I wasn't sure how to start this update post as life has very much caught up with me on some things outside of my control (non-Apeiros related) but regardless I've "slowly" managed to get back on schedule although most of December my time and attention was spent fighting the untimely demands of life. (If I haven’t responded to texts, emails, etc. please give me a few more months, I’ll reply back… I promise 😣🤞)

However, mentally, I’m always in the clouds of creativity and so this new art piece is a bit of a teaser to share with you all as we wrap up on the final chapter (what was supposed to happen in Dec, but see below on status)

Apeiros x PEZ

I’ve had this ideas since 2023 but was unable to find the right artist and style to bring it about it in a cool way. Until now...

I think Pez dispensers are the OG of collectables like Funko pops and since seeing this backpack, I thought it’d be cool to do an illustration of them due to the fact Pezzes are generally an unexpected item/brand to do an art of mashup of—making the design even more special for Apeiros characters.

Finding the artist for this wasn’t easy, but artof.lucasm on Instagram was the perfect fit for the retro cyberpunkish vibes I imagined originally.

I may turn these into stickers or pins at some point, depends if demand is there for them. Hope you all like them, let us know what you think in the comments!

P.S. as a secret that’s not-so-secret there’ll be a different version of these coming out by another artist. I could decided on which so I went with both. Stay tuned!

Status of Manga

Now that things have relatively stabilized and I'm back to a semi-normal work rhythm and finished putting out fires, I've been able to get back on track for finishing up the last chapter of Apeiros. This chapter isn't the actual last one regarding the reading order, but it is possibly favorite and wanted to give it the care and attention it needed.

Ideally, for myself I would like to have everything done and out by April-May timeframe again before summer is really here and between the team and I we’re working as diligently as we can. The finer details are what makes it or breaks it.

But as you can see here...

...we’re almost there.

~thank you for sticking with us, it’ll all be worth it!

『Doni』

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It’s been some time since a real post on Substack, 2025 hasn’t been without its own unique challenges, adventures, and doubling down on grinding out the work on Apeiros World Odyssey.

So while progress slowed, we hadn’t stopped. Deciding to put all the focus these past couple of months on redoing a few of the chapters/story and rethinking my understanding of manga...

A decision that was greatly influenced by this book:

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The tl;dr - My Xerox Parc Moment

Kazuhiko Torishima was the 6th Editor-in-Chief of the world’s most popular manga magazine... Shonen Jump at Shueisha, the publisher of the magazine. And also the man directly responsible for discovering Akira Toriyama from a contest Toriyama entered on a whim and who obviously came to create the world’s most influential manga series that broke through to introduce Japanese manga and culture to the world at large in a mainstream way.

I mention this because I wanted to learn EXACTLY how my predecessors in this space (Japanese artists and publishers) think and approach the art form. Had I had this book back in 2022/23 (the english version only released this year) I would have approached Apeiros World ‘very differently’ and so I pivoted on some things to align with the most purist way of manga.

Since manga and anime have become mainstream (like Hip-Hop), there’s some dilution in the sense of “what truly is or isn’t” manga. Something Torishima touches on throughout Ultimate Manga Techniques.

What gives this book a strong placement above many other “How-to Draw Manga” books is that this one gives the perspective of not just an EIC of a large publisher, but the Japanese cultural mindset that breaks down the fundamentals of manga. Not just a bunch of ‘subjective’ artistic choices.

Yes, I’m aware Bakuman exists...but like I mentioned, this book covers the fundamentals in a more practical way than in Bakuman.

Volume 01 Status

Now that you all know why things have been radio silent due to the mini ‘training arc’ I’m wrapping up the final details on this last chapter that has come to be my favorite so far and that I hope to have it out to you all ASAP after the changes to the lettering and typesetting has been completed.

We’re still going at a good pace to close out this final chapter while juggling the other demands and responsibilities of life, so we thank you all for your patience and support so far. It hasn’t gone unnoticed or unappreciated and will be rewarded when things are ready for a full-blown announcements on ETA. (Yes, this means 2026 😣)

Lorecraft Podcast

During this time I’ve been working diligently on a new podcast with my brilliant co-host Ava Do. We cover topics such as creativity, entrepreneurship, writing and storytelling; and interviewing other creatives to learn their perspectives and backgrounds. So please give a view, like, follow, and share!

--

More cool things on the way. Thank you all,

~Doni

The moment you've been waiting for is finally here! And we're thrilled to announce the first-ever release of our limited edition merch and apparel collection!

We've poured our hearts into creating something truly special yet simple, and we know you're going to love it. From super-soft tees to creative mood inspiring posters, each piece is designed with thoughtful care towards what the true essence and visual uniqueness that is the world of Apeiros.

