Hope you’re having a great kick-off to the summer with June here.
We have GREAT news for Voluntaryist and other exciting things to let you know about.
Another round of perk fulfillment was completed last month thanks to our finishing the final art print needed to ship out perks up through the signed print comic tier. Those at the art print tier, signed comic tier, and full-page ad tier, had their comic perks shipped out several weeks ago. If for any reason you did not receive yours, please contact me at mr.voluntary(at)gmail(dot)com so I can check on what happened. I did see several people post pictures of their perk’s arrival, so I am happy to see that shipping went well overall.
We are now down to the BIG perk stages: The Origins I-VI series sets and the trade paperbacks.
At the time of this writing, we are 26 pages fully completed out of 38 through Origins II with pencils almost finished. The Origins II cover remaster is still in progress, along with the Origins I cover/TPB cover.
You can see some sneak peeks of that here:
Everything is looking good time-wise with a strong indication that we will have your perks out to you before the campaign-expected delivery of December, 2023.
And remember, we want to make sure that everyone gets their perks when it is time for delivery. If you will be moving come August, 2023, be sure to update your address through Indiegogo so that we can make sure your perk pack makes it to you. We don’t want anyone to have their package lost, so make sure to update us as soon as you’re certain you’re moving.
In other exciting news, both Pho and I will be performing our music at Porcfest XX this year, including the Break the Great Reset song! If you’re going to be in attendance, or are on the edge, come on out to see us! We will be singing at the mainstage pavilion (the PAV) on Tuesday, June 20th, from 6-7 p.m. We will also be performing a couple of songs for EMO NIGHT at the PAV thanks to the Emo Caucus on Thursday, June 22nd, at 8:45-9:15 p.m.
Along with our music, we have a few speaking engagements as well: One for the Libertarian Party tent from 2-3 p.m. on that same Tuesday, June 20th, and one on Wednesday, June 21st, at 1 p.m. for the Free State Project Liberty 101 seminar. Topics will include “Thinking Outside the State,” “Intro to Voluntaryism,” and “Finding Your Inspiration in Liberty.”
Speaking of performance, we also just released a NEW song called I WILL NOT TAKE THE SHOT. It’s an alternative rock song that’s sure to energize your spirit in resistance to forced medical experimentation.
Hope you’re having a great start to May as we’re finally getting warmer out there.
The Voluntaryist remaster production continues to go smoothly.
We’re in the final quarter of completion with just needing to finish out the colors and letters on the Issue 2 remaster and the Origins I and II covers.
Here’s a sneak peek from that progress:
Just a friendly reminder as we’re moving into the last leg that if you have moved, or are planning to move to a new address by August, 2023, you should be sure to log in and update your address so that I have the most current information.
A couple of you have already updated, and I appreciate that you took the time to do so so that your package does not get lost. Thank you!
In other good news, my second nonfiction book, A Vision for a Libertarian Future, has been released on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3VoG2R1
It’s a sequel to my first, The Definitive Guide to Libertarian Voluntaryism.
In this book, I bring a unified advocacy of incrementalism toward reducing the size, scope, and power of the state that I think everyone can get behind.
I would be honored if you checked it out and gave it a 5-star review – which I anticipate this book to be worthy of when you see how clear, concise, and cogent this advocacy is.
And if you haven’t read my first nonfiction book, be sure to pick that up on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3LvcT22
(affiliate)
so you’re ready to check out this new title!
I also want to remind you that we have our gun Range event and comedy show with Lou Perez coming up later this year on September 9th. Tickets and further details can be found at:
Hope you are doing well as we kick off the month of March.
We are marching right along schedule with the Voluntaryist remaster production!
The colors have just been wrapped on Origins I and we’ve already gotten in a few penciled pages for Origins II.
Here’s a little sneak peek from that progress:
I wanted to take a moment and thank Presearch for being a continued sponsor of Voluntaryist!
Presearch is a voluntaryist-owned search engine company worth checking out.
Not only do they provide a censorship-free search engine service that is privacy-oriented, but they have integrated ways for you to earn cryptocurrency rewards in the process!
