THE WAIT IS ALMOST OVER - Super MAY 2023 UPDATE! 🔥🔥🔥
15 days ago – Mon, May 22, 2023 at 08:08:02 AM

THE WAIT IS ALMOST OVER

Right now, I am facing one of the most challenging periods in my journey, but I couldn't be more grateful to have you to confide in.

ENHANCED is currently in the press, and I'm eagerly anticipating the arrival of the first print run, consisting of a whopping 1,600 copies, by the second week of June. We're leaving no stone unturned in our efforts to ensure everything is prepared well in advance. The packages, pins, stickers, bookmarks, postcards, and prints are either already here or on their way (although there was a slight hiccup with some special fine art packages which the couriers misplaced, but we've taken swift action by ordering replacements).

Simultaneously, I've embarked on the challenging task of preparing the data for the shipments. Let me tell you, it's no easy feat! The Backerkit dashboard, while highly functional, has been pushed to its limits due to the multitude of pledge combinations generated by our incredible Kickstarter campaign. It's a mind-boggling endeavor that would make even a quantum processor overheat! Rest assured, I'm being extremely meticulous to avoid any errors and ensure that each and every one of you receives the correct rewards. Additionally, thanks to the pre-order store, we've gathered a remarkable 1,117 backers, meaning there will be 1,117 shipments that will carry the magnificent ENHANCED to readers all around the world. The weight of responsibility I feel is truly immense!

COOL VIDEO ALERT!

We've received the prototype copies of our completed volume, and we're absolutely thrilled with how it turned out.

Vol.1 is a solid 320g/84 pages, and it looks amazing! Of course, as we said, the final version will have the Holo 3D Uv cover, that as usual is missed in the prototype copy. 

Can you believe it? It's a crazy print run for a self-publishing project like ours, and we're super proud of ourselves! We know it's taken a while, but we're new to this and we're doing our best to learn quickly. We want to make sure everything is done well, and the speed will come with time.

While we wait for the volumes to be printed, we're already preparing everything else, including invoices, customs documents, labels, and add-ons. We want to ship out the books as soon as possible so that we can start working on volume 2 - how exciting is that?!

PDF will be released at the same time of the physical book.

ABOUT SHIPPING

I'm delighted to share that we've almost finalized our shipping arrangements. For shipments outside the EU, we have selected the reliable services of DHL Express, and for intra-EU shipments, we've chosen the esteemed UPS. Both options provide detailed tracking, so you can keep a close eye on your precious package. As soon as the printer delivers the copies to us, and all the necessary elements are in place, we will promptly dispatch your copies to the addresses you provided.

FINALLY...

Once everything is successfully underway, I'm eagerly anticipating a well-deserved short vacation in Europe, which will be followed by my dedicated work on Volume 2. I truly cannot wait!

Now, it's back to the grind, but before I dive in, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the unwavering support I feel from you each and every time. It means the world to me. Thank you!

Yours Simone, Stefano & Barbara

P.S.

Yasuke, though he acts tough, approves!

...Wait, there's more to the story! 

We have a few exciting things that might pique your interest (definitely not random advertising but 2 genuine suggestions from us!) 

 At the Sea of Madness

We're well aware that many of our backers are avid gamers and role-players. And let's face it, who doesn't love The Call of Cthulhu? Now, there's an ongoing campaign to bring forth a nostalgic graphic adventure that captures the essence of our beloved classics. And guess what? You can support this fantastic project for just 6€! Imagine an immersive point-and-click adventure reminiscent of Monkey Island, infused with the captivating world of H.P. Lovecraft, all proudly Made in Italy.

So, what are you waiting for? Don't miss out on the opportunity to check it out and lend your support. Join us on this thrilling journey by visiting their page. 

Blood & Fire - A Samurai Tale 

One of our backers, Aaron, is about to launch his super Samurai/Horror/Japanese comic book campaign. Previous campaigns have been a success and we suggest you turn on notifications to find out when this one will be active...we already have! You can find it HERE...push the button and get yourself notified! 

Mega Update on April 2023 🔥 / Freebies & Add-Ons 🥳/ Mirka Andolfo's Limited Prints😍 / Free Wallpapers 🤩 / Book Spoilers 🥸
about 1 month ago – Thu, Apr 27, 2023 at 08:14:51 AM

Dear Kickstarter backers,

We hope this update finds you well. We wanted to take a moment to apologize for the slight delay in printing and shipping your copy of ENHANCED Vol1.  As you know, thanks to your incredible support during our crowdfunding campaign, we were able to achieve some stretch goals that allowed us to include extra material in the book, such as additional chapters, more art book pages, and a holographic 3D cover. While these extras were an exciting addition to the project, they have also taken longer than expected to complete. 

Some HUGE SPOILERS? Check the Video ;-)

Compared to the initial 60 pages announced during the campaign, ENHANCED will now include an additional 24 pages, making it a total of 84 pages. The softcover version will be 7mm thick, while the hardcover version will be twice as thick. We hope you are as thrilled about this as we are!

