Mickey drives to a secluded park looking for dark sky to view the aurora—and finds his chosen spot a hub for a different sort of enthusiast. Help print a unique riso edition of this previously digital-only Filthy Figments queer erotica comic!
Hello! I'm Ben Mehlos, a gay trans comic artist, writer and independent publisher exploring queer masculinity through erotica comics, zines and art, and with your help I want to print a physical edition of my recent erotica short, Chevy Cruise, as a unique "dark mode" riso book.
The Comic:
Astronomy-liker Mickey drives to a secluded rural dog park in hopes of a dark enough sky to behold an unprecedented aurora borealis event ... and finds his chosen spot a hub for a different sort of enthusiast.
Chevy Cruise originally ran as digital exclusive on Filthy Figments (where it remains, along with several other stories from me, if you're so inclined!). Whether you're a FF subscriber who'd just like to take a physical copy of CC to your nightstand or a non-FF subscribed erotica enjoyer, backing this print project will allow me to sell Chevy Cruise at cons and zinefests, which of course benefits a broke ass artist individually, but moreover makes it available to a broader audience. I'm a big believer in the social importance of sexual expression: erotica is a potent vehicle for self discovery, especially for variously queer people.
With your help I made my comic Leatherbound into a reader favorite two color riso book in partnership with a local printer; I hope to make a similar, even neater artifact out of Chevy Cruise.. I took a moonlit, nightvision light-on-dark approach to its art, and I hope to turn it into a unique "dark mode" riso zine, with Orchid and Mint on black stock. The completed book will be 5x7.75", with 24 pages including black card covers.
This is a completed work, already done and prepressed and ready to go to my lovely local riso printer! I expect to have all your books shipped to you by June 2026 if not sooner.
BackerKit will calculate any shipping required during fulfillment when you've added a delivery address; shipping costs will not be billed until then! You are only being charged for your pledge amount at this time. This allows for a lower fundraising target and accounts for fluctuating shipping costs. Currently, US shipping costs are expected to fall in the $5-8 range. Thanks for understanding!