They even do users a favor by listing one-click alternative search engine tabs so that, if for any reason you’re not satisfied with their results, you can immediately check the results in several other search engines.
Speaking of great things to check out, I will be headlining the Libertarian Party of Washington conference from March 24th-26th! Both Pho and I will be there as special guests with a special mixer taking place Friday night. It’s rare that we get over to that side of the country, so if you’re close enough to visit, consider coming on by to hang! We’d love to catch up with you.
Location, details, and tickets can be found on Eventbrite over at:
I have some exciting news for you – Christmas just came early!
The digital release of Voluntaryist Origins VI has been sent to the e-mail you used on the Origins VI campaign if you backed it.
The download link will only work for a week’s time, so don’t delay in getting your EARLY digital download of Issue 6!
We’re still diligently working on the remasters and additional art pieces, so stay tuned for further details in the coming year as we finish Origins I and II and print out your comic perks.
And, speaking of Christmas, if you’re looking for a great gift for that liberty-loving friend or family member, Libertarian Country is the place to shop!
Libertarian Country is an ad sponsor of Origins VI and, in thanks to you, the backers, for supporting this comic issue, they are offering you an additional 10 percent off with their discount code:
COMIC
They have t-shirts, hats, hoodies, stickers, canvas prints, posters, and mugs!
Their wide variety of liberty-oriented merch is sure to bring a smile on Christmas!
So go give them a look and see what you can pick up with our special Voluntaryist discount code over at:
I have all good news to share as we have fully completed the colors and lettering for the Origins VI standalone issue and all final advertisement placements have come in.
That said, we are still diligently working on the rest of the project goals, from remastering Origins I and II to the additional art pieces that come with perk packages.
On that note of additional art pieces, one of the artists for those pieces is Aimée McLernon.
Aimée McLernon is an incredibly talented, multi-media artist and graphic designer whose professionalism and unique style places her as one of my favorite artists of all time.
She also happens to be one of the ad sponsors of this issue and, with that, is offering her creative talents for your illustration needs, from comic art to graphic design, to even 2D animation!
So, if you’re looking for someone to help you create a logo, put together a beautiful flier, or conceptualize a character for your own comic project, give her services a look.
She comes personally recommended as I can attest to her skills and professionalism from my own work with her on Voluntaryist.
And see for yourself her beautiful portfolio. Plus, she also has her own comic book series you can scope out called Reality Hackers – a psychological thriller of the cyberpunk genre.
Looking forward to updating you next month on the latest Voluntaryist Origins progress!
In liberty,
-J ( :
P.S.
ANTISTATE MUSIC VIDEO LIVESTREAM
Our ANTISTATE music video campaign ends TONIGHT, Saturday, Oct. 1st! If you’ve ever wanted to see your name in the credits of an AWESOME music video, or be an executive producer to one, make sure to head on over and check out those perks so we can make this music video the best one yet!
I am excited to share with you nothing but GOOD NEWS as we’re moving along expediently with the Origins VI TPB campaign production.
We have completed all inks on Origins VI and are onto the coloring stage.
We have also started working on the Origins I remaster pencils and have been improving those layouts so that there is plenty of breathing room for the speech bubbles – something I have wanted to improve for a long time. SO, THANK YOU for giving me this opportunity to make the series perfected and uniform!
I have a couple of sneaks peeks to share with you from our production including a colored Lumbertarian sketch from the character turn, an inked panel, an Origins I remastered pencils page, and a draft layout from the Archist game card!
LumbertarianOrigins VI Ink Sneak PeekArchist Game Card Sneak PeekOrigins I Remastered Pencils Sneak Peek
To the advertisers – thank you so much for most all of you getting to me your advertisement placements.
If you have an outstanding advertisement, be sure get back to me a.s.a.p. with your proof or reach out to me if you’re struggling to get something put together. I can assist with basic graphics if needed – BUT – I do need to get those proofs in as soon as possible so I can review it to make sure your ad will fit for form and appropriateness and, if needed, work with you to adjust. I sent out reminder messages, so check your inbox if you did not already confirm your final ad spot with me.
