AH Comics, the publisher of 2015 SLJ Best Book Moonshot Vol. 1, has spearheaded a crowdsourced funding campaign to finance the creation of a second installment to the award-winning anthology of Native American–themed comics. The same team that brought together indigenous artists and writers from across North America wants to do the same for the second volume, once again edited by the acclaimed Hope Nicholson. “I was drawn to this project because I saw the opportunity to showcase a lot of new talent that was creating indigenous comics that people weren't aware of,” said Nicholson about the first volume. “Showcasing a diversity of cultures across North America from creators who are in those communities was a very exciting prospect. I'm happy to keep working to create spaces to showcase new voices." In our original review of the first volume, School Library Journal said, “The artwork is as diverse as the stories collected, and readers will eagerly anticipate the next vignette. A great addition to any library where comics fly off the shelf.” The publisher hopes to build upon the success of Moonshot Vol. 1 by including some of the same contributors, such as Richard van Camp and Haiwei Hou. The second volume will include more than 30 creators.

Wolf Spirit artwork by Marvel's Echo/Vision Quest, Daredevil, and Jessica Jones artist David Mack.

“What motivated AH Comics to create a second volume was the huge amount of support Volume 1 received. As a producer and creator myself, it was such an honor to see the overwhelming response for it,” Andy Stanleigh, President and Chief Visual Engineer of AH Comics told SLJ.  “From the authors and artists we worked with who adore the book to the readers who send us emails and messages on Facebook and Twitter with their reviews to the reviewers themselves and fans we see personally at shows. How could we possibly not do a Volume 2?” The publisher has dubbed the “Moonshot” collections as "celebration[s] of storytelling" and has taken the crowdfunding route because Kickstarter is a fantastic platform to get the storytellers engaged with the audience. Backers are being offered personalized signed art, hardcover books, and continued updates. “All of it works together to communicate with the existing, and new, fan base right from the start, fans who quite literally personally have a hand in the book's creation,” adds Stanleigh. The expected publication date of the second volume is June 2017. Save Save Save Save Save