Frazer Brown, producer of *The Toxic Avenger: The Musical* and host of the podcast series *Frazer Brown in Conversation With...*, has become the central figure in one of the comics industry's most contentious crowdfunding controversies. In 2020, Brown launched a Kickstarter campaign for a charity comic anthology titled *Tales from the Quarantine*, pitched as a global creative collaboration featuring over 400 writers and artists responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign was a financial success, raising £37,185 (approximately \$47,000 USD)-nearly triple its original goal of £13,000 (around \$16,500 USD). Despite that strong backing, the project quickly fell into disarray. Years after its funding, the primary rewards-physical hardcover and paperback editions of the anthology-remain undelivered. While some backers received minor items like trading cards and posters, the main product never materialized. A digital version was eventually released, but it was widely criticized for being incomplete, poorly edited, and missing content that had been originally promised.
Brown's handling of the situation has drawn serious backlash. Numerous backers and contributors who requested updates or accountability were reportedly blocked on social media or threatened with legal and even police action for raising concerns. Several creators involved in the project described a hostile and unprofessional atmosphere, where honest inquiries were met with silence or intimidation. Communication from Brown throughout the campaign has been erratic, marked by repeated excuses such as lost emails and vague promises of impending shipments that never came.
Adding to the controversy is the lack of follow-through on the project's charitable claims. Brown had publicly pledged that a portion of the proceeds would be donated to NHS Charities and The Hero Initiative, but no public evidence has been provided to verify that any donations were ever made. This lack of financial transparency surrounding the nearly \$47,000 raised has deeply eroded trust within the comics and crowdfunding communities.
In response to escalating complaints, Kickstarter's legal department reportedly launched an investigation into the campaign, resulting in restrictions being placed on Brown's account. What began as a high-profile creative effort-bolstered by Brown's credentials as a theater producer tied to cult favorites like *The Toxic Avenger: The Musical*-has instead become a cautionary tale. The failure of *Tales from the Quarantine* underscores the vital need for transparency, accountability, and ethical leadership in creator-led crowdfunding campaigns.