The e-mail I sent that from is mr.voluntary(at)gmail.com If your ad is not sent for proofing and confirmed with me by the end of this month, I will sadly have to cancel your advertisement perk and refund you entirely. I don’t want to have to do that, but I do have to set a hard deadline to make sure I can print the comics according to schedule.
And on that note of advertisers, I would like to thank Punk Rock Libertarians Podcast for their support on this Origins VI comic! The guys there have a great show and I have even been a guest on it myself.
It’s a song getting people to think outside the state with an alternative rock meets electronica sound.
This is a special opportunity because a director we’ve known for years is giving us a hook-up to shoot this video in New York City so we can use the environment to craft an artistic, dystopian feel to match the sound of the song.
In support of this project, we’re offering some unique perks where you can be listed as an executive producer or have your name/business mentioned in the credits.
It’s a cool way to take part in the project and get yourself some PRIME-TIME LIMELIGHT!
So, if you would please, head on over to the ANTISTATE campaign page and check out what ways you can get involved.
And as always, even if you don’t have change to spare right now, a campaign share to your social media is GREATLY appreciated to get the word out. The more eyes we can get on the project, the more of a chance we have to reach goal and get some publicity for our liberty message!
AND, if we DO hit goal, we are planning to host a meetup in NYC for ANTISTATE campaign supporters, likely, at a PHO restaurant. It’s a fun way to connect with everyone over food while sharing our love for liberty and creative production.
Thank you so much for your continued support, everyone!
Looking forward to sharing the next progress update with you on Voluntaryist Origins VI in October!
In celebration of Eric July’s success, I have made this fan art of Isom from the Rippaverse with Voluntaryist of AnCap Comix. It’s incredible to see how far Eric has come with his work and how much he is paving the way for an exit from the SJW statist paradigm for both comic fans and comic creators.
Isom greets Voluntaryist
I am looking forward to seeing more fan art submissions for the Rippaverse campaign 400K stretch goal.
Be sure to support the Rippaverse Isom No. 1 campaign before close at https://rippaverse.com There are tons of great ways to get involved with the campaign, from comics, to posters, to hats and shirts.
Eric July’s new comic book universe titled, “Rippaverse,” will be launching on Monday, June 11th at https://rippaverse.com/. I am personally excited to check out and support his launch because I believe this series is going to inspire people to exit the mainstream comic paradigm in leaps and bounds beyond what has already been accomplished via Ethan van Sciver and ComicsGate. Eric is truly paving the way for what I think will be the house of cards coming down for Marvel/D.C., and I expect many to benefit from his bold approach both as consumers and as indie comic creators.
I urge the Voluntaryist fanbase here to share his site and to pick up something from his launch so that, through his success, we can all see the much-needed change materialize in stark contrast from the hackneyed repackaging done with beloved characters like Superman and Spiderman.
Plus, the fact that Eric has a solid team on this issue with former D.C. artists Cliff Richards and Gabe Eltaeb is sure to make this series come alive with sharp visuals and stunning colors.
I will be covering the launch on a ZeroState livestream tomorrow night and will also be reviewing whatever perks I can snag with The Pholosopher once those get shipped to us.
Thank you so much, everyone, for joining me in supporting Eric July as we watch a new era in comics unfold before our eyes.
The 10th Anniversary Voluntaryist campaign is a complete success with both hitting goal and unlocking 3 stretch goals!
This means that all physical perk backers will be getting a bonus sticker for hitting goal and those at the print comic tier and above will also be getting the bonus character sheet, bonus game card, and Voluntaryist team art print on top.
To thank you for going above and beyond for this issue, I am going to go ahead and unlock the 4th stretch goal bonus and add that to your perk packages as my way of saying, “Thank you!” for giving me this opportunity to take the Origins story and put it into a start-to-finish remastered read. So that will add on another Voluntaryist art print and a die cut sticker to your perk packages at the print comic tier and higher.
I could not have made it this far if it was not for your generous support and trust in building out the Voluntaryist universe.
That said, there are some important details for you to be aware of so that everything goes smoothly as I work toward creating the comics and fulfilling the perks.
I will be working incrementally on the comic sequentials, starting with issue VI. I have already completed over a dozen pencil pages for issue VI, but we still need to finish the rest of the issue and then lay the inks, colors, and letters.
