Being the gibbering manchild that I am, it probably comes as no surprise that a lot of my philanthropy is 100% self-motivated.
But just as even a leopard can change its spots, occasionally a cause comes along, once in a great while, that makes me rethink my selfish attitude, give thought to the needs and wants of others and then settle for a cause that is only 87% self-motivated.
My friends, that time is now.
A lot of you have probably seen my praise for the comic Unsounded by Ashley Cope.
In case that link above proves a little too intimidating for you, here are a few things that you should know about Unsounded.
- It features one of the most imaginative fantasy settings I’ve ever seen, with fantastic creatures, perverse magic and elegantly cruel cultures masterfully interwoven.
- Ashley is probably one of the most capable webcomic writers I’ve ever seen, with a grasp on characterization, motive, conflict and pacing so tight that it would make most novelists wince.
- The art is fantastic and it only ever gets better.
- And, as of this moment, it’s about to become an actual printed book!
I only ever really advertise something on this blog–be it book, game or comic–if I really, really enjoy it. And I only ever advise my readers to spend their hard-fought money on something if I think there’s a really, really, really good reason to do so.
And in Unsounded’s case, I think there are several.
Ashley’s always been a friend to this site, contributing art for a few blog posts (including some that haven’t even been seen yet!) and her skills as a writer and an artist are only getting better the more she does this. I’m always in favor of supporting artists in all their endeavors, regardless of skill level or professionalism. It’s just a very rare treat to be able to support one that is both very skilled and very professional.
I don’t expect you to take my word for it solely, though. Why not check out the comic yourself and see if you like it?
If you do and you just don’t have the kind of money to be kicking toward this kind of project, that’s fine, too. I’m sure Ashley would love it if you just loved the comic for what it is.
But if you’re a fan of art, if you’re a fan of fantasy and if you’re a fan of supporting artists, maybe you’d consider supporting her project a little?