How many shots does it take to kill a deer? When a man’s fascination turns to obsession, he will stop at nothing to claim his trophy buck even if he defies the will of nature itself.

About the project

A few years ago, my dad told me a hunting story about my Pop Pop. It was a pretty mundane story about him making fun of someone's aim. At one point my Pop Pop had joked "How many shots does it take to kill a deer?"

And those words stuck.

I found myself mulling over them for weeks. They were so simple, yet so foreboding. So I created a response. A 50 page, esoteric nightmare of a response.

Hickory Stag draws from my love of gothics and my complex fascination with my home in rural Pennsylvania. I wanted to create a story that felt intrinsic to rural PA and for me that’s always been hunting.

Page Count: 56

Book Size: 8x10 Inches

Format: Perfect-Bound Softcover

What You Get

By ordering early on Crowdfundr, you get a signed copy of Hickory Stag and exclusive stickers. This presale offsets costs for a full launch on my website. Your order today also guarantees you a copy of my book.

Funding Goal

Hickory Stag is a “keep what you raise” campaign. Meaning, you will get your book even if we don’t hit the goal.

Risks

Hickory Stag is complete and ready for printing and I have completed all necessary pre-work to ensure the campaign is successful.

This campaign will last until November 23rd , 2024. I will start shipping books around mid December, but I have given myself some time through February 2025 to completely fulfill this campaign. I’ll keep my supporters up to date with any news, including delays and uncertainties, as I work through the campaign process.

About Me

Howdy! My name is Bailey Culver. I’m a storyteller with a soft spot for misfits.

I create comics for people who started watching Adult Swim way too early and think every little thing will lead to the end of the world. On one hand, I focus on comedic young adult stories that revolve around identity and community influenced by youth counter-culture. On the other, I love creating Gothics about forgotten rural landscapes inspired by my upbringing in north central Pennsylvania. I’m also interested in adapting classic works that inspire me such as Dante’s Divine Comedy , Watership Down , and We Have Always Lived in the Castle .

My favorite illustration subjects are bugs, cowboys, 60s mod, and punks. But I honestly love everything strange and retro. My fibers practice consists of soft sculpture, latch hook rugs, and doll making.

When I’m not working, you can find me playing point-and-click adventure games, causing chaos in Dungeons and Dragons, and hunting for 80s new wave records at my local flea market.

Find more of my work on my website, on Instagram @quiltbucket , contact me at bculverart@gmail.com, and read my ongoing comic, Enter The Mothbaby , exclusively on my newsletter, The Cattle Call.

Thank you for your support!

By buying my book you help me launch my biggest project to date and fund my future comics. If you don’t have the ability to financially support this project, please consider sharing it on social media. I’d really appreciate it.

Hickory Stag Graphic Novel

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