As I am working incrementally, issue VI will be finished first before the Origins I and II remasters.
I plan on shipping out the issue VI perks as soon as that issue and the associated perks are ready.
This means that those who got the trade paperback or the I-VI single issue set will get their perks later when the remasters and new covers are complete.
I estimate that the issue VI perks could be finished by the end of 2022 to early 2023.
The trade paperback will likely take until closer to the estimated delivery date in late 2023 because it involves both remastering issues 1 and 2 and adding more pages to give extra lettering space.
I will be making updates at least once per month through the Indiegogo page and in parallel on the http://volcomic.com Website.
So, if you are ever wondering what’s going on with the development, please be sure to check with either site so you can get the latest progression update.
I will also give everyone a heads-up update message whenever I plan to do shipment.
Please be sure to update your address if you have moved or plan to move by the time shipping is to take place.
You can log into the Indiegogo dashboard for this campaign and update your address there for us. You can also e-mail me at mr.voluntary(at)gmail(dot)com if you have any trouble logging in with the email you used for your perk purchase.
You can read the Indiegogo FAQ for more helpful information:
If you are an advertiser, please get in touch with me at least a week before the end of August, 2022, so that we can go over your ad to make sure it’s fit for print. I sent all advertisers an e-mail detailing the format with the comic book template attached for respective single and double-page ads. If you did not get this, check your spam box. If it’s not there, please message me at mr.voluntary(at)gmail(dot)com so that I can make sure you have the needed sizing specs and template for your ad.
For those who chose the “donation” option on Indiegogo (which really should be labelled “gift” because we’re not a charitable organization), you will not be getting a perk. You can tell that this was selected if you did not get a prompt for putting in your shipping information when you checked out (minus the digital early release which has no shipping). If you did this in error, but would like to get a perk, please let me know what tier you supported with by emailing me at mr.voluntary(at)gmail(dot)com and I will invoice you for the shipping to get your shipment address.
This is going to be a wild ride getting this project done, but I have never been more thankful and excited because this finished compendium is going to make Voluntaryist a serious competitor in the alt comics world with having the Origins story in a completed format I can readily showcase for convention tabling.
Cheers to us in helping be the change we want to see, especially with the direction mainstream comics have taken these past few years.
I am happy to announce that the second stretch goal is officially UNLOCKED!
WOOOOOO!
Everyone at the print comic book tier and higher will now be receiving a new game card prototype in addition to the bonus character sheet from passing stretch goal No. 1 along with the bonus sticker for reaching goal.
So again, if you are currently supporting at a tier lower than the print comic, you’re definitely going to want to upgrade now to reap the bonus perks as you’ll be getting not one, not two, BUT THREE bonus items!
And, on top of that, we’re going to be making variant covers for Origins IV and V for a mainstream appeal.
As we still have about a week to go, there’s plenty of time to unlock stretch goal number 3 to add another bonus item to your perk packages.
Getting there is as simple as everyone sharing the comic campaign here:
to their social media and letting others know what we’re doing. The more awareness, the more of a chance we have to gain support and reach a record-breaking accomplishment that will set the Voluntaryist series up as a serious competitor in the alternative comic book space.
We’re also doing our part to get the word out and have been promoting Voluntaryist on a number of shows and will be doing even more this upcoming week.
If you want to listen to some of our recent interviews, you can here:
Thank you again, everyone, for your generous support.
This 10th anniversary is groundbreaking for the series, and I genuinely believe this trade paperback compendium is going to put Voluntaryist on the map, especially in the ComicsGate community.
On that note, we will soon be announcing an official time for our campaign end livestream next week, but it will likely be Thursday, June 30th, around 9 p.m. Eastern on The Pholosopher YouTube channel.
So be sure to join in with us then as we celebrate with you and close in on that 3rd stretch goal!
I have some exciting news! As of today, June 2nd, the first STRETCH GOAL has been UNLOCKED!
Wooohoo!
What this means is that ALL print comic tier and higher backers will now receive a BONUS character sheet art print in addition to all their other perk goodies and the bonus sticker for hitting goal.
