Lifeline Comics' February 2026 - April 2026 Solicits
Women's Sports, Afterlife Horror, Con-Exclusives, and so much more! Find out what Lifeline Comics has in store for the next few months!
Hello Lifeline Comics Readers!
We’re excited to announce our Kickstarter Comic Solicits for the next three months! Find out what exciting projects we have in store AND get a chance to Follow the Pre-Launch Pages for our upcoming releases early!
After that, we’ll hear directly from the team behind Deathline’s latest hit — Sink Your Teeth In — about the making of this hot new Supernatural comic and what makes their Chicago Noir Vampires unique!
We’ll also talk about our experiences at a women’s hockey game, a Rob Thomas concert, a 30 Rock trivia night, and share our opinions on The Housemaid, Taxi Driver, and more!
Let’s dive in!
Feb. - Apr. 2026 Solicits: Our 3-Month Kickstarter Slate
Kat: We may not have an FOC, but we still find it important to let our readers know what’s coming up next from Lifeline Comics on Kickstarter.
If you’d like to Follow our upcoming Project Pre-Launch Pages in bulk, we’re giving a rundown of what’s to come up until April.
Phil: Note that most of the “further out” projects will have temporary placeholder Thumbnails and Descriptions that will be replaced as we get closer to release!
The Little Mermaid & The Pirate Queen #1-2 - A Sapphic Adventure
LAUNCHING: February 2nd, 2026
Writers: Kat Calamia & Phil Falco
Artist: Rafi de Sousa
Colorist: Maru Davalos
“The Pirate Queen is revealed to be the SEA WITCH’S DAUGHTER! Can she and Aria survive Sirens, Sailors, and Sea Monsters? SWEET & SPICY!”
Emerald City Comic Con 2026 Variant Cover
LAUNCHING: February 16th, 2026
Writers: Kat Calamia & Phil Falco
Cover Artist: Moy R. Marco
“Ozma takes on Emerald City AND Emerald City Comic Con in our ECCC 2026-Exclusive Lenticular Variant! Art by: Moy R. Marco”
Nightmare in Wonderland #1-4 - A Sapphic Reality TV Finale!
LAUNCHING: March 2nd, 2026
Writers: Kat Calamia & Phil Falco
Artist: Rina Mata
“Assassin Alice and Sleeping Beauty are transported to your favorite reality TV shows as they try to escape the Queen of Hearts’ casino.”
The Little Mermaid #1 - C2E2 2026 Lenticular Cover
LAUNCHING: March 9th, 2026
Writers: Kat Calamia & Phil Falco
Artist: Rafi de Sousa
Cover Artist: Madamka
“The Little Mermaid & The Pirate Queen takes on CHICAGO in our C2E2-Exclusive Lenticular Cover! Featuring cover art by Madamka”
PROJECT AFTERLIFE: Unannounced Deathline Anthology
LAUNCHING: March 16th, 2026
Editor: Michele Abounader
Contributors: TBA
“TBA. An upcoming Comic Anthology from Deathline and Michele Abounader. Details coming soon.”
LGBTQIA+ Enamel Pins: Butch, Men-Loving-Men, & Poly
LAUNCHING: March 23rd, 2026
Artist: Maru Davalos
“LGBTQIA+ Enamel Pins - Butch, Men-Loving-Men, & Poly words and animals.”
A Women’s Sports Comic Book Anthology
LAUNCHING: March 30th, 2026
Creators: Kat Calamia & Phil Falco
“Basketball, Softball, Track, Ice Skating, Wrestling, and so much more. Celebrate women’s sports by a Ringo Award-winning publisher. “
“Slice of Life” Season 2 - Queer WEBTOON with an Anime Twist
LAUNCHING: April 13th, 2026
Writers: Kat Calamia & Phil Falco
Artist: Valeria Peri
“Cheerleader Lucy has been crushing on an Anime-character-come-to-life. See her finally get the girl. Season 2 Graphic Novel Collection!”
