AboutThis Could Be Religion is a pay-for-production anthology that showcases the characters and relationships featured in Angels Before Man, the first in a trilogy by Rafael Nicolás.Since 2022, the novel has captured the hearts and minds of thousands of readers, all who have voiced their passion for it across multiple platforms. Everything from the sweet and lighthearted moments to the most devastating of scenes will be depicted.
What kind of project is this?This Could Be Religion is a pay-for-production anthology zine that showcases the characters and relationships featured in Angels Before Man, the first in a trilogy by Rafael Nicolás.A zine (shortened form of "magazine") is a small-scale, independently published book filled with art and writing made by fans, for fans! This is an open-call production and does not feature applications used for judgment or rejection—everyone is welcome here!What does “pay-for-production” mean, exactly?Pay-for-Production means that you will be paying for the manufacturing cost, packaging materials, and payment fees. The zine itself does not charge extra and will not be making any profit.Who is allowed to participate?Any creative that’s 18 and older! If you love Angels Before Man and want to participate, we have a place for you. No previous zine experience is required to join, and you will not be rejected based on the quality of your work. You must have a Discord account or be willing to make one for communication within the project.Are there any restrictions where someone would be rejected from the anthology?Yes. This community is pro-fiction and anti-censorship. If you're found to be engaging in any form of bigotry, harassment, bullying, doxxing, or public shaming, we unfortunately cannot offer you a space in our project. We don't discriminate based on artistic ability or achievements, but attitude and a willingness to coexist with other members will be taken into consideration. If you consider yourself an "anti" in fandom terms, we strongly encourage you not to participate, for both your own comfort and that of other contributors.What are the specifications?This anthology will be a physical and digital A5 size book with accompanying merchandise. All pieces will be rated PG-13 and feature no explicit material, though we also plan to offer an 18+ digital only add-on featuring NSFW content.How will contributors be compensated?All contributors are guaranteed a physical and digital copy of the anthology at bare minimum. Further compensation in the form of free shipping, merch, and profits are to be determined on the results of our sales period.I have a question that isn’t listed here!We welcome all questions and clarifications over on our Retrospring
Project complete!
| Interest Check | August 1-September 1 |
| Interest Check Results | September 3 |
| Sign-up Period | September 5-September 25 |
| Last Day to Join Server | September 30 |
| Pitches Due | October 3 |
| Check-In 1 | October 25 |
| Check-In 2 | November 22 |
| Check-in 3 | December 20 |
| Check-In 4 | January 10 |
| Last Submission Call for Pieces | February 5 |
| Pre-Order Period | March 1-March 31 |
| Ordering, Packing, Shipping | TBD |
Name: Violet
Pronouns: She/Her
Social Media: Twitter | Tumblr
Role: Head/Shipping/Co-Finance Mod
Experience: This will be my very first zine! I've had lots of experience running fandom events in the past so I'm both confident and excited to use those skills to deliver on this project.
Favorite Moment: 'Bend me over the Throne and desecrate it with me.'
Name: Lys
Pronouns: He/Him
Social Media: Carrd
Role: Writing/Organization Mod
Experience:
Writing and Organization Mod
—Night and Day: A Sk8 Shadow zine
—Cherry Bomb!: A Sk8 Cherry zine
—Head Over Heelers: A Bluey zine
Writing Mod
—Habatake!: A Precure zine
—Straightforward: A Trigun Roberto zine
—Everlasting: A Trigun Wedding zine
Favorite Moment: The tale of Uri-Kimah recontextualizing everything we know about Uriel as a character and obstructive force
Name: Kaz
Pronouns: he/him
Social Media: Twitter | Tumblr
Role: Graphics/Finance Co-Mod
Experience: This is my very first time working on a zine and I am so excited to be a part of it! I’m honored to be able to use my art and finance experience to contribute to a project as beautiful as this!
Favorite Moment: This one’s hard! It would have to be a tie between when Michael fights in the tournament, bringing his winnings to Lucifer after each match or when the same two have that moment pressed against Lucifer’s mirror…
Name(s): Jasmine and Toby Plaskon
Pronouns: she/he (Jasmine), he/they (Toby)
Social Media: Instagram
Role: Graphics/Layout Mods
Experience: I have several years of experience with the back-end of an editing process, including layout and proofreading. I did it for magazines like BOMB and for my own MFA program (Jasmine); two years worth of Illustrator experience (Toby)
Favorite Moment: Augh, that's hard. I haven't read A&M yet because I just can't endure the heartbreak right now, but from ABM, it's the party scene where Michael and Lucifer start exploring each other after the party. I'm just a fan of possessive Michael (Jasmine)
Name: Raziel (Bun)
Pronouns: he/they
Social Media: Twitter | Tumblr | Instagram
Role: Art Mod
Experience: This is my second Zine project as a mod. I was lead mod & Art mod for Tales of Lei [A trans danmei anthology]. With a BFA in animation & film with a focus on comics and twelve years in the professional art industry, I am here to help any participant with their artistic needs. I'm excited to work with such a skilled team!
Favorite Moment: Catch me reading the dream sequence that closes out the Part 1 (Heaven) portion of ABM over and over.