On top of that, I will be creating a variant cover for Origins V.
Those who got the 1-6 perk set will receive an Origins V issue with the new cover!
If you are still sitting on the fence with a lower perk tier, now’s the time to upgrade to the print copy because you are guaranteed BOTH the bonus sticker AND the bonus character art sheet!
There’s still plenty of time for us to move on up too and unlock the other listed stretch goals, so be sure to share the campaign to your social media so that more goodies can be released as we go further in the campaign.
On a separate note, both Pho and I will be going on more interviews and hosting more streams to promote the comic series coming up.
One of the interviews on the #comicsgate track will be with the Critical Blast Podcast on Wednesday, June 8th, at 8 p.m. Eastern.
While you may have come to know me for my fictional Voluntaryist comic book story, I finally decided to make my first non-fiction book in line with the Voluntaryist universe.
It’s the culmination of 15 years of activism and study within the libertarian-Voluntaryist spectrum.
It’s NOT a history book.
It’s NOT a summary of other’s works.
It’s not a bunch of pull-quotes from past thinkers.
This is my unifying the fields of property rights and consent ethics theories into a universal philosophy that anyone can readily relate to and defend.
By the nature of the work, it will be challenging in many ways because it introduces a new basis by which to framework WHY one would want to uphold property rights and consent ethics.
You’ll be surprised, intrigued, and provoked to deeper investigation in the process.
But, unlike many other libertarian works, I’ve distilled the concepts into the minimum description needed to get people to understand the basics and their applications.
That makes it accessible for anyone, whether you’re a seasoned Misesian or are new to Voluntaryist thought.
No matter what, I hope you enjoy the ride and that it at least sharpens your thinking in the process.
Cheers to your kind support, from helping me refine my thoughts in conversation, to getting your own edition for the liberty bookshelf!
If you’re a U.S. backer, you should see your perk within 1-2 weeks. International backers should see theirs within 2-4 weeks.
If you do not receive anything by Jan. 2, 2022, please contact me through the Indiegogo dashboard or via email at mr.voluntary(at)gmail(dot)com so I can check on your perk and replace it if it ended up getting lost in the mail.
If you want to pick up any past print issues, you can over on Indyplanet here:
Origins V will be available for print copy purchase on Indyplanet soon, but the rest of the past issues are up and ready for selection. And, if you’re looking for something special to give that liberty-loving family member or friend this Christmas, check out the Voluntaryist Store over at:
There’s all kinds of liberty goodies- from shirts, to stickers, to hats, and buttons- all with a liberty theme!
And, MOST IMPORTANTLY, please remember to check out, share, and support the next Voluntaryist campaign for Origins VI when it launches, tentatively, summer, 2022.
We will not only be completing the Origins arc with issue VI, but also hope to remake Origins I and II to bring the series into conformity with the later artist’s designs, and, put ALL the Voluntaryist Origins comics into a single trade paperback compendium.
It will be an essential collectible for any Voluntaryist fan. Thank you so much for believing in me and the Voluntaryist comic book series. I could not have accomplished this feat without your generous support over the years.
The Voluntaryist Origins V comic campaign is now live on Indiegogo. Please head on over here: http://igg.me/at/origins5 and get your comic book perk and extras before the campaign closes!
CAMPAIGN TRAILER
There’s all kinds of goodies this time around, from a new game card, to new Pholosopher cosplay perks! So find something that fits your fancy and help continue the Voluntaryist Origins canon storyline!
Thank you again to everyone who has helped make the Voluntaryist comic such a wild success already!
I am excited to announce that Voluntaryist Origins III has reached 100% of funding!
Woohoo! We did it!
Because we reached the main goal, we now how have time to reach for STRETCH GOALS!
The first three stretch goals are as follows:
$5,500: A NEW special Voluntaryist art print to all backers at the physical comic level or above.
$6,000: A NEW voluntaryist game card to all backers at the physical comic level or above.
$6,500: A NEW voluntaryist character design pinup sheet to all backers at the physical comic level or above.
So, if you didn’t get a physical comic perk yet, now is the time to join in and upgrade to get us to the new stretch goals for print comic backers!
