On Thursday, Ante Comics launched a crowdfunding campaign for ANTE: Steam Junk Western issue zero, a 52-page book that is intended to be the first of an ambitious 20-book storyline.

The project is already fully funded, having raised nearly $2 thousand at the time of this writing.

ANTE: Steam Junk Western is described as a “fun series, full of jokes, puns, and references… but allowing emotional moments to resonate when needed.”

Here’s the official pitch taken from the ANTE: Steam Junk Western Indiegogo campaign page:

The Union is in the midst of a civil war. Its view of the future of humanity is not shared with the rest of the land. Strict laws are enforced to maintain scarce resources, and titles are earned instead of common names being given. “The First of The First” is the daughter of an Army hero, about to drop her title to become a Cadet. Her life changes drastically when her father falls from grace by the hand of the General’s kin, “The Son of the Union.”

Unlikely allies and familiar foes are hiding at every turn, who can she trust?

The ANTE Equation = (-punk technology + genre fiction tropes)

…with some historical and popular references delivered in a new way

What does the ANTE equation mean for this series? Well, if you look at the title, Steam Junk sounds an awful lot like Steam Punk, not to be confused with Junk Punk. However, if you add Western to the mix, well now that’s Cattle Punk. Is there a difference between Solar Punk, Green Punk, and Eco Punk? Probably not, but you can see how confusing these subgenres can get. The goal of ANTE is to create a comprehensive story in a realistic setting that integrates pieces from these neighboring technologies…

“in good time…”

Backers can get a copy of ANTE for $25. If you have more cash to spend, you can also pick up the following:

• Multiple copies of the book
• Variant covers
• A black and white line art edition

It is also worth noting that there is an additional shipping charge starting at $10 for those in the United States.

Interested? You can check out some sample artwork below or visit the full ANTE: Steam Junk Western Indiegogo campaign page here.

Thanks for reading!

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