T.O.F.U. #11 | Cover Reveal
Hooray, it’s finally out in the open! Although I posted on the Patreon page over the weekend and sent out a preview to those on the newsletter yesterday, I’m happy to finally post the cover publicly here on the blog.
Funny enough, my excitement to start on a new issue usually comes from the moment I have a concept for the cover. Sure, deciding on the focus of the issue is a big step, but knowing how that will be represented visually is always a key moment for me. Granted, it doesn’t always come out exactly as I had in mind, but that’s all part of the process.
In the case of the cover for issue #11, it shouldn’t be surprising that I’ve had the concept in my head for a long time now. Hell, a lot of things related to this issue have been in the works for a long time, which I guess is no secret. Thankfully, I’m seeing the light at the end of this tunnel, and you’ll be happy to know that I already have focus topics for at least two upcoming issues! The cover concepts are still being tweaked, but they’re there too.
Of course, now I’m just getting ahead of myself, which I shouldn’t really do since I was only talking a minute ago about being so far behind! Now, where was I? Oh yeah, the cover for issue #11, and what it all means.
Why It A-Peeled to Me
If you fall deep enough into the vegan for health rabbit hole, and even more so if you start following hashtags like #plantbased, #hclf, or #rawtil4, chances are you’re going to see a lot of bananas. Given that this issue will talk about the dangers of promoting veganism as a superiorly healthy cure-all and the way that this view ignores those who have health issues while vegan or after becoming vegan, it seemed only reasonable to have the rather popular banana take centre stage on the cover. From there, it was simply a matter of turning the banana upside down to put across the point that something was wrong*.
Throw in the fact that we shot the cover on a patch of dirt in my friend’s backyard in Newfoundland and Labrador last summer, add a catchy tagline and some digital eyes, and you’ve got a cover! Personally, I’m quite happy with how it came out, and I hope it has you excited to see what’s on the inside!
Meant for Print
Yes, this is where I pitch to you.
Note: If you haven’t read last Thursday’s post, then check that out to find out why I’m running a Patreon campaign or read on to get a brief idea.
As I’ve mentioned plenty of times before this, I’m pushing to take this next issue to print, and I need your help to do it. After working on a mockup for a friend to use with her business to promote the magazine, I’m even more convinced that this issue (and all future releases) should be released both digitally and physically.
I don’t know about you, but the idea of being able to recreate the scene above in the real world has me smiling, and ensuring that the illustration work of folks such as Núria Vall, who is featured in that image, is seen on high quality paper is just the icing on the vegan cake.
So, please check out the Patreon campaign and consider subscribing to T.O.F.U. Magazine. For as little as $1/issue, you can ensure you receive a copy whenever one is released, and you’ll be bringing this independent and intersectional vegan magazine one step closer to bookshelves, cafes, and coffee tables around the world.
Find out more info here.
* Along with the problems the next issue will focus on in relation to the health-centric veganism the banana represents, you can visit Food Empowerment Project for more info on the other problematic aspects that bananas carry with them.
