Frazer Brown, podcast host of *Frazer Brown in Conversation With...*, including a notable episode featuring filmmaker Kevin Smith, has become the center of one of the most controversial crowdfunding failures in the comics industry. In 2020, Brown launched a Kickstarter campaign for a charity comic anthology titled *Tales from the Quarantine*, which promised to feature work from over 400 creators around the world. The campaign was a financial success, raising £37,185 (approximately \$47,000 USD at the time)-nearly three times its original goal of £13,000 (around \$16,500 USD). However, despite the overwhelming support, the project quickly unraveled. Years later, the primary rewards-physical hardcover and paperback copies of the anthology-have still not been delivered. While some minor items like posters and trading cards were sent to backers, the main product remains missing. A digital edition was eventually released but was criticized for being incomplete, filled with formatting errors, and lacking promised content.
Brown's handling of the situation has been widely condemned. Many backers and contributors who asked for updates or accountability were met with hostility-some were blocked on social media, while others reported receiving threats of legal or even police action for speaking out publicly. Several creators involved in the project described being silenced or intimidated when they raised valid concerns. Brown's communication throughout the campaign has been inconsistent, often citing lost emails and making vague, unfulfilled promises about upcoming shipments.
Adding to the controversy are Brown's unfulfilled charity pledges. He had publicly stated that a portion of the proceeds would be donated to NHS Charities and The Hero Initiative. Yet, no evidence has ever been presented to show that any of the roughly \$47,000 raised was donated. This lack of transparency has only deepened distrust within the comics and crowdfunding communities.
Kickstarter's legal department reportedly conducted an internal investigation, which resulted in restrictions being placed on Brown's account. What began as a high-profile, star-studded charity project has since become a cautionary tale-highlighting the importance of integrity, transparency, and responsibility in creator-led crowdfunding campaigns, regardless of one's reputation or industry connections.