This starting launched was decided to coincide with some additional social media coverage that will be dropping some time this week across Instagram.

So that is why you all are getting a sneak peek of the designs before the general public…

but..

Given that you all have been supporting this project since its early inception, it only felt right to include a discount to the community here! So when the links go live to purchase on Friday, use the code:

SUMMER25

for 10% off :)

This is a limited run, so if you want to be among the first to rock this first ever collection of Official Apeiros World Brand gear, now's your chance!

👉 Pre-orders are officially open Friday noon EST! Don't miss out – once it's gone, it's gone. Found here:

• https://apeirosworldproject.com

• https://linktr.ee/apeirosworld

Last but not least, updates on the manga for Apeiros World Odyssey will be coming in another update at the end of the month.

So likewise pre-orders for volume 1 will also be opening if you missed the 2023 Kickstarter as we begin shifting to print production.

Stay awesome,

:)

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--

First and foremost a continued thank you and deep-hearted appreciation to everyone who's supported this project since its inception. We don't take your patience and support for granted, and never will.

There's a lot of goodies jam-packed in this update for you all, filled with exciting visuals and big news on AWP!

Major Update: Collector's Edition Tier Samples - (...finally!)

Recently I was able to finish carving out time to reach out to some manufacturers to produce the Collector's Edition Box for backers of that pledge. The original inspiration and design is a play off of the classic SNES game boxes 🎮 from Nintendo (please don't sue us...😅) There's something about the retro design of those game boxes that stuck out to me in a reimagined and redesigned look with the branding of Apeiros World. So it was a no brainer!

Halfway through the sourcing process I thought about how to elevate the packaging experience for you all and decided to create a different, more premium look. I've always been a fan of great package design and who else is more a master at it than Apple!

So, backers of this tier will have the option to choose if they want the lid and base box or stick with the SNES style (*Note: We'll confirm when confirming address updates when shipping out. If no response then we'll send the SNES box.)

These CE boxes are a limited run... 151 - so that means each will be numbered with a certificate of authenticity and available only at conventions and/or the official website until all sold and gone for good! More details when the item is finalized.

Visual Showcase 1: New Environment Concept Artwork

This piece has been months in the making of and I'm excited for the turnout of this concept art piece done by the supremely talented Rok-Mo. I wanted to capture more of the grander visuals that make up Apeiros as this narrative and adventure unfolds. To show a bit of the grandeur that was Apeiros before its downfall. To evoke a moody feeling majestic wonder as Ezra is manipulating one of the Elements of Apeiros in his hands... I hope you all love it as much as we do!

This artwork will be featured on the new website soon to launch.

Visual Showcase 2: New Character artwork WIP

Next up is some stylized pieces for Ezra and Khadija done by Andrew Russell.
His approach to black and white line art and inks I felt was a perfect match for expressing the versatility of these two characters, check the instagram soon for the completed versions soon!

Manga Status: Art, Lettering, and Overall Progress

Currently we're on track for finalizing the art the remainder of May and moving towards lettering in June. At this phase it's all about the little details, we'll provide another update once lettering is okay'd (sometimes dialog may require revision due to formatting constraints). - So don't fret if it's a bit quiet between now and end of June :) - we're hard at work for you all!

We'll conduct one last round of any address changes that may have happened so please check your messages, emails and the backer posts for when that announcement goes out.

First Look: New Podcast Logo!

This has been months of work in the background of working on Apeiros World Odyssey that I'm finally happy to share a sneak peek into the new logo/mascot for the podcast affiliated with The Apeiros World Project!

Your unwavering support continues to fuel the passion to make Apeiros World Odyssey a reality. Every step of this journey is made possible because of you!

The more people who discover Apeiros, the bigger and better we can make this world. If you know someone who loves rich sci-fi worlds, captivating stories, or stunning digital art, please consider sharing our project page/this update with them!

HELP US OUT WITH THIS QUICK 1 MINUTE SURVEY!!

We also need your input! As we continue to expand the Apeiros universe, we want to know what excites you most. We've put together a quick survey/poll to gather your ideas on what you'd love to see more of from Apeiros World in the future. Your feedback will directly influence our creative decisions! - it's 100% anonymous and takes less than a minute!

Survey link - Unlock the Future of Apeiros: Your Input Matters!

Final Sign-off

Thank you once again for being the best community a creator could ask for. We're so excited for what's next!

~see ya soon

https://linktr.ee/apeirosworld - view / discover / learn / explore more

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Hope you're all doing well! The team has been heads down and focused on everything from reworking the script to polishing the art and getting things ready to finish end of April 2025. Here's somethings ready to share into what we've been working on lately for Apeiros World. Your support means the world to us, and we're thrilled to share our progress.

Rho & Final Look for Provisioner

First up, we've been making fantastic strides with new character art! We've finalized the design for Rho & The Provisioner, leave a comment on your thoughts below!

