Minicomics unite to create the New York Working Cartoon Library

Several comic artists from the fanzine world have launched a GoFundMe to create the New York Working Cartoon Library, a community space in New York for comic creators and readers. The project aims to house books from throughout comic history, including superheroes and manga, and will offer a shared workspace, signings, readings, art exhibitions, and an online archive of self-published works. The goal is to raise $100,000, which will be refunded if not reached by May 2027.

crowded New York comic studio interior, multiple cartoonists drawing at shared wooden tables, stacks of zines and graphic novels on shelves, a laptop displaying a GoFundMe page with progress bar, a person scanning a handmade comic into a digital archive station, bright overhead lights illuminating a collaborative workspace, posters of superhero and manga characters on brick walls, cinematic photorealistic style, warm amber and cool blue lighting contrast, detailed ink pens and drawing tablets on desks, motion blur of hands flipping through pages, community energy visible in the scene

Digital Archive and Shared Workspace 📚

The library plans an online archive system for self-published works, with open access and categorization by author, genre, and year. The physical space will include drawing tables, high-resolution scanners, and a projection room for presentations. The venue design, in a central Manhattan neighborhood, prioritizes accessibility with mobile shelving and reading areas with adjustable lighting. The technical team has already developed a database prototype that allows searches by keywords and collaborative tags.

The Library That Promises to Give You Your Money Back If They Don't Open It 💸

For $100,000, the organizers offer everything from a membership card to a private party with the founders. But watch out: if they don't reach the goal by May 2027, they'll refund your money. So basically, you lend them your money for free for a couple of years, and they keep the interest. A bargain for anyone who wants to feel like a patron without risking more than inflation.