Malloch the Damned #2
LAUNCHING: April 27th, 2026
Writer: David M. Booher
Artist: Winston Gambro
“Satan’s Gay Son returns for a new issue! Details coming soon!”
Lifeline Loyalty Program 2026
A reminder that the more projects you support (for $5 or more) throughout 2026, the more FREE Loyalty Program Rewards you’ll qualify for at the end of the year!
We recommend following the Pre-Launch Pages for all of the projects you’re interested in, so you don’t forget to back and qualify for the Loyalty Program!
How “Sink Your Teeth In” came to be!
“An undead PI hunts a missing vamp, facing ancient Mob Families, corrupt cops, & a past she buried to survive. Zoe Tunnell/Lauren Knight”
Kat Calamia (Co-Publisher): Sink Your Teeth is a new addition to Lifeline Comics’ imprint - Deathline, where some of our favorite creators in the comic community get to tell their own dark narratives.
Lifeline Comics is no stranger to vampire stories. And there are so many different types of vampire narratives you can tell! And when we read Zoe’s pitch, we knew it was a corner of the mythos we hadn’t tackled yet, and a perfect fit.
Zoe Tunnell (Writer): One of the big pieces of advice you get from writers is to make the books you wish you could read in the world and that is very much SINK YOUR TEETH IN for me. I’ve always been a fan of the classic beaten-up, rock bottom protagonists you find in classic detective stories, and of vampire fiction in general, and thought it was a great little “you’ve got your peanut butter in my chocolate” moment to slap the two together.
Michele Abounader (Editor): Putting the team together happened really organically. Once Zoe was ready to get started, Lauren Knight was on board almost immediately. JP Jordan has worked with Lauren before on colors, so having him join felt right. And then I always ask Jodie Troutman to letter when possible because she brings an artistry to lettering that really elevates the story.
Lauren Knight (Artist): I had just worked with Michele on a story for the Witching Season anthology when she reached out to ask if I wanted to be involved in a ‘Sapphic vampire situation’ book Zoe was writing. Michele definitely knew her audience; she lured me in with those 3 words like Elliot laying a trail of skittles for ET. It’s not as common as it should be to get to work on a mature queer book, so I’m very grateful to be involved.
Tunnell: Lauren Knight is a god damn superstar artist, JP Jordan is one of the best colorists in the business and Jodie Troutman is both a friend and also one of the most increasingly in-demand letterers around. The idea that I would get to make this dream book that’s been kicking around my head for so long with these incredible team of comics crafters who are all just as excited to be involved as I am is unreal.
Abounader: After reading the pitch, I knew that it was a story that would really resonate with the Lifeline Comics’ audience, and it felt like it fit well after Witching Season.
Tunnell: Lifeline was a blessing. Prior to our campaign I pitched SYTI with multiple direct market publishers and had it rejected from every single one. Whether the reason was that it was too Mature, or they felt vampires were overdone, it could never seem to find a home. Then Kat and Phil reached out and everything clicked so perfectly. I can’t imagine another home for the book at this point, it’s just such a perfect fit.
From day 1 on this book, everything has felt really free and harmonious. The whole team works so well together that we have a great open dialogue to cheer each other on, give feedback (make it gayer!!!)… it’s been a really fun experience. And having the support of Kat & Phil at Lifeline to make this story has been incredible, it would not be as authentic to the creator’s vision without their support to do whatever we feel is best for the story.
Tunnell: Our vampires are a fun combo of classic vampires but with a more...modern lens, I suppose? All of the old stand-bys, not being able to be out in the sun, needing blood to survive, can’t enter anyone living’s home without an invitation, etc. but with some fun ways that affects the world around them. For one, Corsica can’t use anything with a touch screen. No blood flow, no pulse, no body heat. Capacitive screens very much like all of those things, so, it’s all old-school analog tech for our gal.
