Checkmate (Kingdom Hearts zine)

Zine
Title:	Checkmate
Publisher:
Editor(s):	themirifique, ArtKhabriesi, princesstriton, SaphySushi, AnkosArt
Type:	Fanart, Fanfiction
Date(s):	2020-2021
Medium:	PDF, Print
Fandom:	Kingdom Hearts
Language:	English, Japanese
External Links:	Twitter Tumblr carrdarchived carrd (JP)archived
Zine Logo
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Checkmate is a zine dedicated to the pairing Xehaqus (Xehanort/Eraqus) from the Kingdom Hearts games.

About

The zine's social media account announced the project on September 10, 2020, with a liknkto the project's carrd website. Contributor applications ran from September 25 to Octobter 15, 2020. A reported 79 applications had been submitted to the project.

Preorders opened on February 14, 2021, with the following pricing tiers:

• Pawn - Digital Zine, Digital Merch, Making Of PDF
• Tardy Fleetfoot - Physical Zine, First Stretch Goal
• Paper Windmill - Physical Zine, Digital Bundle, Prints, Memopad, Sticker Sheets, First 2 Stretch Goals
• King's Gambit - Physical Zine, Digital Zine, Acrylic Charms, Magnet, Memopad, First 3 Stretch Goals
• Light From the Past (Limited) - Physical Zine, Prints, Sticker Sheets, Acrylic Charms, Magnet, Memopad, All Stretch Goals

Prior to preorders opening, the project offered pinbadges of the Scala Kids for the first 20 orders of Tardy Fleetfoot. Stretch goals included a vinyl sticker for 25 copies, a wedding announcement and pocket mirrors at 50 copies, a standee at 100 copies, and an enamel pin at 150 copies.

A giveaway for a physical zine and sticker sheets exclusive to the giveaway was run from February 28 to March 14, 2021. In the last two days of preorders, a share campaign was run with the offer of a collaboration print from the contributing artists for all physical orders. Preorders closed on April 1, 2021.

Shipping of physical orders began on July 16, 2021. All orders, digital and physical, were shipped out by August 10, 2021.

Leftover sales began on October 23, 2021, with old and new pricing tiers:

• Pawn (€10.00) - Digital Zine, Digital Merch, Making Of PDF
• Tardy Fleetfoot (€20.00) - Physical Zine, Digital Zine, Digital Merch, Making Of PDF
• You're Requested (€10.00) - Handwritten Invitation with Personalized Message (Second Stretch Goal)
• Paper Planes (€15.00) - 2 Prints, Memopad, Blank Invitation
• Souvenirs of Scala (€20.00) - Acrylic Standee, Pocket Mirror, Magnet

These final sales were closed on November 21, 2021. On December 14, 2021, the project was wrapped up with a donation announcement of $453.33 USD to the Environmental Defense Fund.

The zine's social media account hinted to a new possible project in December 2022.

Project Schedule

	Start	End
Contributor Applications	September 25, 2020	Octobter 15, 2020
Preorders	February 14, 2021	April 1, 2021
Shipping	July 16, 2021	August 10, 2021
Leftover Sales	October 23, 2021	November 21, 2021

Contributors

The following names were taken from the project's social media account.

Page Artists

• Fluffs (TheFluffMother) - Guest
• Ciino (__yesno) - Guest
• Willow (Faunafell) - Guest
• LoBennett - Guest
• Hashina (jkmjyn) - Guest
• らいむ (KH_raimu) - Guest
• Shea B (Fairy_Fort)
• Coral Sky (c0ralsky)
• AmeNocturna
• Zero (Zer0nize)
• Noix (PoppetNoix)
• Jam (jamqyu)
• Uqei (HaizeUqei)
• Ebony (ebonychips)
• Eit (_eitsart)
• Rain (AkimetsuAkii)
• おいも (oimkimn)
• Kuro Tsubasa
• Maddie (MorningSeaFoam)
• RedMoonDragon

Merch Artists

• CombotheBeehen
• Moist (avrigny)
• Ebony (ebonychips)
• Ariasune
• Briku (tetrabriku)
• Sushi (sushichanart)
• KENM. (Kenzichi)

Cosplayers

• のそち (konkonoso) - Guest
• Whirlwind Projects (pocketwhirlwind)

Writers

• TFNY (tfnytrn)
• FoLightening
• HinataOC (CurryFury13)
• Lyric (solsync)
• oriichalcum
• MissTCNova
• PrinceDestati

Mods

• Rakiah (themirifique)
• Brie (ArtKhabriesi)
• Triton (princesstriton)
• Saphy (SaphySushi)
• Anko (AnkosArt)

Gallery

• 

  Preorder Graphic

• 

  Limited Bundle Listing

• 

  Leftovers Graphic

• 

  Stretch Goals Listing

Fan Reception

The following posts are a sample of posts retweeted by the project's social media account about the zine.

Nera Granić wrote on Twitter

@checkmatezine Its here!!! 🤩😍✨✨ Edges are a bit bent on some places, but thats the post for you -now I'm off to indulge on some reading ♥️ #kingdomhearts #xehaqus

A Will Passed On wrote on Twitter

I'M SO EXCITED!!! Everything looks absolutely gorgeous. The illustrations and writing are all so wonderful, I feel so lucky to have this.

Thank you for everyone's hard work!! 🖤🤍 @checkmatezine

お、終わらない… wrote on Twitter

ハッピーセット届きましたァああーー！！！！！✨✨✨✨す、素敵すぎるなんだこれなんだこれ！！？？！？ 2枚目の勿体なくて開けれそうにない…🥲💕💦💦 (@checkmatezine) 開けました。はぁあぁ…😢✨✨

裏に私の名前すごいオシャレに書いてもらってた、ときめいた。

KeyArtYui wrote on Twitter

Thank you @checkmatezine for this amazing bundle of #xehaqus goodness. The artwork and stories are amazing and I’m still not done reading them! Good job everyone! I LOVE IT 😍

KH_Raimu wrote on Twitter

やった〜！！遂に届きました！！チェス組愛がぎっしり詰まったZINE！改めてこのプロジェクトにお誘いしてもらったことを心から光栄に思います✨ @checkmatezine

TheFluffMother wrote on Twitter

Oh man 😭 I DIDN’T EXPECT THIS TO BE HERE WHEN I GOT HOME TODAY SINCE TRACKING MADE IT SOUND LIKE THEY LOST MY PACKAGE?????? I’m 🥺💕 this was a noce surprise

Thank you @checkmatezine for inviting me onboard ✨

Combo wrote on Twitter

The zine has arrived on August 30!! Sorry for the late photo, I'm busy and sick aaaa

It was my first zine I entered, I had a lot of fun with new friends!! Thank you @checkmatezine!! All works are gorgeous 🌟