Fresh Romance, an ongoing diverse romance comics magazine project by former TMS weekend editor and comics pro Janelle Asselin, has some exciting new creative teams, stories, and goals on the horizon.
Aside from here at The Mary Sue, Asselin has worked at DC Comics, Fangoria Comics, Disney Publishing Worldwide, and as a freelance writer and comics editor, and she began Fresh Romance to help make room for women in comics with her new publishing company, Rosy Press. The magazine has already well surpassed its initial Kickstarter goal, and they’re finally ready to announce the creative teams lined up to make some awesome comics.
The upcoming stories include:
A sexy and surprising fantasy tale written by Marguerite Bennett (A-FORCE; SLEEPY HOLLOW).
The first ever collaboration of writer Marcy Cook (The Mary Sue, Panels) and Maya Kern (the creator of Monster Pop!), in which a couple wins, then loses, a heart-shaped helium balloon which they follow through the fair.
A romantic comedy about one woman’s deep, abiding love… for a Game Master by Jen Van Meter (HOPELESS SAVAGES) and Kyle Latino (OUTLAW TERRITORY Vol. 3) with Marissa Louise (DARK HORSE PRESENTS).
A fantasy story from the publisher of the Smut Peddler anthology, Spike Trotman, about a woman in a tower who romanticizes a man she sees from above everyday.
The first issue of Fresh Romance will be out in May and feature stories “ranging from a clandestine, queer high school love affair to an impeccably researched and illustrated Regency-era romance.”
The Kickstarter so far has raised enough money to publish four issues of the magazine, but Asselin says she’d like to keep it ongoing, and some stretch goals have been added to help raise additional funds:
A Kevin Wada cover for issue 5, plus a digital wallpaper pack of all the covers for all backers will be added if the Kickstarter campaign raises $42,500.
A 10-page comic written by New York Times bestselling writer Gail Simone (Red Sonya) and illustrated by Rafaela Herrera will be available exclusively for all backers who are one-year subscribers, if the Kickstarter campaign raises $47,500.
The campaign’s funds currently sit at $37,862, and at $40,000, Batgirl artist Babs Tarr will do the cover for issue #4. If you’re in favor of better diversity in the comics industry, you can help Fresh Romance reach some of these goals by putting your money where your mouth is.
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