Unearthing the Supernatural: Joe Atalla and Goats Flying Press Launch Kickstarter for Sir Reginald and the Clockwork Heart
From scorching deserts to fathomless oceans, and from sacred temples to ancient graveyards, the global landscape of comic book publishing has welcomed an eccentric new expedition. Goats Flying Press, an independent publisher rooted in Brooklyn, New York, has officially launched its crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter for Sir Reginald and the Clockwork Heart. The 96-page, full-color, hardcover graphic novel anthology compiles five interconnected supernatural pulp adventures. Marking the writing debut of cartoonist Joe Atalla, the project unites an all-star roster of comic book talent to bring a globe-trotting, tomb-raiding skeleton gentleman and his loyal spectral butler to life.
Main Facts and Project Overview
Sir Reginald and the Clockwork Heart centers on the titular protagonist, Sir Reginald—an extraordinarily sharp-minded man of science who happens to be a skeleton—alongside his nervous, cautious, and fiercely loyal ghost butler, Mr. Spittle. Together, the duo embarks on a series of expeditions across the globe, recovering mysterious artifacts to add to Reginald’s expanding collection. However, these excursions serve a deeper purpose, setting up an overarching mystery concerning a secret project hidden within Reginald’s private workshop.
The hardcover anthology is structured around five interconnected tales that build toward a larger narrative climax. The creative lineup features a blend of acclaimed industry veterans and indie sensations:
- Writer: Joe Atalla
- Publisher: Sebastian Girner (Goats Flying Press)
- Artists: Eisner Award nominee Juni Ba (The Fables Of Erlking Wood), Eisner and Ignatz Award winner Jesse Lonergan (Drome), illustrator Dimitrios Pantazis (Hello Halloween), and indie creator Armand Bodnar (Frog Knight).
- Colorist: Brad Simpson (Feral)
- Letterer and Designer: Jeff Powell (Absolute Green Arrow)
The Kickstarter campaign offers backers a variety of tiers and stretch goals, ranging from digital and physical copies of the hardcover book to exclusive prints, sketch cards, and original commission artwork. Early physical tier backers are also slated to receive a special promotional item, encouraging early participation through the platform’s pre-launch notification system.
Background Context and Chronology
The genesis of Sir Reginald traces back to an October drawing challenge, during which Joe Atalla conceived the character as a quick seasonal concept. Capitalizing on the timing of "spooky season," Atalla strung a series of illustrations together to form a cohesive narrative framework. Influenced by supernatural pulp traditions and the structural and aesthetic brilliance of Mike Mignola’s The Amazing Screw-On Head, Atalla sought to craft a zany yet grounded adventure.
Atalla’s professional background as an architect and award-winning home design specialist provided a unique foundation for his transition into comic book writing. Applying the structural rigor, planning, and meticulous research characteristic of architecture, Atalla studied historical myths and global folklore to anchor the supernatural elements of the narrative into a plausible historical context.
The project progressed from conceptual sketches to a fully realized anthology through a collaborative editorial process spearheaded by Sebastian Girner, publisher at Goats Flying Press. By assembling a powerhouse team of artists, colorists, and letterers, Atalla transitioned from a solo drawing challenge to orchestrating a multi-creator anthology.
Creative Process and Artistic Collaboration
Bringing a multi-artist anthology to fruition requires a delicate balance of unified vision and individual artistic expression. For Atalla, making his writing debut alongside industry heavyweights like Juni Ba and Jesse Lonergan initially induced apprehension, which quickly gave way to a deeply rewarding collaborative dynamic.
"We were able to assemble such a spectacular group of artists that, honestly, I was a little nervous at first," Atalla noted. "Being in the same book as Juni Ba, Jesse Lonergan, Dimitrios Pantazis, and Armand Bodnar is intimidating. They are all artists whose work I love and deeply respect. Once we started working together, though, it was an amazing collaborative experience."
