Rat Park crowdfunding rewards: printed comics have been dispatched

Rat Park crowdfunding rewards: printed comics have been dispatched
May 2013
Closeup of glossy comic covers

Some good news: the War on Drugs and Rat Park printed comics were delivered to me on 16 May.

Photograph of comic book cover with shallow depth of field. Rat Park comic by Stuart McMillen. Artist's name in focus.

Although I love the mass-accessibility that web-published comics offer, there is something extra satisfying about holding my own work in print. It felt like a new experience reading Rat Park from start to finish in book format. This despite the fact I had read the same story on my website earlier that day!

Somehow, the project felt a little more substantial as a 40 page comic. The books are a physical embodiment of my writing and drawing time, which topped 310 hours (plus many hours reading reference books, writing accompanying blog posts, organising printing, stuffing envelopes, etc).

Four piles of Stuart McMillen comic books from crowdfunding drive: War on Drugs and Rat Park.

These piles of comics were acted upon by the forces of entropy and dispersion (also Australia Post) to find their way to the homes of my crowdfunding supporters.

As soon as the comics arrived, I spent the afternoon stuffing envelopes. The international supporters’ parcels were posted on 16 May, and I posted the Australian supporters’ rewards on 27 May. That way everyone in the world gets to read the comic at the same time (give or take).

Stay tuned for Rat Park‘s website launch this 29 May. It will be accompanied by a series of four blog posts which explain ‘behind the scenes’ information about the creation of the comic.

Photograph of comic book cover with shallow depth of field. War on Drugs comic by Stuart McMillen. Cartoon Milton Friedman character.

Photograph of comic book cover with shallow depth of field. Rat Park comic by Stuart McMillen. Cartoon rats in focus.

Rat Park crowdfunding merchandise: printed comics, greeting cards and t-shirt featuring Stuart McMillen artwork.