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work diligently to get everything printed and shipped out to you. We expect to go to print in the next few days and plan to ship your orders by May 2023.

"How about the digital versions?"

Once again, we ask for your patience. There will be an official release date, and we don't like the idea of releasing the digital versions BEFORE the physical ones. We want ENHANCED to be an experience as well, so we will release all versions at the same time.

WE HAVE FREEBIES AND ADD-ONS!

We also wanted to share some exciting news about the gadgets and add-ons that will be included in your shipment. Each backer will receive Andrea's bookmark, Andrea and Heather's sticker, and a fabulous thank you card. Early bird backers will also receive a free Andrea Synthwave print.  Additionally, we have custom pins, collectible prints of our covers, and the limited edition Sybilla print, all of which are ready to be sent.

The Mirka Andolfo Variant Large Prints are now available (Only 5 left!)

As per your request, we have arranged for a limited number of collectible prints of Mirka Andolfo's Variants. Each print is 24x34cm, made of heavy-weight paper, laminated with SoftTouch, and has a 3D holographic UV finish. We have only 5 prints left, priced at €19, so if you'd like to pre-order, please visit our store or send us a private message. Shipping is included if it can be incorporated into your original order. Please note that the frame is not included, and is only shown for the purpose of giving you an idea of the final result. (indeed the frame is mine and that is the copy I will hang at home!)

Art Collector Backers...ACTION NEEDED!

I would like to add a point: where I point out that some of "The Art Collector" backers still have not let us know which original page they want. No problem, to avoid delays (Fine Art printing takes so long) we will choose for you the most beautiful pages from those available and send them to you as planned

FREE WALLPAPER DOWNLOAD!!!

Last but not least, we have a special gift for you! We received fantastic feedback about the previous desktop wallpaper we shared, so we're happy to announce that we have another one for you. This wallpaper is a mix of unpublished sketches handmade by Stefano, in a full HD format of 5430X3726.

Download the Free Wallpaper HERE

Questions?

You're welcome! Don't forget you can also join our Facebook Private Group where updates are much more regular and debating ENHANCED is much more straightforward! Join HERE

Thank you again for your support and understanding. We can't wait to get your orders shipped to you soon.

Yours,

Simone, Barbara, and Stefano

THE TEST RUNS OF THE OFFICIAL AND VARIANT COVERS ARE HERE...AND THEY ARE CRAZY 🔥🔥🔥
2 months ago – Wed, Apr 05, 2023 at 07:48:10 AM

To all of our supporters, we are thrilled to deliver on our promise of more frequent updates in the coming weeks, as we work diligently to reach our goals. 

Our collaboration with Skillpress typography has been intense, and we are excited to share the final outcome of the holographic 3D technology that will ENHANCE (LOL) the look of your front covers. Check the Video (and Subscribe to our official YTube channel, if you already didn't)

CUSTOM PACKAGING!

We have some extra exciting news to share! We are currently testing different types of packaging to ensure your valuable rewards arrive home safely. After rigorous testing, we were thoroughly impressed with the quality of Stickermule's custom padded envelopes. Stickermule is a renowned company in the industry and already produces all our merchandise. Therefore, we will most likely be using their personalized envelopes for your rewards. It's worth noting that customizing 1000 envelopes with this level of quality comes at a high cost, but we're willing to invest in every aspect of ENHANCED to ensure the best experience for you.

TO ALL THE "ART COLLECTOR" BACKERS

Another piece of significant news to share is that those who backed "The Art Collector" reward (which had an overwhelming number of supporters) will soon receive an email within the next 48 hours. This email will request you to select your preferred page from the remaining available ones, as each unique art page will be replicated only once, making the owner the sole possessor in the world. Therefore, make sure to keep an eye on your inbox and get ready for some exclusive art collection!

LAST DAYS TO PRE-ORDER VOLUME 1!

Surely you have one or more friends who would like to order a copy of the coolest Cyberpunk comic of the moment (ours) but haven't done so yet. It's now or never, the Pre-Order Store is closing shortly, because we're going to print soon! 

Reach out our Store HERE !!!

Truly yours,

Stefano, Barbara & Simone

TIMELINE UPDATE 🧐 - EXTRA CHAPTER PREVIEW 🥸 - CREDIT CARD ALERT ⛔ - SEE YOU AT GARDACON 2023 🍻
2 months ago – Fri, Mar 24, 2023 at 10:10:19 AM

SEE YOU AT GARDACON 2023

We are thrilled to announce that on Saturday, March 25th, we will be attending the prestigious Gardacon (Garda Lake), one of the largest industry show in Italy, as guests. We have been invited by Gardacon to conduct a workshop on our triumphant Kickstarter experience, and we are excited to seize this opportunity to showcase the most exquisite pages from volume 1. To make our presentation even more spectacular, we will be on the Pop stage with a massive ledwall at our disposal, and if luck is on our side, we might even have a physical copy of the book to share with our audience.

