This Backerkit aims to fund a series of enamel pin set inspired by my webcomic's Planetary Guardian masks. The goal for this funding is to give them a nice extra touch: GLOW IN THE DARK! Where the eyes, symbols, and other extras glow when exposed to darkness, similar to the aforementioned characters' visual quirk.

Each pin will be 1.5-1.75 inches long with screen-printed and glow in the dark features. The pins will have a black nickel plating and have multiple pin backings.

This is my first backerkit project, but I do have experience locally funding personal projects. The comic has 440 pages completed in two self-published volumes that are self-funded as it sells locally in tomes, or sold as smaller chapter books by the US publisher, PanicoPress. Part of the backerkit funding includes access to other acrylic charms, stickers, and books only available in Puerto Rico. And yes, this includes the comic!

I don't sell this version of the books outside of Puerto Rico, so now's the chance to give it a go!

Some pledges will also include a free enamel pin of Bells being comforted and surrounded by acanthus plants, symbolizing the way both characters help each other throughout the story. This is a sunset item.

Check the collaboration segment to find out how to get these free items!

The pins and keychains are sunset items and have limited quantities. 

Every book copy is signed at no extra cost! If you'd like to dedicate the book to someone else or for a location (a school, library, comic den), let me know! 

The webcomic and its aesthetic is inspired by Puerto Rico culture and setting. The monsters are based on cryptids and animals (chupacabra, cuco, gallo de pelea, etc), the setting is similar to a mix of several decades of Puerto Rico (with some liberties), and the guardians are based on masks and (oftentimes) romanticized objects in our culture.

Two of the guardians (Fanud and Ciante) are based on the Vejigante creatures found in two festivals:

Fanud, the guardian of the earth, is inspired by the summer Festival de Santiago Apostol in Loíza (leaning more to its African roots where the masks are made of coconuts and wood). Fanud's body shape is also inspired by a mountain Cemí (Zemi), an ancestor spirit found in several Antillean Indigenous art (oftentimes called Taíno).

Ciante, the guardian of the sky and climate, is inspired by El Carnaval de Vejigantes in Ponce around late winter/early spring (more tied to its Spanish roots where the masks are made of papermaché and have a more dragon-like appearance).

The other two guardians, Bells/Raju (the story's deuteragonist and guardian of young souls) and Syias (guardian of the dead) do have a bit of a jester-like appearance, but have a very subtle inspiration in terms of the symbols in their bodies. Their stomachs have the symbol of the ojo capá, a repeated found in Antillean art. Although its meaning is heavily debated, the story follows the bellybutton interpretation that represents life, whereas missing a navel is the lack of it.

And finally, Dehra, the guardian of nature, and Meynia, the guardian of water, are pretty self-explanatory. With Dehra's ears and tail are inspired by the tropical heliconia plant, and Meynia has aquatic attributes, pretty self-explanatory. The pin design for Meynia, however, has one of the symbols that may represent an aquatic whirlpool, a potential entrance to the land of the dead found in petroglyphs.

Aside from being an artist, I study anthropology and history as a hobby and have taken several courses and conferences from the University of Puerto Rico. Although I'm born, raised, and living in Puerto Rico, I still do my best to handle my own culture as respectfully as possible, understanding that revisionism has played a huge part in our understanding of our own roots. At the end of each volume of the comic, I explain and elaborate the inspirations a little further. Despite all that, the comic uses the culture and setting as the building blocks for its themes more than a 1-to-1 interpretation.

Cosmic Fish has been in the works since 2015, although it has gone through a few hiatuses throughout the years (mostly caused by climate and economic events), it's a project I still want to finish and get back to between work and life. The comic is celebrating it's 10th anniversary this year, and the second edition of volume 1 with updated art was released late last year as part of the celebration.

The story follows the aforementioned monsters, ghosts who have broken out of the life cycle, that have gained their own bodies and are trying to find their origin and purpose before they are hunted down by both guardians and humans alike. Acantha, our protagonist, is a monster exiled by her own kind after an unforgivable crime is committed, and she begins her search for her missing monster friend, Ramus. Slowly uncovering a bigger conspiracy of their origins and their ties to something bigger. Bells, the guardian of children, meets and joins Acantha as she herself is forced to rethink and reconstruct her view of the world.

With the purchase of the pins, you have the option to include the opening story that introduces the guardians as a printed zine. You also get the chance to add and purchase the volumes for a larger experience, covering the first 8 chapters and extra stories along the way.

This is my first Backerkit, as mentioned, but I have self-funded every volume of my comics and other merch locally or through companies I have worked with for years. I'm working with other artists who have previous experience with Backerkit to help me along the way, as well! In short, I have placed several safety nets to ensure this project succeeds!

Other than the pins themselves, every other piece of merch and the comics are already in my hands and ready to ship with your pledges. Books and prints are obtained locally so, if there's a need to print more copies, obtaining them will be doable and speedy. The goal is to make this project as low-risk as possible, and I can prioritize the pins as needed.

Also, as a final note to be extra clear, I do not use AI in any part of the process. This is the compilation of a decade-long project.

As part of Pintopia 2026's campaign, this pin set is part of the Lore and Myth category! Alongside my work, other amazing artists and creators have folklore-themed projects you can mix and match. So, if you support three creators from this category, you'll receive 3 bonus one-inch mini pins as a gift! The one you see on the preview, a crest displaying the symbol of the guardians, is the exclusive one for this collaboration!

If you support Lumpia With A Vengeance's campaign as well, you will get a pin AND a stickersheet!

 
Check out Kid Heroes Productions on their fun film and comics!

I'm also collaborating with Dragon Coop on an exclusive Bitty pin! Back both projects and take this cute festive lil guy home with you!