Rho is the third member of Ezra's group as they embark on the journey to go after stopping Glyph's plans. Not much is known of her, only that she's a recent "ally" of the two... however, she has some interesting tricks up her sleeve as a master of subterfuge!

Some of the inspiration to her design was MGS (Metal Gear Solid) series among a few other prominent JRPG games.

We're really happy with how these are turning out, and we can't wait for you to see them in the manga!

Environment Concept Art

The world of Apeiros is coming to life with more than just characters! Here's a snippet of some environment focused art, mainly to be used on the new website that's underway. Our concept and environment artists have been hard at work creating some stunning visuals. Creating pieces to represent Apeiros, New Albyion, and other settings within the story of Apeiros World Odyssey.

These visuals are crucial for setting the tone and atmosphere of Apeiros World, and we're confident you'll love them.

Story Progress - Odyssey

The story is progressing steadily and digging deep to make it the best it can be.

I completed a major rewrite of the first act and focused on developing character arcs for key characters.

I spent the past two months doing a significant rewrite-restructuring of two chapters that I felt best would make more sense in a later volume. Alongside adding more characters, concepts, and storytelling components that I felt were needed to make the overall narrative stronger given the limited constraints of what a traditional manga is.

I'm committed to delivering a compelling and engaging narrative, and confident that the story will resonate with you all, so we're still on track to push to completion with the end of April on the art and story for Apeiros World Odyssey.

New Podcast Teaser

As some of you may know, I've been at work behind the scenes on creating a podcast!

My cohost and I have some recordings under our belt and more details will be shared as we finishing wrapping our first season of recordings.

This will be a great way to give you even more behind-the-scenes access to some of the creative input on Apeiros and discover other creatives and their projects. Stay tuned for more details on the podcast's launch!

Thank You

Thank you again for your incredible support. We couldn't do this without you. As the creative work is demanding and having to manage multiple projects, people, and deadlines. There will be minimum updates until the work is completed. So don't be alarmed, we're just busy in the laboratory.

When the time is right there will be plenty of Apeiros content to go around!

I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts from these questions below:

• Which character's art are you most excited to see?

Leave a comment

• What aspects of the story are you most looking forward to?

Leave a comment

If you know someone who would love Apeiros World, please share this with everyone:

See ya soon ;)

~Doni

In giving myself a moment of reflection of the ups and downs throughout 2024 and since I first conceived of Apeiros back at beginning of 2018, I'm proud of the continued progress we've made so far.

Initially, I expected this to take much less time than intended once things were in order and progress on the manga has started.

After a year of relocating and getting settled into a new place, the joys of working full-time, and of course having to rewrite and solve some narrative problems that had stumped me for quite some time.

Not everything that can work in narrative prose, can or should translate to a visual medium, and vice versa...

However, I feel tentatively content/confident that should everything remain on track, final artwork, lettering, and design on Apeiros World Odyssey Vol 1. should be completed April 2025!

The prototype copies of the manga were phenomenal regarding art and print quality. So rest assured as we close out on the remaining chapters that you all will be well rewarded for your patience and support!

Now...onto a new character reveal!

The Provisioner

The leader of Glyph, the dominant faction on Apeiros.

The official and final version of the artwork should be completed tomorrow, so check the Apeiros instagram over the few days!

The last for 2024

Quick bio:

No one knows or truly realizes how the Provisioner's meteoric rise to power came to be in a relatively short amount of time. From serving in a military capacity for Glyph with the Enforcers to now being apart of it's Upper Echelon of important dignitaries on New Albyion.

The Provisioner has deep ambitions that none are wise to with the exception of Tysin, Ezra's mentor and leader of the Siva Preservers.

He knows the Provisioner wants the Sacred Elements and will stop at nothing to bring these powerful artifacts under his control.

Politically connected and adored by the public on New Albyion, everyone has seemingly put their faith in his charming persona and deep mystique in such a way that the entire populace is almost under a spell. His spell.

You'll meet him soon enough...

Sound off in the comments on what you think!

Other news

Over the new few months up until April, I've decided to give updates every other month. There's not much I want to share before everything is signed, sealed, and delivered on.

But you can expect in the coming months:

• Some new character artwork reveals

• Updates on the new website

• New merch

• Volume 1 release news

Thank you. That's all for everyone :)

~ Doni

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Thank you all so much for your patience as we continue working on this, but wanted to share a little update now that these copies have been delivered. 

They were ordered a while back in order to begin QA on the design, art quality, general aesthetic in order to catch any defects early on in the process before going full to the printer once everything had been completed. 

I will upload a proper unboxing video but had to let you all get a glimpse first!