Here's some exciting news for our fans: we plan to offer free sketches to those who purchase ENHANCED during the day. Stefano will be drawing quick sketches of our beloved main characters for those who have already pre-ordered ENHANCED. For those who Pre-Order directly from us at Gardacon, we will also have Stefano draw you a quick sketch with one of the main characters. Although we understand that the fair can be chaotic, we will do our best to accommodate as many people as possible.

PLEASE PAY ATTENTION --- Pending credit card charges

Backerkit reports to us that errors remain in some Backer's shipping payments.

Best to reiterate: if we cannot receive the payments on time, we will not be able to send you the rewards. In general these are either amounts not available on the card, or missing authorizations on your part. Remember that payment is made in the EU so your card must be authorized for charges in this region of the world. If you are among the few who still have not been able to pay the shipping charges and do not know how to solve it, please write to us at [email protected] and we will be happy to solve the problem with you. Please do not hesitate to write to us, we will go to press and ship shortly!

 ...AND THE EXTRA CHAPTER ARE DONE!

I'll keep it short, ENHANCED is coming along so well that i'm sorry these are the last pages of volume 1. To be precise, here are two excerpts from the extra chapters added thanks to the stretch goals reached. These are definitely "cliffhanger" chapters, that introduce important characters and events that will be featured in volume 2, and they are sure to leave you hanging on the edge of your seat. I personally believe that these two panels are highly successful, unsettling, and impactful.

A FEW UPDATES ABOUT TIMELINE

Starting today, we're excited to announce that our updates will be more frequent and regular. We are in the final stages of fine-tuning all the practical details, and are taking it one step at a time to ensure that everything is perfect. The pages are complete, and the colors are nearly finished. To make sure that the English translation is top-notch, we have enlisted the expertise of an American Editor (shoutout to Vince!). Additionally, our graphic designer is paying close attention to every detail to ensure that no face is cut in half during the printing process LOL.

We're working tirelessly to meet the deadlines we've set for ourselves, but above all, we want to make sure that ENHANCED is delivered to you in the best possible way. Our goal is to provide you with an unforgettable cyberpunk experience, just as much as it is for us. We appreciate your support and patience, and can't wait for you to get your hands on ENHANCED.

Truly yours,

Stefano, Barbara & Simone

IMPORTANT UPDATE! 🔥🔥🔥 ENHANCED is coming to life (and it looks amazing 😍) + Charging Credit Cards for BackerKit Orders/Shipping Costs!
3 months ago – Tue, Mar 07, 2023 at 07:53:04 AM

Hey Cyber-Backers, We've got some exciting news to share with you!

It's time to charging Credit Cards!

Just wanted to give you a little heads up that we plan to charge cards for shipping costs, add-on items you purchased or any additional funds you may owe through BackerKit on Monday, March 13, 2023

This charge will appear on your bank statement as < ENHANCED STRIPE>. Please make sure that you have the correct card information on file. If any issues arise with your payment you’ll receive an email letting your know to correct your payment information.

If you need to review payment information, you can return to your survey by clicking the link in your survey email or requesting your survey link under "Lost your survey?" on our BackerKit project page at https://enhanced-a-cyberpunk-graphic-novel.backerkit.com/

Hot off the press: ENHANCED pages are insane!

Skillpress, one of the top national companies for comic book printing, recently sent us previews of the ENHANCED pages, and the quality is simply insane! The 80-plus pages that make up ENHANCED Vol.1 will be printed on 170gr heavy matte paper, showcasing the stunning visuals and colors of our Cyberpunk world. The blacks are deep and convincing, while the neons are bright and eye-catching, making for a truly immersive reading experience.

Special Reward Surveys

In the next few days, all backers who reserved autographed sketches will receive an email from Backerkit asking for your preferences - it's going to be easy and fun! 

We'll then contact all supporters who reserved original pages to decide together which page will be your unique piece. We've shortlisted about ten pages, so you won't spoil the whole story. We can't wait to share this unique opportunity with you.

Timeline

As you already know, the unexpected success we've had means we've added a lot of extra material to ENHANCED, including extra chapters and an art book. Stefano has practically drawn all the pages, and Barbara has almost finished coloring them. Due to the importance of the work, we've hired a professional graphic designer to check the layout, a native speaker editor to supervise the English language version, and an assistant colorist to take care of the flat colors. We want to deliver to you a product that won't disfigure next to the comics of the top publishing houses in your library. We'll do our best!

We'll update you soon, but in the meantime, please make sure your credit cards are okay so we can expedite the final processes. 

Take care of yourselves and have fun, we're really excited about ENHANCED!

Simone, Stefano & Barbara

ENHANCED the Graphic Novel