$10
28
claimed
PDF book
One PDF copy of Moistly Harmless
$25
223
claimed
Book
One softcover copy of the book. Includes a PDF copy.
$5
71
claimed
Mini print
4x6 print. Scroll down to MINI PRINTS section below to see in greater detail. Let us know your selec...
$50
8 / 15
claimed
Digital avatar commission
A digital avatar for use on social media, drawn especially for you by author and artist Ethan Kocak....
$175
3 / 5
claimed
Book + portrait commission
One softcover copy of the book, plus one custom portrait commission, drawn especially for you by aut...
$15
19
claimed
Fire Belly Newt Pin
1.5" soft enamel pin designed by Ethan Kocak
$15
12
claimed
Mudpuppy Pin
1.5" soft enamel pin designed by Ethan Kocak
$40
12
claimed
Book + Pin
One softcover copy of the book + one 1.5" soft enamel pin. Includes a PDF copy of the book. If you'd...
$50
9
claimed
Book + Both Pins
One softcover copy of the book + both 1.5" soft enamel pins. Includes a PDF copy of the book.
$25
13
claimed
Mug
One "Taricha extra-sleepy time tea" stainless steel mug + a 2-oz tea sample by Traveller Tea Shop
$50
3
claimed
Book + Mug
One softcover copy of the book + one "Taricha extra-sleepy time tea" stainless steel mug and 2-oz te...
$70
4
claimed
Book + Mug + Both Pins
One softcover copy of the book + one "Taricha extra-sleepy time tea" stainless steel mug and 2-oz te...
$1
251
claimed
Tip Jar
We appreciate salamanders, and also you! Add a little something extra for us hard workin' creators a...
$10
13
claimed
Additional critter for avatar or portrait commission
Only available for backers of digital avatar or portrait commission tiers. Limit 2 per digital avata...
$3
8
claimed
Digital cross-stitch pattern
Digital pattern for "Cute as a Newt" cross-stitch designed by artist Arielle Milstein-Brennan
$10
14 / 50
claimed
DIY cross-stitch kit
DIY kit for "Cute as a Newt" cross-stitch designed by artist Arielle Milstein-Brennan. Includes 3-in...
$17
20
claimed
Does it Fart?
Hardcover book
$16
20
claimed
Believe it or Snot
Hardcover book
$16
21
claimed
True or Poo
Hardcover book
My name is Ethan Kocak. I’m best known professionally for illustrating the NYT bestselling science comedy book “DOES IT FART?” as well as the webcomic “Black Mudpuppy.” I’m also a huge nerd obsessed with newts and salamanders and have been observing, keeping and breeding them for something like 30 years now. And that is why I want to make this book.
“MOISTLY HARMLESS” is a book I’ve had in my head for a long time; part field guide, part memoir, and all about my favorite subject. I want to cover how you can look for and find salamanders in the wild, why they need protection now more than ever and how best to care for captive specimens. But I want to do this book my way, which means with humor and in comic book format. This will be something unique and fun but also packed full of accurate, up to date scientific information.
And also lots of silly cartoons.
Ethan Kocak is a cartoonist, illustrator and herpetoculturist. He is most known for Does It Fart? which was an international and NYT best seller. He is cohost of the herpetology podcast Squamates, creator of the webcomic Black Mudpuppy and Punch Everyone. While his career is drawing cartoons, his hobby has been keeping and breeding reptiles and amphibians for the last 30 years, especially salamanders.
Arras Wiedorn (Owner, Endangered Art Books) has a passion for bringing science and beauty to the world. In 2015 she published the collaborative art book Losing Altitude, highlighting endangered birds from around the world, and recently completed her master’s degree (MSc Biology, TAMUCC 2021). She is thrilled to be helping Ethan bring some love to amphibians through Moistly Harmless.