~see you soon

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Back as promised, get ready for a sneak peek into Apeiros World! I'm excited to announce that I'll be hosting a live stream on Wednesday, September 18th. Join me and a fantastic co-host for a behind-the-scenes look at what goes and has gone into the development of the Apeiros World Project!

What to Expect:

• Co-Host Interview: My amazing co-host, of New Player Character, will be joining me for a short form interview (30-45 minutes). We'll dive into the origin of Apeiros World Odyssey, status on the project now, inspirations, creative process, and more!

• Q&A Session: The remaining 15-20 minutes will be dedicated to your questions! Ask me anything about the above or the industry of manga/anime culture, writing, or relevant topics or areas of interest.

Want to Shape the Conversation?

To ensure the livestream is as informative and engaging as possible, please take a moment to fill out this short poll: Livestream poll. Your feedback will help me tailor the content to your interests.

Don't Forget to Submit Your Questions!

If you have questions you'd like me to answer during the Q&A session, please submit them ahead of time using the following form: AMA Submission.

Where to Watch:

The livestream will be broadcast on multiple platforms, but the primary focus will be on the official YouTube channel. Subscribe to the channel now so you don't miss it: Find all links here -https://linktr.ee/apeirosworld

Can't wait to connect with you all and share more about Apeiros World Odyssey. See you there!

~Doni

Livestream Details:

• Date: Wednesday, September 18th

• Time: 6:30-7:30PM CET | 10:00AM PST | 1:30PM EST 

• Platform(s): YouTube | IG | Twitch | Twitter - @apeirosworld

Timezones: Central European - Pacific - Eastern

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Livestream Poll

AMA Submission

First, I want to thank you all for continuing to support and tune into The Apeiros World Project.

We're still pushing onwards (like Eren Yeager) with volume 1 after taking a two month break as life got in the way. 

Originally when I planned out volume 1 I figured a year out would be a reasonable timeline, but of course in reality that's only if everything went according to plan. 

Last month I was able to continue with the story, art, and other things in development but it's been a slow start back to full productivity. 

The release of Apeiros World Odyssey was set for this month, but seeing as that release date needed to be extended given the circumstances, I still wanted to share more of the manga with you all!

Chapter 2 - Factions & Fragments

So, without further ado here's the second chapter of Apeiros World Odyssey! (chapter summary below)

• Webtoons

• Tapas

*please note that the artwork is optimized for print first and not the webtoon/tapas format requirements. 

Chapter Summary:

Volume 1 New Deadline: TBD

Currently, vol 1. is still intended to release this year in 2024, with a TBD. We're working on two chapters concurrently so beginning of June we should have a better outlook on when we can expect to finish out the rest of Apeiros World Odyssey and into your hands!

This is part 1 of 2 updates. There's more good news to share here soon this month :) talk soon!

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Sound off in the comments and let’s have a discussion/vote on the most popular design(s)!!

Good feedback on what's cool and what's is important so we can focus on the great.

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At the time I couldn't share too much on the progress that had begun on the items in development for The Apeiros World Project that exist outside of the manga release for Odyssey Vol. 1 (June of 2024 ETA). However, I can now tease what's in the works!

Get ready...

—I'm really stoked how this video came out. This serves as the official teaser for volume 1 of Apeiros World Odyssey. More importantly, production has begun on an anime short for Apeiros World!!

Yes, anime. 

More details will be shared in time, however, the deadline/release is July 2024 to coincide with film festivals. 

"If you're a follower/backer and have animation experience, please reach out as we're currently building a small team to get this anime short in full swing!"

Apeiros World Anime

The short in production is a springboard project to raise the visibility of Apeiros World, it's in collaboration with some accomplished animators, illustrators, and designers to bring the best quality we can to the medium. More on that later.

NEW E-COMMERCE SITE

The next big piece of news is the newly, in-progress, website for Apeiros World. This website will offer many new artworks, merch, and apparel for sale in one place. 

What you can expect on the new site:

• Original anime graphic tees in limited releases

• Order copies of volume 1

• Character prints (giclee)

• Prints/Posters (large format)

• Cell phone cases

• Accessories 

• Digital downloads

• .. and more!

If your Kickstarter backer pledge came with a discount code, you'll be able to apply it to this website once it's live by April 2024

NEW WEBSITE/PRODUCT DESIGNS 

The following are what you can expect from to see on the website. Hop over to Instagram in the new few days to screenshot these as some cool phone wallpapers, just make sure to tag @apeiros.world!

Thanks so much for your support, be tuned in for March and April as things get finalized and ready to go live!

beneath the graphics is a small poll for voting :)

VOTE ON YOUR FAVORITE DESIGNS!

Let's us know in the comments which idea(s) speaks to you, it's good to get feedback on what's cool and what's not so that we only put out the best!

