007 – Is Kickstarter for YOU? Who should and shouldn’t be using crowdfunding to launch their projects

Who is Kickstarter for anyway?

Special Guest Co-Host: Jeremy Mellou

The History and Evolution of Who Has Used Kickstarter for Crowdfunding Comics and Graphic Novels

Webcomics
Newer Creators
Anthologies
- Womanthology
  - Launched July 7, 2011
  - The first over $100k comic project.
Larger Webcomics
- The Million Dollar Comic: Order of the Stick Reprint Drive
  - Came after Womanthology. The next big success. Set the bar for success.
  - Launched January 22, 2012
  - Only comic project past 1 million. Next closest hasn’t even hit by half.
  - Laid the groundwork for everything that came after. 2012 was really the big year for Kickstarter in general and comics, especially.
Creators finding Enduring Success
- Jimmy Palmiotti
  - 8 Projects
  - First one Queen Crab in July, 2011 (~$11k)
  - 2 Projects in 2012 (~$55k)
  - 2 in 2013 (~$60k)
  - 3 in 2014 (~$145k)
- Fabian Rangel Jr.
  - First one Boss Snake in 2013 (after initial audience on Comixology) (~$7.5k)
  - 2 in 2014 (~$17k)
    - Doc Unknown Print Run
    - Reprint Six
  - 1 in 2015 so far ($12k)
    - Doc Unknown finish
  - Took him through indie into now producing Space Riders for Black Mask (other projects?)
    - Black Past (Dark Horse Presents)
Established Creators
- Paul Jenkins Fairy Quest
  - Launched April 10, 2012
- Gail Simone Leaving Megalopolis
  - Launched August 7, 2012
- Greg Rucka Lady Sabre
  - Launched May 6, 2013
Publishers
- Publishers vs. Independent creators / The Zero-Sum Mindset
- Top Cow’s Cyberforce Returns
  - Kickstarter Controversy (discuss Kickstarter Controversies)
  - For the 20th anniversary of Cyber Force
  - Launched July 18, 2012
- Fantagraphics
  - Faced with difficulties due to unforeseen death of one of their partners
  - Able to turn to Kickstarter to finance their 2014 Spring-Summer Season
    - Raised ~$222k with almost 3,000 backers
  - Launched November 5th, 2013
- Archie most recently
  - Kickstarter controversy
So, who is Kickstarter for?

ComixLauncher

It’s time for today’s ComixLauncher.

A ComixLauncher is a short, actionable activity you can and should do right now, or immediately after listening to the show. They’re all activities I’ve done myself, and will get you one step closer to a successful ComixLaunch. They’ll transform this Podcast from a passive, lean back activity centered around Tyler James, into an active, lean-forward activity centered around YOU.

1) Set a Date and Time for your next Kickstarter project

2) Write it Down (on a calendar, planner, scheduler, etc.)

3) Tell Someone — (Need someone to tell? Tell me! [email protected])

The Holy Trinity of Action is: Thought, Word, Deed

All of us our busy, but we all can spare 5 minutes to do this. [And if you’d like to share the results of your ComixLauncher with me, I’d love to see them. Email me at [email protected], subject line: ComixLauncher #7.]

Closing Quote

“If everybody is doing it one way, there’s a good chance you can find your niche by going exactly in the opposite direction.” – Sam Walton (Walmart, Sam’s Club)

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Outro
- You’ve been listening ComixLaunch with Tyler James. Visit ComixLaunch.com, C-O-M-I-X Launch.com, for this episode’s show notes and additional resources to help you crowdfund your comic book & graphic novel projects on Kickstarter… and Beyond!