BALACLAVA
Is a thief who walks through walls to return stolen items where they belong. This is a Cape Town you've never seen before. This comic book series features southern african mythology and includes tokoloshes, sangoma's, zombie dogs, demons and fire breathing bats from hell. When Balaclava steals from the demon princess Satahna, the Council of The Dark Sun prevents a war between the living and the underworld by forcing Balaclava to return 1000 stolen items back to their rightful owners across Cape Town. But Satahna seeks revenge as Balaclava settles his debt. He will need help from local superheroes Brenda Bad and Cape Claw if he wants to survive the wrath of Satahna.
https://www.instagram.com/subi_bosa/?hl=en
https://www.subibosa.com/product-page/balaclava-episode-2
Why I'm making this
I've spent my career illustrating stories for picture books, graphic novels and even a biography of Bob Marley. Balaclava is the story I've been carrying around for myself with hopes of self publishing.
I grew up with the folklore, the slang and the sounds of this city, and I rarely see them in comics. Cape Town is more than a postcard. It's minibus taxis, mountain mist and the stories our grandparents told us so we'd behave. I wanted to make a comic that feels like home while still being fast, funny and weird enough to hook anyone who loves a Robbin Hood-meets-The Red Hook style odyssey.
I have written, edited, illustrated, coloured and designed this entire project.
My goal is simple. At the time of launch for this campaign, I produced the first two episodes. I want to finish all five episodes, in print, as well as the compiled volume (with a bonus sixth episode) and put this South African superhero-and-folklore series directly in readers' hands.
KEY POINTS
- Six episodes (Five printed episodes plus one bonus episode) , one complete story arc
- Set in real Cape Town, with real slang and urban texture
- Drawn and written by myself, from first sketch to final lettering
- Page count: 36 , Standard comic book: 6.63 × 10.24 inches. Full colour print, saddle stitch.
- What's done already: Episodes 1 and 2, outlines for the entire run.
What you get
Every backer gets the comic(digital or print copies) and the higher tiers add more:
Reward |
Pledge |
|---|---|
Pickpocket: A digital copy of episode 1 plus two A3 character illustrations (pdf) (Balaclava, Cape Claw/Brenda Bad) | $10 |
Thief: Print copy of episode 1 plus two A3 character prints (Balaclava, Cape Claw/Brenda Bad) | $20 |
| Burglar: Print copies of episodes 1, 2 & 3 (signed) | $40 |
Break-in: Print copies of all episodes, delivered as each issue is finished plus 5x A3 character prints (Balaclava, Vovo, Brenda Bad, Cape Claw, Satahna) | $60 |
Criminal: The complete single volume (paperback) plus 5 signed A3 character prints (Balaclava, Vovo, Brenda Bad, Cape Claw, Satahna) | $50 |
Robbers: Print copies of all five episodes, plus a signed paperback volume featuring the bonus sixth episode, plus six A3 character prints all signed. (Balaclava, Vovo, Brenda Bad, Cape Claw, Satahna, Nightriders) | $80 |
Crime Syndicate: six A3 character prints, signed (Balaclava, Vovo, Brenda Bad, Cape Claw, Satahna, Nightriders) | $40 |
Shipping from South Africa
Why I'm crowdfunding
Making a six-episode series takes time and money, and I want to do it properly and keep it independent. Crowdfunding lets me keep the story mine and lets readers enjoy an urban african story without any corporate interference.
Your pledges will cover:
- Printing the series with a quality printer
- Colouring and lettering support
- Packaging and postage
- My time, so I can work on the comic rather than squeeze it around my jobs (lecturing and book illustration)
- Platform and payment fees
You're part of the crew
A thief doesn't pull off a job alone. Balaclava wouldn't exist without the people who say yes to it first.
When you back this comic you aren't just buying a book. You're a member of the crew. You help decide how far this story goes, and you get to say you were there when a Cape Town thief became a superhero. Backers will get behind-the-scenes updates, early looks at pages and, at selected tiers, a real hand in what appears on the page.
If you've ever wanted to see our city, our stories and our slang on the page, this is how we make it happen.
Thanks so much for your support! I truly appreciate it and I hope you are inspired to create and tell your own stories.
About me
I'm Subi Bosa, an author-illustrator based in Cape Town. I am represented by The Bright Agency for international publishing work. My books include a kids graphic novel Nafu Wants Food (Graphic Universe/Lerner) and a Bob Marley biographical picturebook (Frances Lincoln/Quarto). I won the Mo Siewcharran Prize for Illustration in 2020. I also co-host the podcast Subi and Kate Circling Back about creative freelance life. Balaclava is my own series.
