Hi all! Drew here, interrupting our regularly scheduled programming to bring you a special announcement about a comics anthology I’ve spent the past several months putting together. It’s called MASKS: An Anthology, and it collects comics and essays about comics, all dealing with the theme of masks. It features writers and artists from all over the world, including our very own Patrick Ehlers and Spencer Irwin, who are both contributing essays. Patrick is also writing and drawing his first ever comic, which you’re not going to want to miss. It’s up on kickstarter now, where digital and physical copies are available alongside a number of other exciting rewards. I’m obviously a bit biased, but I think this is a project that will appeal to most of our readers, as it features innovative and varied comics alongside in-depth analyses. It’s a project I’m very proud of, and hope you’ll consider supporting. The kickstarter ends on November 22nd, so be sure to act fast! (Check out a few samples from the book after the break!)

First up is a page from “The Royal” by Elliot Balson, a “silent” story about a bank heist that packs more than a few surprises. Elliot has a background in animation, which lends his comics both expressive characters and a dynamic sense of motion. You can check out more of his work here.

Next is a page from “Bunt,” written by former Retcon Puncher Scott Baumgartner and drawn by Siobhan McDonald. Riffing on genre, “Bunt” loops around itself in unexpected ways, delivering genuine sentiment alongside a twisted sense of humor.

And finally, we have a tease for Patrick’s own “Faceless,” the story of a man whose face floats away. It’s hilarious and strange — a lot like Patrick!