RELEASE DATE ON MANGA 2024

In case you missed the previous updates, the timeline for volume 1 required a delayed release. It's something I truly didn't want to do, but felt it necessary to a better end result. 

Rest assured we're hard at work writing and illustrating this work to be the best that it can considering it's 200 pages in length and a majority is illustrations by hand/digital. 

Thanks!

As I sit here typing this it’s 4:35a. I get my best ideas and thoughts around this time, although it doesn’t help that I like to wake early. Gotham hours once again…

Another year full of reflection.

I’m quite lucid during this time of night-morning and I want to express some abstract thoughts that have been bubbling up in my mind the past few months since I’ve embarked on a grand new journey—a new direction, a new beginning:

• I find myself having to continually recreate myself on a daily basis.

  Learning is easy. Unlearning is difficult.

• Habituation is the single most important word I’ve encountered in the past 5 years. The nature and concept of the word as a creative designer has consumed me, influencing my outlook on life and how things work.

• You have way less time than you think you do.

• Sometimes you have to get rid of everything and just start over. Be courageous and ruthless in that process.

• One More Hour

• Building something great and impactful requires a singular focus of mind and skill. Like a sculpture, you don’t stop and start another; but continue to hone those lines, shapes, and curves until it is done.

• The world is suffering, so don’t let it drag you into its abyss of insanity. Focus on building and creating something great. Nothing else matters.

• Reliability is the name of the game. Stay away from those whom you can’t depend upon to hand you a tissue for a sneeze. Why trust them with something critical?

• Make Gratitude a part of your daily routine. Never forget those who have helped or inspired you to keep going in the face of adversity. Tell them. And mean it.

• Everyone is going through something. Get over yourself.

• We’re ALL busy. So what? That’s not an excuse or reason.

• Don’t let the Devil Outwit you…

• Knowing what ‘NOT’ to do is just as important as knowing ‘what to do’

• People spend so much time doing everything, but the ‘thing’ they should be doing. I am not immune to this either.

• “The lightness of being a beginner again.” - a daily mantra

• More yoga, stretching, exercise, and drinking more water.

• I’m convinced we’ve been on an alternate timeline since the passing of Kobe

• I’ve invested heavily in learning this year and a half: UX/UI design, Product/Project management, Product/Service design, Writing (in multiple forms & mediums), Game design, Narrative design. See a pattern?

• I’ve met some really cool and interesting people across the globe this year.

• I’ve traveled a lot.

• I’ve burned through a ton of money. Most of it worth it.

• “Hate is nature’s most powerful resource, endlessly renewable.” - Bobby Axelrod

• I’ve watched the Matrix Reloaded over 200 times. Perfect film and story.

• It’s been 4 years since the beginning of 2020, just thought I should mention that old world we used to operate in.

• It’s all going to work out in the end.

CONT’D

I’ve made a lot of mistakes, wasted some time, hurt some people. But I carry the strength of those lessons forward to be a more complete and better human being and storyteller. Infusing those experiences makes all the difference as a writer. We carry those reflections of life with us everywhere.

The way forward in 2024 will be exciting to me for all the people I haven’t met and places I haven’t been to but will. With a firm belief that everything is conspiring in my favor I’m just blessed and fortunate to be on the path of life that I am and knowing who I am.

Top 10 Books of the last 5 years

In a later post I might cover these in more detail, but all of these titles have helped me in design, business, storytelling, finance, economics, & life/relationships!

1. The Infinite Game - Simon Sinek (Business/Entrepreneurship)

2. Creativity Inc. - Ed Catmull (Creativity, Art, Storytelling, Business)

3. Build - Tony Fadell (Design, Creativity, Business)

4. The Entrepreneur Roller Coaster - Darren Hardy (Business/Entrepreneurship)

5. Creative Selection - Ken Kocienda (Design, Creativity, Products)

6. The Third Wave - Steve Case (Creativity, Products, Business/Entrepreneurship)

7. Good Services - Lou Downe (Service design)

8. 33 Strategies of War - Robert Greene (Lifeskills, Strategy, Psychology, History)

9. 101 Things I Learned in Advertising School - Tracy Arrington, Matthew Frederick (Advertising, Design, Storytelling, Psychology)

10. How to Win Friends & Influence People - Dale Carnegie | Bringing Out the Best in People - Alan McGinnis (Life/Relationships)

    *I can count, but these go hand in hand

Last but not least—Apeiros

If you made it this far, thanks for tuning into my abstract ramblings. I don’t journal anymore since my journal thoughts are so consumed by writing a concurrent fiction narrative, this is the next best thing to that. Maybe one day I can hope to return.

I’m hesitant to pull an accolades of everything accomplished this past year as it relates to Apeiros, I feel like there’s so much more ground to cover and accomplish it’s a bit premature to start counting just yet, but soon!

