Ethan Van Sciver is a polarizing name in the modern comic book industry, but if you strip away the social media noise, you’re left with a creator who basically kickstarted the massive independent "comicsgate" movement through sheer force of art. His flagship character, a neon-green, cybernetically enhanced amphibian, has become the face of high-budget crowdfunding. Cyberfrog Unfrogettable Tales 5 represents a weirdly specific, yet vital, piece of this publishing history. It isn’t just another floppy comic. Honestly, it’s a time capsule that bridges the gap between the character's 1990s origins and the massive "Bloodhoney" era that broke records on Indiegogo.
People sometimes get confused about the numbering here. Since the main Cyberfrog line had a long hiatus, these Unfrogettable Tales issues often serve as reprints, remastered editions, or collections of rare material that new fans might have missed during the decades when the character was dormant.
The Reality of Cyberfrog Unfrogettable Tales 5
You've probably noticed that tracking down specific issues of indie crowdfunded books is a nightmare. Unlike Marvel or DC, where you just walk into a shop and grab a trade paperback, Cyberfrog works on a "fear of missing out" model. Cyberfrog Unfrogettable Tales 5 specifically targets the collectors who want the full aesthetic experience of the 90s, but with modern coloring and paper quality.
The art in this particular installment highlights why Van Sciver became a superstar at DC. It's dense. It's hyper-detailed. Every vein on a Vaneigiss soldier or every scratch on Cyberfrog's metal plate is rendered with a level of obsession that you just don't see in assembly-line comics anymore. This issue typically includes the remastered versions of the classic Hall of Heroes era work.
Back in the day, the printing tech was... well, it was bad. The colors were muddy. The lines bled. By the time we get to Unfrogettable Tales 5, the tech has caught up to the vision. The colors pop with a radioactive glow that defines the character's look.
Why the "Remastered" Tag Isn't Just Marketing
Sometimes "remastered" is just a fancy word for "we scanned the old pages." Here, it's different. Kyle Ritter, the long-time colorist for the modern Cyberfrog books, applies a specific digital paint style that makes the 90s line art look like it was drawn yesterday.
It's actually kind of jarring. You see the 1994-era character designs—which are very "extreme"—but they're lit with 2020s lighting effects.
- The linework is sharpened.
- The dialogue is often re-lettered for legibility.
- The pin-ups included in these volumes usually feature guest artists who are heavy hitters in the independent scene.
The Vaneigiss Threat and Narrative Stakes
If you’re new to the lore, the story in these early "tales" focuses on the invasion of Earth by the Vaneigiss. Think of them as giant, horrific, biological hornets from space. They aren't your typical cartoon villains. They're parasitic. They're gross. They turn humans into food or hosts.
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In Unfrogettable Tales 5, you see the groundwork for the relationship between Cyberfrog (Kris) and his brother, Salamander. This isn't just a "superhero" story. It’s a story about a family of freaks trying to survive an extinction-level event. Kris is arrogant. He's a bit of a jerk. Salamander is the more grounded, tactical one.
The interaction between these two provides the emotional core that keeps the book from being just a gore-fest. But let's be real: people buy this for the gore-fest. Van Sciver knows how to draw "monster carnage" better than almost anyone else in the business.
Collecting the Variants
The secondary market for Cyberfrog Unfrogettable Tales 5 is where things get wild. Because these are crowdfunded, there isn't a single "standard" version. You have the "Chromium" covers, the "Gold Foil" editions, and the "Sketch" variants.
If you're looking for this on eBay, expect to pay a premium. It’s not uncommon to see a single issue go for $50 or $100 if it has a specific cover. Is it worth it?
If you're a completionist, yeah. If you just want to read the story, you might be better off looking for the Cyberfrog: Survivors of the Apocalypse trade paperback, which collects a lot of this material in a more affordable format. But for the tactile feel of the individual floppy with that heavy cover stock? Nothing beats the single issues.
The Production Reality of All Caps Comics
We have to talk about the "When will it ship?" factor. All Caps Comics, Ethan's company, has a history of long delays. This is the trade-off with boutique indie comics. You get incredible art, but you wait. And wait.
Cyberfrog Unfrogettable Tales 5 was part of a larger ecosystem of campaigns. Sometimes these issues are offered as "stretch goals" or "add-ons" to larger campaigns like Cyberfrog 2: Reka. This makes the "street date" of the comic very hard to pin down compared to a traditional book.
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Basically, if you didn't back it on Indiegogo, you're at the mercy of the "In-Demand" store or the aforementioned secondary market.
Technical Specifications of the Book
The physical quality of these books is usually higher than what you'd find from a major publisher.
- Paper Stock: High-gloss, heavy-weight paper that prevents ink bleed.
- Cover: Often 100lb cardstock, sometimes with special effects like spot-UV or foil.
- Binding: While usually staple-bound (saddle-stitched), the spine is reinforced to handle the page count.
The art itself uses a lot of cross-hatching. This is a hallmark of the 90s style that Van Sciver never really abandoned. It gives the world a "gritty" and "lived-in" feel. When you see the Vaneigiss hives, they look organic and wet. It's unsettling in the best way possible.
What Most People Get Wrong About Cyberfrog
People think it's a parody of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It's not.
While it definitely rode the wave of "funny animal" tropes that were popular in the late 80s and early 90s, Cyberfrog leaned much harder into sci-fi horror. Kris isn't a "hero" in the sense that he's out to save the world because it's the right thing to do. He's a survivor. He has a biological imperative to fight these alien wasps.
In Unfrogettable Tales 5, this distinction is clear. The tone is darker. There’s a sense of hopelessness in the background of the 90s stories that the modern books have leaned into even more. The world has already lost. We’re just watching the counter-attack.
The Community and the "Frog-Slayer" Culture
The fans of this book are intensely loyal. They call themselves the "Cyber-Electorate." This community is a huge part of why a book like Unfrogettable Tales 5 can exist. They aren't just buying a comic; they’re funding a middle finger to the traditional distribution system (Diamond Comics Distributors).
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This independence allows for total creative freedom. No editors are telling Ethan to tone down the violence or change the dialogue to be more "accessible."
The downside? No editors are there to tell him to hurry up.
How to Actually Get Your Hands on a Copy
If you're looking to add Cyberfrog Unfrogettable Tales 5 to your collection right now, you need a strategy. Don't just Google "buy Cyberfrog." You'll get old listings.
Check the official "All Caps Comics" store on Indiegogo first. They often keep "In-Demand" status active, allowing you to buy backstock. If it's sold out there, head to Comic-Link or MyComicShop before hitting eBay. eBay prices are inflated by "flippers" who buy multiple copies specifically to scalp them.
Actionable Next Steps for Collectors:
- Verify the Version: Check if the copy you are buying is a "First Printing" or a "Remastered" edition. The remastered versions have significantly better color depth.
- Inspect the Spine: Because the paper stock is so heavy, these issues are prone to "spine ticks" (small white creases). If you're paying more than $40, demand high-resolution photos of the spine.
- Join the Mailing List: Sign up for the All Caps Comics newsletter. This is the only way to get "Early Bird" pricing on future Unfrogettable Tales releases.
- Check the Supplements: Often, these books come with "COAs" (Certificates of Authenticity) or stickers. A complete package holds its value much better than a loose comic.
The story of Cyberfrog is a story of survival—both for the character and for the creator's independence in a shifting industry. Unfrogettable Tales 5 is a piece of that puzzle. It's loud, it's weird, and it's unapologetically different from anything else on the rack. Whether you're in it for the art or the rebellion against the mainstream, it’s a fascinating read.