Knight: Visually, I was definitely influenced by American Vampire and Lady Dimitrescu from Resident Evil Village when it came to drawing their monstrous, extended claws and mouths uncomfortably large when snarling. Adeline is our stylish mob boss vampire who runs the show, Aleksander is our wiry muscle, Florence is our REDACTED and Corsica is what happens when you smoosh Jessica Jones and Dylan Dog together and add fangs. I think they all have that familiar vampire trait of being self-serving but the fun is in showing how each of them goes about it and, certainly for Florence and Corsica, the spice is in how they use each other to get what they want.
Knight: Everyone on the team is firing on all cylinders for this. Zoe is great at making a world feel lived in with her writing and because it’s a vampire story, I get to go heavy on the spot blacks. So much of the mood comes from JP’s incredible colour palette choices, then Jodie swooping in with the bloody caption boxes just highlights how the whole team has come together to pull this off.
Phil Falco (Co-Publisher): We knew that Sink Your Teeth In was special from the moment it landed on our desks. With Deathline — and Lifeline Comics in general — we’re always seeking to put the kinds of stories we love out into the world, especially when they’re the stories that traditional publishers aren’t paying enough attention to.
Phrases like “too mature”, “too gay”, and “vampires are oversaturated” aren’t phrases that exist at Lifeline. SYTI is exactly the kind of book that Kat and I would pick up immediately if we saw it on the shelf. So naturally, we had to jump on publishing it and playing a role in making sure that Corsica and co. would get to see the light of day!
Phil: A final reminder that our FANGuary initiative is coming to an end soon.
Any backer who supports all three of our Vampire Comic Projects (with at least two backings being Physical and having some rewards shipped to you) will receive an EXCLUSIVE METAL COVER featuring the leads of all three Vampire series!
This Cover features Exclusive Art by Marco Maraggi and will be printed on actual metal cover stock. You’ll even get to choose which of the three comics you want to place the Metal Cover on top of!
ENDING TONGIHT: The Beast & Snow #1-4
“Can Vampire Snow White and Werewolf Belle survive an encounter with the Evil Queen, now a VAMPIRE/WEREWOLF HYBRID? Final Issue. Mature 18+”
ENDING 2/05: Love at Second Bite #1
“Liam Graves is a CHEERY VAMPIRE. Dean Hikaru is his GLOOMY CLASSMATE with a troubled past. OPPOSITES ATTRACT in this Boy Love romance.”
ENDING 2/19: Sink Your Teeth In #1
“An undead PI hunts a missing vamp, facing ancient Mob Families, corrupt cops, & a past she buried to survive. Written by Zoe Tunnell, Art by Lauren Knight”
What Have We Been Up To?
Let’s talk about some of the things we’ve done to keep busy these last couple of weeks!
Women’s Hockey Game: New York Sirens Vs Minnesota Frost
Kat: We’re all hockey high because of Heated Rivalry, aren’t we?
My friend, T, really wanted to get into Women’s hockey following the show, and as a big women’s basketball fan she thought it would be fun to take me and my other sports loving friend to a game.
I’ve never been to a hockey game. So it was fun to see the differences between this sport and other live sporting events I’ve been to. It was also cool to feel like you’re going to something before it becomes “mainstream”.
I really fell in love with the WNBA when everyone else started watching. So the arenas are always packed when you go to games. But the New York Sirens had a cozier environment as the crowd made “siren” noises and it seemed like all the regulars truly knew each other. Excited to see where the fandom goes a few years down the line!
Rob Thomas Concert
Phil: My husband, Julius, is a HUGE fan of Rob Thomas. So when we heard he’d be performing at a one-night charity concert in Atlantic City, we knew we had to make the trip down!
Believe it or not, this was probably my first “real” concert. I’ve been to small cover bands and small outdoor concerts before. But this is definitely the most “concert” concert I’ve attended.
We all had a lot of fun! Rob Thomas does a great job of playing a mix of his (and Matchbox Twenty’s) big hits as well as some of the lesser-known tracks. We even left the theater with some “new old” favorites (SNOWBLIND!)
A trip to Atlantic City also meant we got to visit our favorite slot machine: Queenie! She never fails to make us laugh as we debate where her crown/hat ends and her hair begins and watch her blow kisses as she steals our money.
