May 2021

PRODUCTION UPDATE: 

This update has been long-coming as the team has been putting together shipments and sending them out in batches. As of right now, 79 shipments out of 144 in total (as of last count) have been sent out to their happy homes, and we have another 18 prepared for tomorrow. Our goal is to have everything cleared out by end of May so we can devote ourselves entirely to Vol 2!

Shipments have been separated into four categories to assist in batch preparations: standard (single copy), deluxe (single copy), Canadian shipment of either, and multiple-copy shipment. Because we have to fill out customs information for every international post, this batch arrangement allows us to fill in item weights and contents quickly. This also means that multiple copies, while getting additional attention, will take longer to send out to the post office. Beyond that, we are operating in a rough order of purchase, which means that if yours is more recent, it may still be awaiting postage taped onto it. 

Postage is paid out of pocket and reimbursed from the Paypal funds, which again delays additional postage, but also forces heightened accountability. We’re ensuring that every penny is accounted for, and we will be putting together an end-of-zine infographic detailing what the money was spent on, an estimate of price-per-book, the amount of money going to charity, as well as non-identifiable demographics on our audience.

Out of the 230 copies we received, approximately 8 of them are considered “seconds” or unsellable at the prices we’ve provided. We will be putting up a ‘damaged discount’ option with photographs of the injuries. These include folded cover corners, a dinged cover top, an additional interior cover goof, and slight oil damage from the printing machines. These pieces are uniquely touched by the fears, and if you purchase one, we’ll make them further unique for your viewing pleasures.

As mentioned in a previous post, we have encountered an issue in our poster reprints, which we will provide a visual update on in the following post. When we expanded our print run in response to the popularity of the volume, we also had to buy an additional print run of the posters, and they didn’t turn out 100% up to our standards of quality. This may be a case of our art director being nitpicky, but we’ll also leave it up to you to decide. We’ve contacted the print shop to see if they’ll reprint the second print run of the posters for us, and we’ll see if we can do a ‘seconds’ sale on these posters. However, if the print shop is unwilling to reprint free or at discount, we’ll send out an ask if you’d like them reprinted at-cost or are happy with the ones we have. We’ll reiterate this in the following post too.

If you’ve purchased a copy of the book, keep an eye out on the email you used to purchase, and you should get an update on the shipping there! Do let us know when they arrive and if you’re happy with the quality of the copy. We’re considering running a review raffle for a copy of Vol 2, so stay tuned for more on that in a bit!

Thank you for all of your support as we bring Volume 1 to a completion, and we look forward to seeing you all again on Volume 2!

Reprint (below, underneath) has darker windows

Reprint (right) is much darker in direct comparison

Reprint (below) printed much larger than the original, with limited margin to sign

Reprint (top, underneath) does not have as vivid a sunset

POSTER UPDATE:

This is not the way we wanted to show off our amazing poster, but this should explain some of the delays we’ve been having in bringing the second printing grouping to completion. Our original print-run was brought to completion under the eagle eye of our art director, to their satisfaction. When it came time to print them again for the second edition, we thought our print shop could handle doing the same thing all over again. The second printing has come out much darker compared to the original, and also, weirdly, larger. Please review the captions on each of these comparative images to see what we mean.

We have contacted the printer to try and get the second run reprinted free or at discount, but are prepared to utilize a portion of the funding for a better reprint. These communications have delayed sending out the creator copies and the second printing deluxe editions, which is so unbelievably frustrating with how close we are to the end. If we do get a reprinting, the “90% right” prints will go in-store at a discounted price to help us recoup costs on them.

However, if our art director is too nitpicky, and you’d love having this on your wall as-is, please leave us a comment in the notes below, and we’ll take it under advisement. Our team strives to give you the best quality product we can, and to make sure that the artists’ work is brought to you with as true-to-colour as possible. Either way, we look forward to sending the last of Vol 1 out and moving forward to some of the amazing items in store for Vol 2!

Reprint (below, underneath) has darker windows

Reprint (right) is much darker in direct comparison

Reprint (below) printed much larger than the original, with limited margin to sign

Reprint (top, underneath) does not have as vivid a sunset

themagnuscollection:

POSTER UPDATE:

This is not the way we wanted to show off our amazing poster, but this should explain some of the delays we’ve been having in bringing the second printing grouping to completion. Our original print-run was brought to completion under the eagle eye of our art director, to their satisfaction. When it came time to print them again for the second edition, we thought our print shop could handle doing the same thing all over again. The second printing has come out much darker compared to the original, and also, weirdly, larger. Please review the captions on each of these comparative images to see what we mean.

We have contacted the printer to try and get the second run reprinted free or at discount, but are prepared to utilize a portion of the funding for a better reprint. These communications have delayed sending out the creator copies and the second printing deluxe editions, which is so unbelievably frustrating with how close we are to the end. If we do get a reprinting, the “90% right” prints will go in-store at a discounted price to help us recoup costs on them.

However, if our art director is too nitpicky, and you’d love having this on your wall as-is, please leave us a comment in the notes below, and we’ll take it under advisement. Our team strives to give you the best quality product we can, and to make sure that the artists’ work is brought to you with as true-to-colour as possible. Either way, we look forward to sending the last of Vol 1 out and moving forward to some of the amazing items in store for Vol 2!

We’ve got a poll running on twitter for the next 6 days. Come give a response here: https://twitter.com/TMCZine/status/1394527135637807107?s=20

hello! are you going to be having guest artists on the second zine installment?

I have to admit I’m unsure of the distinction in what makes an artist “guest” versus “contributor”. We’ll have spreads and comics, and so many fun new merch contributions, and in preparation for Vol 2-4, I made up a list of artists I’d love to work with. But aside from making sure that everyone gets their art highlighted as best as possible in the print form of choice, and again here in their artist promos, I don’t know if I’d highlight certain artists above other artists, regardless of whether they participated on the first volume, were invited to attend, or applied with portfolio review.

We have so much amazing talent involved, at different levels of experience. For some, this might be their first zine, and their social media might cap at 100 followers. For others, they may have run several zines before. Our cover artist does comic conventions; some of our members have hotly-anticipated commission streams, or make adoptables, or create gorgeous merchandise. My enthusiasm and my desire to promote is equal for all of our contributors. I hope that those who are more established find our keen desire to display their artwork in the best fashion possible, and our newcomers will gain more attention because they’ve participated in something this special.

Hopefully, you’ll see some names you’re excited for, and find some new faves off our contributor lists, and you’ll stick around to see the amazing things we’ve got in store!