But a quick highlight of updates:

• Collector’s Edition box samples are on the way from manufacturers

• New art and characters

• New video content

• Volume 1 progress and another big development secret :)

Thank you all for sticking by, you won’t regret it.

To be continued…

Thanks to you all for sticking with us on The Apeiros World Project. It's been a good year so far and I'm thankful to everyone who's been so supportive. 

This will be a short post, I recently just moved halfway across the world and it's been a new challenge getting settled, prepared, and focused on what's to come. Quite literally a videogame experience of starting over at level 1. 

This time of year I'm always introspective on the matters of life as the world slows down for the holidays and the coming of the new year for most everyone. 

APEIROS WORLD ODYSSEY CHAPTER 1 PREVIEW

If you haven't read it yet,  the first chapter of AWO is out now on Webtoons and Tapas. Go read, share, like, comment! It helps!

Upcoming

Next year I'll be able to share more things in progress, these past few months have been more organizing and planning; but good news is that for those that order the Collector's Edition of Apeiros World Odyssey, you'll have a look at the sample boxes as we get them back from the manufacturers. Among new merch & other products. Stay tuned!

NEW ARTWORK!!!

Finally... for most of the year I've wanted an updated/redesign of Ezra and Khadija to reflect their looks in the manga. And once again Mona Finden has delivered! Take a look below:

 KHADIJA

Ezra

A NEW CHARACTER HAS ENTERED THE WORLD!!!

This character.... everything begins with this character and the reason why Apeiros even exists in the first place, however I couldn't grasp a complete look until now, regarding his tangible look and feel. 

I won't even say his name, but just know... he's the real deal. We'll see him again at some point in the future when it'll all make sense, but for now this may be the most we'll see of him. Hope you all like it!

EXTRA BONUS - Apeiros World Odyssey Vol 1. Snippet

Here's a screenshot of a later chapter in volume 1 for you all to enjoy. Can't wait until this story is in your hands! Everyone loves a breakout scene, right??

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Nothing feels better than finally being able to showcase the first chapter of Apeiros World Odyssey to you here soon.

As the finishing touches on the release are being implemented, here’s a FIRST FIRST look at what you can expect for the opening of Apeiros World Odyssey vol 1.

More details [below] will be shared closer to release, but to reiterate and help get as much exposure on Apeiros… YOUR REVIEWS will be needed.

**Please note,  this reads right to left like traditional Japanese manga. Refer to this guide for help :)

Review and Exposure Helpppppp 

On Webtoons, Tapas(maybe), Google & Apple Books, and Amazon/Kindle, getting a high number of star reviews and comments will greatly help reach a newer and wider audience.

 There’s 3 simple & easy steps to do this: 

1. Once released, download the FREE preview of chapter one. And read it!
    

2. Leave a star rating AND review with a comment; i.e. (great read, pretty art, etc. make it genuine)
    

3. Share on social media and tag @apeiros.world (facebook, instagram, twitter, and yes.. tiktok)
    

*please note that you’ll need accounts to be able to leave reviews/comments on these platforms. Just search for Apeiros World :) :)

Backers and newsletter subscribers will get notified first on the release of the chapter

Instagram Livestream - October 21st PM EST

I'll be going live with the creator of the Lost Children of Andromeda to discuss the topics "Courage & Creativity" -- it'll be a blast, a great forum to dive more into the background of why Apeiros even exists and what all goes into the creation of not just this series but overall creative philosophies. Hope you to see you join us!

Pre-order Volume 1

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What’s New

Kickstarter

• All international orders for shipping have gone out and domestic US are still in-progress for rewards. *the volume 1 manga is still slated for a March/April 2024 release.

• More headway on another chapter, still doing my best to ensure the story and art of Apeiros can be the best it can be with the tools and team available. Promise.

• The special stickers and bookmarks that will be shipping with all physical copies of the book are being developed and shared soon to backers of the campaign before the public.

What’s to Come

• The preview for chapter 1 needs a bit of touch-up on a few things regarding lettering and will be out ASAP once it meets QA.

• Working on a new line of designs for apparel & merch store

• New characters on the way!

• Working on some cool video content

• Some BTS art goodies that are WIP:

  

  

I’ve been using a lot of my down time to really soak in a lot material to translate into Apeiros. Here’s a bit of what I’ve been checking out recently:

What to Read

At the moment I’m reading a lot more physical manga to study the art form, techniques, and foundations of the craft. As well as a few design books:

Manga

• Beserk

• One Punch Man

• Ultraman

• Boruto

• Spy x Family

• Ghost in the Shell

Design books

• Design is Storytelling

• Steve Jobs Biography

What to Watch

I’ve been diving back into cinema pretty hard lately to up my palette when it comes to visual storytelling (blocking, cinematography, color grading, symbolism, foreshadowing, pacing, dialogue, actors’ physicality…etc). It helps translate that into believable sequences I hope you all will come to appreciate.

