But damn, once this movie starts going it does not let up.
Challengers is an expert character piece for all three of its leads. Their complicated relationship is electric from the moment they set foot in their hotel room as teens. The manipulation, affection, detestation, and desire (sometimes all at the same time) are absolutely off the charts and make for one of the most engaging trios (is it fair to say throuple?) in recent film memory.
This 4.5-star movie would have gotten 5 stars from me if they had gone a little bit further with the queer subtext (is it still subtext when the boys kiss, even under the pretense of manipulation?) and further released Art and Patrick’s sexual tension for one another in the present-day storyline in the same way we got releases for both men’s tension with Zendaya’s Tashi.
Challengers is a thought-provoking and exciting character piece that is sure to grab your attention tightly and not let go until the credits roll.
I Saw the TV Glow
Phil: This buzzy queer indie film is one that I’ve been excited for since I first saw the trailer a few months ago. A trans-allegorical story about reality cracking around our lead after they develop an unexpectedly strong attachment to a cheesy late-night teen TV show.
The greatest strength of I Saw the TV Glow lies in both its visuals and its dialogue. The film is wonderfully weird, surreal, and literally PACKED with iconic lines. Writer (and director) Jane Schoenbrun has a distinct style of writing that gives IStTG’s dialogue an incredibly unique and memorable voice. And their use of lighting (as one would hope from a movie with “TV Glow” in the title) is absolutely stunning.
The film is packed with theme and refreshingly doesn’t make an effort to spell everything out for the viewer. There’s sure to be a lot to talk about when you leave the theater as the film lends itself various to different interpretations.
On the negative side, I wasn’t expecting the movie to be as slow as it is. There are a lot of sequences (particularly in the middle of the film) that drag on and feel like they linger too much on the quiet visuals. There are a lot of shots of our lead Owen just walking from place to place. And there were definitely moments where I had to force myself to keep paying attention.
Nevertheless, if you’re a fan of surreal and theme-heavy storytelling with unique dialogue, I Saw the TV Glow is definitely worth checking out.
Kat: I love going into a movie and knowing next to nothing about it. This strategy has delivered some amazing movie experiences for me like Barbarian or Bodies, Bodies, Bodies, but I’m sad to report that I Saw the TV Glow didn’t have the same effect as those other indie darlings.
The movie has A TON of potential with an interesting trans allegory all wrapped into a commentary about the complicated layers that comes along with figuring out your identity through the lens of a campy TV show. Sure, it’s great that you’ve found a community and are starting to learn more about yourself, but is there a line between being so obsessed with fiction that it seeps into your perspective of reality?
You can read between the lines to create your own conclusion about these weighty topics, but in the end, I Saw the TV Glow is a slog to get through with lingering moments that continuously overstay their welcome.
Let's discuss some comics we've enjoyed recently!
As always, we'll spotlight a Direct Market Indie Book, a DC or Marvel book, a Kickstarter book, and a Webcomic!
Indie Comic: Revival (Image Comics)
Kat: With the recent announcement of a TV show, I wanted to put a spotlight on one of my favorite comic books, Revival! I don’t say this lightly, but Revival is a perfect comic.
The series follows a former teen mom, now cop, who finds out her sister has died, but through a miraculous event her and others in their rural town have a second chance to live.
It’s a concept that has been explored plenty of times in our post-Lost landscape, especially as TV pilots (some with success and others falling short). Revival succeeds these attempts for a plethora of reasons: the characters grab you at the get-go, the mythos isn’t too complicated, the story ties into larger existential themes, but most importantly the story always circles back to its most intriguing theme - family.
DC Comics: Green Lantern
Kat: Geoff Johns made a B-list hero into one of DC Comics’ flagship titles. Could there ever be a run that compares to the giant leaps Johns made with Hal Jordan? Well, look no further than Jeremy Adams and Xermánico!
As a writer on The Flash, Jeremy Adams proves that you can both cherish a character’s history, all while challenging them with new adventures. Adams continues this style of storytelling with his current run on Green Lantern. The title has the perfect blend of Hal Jordan drama and space opera, all while the team gives time to other Green Lantern fan favorites for their own character arcs.
The series makes me excited to go into the comic store on the Wednesday its released! I literally can’t wait to read every passing issue.
Webtoon: Sunny and Rainy
“A webcomic about sapphic witches, Halloween and learning college-level witchcraft. Features cute slice of life stories with LGBTQ+ characters, cats and magical succulents.”
Phil: A collection of heartwarming slice of life stories about a pair of Sapphic Witches. This webcomic is very up our alley and is a nice easy read for anyone who’s a fan of cutesy queer stories with a genre spin.
The structure of the webcomic, in particular, is fun and unique. In the beginning, you had mostly self-contained short episodes that established the world and characters. But more recently, the creator has transitioned to long multi-part episodes (for example, their Forest arc was over 100 parts) which serve as both continuous episodes and oftentimes self-contained slice of life segments. It’s a fun and different structure that rewards both long-time readers and newbies who jump on board in the middle. It’s pretty perfect for Webtoon.
Read Sunny and Rainy on Webtoon: https://www.webtoons.com/en/canvas/sunny-and-rainy/list?title_no=222096
Kickstarter: Finding Dee Vols. 1-2
“Ready to transition to another hilarious and heartfelt LGBTQ slice of life? Reuben Award-nominated Dee Fish's Color Collection is here!”
Phil: Written and drawn by Dee Fish, Finding Dee is a humorous and heartfelt semi-autobiographical comic strip about the ins-and-outs of coming out as transgender in your 40s while trying to make it in comics.
Fans of classic comic strips (a la Calvin & Hobbes, Charlie Brown, and Garfield) and clever LGBTQ+ storytelling will surely find a lot to love in this collection of charming short comics. And with our own Trans Anthology launching next week, this project immediately stood out to us!
The project is also managed by our friend, Laurie Foster, who always runs a smooth campaign and fulfillment!
Back it here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lagunastudios/finding-dee-volumes-1-2
Thank you, as always, for reading!
If you’re interested in our new Early Access Substack subscription, you can upgrade on our first Paid Post!
And be sure to check out The Last Case of Deven & Taylor #1 on Kickstarter before the campaign ends TONIGHT and to follow the Pre-launch Page for our Transphoria Anthology!
Subscribe now to ensure you don’t miss out on future updates!
Current Kickstarters: The Last Case of Deven & Taylor #1 (Ending 5/23)
Next Kickstarter: Transphoria: A Trans/Nonbinary Comic Anthology (Launching 5/28)
Next Con/Event: Jersey Pride (Asbury Park) & Philly Pride (Philadelphia) (both 6/02)
Recent Substack Paid Post: First Post, Early Access for All Titles!