We’ve had many a laugh in front of this machine while plotting Queen of Hearts/Casino elements from our Nightmare in Wonderland series.
Kat: Julius and I have a shared love for Rob Thomas. He’s a big fan of his solo career, and I really loved Matchbox Twenty growing up. So put us together and we’re the ultimate fan.
Rob mixed in his hits with his lesser-known B-sides creating a solid show. But what made the night really special was his storytelling. I learned a lot more about him as a person through the meanings of his songs.
30 Rock Trivia Night (Take 2!)
Phil: Long-time readers of this newsletter probably already know that NBC’s 30 Rock is my favorite TV show of all time. It’s pretty much constantly playing in my home. And one of the favorite pastimes amongst my siblings and our friend, T, is to challenge one another with “30 Rock Pop Quizzes”.
We did 30 Rock trivia night once before back in July of 2025 where we were shocked to have placed third amongst five teams. Given how often we talk about and watch 30 Rock, we simply couldn’t let that stand. So I donned by TGH Hoodie and CHUMS shirt, and we made our way back to Manhattan for another round of trivia!
My brother, Dan, joined the team this time alongside myself, our sister Marianne, and our friend T. We’ve been hardcore studying 30 Rock for the last few weeks in anticipation of this night.
The three Falco siblings rocked all the 30 Rock apparel we had (Marianne with her “The Problem” shirt, Dan with his Frajer shirt, and all three of us sporting our custom TGS Hoodies).
The Trivia night was once again hosted by TriviaAD, who put on a fantastic event with some real head-scratcher questions even for 30 Rock experts like ourselves.
There were five rounds of trivia (each “themed” in some way) and a total of six teams in competition (one more than the last time we went). Our team, the Six Sigmas (see S3e9 “Retreat to Move Forward), were determined to at least place in second this time…did we succeed?
All that studying paid off because Six Sigmas walked away with FIRST PLACE this time! Once again, there was some incredibly tough competition — with our victory only secured by a two-point lead (62 versus 60).
We had an absolute blast. There’s nothing quite like a room full of super fans all laughing at the same questions and jokes. I have a feeling we’ll find ourselves back for another trivia night soon!
Media
Let’s discuss some non-comics media!
The Housemaid
Phil: It’s been a little while since pure “word-of-mouth” has made me go see a movie. We usually know what’s been eagerly anticipated or favorably received by the time a film releases. But The Housemaid dropped back in late 2025 and has had strong word-of-mouth ever since its release that eventually made us go and catch it before it left theaters. And I sure am glad that I did!
The Housemaid really thrives on Amanda Seyfried’s performance. We see so many different sides of her Nina character, and Seyfried knocks every single one of them out of the park. She’s funny, scary, sympathetic, unhinged, and calculated — all in the same movie.
Brandon Sklenar brings a similar multi-faceted performance to his role as Andrew. And while not as “film-making” as Seyfried’s, he also does a very good job delivering a lot of different sides to the same character. Sydney Sweeney’s performance as Millie is the least exciting of the three leads, but she is still fun to watch in the scenes where she gets to chew scenery as the film progresses.
The plot of The Housemaid is a little…wonky. But I think that’s part of the fun. Not all of the internal logic tracks, not all of the characters behave like real people. But it’s all in a “classic horror movie”, “why aren’t they leaving the house”, “how could they possibly have known their incredibly complicated plan would work out exactly as they imagined” sort of way. It kitschy, charming, and funny — as long as you’re willing to go along for the ride and have fun with it.
Kat: A good movie doesn’t have to be profound. It can just be a fun time at the theater, and that’s exactly what The Housemaid delivers. All the actors are on the same page about what type of movie this exactly is, and Amanda Seyfried especially sells the theatrics.
I was pleasantly surprised by this categorically “silly movie” finding some solid themes about feminism along the way. But my HUGE nitpick is that this kitschy soap opera is WAY too long for what it is. It takes a solid 40 minutes to an hour to get to the really juicy parts. There are key plot points that are revealed at the halfway point that would have played stronger if they hadn’t been saved as a “twist”.