• Billions (Season 7.. finally it’s here!)

• Oppenheimer

• Prisoners

• Mission Impossible series

• Random Anime

Where to Visit

Currently I’m making my way across a few places in Europe I haven’t been to in a while, visiting the overseas fam. It seems like everyone went to Japan this year. However, the first stop London, has been a great mini escape back into its vibrant multicultural and true nightlife ways.

AMA

8:30a EST on Instagram (Yes, I know it’s early…) I’ll be doing a live Ask Me Anything for a bit. Hope to see you there :)

Leave a comment

Quality in art, storytelling, and general "coolness" are among the top 3 things I keep in mind when creating and looking to collaborate with talent. Greatness takes time.

And with that, here's the first look at the redesigned (more official) retail covers that will ship. If you’re a backer on the campaign:

Make sure to check out your inbox/kickstarter account for the full backer only update on what else is on the way!

The full reveal will be going out on social media tomorrow :)

However, scroll to the bottom for a teaser!

I'm super thrilled to show these official retail covers with the help of Sibusiso Fanti of Amateur Human. I've been a fan of his work for years and a definite inspiration on some of the visual identity I've crafted for Apeiros. There’s still some edits in the works, but you all get first look at the retail editions.

Cover 1 (Standard Retail & Kickstarter)

Cover 2 (Alternative & Kickstarter Only)

Cover 3 (Alternative & Kickstarter Only)

Backer Reward Teaser

If you backed the campaign, you got the full preview of this backer reward print :)

What’s next?

• Rewards for the campaign going out

• Chapter 1 released soon

• New art & merch on the way

• #apeirosworld

• #apeirosworldproject

• #apeirosworldodyssey

• #afrofuturism

• #cyberpunk

Origin Story

Pre-launch

Launch

Post-launch

ORIGIN STORY

This takes place back to early 2022. I just got back from a trip to Europe for over a month and feeling more focused, I knew I needed to move forward on getting the Apeiros World Manga created.

A few things here…

I had no team. I had nowhere near the amount of visual content for this part of the project. I had no main artist for volume 1. I had no clear direction on making a Kickstarter at this point. And I didn’t have my key/core audience1 figured out or what the messaging was to newcomers.

I’ve known all along I’ve had greatness with Apeiros World as an idea and IP (intellectual property), but after having a conversation with a “consultant” they mentioned why not a Kickstarter? I was hesitant because I knew from prior experience that in order for ANY Kickstarter to be successful you need to pre-build an audience.

Let me repeat…

If you want to have a successful Kickstarter you need to pre-build your audience at least 3 months prior to launch. Ideally, for the best scenario, 6 months to a year if you’re a solo creator. This includes a marketing funnel: Initial touch point (via paid ad or in person event > send to email list capture > nurture via valuable emails > ask for pre-sale sign up at early discount/nominal deposit, make it exclusive and special for their trust > and then freaking deliver!

As a Writer/Creative Director, our biggest limitation is not being able to bring our visual ideas to life via our own volitions. We need illustrators or designers to help us, whereas visual artists might get by with crappy writing if they’re not strong in that arena; they can at least do everything 100% themselves —I owe it to everyone who's helped so far on getting to this point.

Pre-Launch

The lionshare of the work will need to be done in the pre-launch phase, it’s often the most ugly, rewarding, and semi-annoying part of the crowdfunding process because of 3 reasons:

1. It’s A LOT of guesswork and discovery. When it comes to figuring out numbers and the messaging. Simply put… it just takes time to test and gather data

2. Logistics. This part is 90/10 logistics (business) to creative (the fun stuff)

3. What you fail to do here, makes it harder in the end

Here’s a not-so-short list of things to keep in mind during pre-launch:

• Design & Dev - start gathering video and ad assets, campaign page details and rewards, pitch video

• Think as CEO, not a fan - You're building a business, not merely catering to your inner fandom. The idea needs to showcase value, but also be sexy enough to get people interested. So understand your unit economics here and plan accordingly

• Think as your buyer - Be clear and concise, not clever when it comes to writing adcopy/content. Also… read this

• Ads & ad testing2 - a nominal budget of $100 should be easy enough to maintain monthly, or $20 per ad set when running Meta ads

• Audience building - it’s all about presales, ask for a small upfront deposit for a later discount via email capture3

• Messaging - keep it focused to: why, how, and what in your positioning of product

• Economics and financing - know your costs, revenue, profit, cogs/unit economics

• Consultants - crowdfunding management, seek good advice4

• Marketing funnel & presales - remember, it takes 7 touch points before a person buys your product/service

Launch

Congrats! Hopefully you were able to put in place everything mentioned previously… but now.

