Madness; or, the Modern Dionysus is a 64-page graphic novel taking inspiration from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, classic Vertigo Comics, and historic cults devoted to the Greek god Dionysus.

Zig finds himself called into being by members of a modern cult who have returned a cadaver to life in the hopes that the spirit manifesting within it will be the next coming of their patron deity, Dionysus. Unfortunately, these cult members discover that their god of wine, epiphany, and madness has returned to the world as little more than a blank slate.

With Rachel, his most devoted worshipper at his side, Zig must go on a journey through America and into the Underworld to discover what it means to be the god of ritual madness in a world full of struggle. The road to the Underworld is long, though, and full of unexpected detours and dances with partners unprepared for what the god in their midst has in store.

As he begins to form deep connections with Rachel and his journey to discover who he was meant to be draws to its conclusion, Zig will have to accept that if pain and suffering are unavoidable in life, maybe a little bit of madness is the key to survival?

This graphic novel is COMPLETE with all artwork, lettering, and backmatter finished at the time of writing. This campaign is designed to pay for final print pre-press and then the printing and shipping of books.

The Team!

Artist: Helen Robinson is an illustrator, mostly of comics, from Northern Ireland. Their published works include comics in the international anthologies Shout Out and Wayward Sisters , projects for the University of Dundee and University College Dublin, as well as their own strange little stories. They spent a lot of time thinking about meatball subs and donuts while drawing this comic. Find more of their work at gofishblues.com and @gofishblues.

Writer: Mark O. Stack is a comics writer who bounces between the coasts of the United States. He is the writer and publisher of numerous comics titles such as The Scent of May Rain and Young Offenders! through Weekend Warrior Comics. His first middle-grade graphic novel  will be published in 2023. He spends most of his free time trying to find his wife in aisles of their local bookstores. Find more of his work at weekendwarriorcomics.com.

Letter: Jodie Troutman has more than 20 years of comics creation under her belt, including self-published efforts like The Gospel of Carol, Lit Brick, and Virginny. She also letters for other publishers in addition to being the house letterer at Weekend Warrior Comics. She currently lives in Phoenix, Arizona, where she'll probably die in a desert and/or golf course. You can learn more at troutcave.net or on Twitter via @LongTallJodie.

Edits & Research: Rae Epstein is the writer of the comic Gently Murder Me. She has a lifelong interest in history, theology, and spirituality. She believes her oldest dog to be her reincarnated child, so she is constantly disappointed when he eats out of the waste basket.

Your Rewards!

• $10 Digital Copy: A digital copy of Madness.
• $25 Print Copy: A perfect-bound copy of Madness with additional behind-the-scenes material not available digitally. Shipping within the United States is included  in the cost of this reward.
• Additional Add-Ons: print copies of The Scent of May Rain and Young Offenders #1-3 & a digital archive with 150+ pages of comics co-created by writer Mark O. Stack including those previous titles and more.

COSTS/SCHEDULE

• Digital copies will be delivered to backers once the campaign successfully funds and backer information for fulfillment has been received.
• All material has been completed for the print copies which will leave 1-2 weeks for pre-press before sending final files to the printer and then roughly 1 month to print the books.
• From there, books will begin shipping shortly after arrival (bagged, boarded, and packaged in a hard cardboard mailer securing the books in place to avoid damage during transit).