You may be losing time to see The Housemaid at your local theater, but once it hits streaming you should plan a night with your besties - it’ll be a hoot.
Taxi Driver (1976)
Kat: Over a decade ago, I was sitting in a writing class in New York City (my hometown) and one of my professors said that there’s no city like New York because there’s no city that’s a better chameleon.
And all these years later - I’ve never been able to shake that idea. Sex and the City, The Sopranos - I mean, even Mary-Kate and Ashley’s New York Minute has its own take on the city. Time period, tone - setting - there’s something about setting that can drastically change the meaning of a story.
The 70’s was notoriously a very different New York City than when I grew up in the Early 2000s. Taxi Driver shows the dichotomy of that time period. High-end politicians that are “just like us”. They even ride taxis, that’s how you know they are one of the people. While Travis Bickle is actually a New Yorker. A lead, who is forced to observe, but hesitates to act (because taxi drivers are invisible, of course). Until one day Bickle decides he wants to be the hero.
Hero is a strong world because Bickle is a…weird man. He takes his dates to dirty movies, and he’s a bit of a stalker. But there’s something about his twisted want for a better world that makes this bad person…likable.
How does a guy end up like this? Can violence actually create a better world? Scorsese and De Niro do a beautiful job at presenting these questions, but leaving enough room for the audience to fill in the blanks, which is one of the many reasons why a 50-year-old movie is still talked about at such lengths. It’s a stylish action movie that with every step is so excessively planned, yet never spoon-fed. It’s a beautiful balance that so few have been able to master.
Taxi Driver is a vivid portrait of its post-Vietnam War backdrop. A man who can be surrounded by so many people, but feel the empty void of loneliness. And I guess that’s one theme that stays true in many depictions of New York City. There are millions of people who you call a neighbor - but you still put your airpods in heading to the subway, you pretend that the things around you are normal - that the loud sounds don’t bother you. You ignore them because YOU’RE A NEW YORKER, and you’ve seen it all.
Hell’s Kitchen (Season 24)
Minor Spoilers
Kat: Hell’s Kitchen Season 24 goes back to basics as one of the cattiest seasons we’ve seen in YEARS. Many OG fans enjoyed the return to form, but this Hell’s Kitchen addict felt a bit more torn. Now, don’t get me wrong I love a good villain, but there were so many villains it was hard to find a fan-favorite within the cast. Even the early “stand out”, Jada, played mean girls with ringleader, Anaiya a bit too much for me to ever root for her.
But there was a true “winner” this season - for the first time in over twenty years the black jackets were all girls. At least one person each season wishes for their whole team to move onto the finals, which is pretty unrealistic. But this time the red team finally won! In a season where, surprisingly, the boys were pretty in-sync and never problematic…but also didn’t truly stand out.
By the end, just like every season of Hell’s Kitchen, I had a fun time watching, but it’s by far one of my least favorite seasons because of its unbalanced cast.
Comics
Let’s discuss some comics we’ve enjoyed recently!
As usual, we’ll spotlight an Indie Book, a DC/Marvel book, a Webcomic, and a Live Kickstarter book!
Indie Comic: Mary Sue (BOOM! Studios)
Kat: Meghan Fitzmartin and Lisa Sterle’s Mary Sue explores fandom through a fantastical lens. What if that fanfic you were super proud of came to life and your OC was running your day-to-day better than you could? It’s a surprisingly grounded narrative as the creative team uses this high-concept to tell a deeper story about our lead’s relationships with the people around her. Mary Sue is a fun, light book that will surely bulk up your pull list.
Marvel: Fantastic Four
Kat: I’ve always been torn by the idea of Marvel’s relaunches with the same creative team, but this newest volume of Fantastic Four shows that sometimes a new #1 is what helps push readers to an already great book.
I had been hearing rumblings about Ryan North and Humberto Ramos’ run, but with so many issues and a universe wide event attached - it never felt like the right time to jump on.
