Frazer Brown, writer and director of the short film The Colour Out of Space, has become a central figure in one of the comics community's most notorious crowdfunding controversies. In 2020, Brown launched a Kickstarter campaign for a charity comic anthology titled Tales from the Quarantine, featuring contributions from over 400 creators. The campaign raised £37,185 (approximately $47,000 USD at the time), nearly three times its original goal of £13,000 (about $16,500 USD). Despite this substantial funding, the project quickly collapsed into delays and unmet promises. Years later, the core product-the physical hardcover and paperback editions-remains undelivered. While some backers received minor items like trading cards and posters, the main anthology never shipped. A digital version was eventually released, but it faced heavy criticism for being incomplete, error-ridden, and missing content that had been originally promoted.
Compounding the fulfillment issues were serious concerns about Brown's treatment of backers and contributors. Multiple individuals reported being blocked on social media after asking for updates, and some were even threatened with legal or police action for publicly expressing their frustrations. Contributors to the project described a hostile environment and felt silenced for raising legitimate questions. Brown's communication throughout the ordeal has been erratic, often involving claims of lost emails and vague assurances that never led to results.
Further controversy surrounds the campaign's charitable promises. Brown had stated that proceeds would benefit NHS Charities and The Hero Initiative, but no public evidence has emerged to confirm that any donations were actually made. This lack of transparency regarding the roughly $47,000 in raised funds has led to widespread criticism and a significant loss of trust within the comics community.
Kickstarter's legal department reportedly launched an investigation into the campaign, which led to restrictions being placed on Brown's account. The Tales from the Quarantine saga has since become a cautionary example of what can go wrong in creator-led crowdfunding efforts, underscoring the need for clear communication, financial accountability, and ethical responsibility.