The book will feature guest art from scientific illustrator and paleoartist Gabriel Ugueto (@SerpenIllus) and comic artists Jessi Sheron (@JessiSheron, creator of The Sea In You), Jon Rosenberg (@JonRosenberg, creator of Scenes From A Multiverse), Rosemary Mosco (@RosemaryMosco, creator of Bird and Moon Comics), and Abby Howard (@AbbyHoward, creator of The Last Halloween and co-founder of Black Tabby Games)
Taricha “extra-sleepy time” tea blended by Traveller Tea Shop (@TravellerTea)
“Cute as a Newt” cross stitch designed by artist Arielle Milstein-Brennan (@arielleishere)
“Ethan is like the They Might Be Giants of webcomics.”
- Jessi Sheron, Creator of The Sea in You, Iron Circus Comics
"You wouldn't think it's possible to build a viable brand around salamanders. You'd be right, but Ethan comes close."
- K.B. Spangler, Author
If you don’t love newts already, buy this book. If you do love newts already, DEFINITELY buy this book. There is no greater champion of the humble salamander than Kocak.
- Ursula Vernon, Author of Dragonbreath
"I don't know what pull quotes are..."
- Josh Grosvent, The Show KROCK CNY
$12,500 - Upgrade the book to be in beautiful full color (the initial goal funds a black and white book)
$13,000 - One pin design (fire belly newt)
$14,000 - Taricha “extra sleepy-time tea” mug and tea sample
$14,500 - Second pin design (mudpuppy)
The book is currently about 50% written and thumbnailed. The main writing pieces that need to be finished are research-related and need to be checked for scientific accuracy. The art will take approximately six months to complete from sketches to finalization.
Production times are highly variable at the moment, particularly due to paper shortages, but may take up to several months. We hope to start shipping books around 3-4 months after completion of the art. Other merchandise such as prints, pins, and mugs will go into production right away after the campaign, and so orders without physical copies of Moistly Harmless may ship sooner.
Yes! We encourage you to get more than 1 item! That could be multiple copies of the same reward, or you can mix and match rewards! There is no limit, unless otherwise stated in the reward description.
Our campaigns are for a worldwide audience unless stated otherwise in the campaign. All international orders are sold with the terms DAP (Delivered At Place). You are responsible for any duties and taxes required for the shipment's entry into your country. Our carriers may require you to pay taxes and fees related to importation and customs brokerage of your shipment -- but if your item is really low in value, it may fall under the customs de minimis of most countries. For more information, please contact USPS
Zoop does not store or keep your credit card info. Stripe simply holds the credit card info until the end of a successful campaign and then charges it. It is strictly for this one time use and won't charge it ever again.
You can either access the transaction through your account and click the cancel button, or contact us at hello@wearezoop.com and we'll cancel it for you and send back a confirmation email.
Cancellations of rewards or add-ons of $500 or more must be made before there are 72 hours left in the campaign. The reason for this is it can have a negative effect on the tally of the campaign. If it is a limited reward or add-on, there may not be sufficient time for someone else to purchase it, leaving the campaign possibly not funded. We ask for your courtesy of the people running the campaign when making these decisions.
Please use the notes section in the last checkout step or you could e-mail us at hello@wearezoop.com with that info during the campaign if you'd like to get it out of the way. Otherwise, we'll be reaching out to all supporters of rewards that require feedback shortly after the campaign is over.
If you want to make changes, you should first cancel your original order and then start over with a new one. If you don't do that and simply process an additional order, the way our system is currently set up you may end up being overcharged for shipping -- which we could remedy for you, but it just takes that extra step of catching it and crediting you back the extra shipping, so please try the prior way first.
Rewards are the priority items that the creators have chosen for the campaign. Add-Ons are meant to be secondary items that are 'unlocked' after you buy something from the Reward level. There are no restrictions on buying Rewards, but you can only buy Add-Ons if you've bought a Reward. Zoop sets this up under the direction of the creators. Some may choose to only have Rewards, some may choose an even balance of Rewards and Add-Ons, and others may choose to only have one or two Rewards with the rest of the items being Add-Ons.
Since we have an a la carte rewards system, shipping rates will vary from supporter to supporter. We use a weight-based calculation system in your checkout cart, though, so, after you enter your country, you'll be able to see it calculated in real time with each item you add.
No - this is it! We're essentially your in-campaign pledge manager. If you are interested in supporting these creators, this is the time to do it! And it's the exact reason we allow you to purchase as many rewards as you want during the campaign!