Don’t worry though if you don’t have any more pocket change to spare – you can still help us unlock the new stretch goals by sharing the campaign to your social media, getting the word out to those who have not yet seen the campaign!
Pho and I will be doing one last live stream Tuesday night (March 28th) as the campaign comes to a close, so join us as we wrap up the final hours and talk about the next steps with the comic! (Time of stream to be announced that day.)
Thank you so much again, everyone, for your generous help and support in bringing the Voluntaryist Origins III comic to life! I am excited to know that this comic was a success and am looking forward to making this issue the best of all time!
In liberty,
-J ( :
Campaign link to share: https://igg.me/at/origins3
I just wanted to update you on the progress of the campaign as we have now hit the halfway point with 30 more days to go.
So far, we have raised 55% of goal, sitting at $2,788 raised – which is fantastic progress!
In order to finish strong, it will be important that those of you who already have supported share the comic campaign to your social media to help get the word out so we can cross the finish line at 100%!
If you would, please take a moment to share the comic campaign link here:
to your social media profiles so that Voluntaryist Origins III gets out to new faces, sharing an AWESOME comic story rooted in the principles of liberty.
An aside, I managed to see both Captain Marvel and Avengers: Endgame this weekend. No spoilers – but I do want to note that both movies left me with a reminder of why I am doing what I am with Voluntaryist.
While action sequences and special effects improve, character dialogue and philosophical thinking continue to grow thin, leaving much to be desired.
In supporting this series, you’re helping to bring about a new level of intellectual intrigue and an incredible, contemporary discourse on what it means to be truly free.
So thank you so much for your support again in this journey!
I will be keeping you posted on developments and will be making a few more live stream appearances with The Pholosopher to promote the comic and talk about comic culture in general, so be sure to stay tuned for updates on our Facebook page and Website at:
It is with great excitement that I can announce the comic design process has been completed!
So with that, I present to you the Voluntaryist Origins II comic in digital form. The download link should have been sent to your e-mail. If you did not receive it and were supposed to, please contact me right away at mr.voluntary(at)gmail(dot)com. I want to make sure you get it. ( :
Thank you so much, everyone, for your extraordinary patience and kind support as I know it was frustrating to have to wait longer than expected for our estimated delivery.
Now that the digital process has come to a close, I have ordered the physical copies of the comic and game cards. The turnaround time for that depends on how fast Ka-Blam can get the comics to me, which is usually contingent on convention traffic. Fortunately, this isn’t convention season, so I expect a little faster processing time, though they gave me a “by-or-before March 1st.”
Once I do get the printed comics, I will update everyone and ask that anyone who has changed addresses to let me know of your new address so I can be sure to get your perks to you.
I’m looking forward to personally compiling and signing off on each of your perk packages, and cannot wait for you to show off the cool extras I’m throwing in.
Because this took extra time, I am going to wait to launch my next campaign until I have shipped out these perks. I want everyone to be confident in the work and the successful completion first before asking for your trust again on the next comic issue.
And, you can believe this: I have worked extra hard to ensure that, going forward, there will be even smoother, higher-quality output. You’ll get to see it especially when the next teasers come out for the continuing Origins story campaign.
As always, if you have any questions, thoughts, or concerns, I’m here for you and will make myself available to speak with you concerning anything on the comic process and delivery. You can reach me at mr.voluntary(at)gmail(dot)com.
I hope you enjoy this issue as much as I did in bringing it to life.
This next issue continues the story of how Jack Lloyd comes to be Voluntaryist as government agents confront Jack, questioning him about his newfound powers.
If you would, please share the campaign link to your social media platforms on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Reddit, and Steemit to help spread the word as we bring the message of liberty to the comic world.
Thank you again for your support in helping to make the Voluntaryist comic series a success! We could not have come this far without you and your dedicated fandom!
The crypto news service CoinTelegraph has just recently published an article incorporating Voluntaryist into the promo art. Check out the piece at their Website below by clicking the image:
Trying to find something new to spice up the stocking this holiday season? Check out our Voluntaryist store online for great gift ideas – from shirts, to comics, to stickers – we have it all with online customization!
Voluntaryist - The Comic Series 