Titus Andronicus

Frazer Brown, writer and director of the short film Titus Andronicus, has become a central figure in one of the most controversial crowdfunding failures within the comics community. In 2020, Brown launched a Kickstarter campaign for a charity comic anthology titled Tales from the Quarantine, featuring work from over 400 creators. The campaign raised £37,185 (approximately $47,000 USD at the time), nearly tripling its initial goal of £13,000 (about $16,500 USD). Despite the strong financial support, the project quickly unraveled. Years later, the main reward-the physical hardcover and paperback books-remains undelivered. While some backers received peripheral items like trading cards and posters, the core anthology has yet to ship. A digital version was eventually released, but it was widely criticized for being incomplete, error-laden, and lacking content that had been promised.

Brown's handling of the situation has only intensified criticism. Many backers and contributors who asked for updates were met with hostility-some were blocked on social media, while others reportedly received threats of legal or police action for publicly questioning the project's status. Several creators involved in the anthology described a toxic environment where dissent or concern was met with intimidation. Brown's communication throughout has been inconsistent and evasive, with repeated claims about lost emails and unfulfilled shipping assurances.

The project's charitable promises have also come under scrutiny. Brown stated that a portion of the proceeds would be donated to NHS Charities and The Hero Initiative, yet no public evidence has ever been provided to show that these donations were made. This lack of transparency regarding the approximately $47,000 raised has fueled widespread distrust and frustration among both backers and the broader creative community.

Kickstarter's legal team reportedly conducted an investigation into the campaign, resulting in restrictions being placed on Brown's account. The Tales from the Quarantine debacle has since become a cautionary tale in the world of crowdfunding, underscoring the critical need for accountability, transparency, and respect in creator-led projects.