The real work is here. Luckily, this should be the fun part of the process and know that you’re halfway done, but you still need to double down on driving new and unpledged/non-purchasers to your Kickstarter.

A few quick ways:

• Ads and optimization, scaling - simply put, you should have discovered which ad creatives and copy are driving the most engagement. Now you just need to add more budget

• Communication - Talk. TO. EVERYONE. If it’s email/social media communication, having a predictable posting schedule is best

• PR and outreach - This is something to do in pre-launch, but if it’s something you couldn’t get to, then leverage writing a press release, blog sites, or podcasts. Anywhere that will let you share your story

• Leveraging partnerships - Find value and product aligned creators/brands that you have a good repertoire with and seek ways to create some synergy. Maybe offer a product of yours as a reward/upsell

• Feedback - at every stage of the game you should be leveraging feedback (why did you purchase, what did/didn’t you like, if you had it your way..etc) there’s tons of UX feedback and survey questions you can find online to help send people to a quick 5 question survey (think Chick-fil-a here)

Post-Launch (To Be Continued… つづく )

• Backer survey

• Feedback & reviews

• Fulfillment

• It’s bigger than comics or art….

Updates on Cons

The Apeiros World Project was accepted as a vendor at two upcoming conventions. If you’re in Philadelphia or Charlotte. Come say hey, details below.

Thy Geekdom

• Located at The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center

• May 26th -28th

• Books, prints, stickers, and exclusive merch will be sold

• Great conversations with the creator

Heroes Con

• Located at The Charlotte Convention Center

• June 16-18th

• Books, prints, stickers, and more special convention merch will be sold

• Even more, great conversations with the creator of Apeiros :)

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Once again I’m so thankful for the support of The Apeiros World Project Kickstarter. This has been quite an “Odyssey” of its own since putting things in motion a little more than a year ago.

We’re sitting around 110% funded to goal, but there’s still opportunity to reach the stretch goals.

With that being said, if you forgot or hadn’t gotten a chance to back the Kickstarter, now is your opportunity to do so below:

I Want To Back

Once the campaign has been completed there’ll be a plethora of updates (by plethora, a total of 3) on what the expectations are going forward until expected ETA of Volume 1 in Mar-April 2024.

Update 1

Backer Surveys and campaign final update

Update 2

Special news and ETA of when the first reward tiers will be sent out

Update 3

Updates on development, fulfillment, and continual monthly/key updates (both via newsletter and Kickstarter backer updates)

Thanks again for all your support!

BONUS NEWS

Recently this week Apeiros World was accepted to be a vendor at Thy Geekdom convention in Philadelphia May 26-28th at the Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA.

At the convention you’ll get a chance to interact with the creator (moi) as well as purchase some cool Apeiros merch and swag, as well as discuss all things creatively about the project among other things!

More details will be shared as it gets closer to the comic con.

Looking forward to seeing you this May, so don’t forget to mark your calendars if you’re able to make it!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT, COULDN’T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU.

NOW, ON TO THE STRETCH GOALS…

If you’d still like to support, click here. There’s still 15 days to go!

Yesterday on the 28th, Apeiros World Odyssey launched on Kickstarter and within 24hrs…

And we’re over 50% funded of our initial campaign goal!!!

But we still need your help!

What this means

This means we’ve earned the official “Projects We Love” status from Kickstarter, which confers authenticity and popularity of a campaign. It’s not easy to earn.

With that being said, we still have a huge milestone stone ahead of us getting to 100% funded and even the stretch goals for everyone to enjoy in the additional rewards this campaign has to offer!

So there’s still plenty of time (29 days) to pledge and get the early backer discounts. However, pledging now has its benefits outside of the financial commitment. Keep reading to learn.

3 Quick facts about Kickstarter

1. No funds are withdrawn or on hold until the end of a successful campaign. So there’s no immediate financial hit if you want to support this campaign, but need to budget. There’s plenty of time.

2. Pledging early or on day 1 or 2 helps SIGNIFICANTLY in regards to elevating the visibility of the campaign and Kickstarter’s algorithm. This is vitally important because it’s almost a certain guarantee the project will be a success if pledged early; newcomers see the buy-in of a project and want in!

3. SHARE SHARE SHARE, oh and SHARE! Sharing is caring… especially when it comes to Kickstarter, more eyeballs the better. So resharing the link, asking/posting questions or messages of support, tagging, etc. It goes a long way in validating the blood sweat and tears may individuals have poured into a project, especially one that is Apeiros World.

Today’s the last day for the early backers discount on the standard copy of Volume 1. So act fast!

Pledge Now

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Thank you

~D