ANNOUNCING... YEAR TWO of KLC PRESS!

BECAUSE YOU DEMANDED IT!

Hey everybody.

After lots and lots of teasing, we’re finally ready to pull back the curtain on the soon-to-be-legendary…

YEAR TWO of KLC PRESS!

(*For our busier readers, you can scroll to the end for a TL;DR version of this epic tome of announcements. Though we encourage you to get the full experience when you can!)

Now, before we talk about what’s next, let’s talk about how things have been going.

Year One of KLC Press gave subscribers a court-side seat to the creation of VANISH. And by-way of podcasts, community livestreams, and educational videos we’ve all gotten to know more about the creative processes and inner machinations of the creative team behind KLC, Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman with John J. Hill. And by their side through it all stood the most loyal, handsome, and hilarious of servants, Ethan S. Parker and Griffin Sheridan, aka The Supple Boiz. Our first year on Substack was spent learning the ropes of the platform and, more importantly, learning what YOU- the subscribers- want from this new, groundbreaking opportunity for comics creators. We’ve taken all this into account as we stand at the precipice of Year Two of KLC Press, and are excited to continue this journey with all of you.

That’s right, we’re not done just yet. The whole team here at KLC has absolutely loved making things for you over the past year. We are so immensely proud to have built such a wonderful and kind community of comics fans. We would be insane if we closed up shop now, not when there is so much good stuff coming down the pike. So we’re ready to set sail on the S.S. Comic Book Content once again, and we hope you’re ready to join us.

Why should you join us, you ask?

What a great question. Allow me to answer you in the form of the rest of this email newsletter.

Let’s start with…

NOT ONE, BUT TWO BRAND-NEW MYSTERY COMICS PROJECTS!

You read that correctly. There are TWO exciting new books coming your way.

Somehow Ryan has found the time to create a whole-ass OTHER COMIC while he’s been cranking away at the beautiful artwork on VANISH, and we here in the know at KLC Press are absolutely BUZZING about it. Ryan has really been cooking up something special, and you’re gonna hear about it first here on the KLC Press Substack.

Ryan will be not only dropping reveal bombs left and right as the months go along, but he’ll also be revealing his process as a writer.

Our second mystery series has been long-awaited, and we’ll be revealing the details very soon. As is the KLC way, you’ll be getting the inside scoop on its creation process. What sets this one apart however, is the creative team.

Let’s just say Ethan and Griffin, a.k.a. The Supple Boiz, have been toiling away with a wonderful artist to bring you the coolest shit you’ve ever seen.

But HEY. That’s all we can say for now.

If you’re just here for the comics, you got ‘em. But if you, like us, are obsessed with how these wonderful little works of magic are made, you’re gonna see it all from the writing to the art to the mother-flippin’ staples in the spine.

WHAT ARE THE BOOKS CALLED???

Wouldn’t you like to know, ya little scamp. We’ll tell you soon. Just hit that subscribe button.

What’s that you say? That you’re only here for the physical comics/merch/perks? What about EXCLUSIVES?! We hear you. And that’s why you can expect…

A BRAND-NEW STORE!

The launch of this baby is right around the corner, and I’ll give you the scoop about it right now:

This very special new STORE is going to be dropping all manner of EXCLUSIVE variant covers, merch, and collectible goodness that you won’t find anywhere else (by the very definition of the word exclusive)! We can not WAIT to show you all the craziness we’ve got coming your way very very soon.

And if you become one of our wonderful PAID subscribers, not only will you get FIRST DIBS on all the new loot, but you’ll be getting discounts that will make your friends and enemies alike want to murder you in jealousy.

As a paid subscriber, you’ll have all kinds of exclusives rolling in. As a FREE subscriber, you’ll still get your little mitts on KLC-related merch before your average Joe on the street will. That’s a win-win scenario. I’d hate to be Joe.

BUT DISEMBODIED NEWSLETTER MAN, WHAT IF I ONLY LIKE KLC PRESS FOR THE CHATS AND SPARKLING PERSONALITIES OF THE CREATORS INVOLVED AND ALSO THE SUPPLE BOIZ?

Well, first of all, I admire the honesty. Comics aren’t for everybody. But what is for everybody is…

THE RETURN OF THE AMAZING FRIENDS PODCAST NETWORK!

That’s right. Many of you have been asking about this, and we’re thrilled to confirm that in Year 2 of KLC Press… The podcasts are BACK.

New episodes of STEG-MAN AND HIS AMAZING FRIENDS will stream exclusively on the Substack, as well as new episodes of SUPPLE BOIZ and more… Including a BRAND-NEW PODCAST HOSTED BY A VERY SPECIAL COMICS CREATOR THAT WE ALL KNOW AND LOVE.

We hope you’re as excited for this as we are. But if you’re just skimming this section because all you wanna know is if we’re gonna keep on hanging out as one united Chain Gang, then don’t worry, because…

THE COMMUNITY STREAMS ARE GONNA KEEP ON ROLLIN’, BABY

We love nothing more than hanging out with the delightful community we’ve cultivated here on the Substack, so of course we’re gonna keep the streams a-comin’. That of course also means that there will be AMPLE opportunity for our Paid subscribers to win some Ryan Stegman masterpieces through our raffles!

THIS IS SUPER EXCITING, I LOVE HANGING OUT ON STREAM

Great to hear.

Oh, yeah. AND…

WE’RE SLASHING PRICES LIKE CRAZY

As if all this wasn’t enough, it’s going to cheaper than ever to become a part of KLC Press in our second year.

MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION: $5

YEARLY SUBSCRIPTION: $55

Your eyes do not deceive you. Joining us monthly is significantly cheaper this year, and if you join us for a full year, you’re getting one of those cheaper months FREE!

You get the same great perks either way, but both routes mean more cash saved in your pocket. Which is wonderful, because we all want to be buying more comic books.

No crazy huge GOAT tier for KLC Press this time. All perks will be flowing down the same pipeline this year, and we implore you to hop on the subscription option that works best for you.

BUT DON’T WORRY, WE’RE NOT FORGETTING OUR DELIGHTFUL FREE SUBSCRIBERS

Oh no. There will be PLENTY of free content going around over the course of our next year, just as there was with our first!

You’ll still be able to see all manner of selected comics content, podcasts, streams, Store items and more.

But take it from us… With all the crazy shit we’ve got coming… I’d be hard pressed to find a better way to spend $5.

YEAH, YEAH. IS THAT IT?

Hmmm. One last thing to lay out there that may excite leading into our second year…

VANISH!

You’ve gotten to see VANISH come together in front of your very eyes over the course of the last year with a wealth of content revealing the secrets of its creation. NOW, we are on the eve of the first issue releasing in shops. It has been a wild journey to get here, but we’ve made it together.

So what’s next? Well, only the rest of the entire series.

KLC Press will continue to be the hub for the coolest and most exciting new comic in ALL of comics, and you’ll have a front row seat. Not only will you continue to see the behind-the-scenes production of the book from its superstar creators, but as a subscriber you’ll ALSO be getting…

DIGITAL COPIES OF EVERY ISSUE. EVERY GOD DAMN ONE.

As soon as Issue #1 drops next month (September), you will receive access to your very own copy of each issue as they come, included in your Paid subscription.

We won’t be shipping out physical product this year (aside from raffle prizes and various odds and ends), but that’s okay because many are saying that digital comics are the future. Have you seen what technology can do these days? It’s crazy stuff.

WAIT A MINUTE, I GET THE BOOK AND THE MAKING OF THE BOOK AS A PART OF MY SUBSCRIPTION? THAT’S ABSURD!

You might think so, but that would leave me thinking you might be new to this whole comic book Substack thing. You’re correct, though, that it’s pretty dope. It’s like subscribing to LootCrate, if you opened up each crate and found the best comic ever and also Ryan Stegman showed you his whole process of making it. I would’ve subscribed to LootCrate if that’s what it was! They probably wouldn’t be bankrupt!

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Here’s a TL;DR recap:

Year Two of KLC Press is here and we’ve got a bunch of exciting stuff coming your way including:

• The reveals of TWO new, secret projects! One from Ryan Stegman, and another from The Supple Boiz themselves, Ethan S. Parker and Griffin Sheridan, in their formal comics industry debuts! Free Subs and Paid Subs alike will be able to enjoy seeing these books come together.

• A brand new STOREFRONT is coming very soon, where fans can find a whole slew of exclusive merch, including plenty of physical comics. The store will be accessible to everyone, no matter subscription tier… however! Monthly or Annual Paid subs will get EARLY BIRD access on merch and even some DISCOUNTS.

• The RETURN OF THE AMAZING FRIENDS NETWORK! The original podcast that launched Ryan Stegman’s career as an internet personality, STEG-MAN AND HIS AMAZING FRIENDS, is back exclusively on Substack. Joining this iconic show is also the return of the true flagship show of the network, SUPPLE BOIZ, and a BRAND-NEW SHOW with a fellow comics creator that we cannot wait to start!

• Our KLC PRESS COMMUNITY LIVESTREAMS will continue! While expected to take a departure from the current weekly schedule, Ryan Stegman still loves going live and chatting with all you wonderful folks.

• Paid subscribers will get early DIGITAL COPIES OF VANISH delivered directly to their inbox! Every. Damn. Issue. as they come out. The Donny Cates/Ryan Stegman epic that we have spent our first year on Substack covering is finally here, and paid KLC subscribers will get it first. So not only are you getting ALL of the perks listed above, but full, digital comics as well!

And all of this will be available at new, lower rates. Here’s a quick breakdown of prices and perks:

• FREE: Get access to a slew of digital KLC Press content like first looks at upcoming projects, announcements and reveals, podcasts, and more!

• MONTHLY: $5/mo. As a monthly paid subscriber, you will of course get access to everything listed above in the FREE tier, but also early access to merch drops and deals on our new storefront, links to join our community livestreams and have a chance to win original Ryan Stegman art and/or signed comics, and, of course, digital copies of every issue of Vanish as they come out in this next, exciting year at KLC Press.

• ANNUAL: $55/yr. Our annually paid subs will receive EVERYTHING in the two tiers listed above at a discounted rate. It was already a great deal, but to get an entire month free? That’s just outrageous, if you ask me.

So hit that subscriber button, select the tier that’s right for you, and join us as we dive into YEAR TWO at KLC PRESS!

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And that’s about all we can say for now.

Except…

HUGE THANK-YOUS

We can not thank you all enough for such a wonderful first year, Chain Gang. You have made it possible for everyone here at KLC Press to do what we love, and to make the things we want to make for you all.

There’s so much more planned, so much more we want to put out into the world, and we hope you are all on board to humor us a little longer.

We’ve got comics, comics shows, a comics community… What more could you want?

And that’s a real question. Drop us a suggestion and we’ll try and make it happen. We want your subscription to be worth every penny. Why?

Because here at KLC Press…

Kids Love Chains. And we love you.