The contributing artists have expressed mutual enthusiasm for the project, citing its refreshing blend of humor, adventure, and creative freedom. Juni Ba emphasized the communal energy of supporting a newcomer’s vision for the sheer love of making art. Similarly, Jesse Lonergan pointed to the project’s nostalgic nod to the classic pulp adventure stories that defined his childhood background.
Armand Bodnar, who handled the capstone story of the anthology, highlighted the refreshing lack of rigid corporate mandates often found at mainstream publishing houses. "The freedom permitted—allowing each artist to craft their own unique vision for the material and characters—was a welcome respite from the often rigorous demands for continuity and consistency made by less artistically-minded publishers," Bodnar stated.
Dimitrios Pantazis, who illustrated the "Wyrm of Destruction" sequence, echoed these sentiments, describing Sir Reginald and Mr. Spittle as iconic, instantly recognizable figures akin to long-lost friends.
Literary and Cinematic Influences
Sir Reginald and the Clockwork Heart draws heavily from a rich tapestry of literary and cinematic history. Atalla acknowledges a clear debt to the foundational adventure traditions of Jules Verne and H.G. Wells, while channeling the supernatural action found in Mike Mignola’s Hellboy and the globe-trotting escapades of animated classics like DuckTales.
Character-wise, Sir Reginald functions as a distinct homage to Sir Reginald Hargreeves from The Umbrella Academy. Atalla has noted that Colm Feore’s television portrayal of the character heavily informed his mental visualization of the skeleton adventurer.
Structurally, the narrative aims to balance tonal extremes, ensuring that serious, emotionally poignant moments are balanced with lighthearted levity and irreverent humor. This dichotomy is further emphasized through the dynamic between Sir Reginald and Mr. Spittle. While Reginald represents relentless ambition, intellect, and action, Mr. Spittle serves as the cautious moral compass, preventing the protagonist from losing his remaining humanity amidst his obsessive artifact collection.
Publisher Profile and Industry Implications
Goats Flying Press, operating out of Brooklyn, New York, has carved out a distinct niche within the independent comic book ecosystem. Founded by Sebastian Girner, the publisher aims to challenge traditional distribution models by championing creator-owned, crowd-funded projects under the banner of keeping comics wild, vibrant, and artist-driven.
The launch of Sir Reginald and the Clockwork Heart on Kickstarter exemplifies the modern viability of independent publishing models. By leveraging crowdfunding platforms, creators retain intellectual property rights while utilizing direct-to-consumer fulfillment structures that bypass traditional corporate gatekeepers.
The involvement of high-profile Eisner-winning and nominated talent in a crowd-funded independent anthology signals a growing industry shift. Creators are increasingly turning to platforms like Kickstarter not merely as a safety net for untested concepts, but as a premier vehicle for prestige-format, creator-owned storytelling that might otherwise struggle to find a home within traditional, risk-averse corporate publishing schedules.
Broader Impact and Market Outlook
The crowdfunding campaign for Sir Reginald and the Clockwork Heart arrives at a time when hardcover anthology formats are experiencing a robust resurgence among comic book collectors and graphic novel enthusiasts. By packaging interconnected stories by diverse, top-tier illustrators into a single cohesive collector’s item, Goats Flying Press positions the book to appeal to both die-hard aficionados of indie comics and casual readers drawn to accessible, all-ages pulp adventures.
As the campaign progresses on Kickstarter, the broader implications point toward continued strength in independent comic crowdfunding. Projects that successfully merge high production values, established creative talent, and nostalgic genre tropes—such as supernatural pulp—demonstrate a reliable market appetite among direct-support readers.
For Joe Atalla, the project represents a monumental transition from architectural design and a casual drawing challenge to a fully realized, multi-artist graphic novel debut. With the hardcover now available for backing, Sir Reginald and the Clockwork Heart invites audiences worldwide to step aboard the expedition, unravel the mystery of the skeleton adventurer’s hidden workshop, and explore a vibrant, supernatural world built on collaboration and creative freedom.