With this newest relaunch, I could not be happier with North and Ramos’ take on the characters. The series has a Silver Age feel with every issue having its own story as it builds towards a bigger narrative in the background. I also appreciate how much spotlight they are giving Sue Storm as modern comics are realizing that she’s the true leader of the team.
Don’t be hesitant by the number of issues in the overall run. In true Stan Lee fashion, Fantastic Four is an easy book to jump onto at any point.
Webcomic: Sea Dragoness (GL)
“Luusha, a seemingly naive young woman, is about to be sacrificed to the forever-hungry Sea Dragoness. But nobody is aware that Luusha is not an easy target...”
Phil: A Monster Romance GL webcomic about a human-eating Sea Dragoness who was bound to a valley by a witch centuries ago. Now, the Dragoness can only feed on the periodic sacrifices of beautiful women from the nearby town.
Enter Luusha, the wise-cracking protagonist of the series who is a lot more capable (and ruthless) than she appears at first glance. Her narration quickly reveals that Luusha is a murderer, a thief, and a skeptic. So when she’s selected as the latest sacrifice to the Sea Dragoness, she’s…less than concerned.
Sea Dragoness is particularly charming in its humor. Like most Webtoons, the comic has a lot of comedy. But the jokes and tone are snarkier and smarmier than we typically see from webcomics. The characters are all a bit more world-weary and sarcastic. It’s a refreshingly different type of comedy, if you read a lot of webcomics.
The “lore” of the series is also fun, with just the right amount of time spent so far balanced between establishing the mythos and actually sitting with the characters. There’s already some serious flirting going on between our leads, so I’m excited to see where the series goes as the core romance continues to unfold (and the Sea Dragoness gets more opportunities to eat her love interest).
Kickstarter: Summit: Pinnacle #1
“The foundation of the Summit Universe begins now!”
Phil: If you’re in the Indie Comic space, you’ve maybe already heard mention of the new Summit Comics already. A collective of indie creators who have united to form a new superhero shared universe — seeking to recreate the collaborative, creator-owned foundations of Marvel and DC in the modern day.
Pinnacle is the debut 120-page anthology that introduces the universe and its characters — both heroes and villains. It’s a great way to start a universe — giving us a taste of the many different characters across their various spaces (whether they be street-level bruisers, magic-based, or classic superheroic) with the opportunity to branch out thereafter into more anthologies, solo titles, or team books.
With nearly twenty creatives behind Summit, we love seeing a coalition like this pop up in the indie space. The creativity and variety offered looks incredibly promising, and there’s nothing that brings us more joy than seeing indie creators thriving and making each other better. We’re excited to see what the future will bring for Summit and can’t wait to dive into this anthology.
Support “Summit: Pinnacle #1” here!
In Closing…
We hope you enjoyed our Kickstarter Solicits! Be sure to Follow the Pre-Launch Pages for the campaigns you’re interested in! It helps us tremendously when promoting campaigns to see higher follow counts!
Be sure to check out our FANGuary Vampire titles — The Beast & Snow #4 (Ends TONIGHT), Love at Second Bite #1 (Ends 2/05), and Sink Your Teeth In #1 (Ends 2/19) — and remember that you qualify for a FREE METAL COVER when you support all three!
Subscribe above for biweekly updates on our future projects!
Buy Lifeline Comics on our Website!
Current Kickstarters (FANGuary):
The Beast & Snow #4 (Ends TONIGHT)
Love at Second Bite #1 (Ends 2/05)
Sink Your Teeth In #1 (Ends 2/19)
Read our Webtoons for FREE:
Slice of Life [GL] (Anime Character x Closeted Cheerleader High School Romance)
Love at Second Bite [BL] (Vampire College Adventure/Romance)
If you like THE HOUSEMAID and you haven't seen Paul Feig's A SIMPLE FAVOR (and its straight to Prime sequel, ANOTHER SIMPLE FAVOR) do yourself a, uh, favor and check them out!
Thanks for the kind words about Summit!