Metropolis Mailbag, Part Two

Letters! We got letters!

Hey, how’s your Spring Break going?

Me, I’m chaperoning 100 screaming students on a bus tour of NYC, so I’d like to curl up in a ball and die, thanks.

Anyway, let’s jump right into it.

METROPOLIS MAILBAG, part two

After our conversation about digital comics, Frequent Frier GMarkC writes:

I’d be very interested to see if someone could make a go of doing a digital series of floppy-length singles followed with a physical compilation volume.

Until the compilation stage, it would be somewhere between the way webcomics are now (brief episodes out on a regular basis) and the way most Kickstarters go (full physical/digital issues).

I expect the economics would also be somewhere between the two.

Thanks for the comment, GMark!

I've definitely thought about doing exactly what you suggest, but I worry the economics wouldn't work out.

What I currently make in digital sales wouldn't cover the art on an individual issue, unfortunately.

But don’t just take my word for it.

Here’s what Pat Shand had to say in this thread about recent trends in crowdfunding:

Marvel and DC writer/editor Val D’Orazio made the same argument on Twitter recently, although she was speaking less to the crowdfunding side and more to my original point about comiXology:

That said, who's to say some of my physical supporters wouldn't support a digital-only campaign?

Only one way to find out, I guess: try it.

But the numbers I see on my Kickstarter dashboard don’t give me much hope there.

GMarkC went on to write…

An even crazier idea: when you present the first issue of a new KS series for something that you intend to eventually bring out in a collected version, offer a pledge line for a digital only subscription for all single issues as they come out AND the physical collection. Lots of problems pricing it and planning that far ahead, but you have enough history of delivering quality that I and maybe at least a few other people would opt for it.

I know due to space (and cost), I’m going to more digital only purchases of single issues but I also like having the collected volumes on the shelves.

I’ve thought about this too, but like you say, there are logistics issues to be worked out.

Still, I can see some benefits to subscriptions, especially for overseas backers who might want to combine physical purchases.

My biggest concern is that it might cannibalize the all-important Kickstarter launch day for subsequent issues-- i.e., we have lots of people jumping into the campaign for the first issue, but get a much smaller boost for the later campaigns.

Still, if enough people preorder all the issues (and the trade) maybe that wouldn't matter?

Something to think about.

What say you, Gentle Reader?

Hit reply or…

Kickstarter News Roundup

We recently posted shipping updates for DREAMQUEST and NIGHTMARE THEATER 2, so if you’re looking for your books, clicks the relevant link and get the skinny.

Oh! And I forgot to mention last time out that thanks to your support, BLAZING BLADE OF FRANKENSTEIN #2 was our second most-backed campaign ever.

So: thanks!

And finally…

You Can Call Me Bill

Here on William Shatner’s 92nd birthday, I want to give big congrats to Fried co-creator Alexandre O. Philippe, whose documentary on William Bill just premiered at South By Southwest to rave reviews.

In fact, the movie is currently 100% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, and I can’t wait to see it when Alex gets me VIP tickets to a screening at San Diego Comic Con later this year (nudge, nudge, wink, wink).

OK, that’s all the news for now. Gotta go load up this %&#!ing tour bus…

- Clay