Fashion accessory brand HEX teams up with iconic comic book creator Jim Lee with a collaboration that Batman himself would surely approve of: new backpacks that are perfect for comic creators and collectors.
A Kickstarter campaign launches on June 5 with two backpacks to haul all your necessary gear safely between cons and artist brainstorming sessions.
Find out more about each bag below.
Artist Backpack
The HEX x Jim Lee Artist Backpack was designed for artists to cart both art supplies and an art portfolio around safely without damaging your precious pencils or sketches. Lee, as an artist himself, has packed the bag with features that every artist needs to stay organized. It includes a removable portfolio, an art supply organizer with a waterproof section for ink and paint, a fleece-lined laptop pocket, and a padded tablet pocket. Then, on the outside, there’s a phone and passport pocket and a versatile, mesh side pocket. Additional features include a charger cable pass-through and a quick-access business card pocket.
The bag is designed for its functionality and may put Mary Poppins to shame with all it has to offer. Its exterior look stays true to Lee’s design style with a Jim Lee luggage tag and a subtle, electric-blue lining with an original Batman sketch featured on the water-resistant fabric.
Lee explained in a statement that “the aim was to provide a subtle call out to the origins of the bag without it becoming a Batman bag.”
Comic Collectors Backpack
The HEX x Jim Lee Comic Collectors Backpack was specifically designed for comic convention goers to keep their new and rare comics in mint condition while traveling. And TBH, it’s a genius concept. While many comic fans only have a flimsy bag to cart their new reading material around cons, this backpack gives fans secure and safe storage to hold it all. Inside the backpack, there is a file folder with individual lined sleeves to hold multiple issues, a fleece-lined laptop section, and the option to securely lock the files. An easy-to-access pocket is the perfect size for the Overstreet Price Guide, and an expandable mesh pocket on each side can hold rolled-up poster tubes or a water bottle. Other features include an organizer, an exterior phone pocket, and an anti-theft zipper lock.
The Collectors Backpack utilizes the same custom Batman lining as the Artist Backpack with the water-resistant fabric. A special-edition version extends the Jim Lee artwork to the external pocket and adds bat-shaped “Batarang” zipper pulls to the front.
The exteriors are plain black, which give it a cool, sleek, streetwear vibe as you slide the bag over your shoulder and walk around the con floor in style with everything you need safely packed inside.
“These bags have been designed with incredible attention to detail,” said Trent Valladares, co-founder of HEX, in a statement. “Jim Lee has put an extraordinary amount of thought into the designs, so each bag is the best in its class without compromise.”
Kickstarter supporters will receive an exclusive discount on their bags based on their pledge amount. The Artist Backpack will be available to Kickstarter supporters for $240, with a projected retail price set for $300. The Comic Collector Backpack will be available for Kickstarter pledges for $120 and are expected to retail for $150.
Photos: HEX
