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Hey, there!
Got some reader response to our discussion last week about the future of digital (see “Metropolis Mailbag” below), but first…
350 Of Our Closest Friends
BLAZING BLADE OF FRANKENSTEIN just hit 350 backers, and to say thanks, we’re unlocking some special digital bonuses, including a sneak peek at another book coming soon, featuring a certain public domain vampire.
No, not that one. This one:
Backers of our first issue may have received a card in their package announcing Carmilla's imminent arrival last year. But she was delayed a bit in, uh, Transylvania and will be smearing blood on your computer screen in just a few short months.
BBOF #2 backers will receive a special sneak preview of the new book, co-written by me (Clay) and my NIGHTMARE THEATER co-editor David Schrader, with art by Ismael Canales (The Catch), colors by Alex Zief (Monster Matador) and edits by Malissa White (Nightmare).
If you want to join us in the Blazing World and get the preview in addition to a kickass sword & sorcery book, you have one more week to do it:
They’re HEEEeeeeere
NIGHTMARE THEATER 2 finally arrived at my office at the tail end of January, but a blanket of snow and ice in the midwest kept me from getting there to check them out.
When the roads finally cleared, I braved the weather, Paul Sheldon-style. But unlike Stephen King's Misery-able protagonist, not only did I make it to my destination... I got out of the cockadoodie car!
...and I took pictures of what I found waiting for me:
There are a LOT of boxes, and a LOT of books to check in... and a LOT of packages to send. But I'm going to enlist the help of my interns/indentured servants/children and try to get these fulfilled as quick as I can.
And if you missed the campaign, you can still pick up a copy through InDemand:
Con Nooga
As of this writing, I’m frantically packing up for my appearance at Con Nooga in Chattanooga, TN from February 17-19th.
Looking forward to spending the weekend with DREAMQUEST artist Mick Beyers and NIGHT WOLF’S Rob Multari, but mostly I can’t wait to be reunited with my beloved Coconut Porter from Cherry Street Brewing Company, which I can’t purchase anywhere near me.
So please stop by the convention and buy all my books so I can fill my trunk with beer for the haul back to Arkansas. It’ll be just like Smokey and the Bandit!
Metropolis Mailbag
After last week’s missive, reader Saurabh Bhatia writes in part:
Love your newsletter, thanks for writing it. While I agree with the premise of your comment on ComiXology and digital sales, I don't agree to the statement that digital sales are not good. I believe digital sales are catching up with Physical very fast. This is due to several reasons - global supply chain issues, slowing down of economy (so going for a more affordable option ). You can also find audiences where physical copies are very hard tor reach. For most of the Kickstarter campaigns I back, it is cost prohibitive for me to pay for Shipping to Australia. e.g. For a 15$ book, the shipping would cost me 23$. So, then the only option I'm left with is get a digital copy.
Thanks Saurabh -- appreciate the thoughtful comment!
I was speaking more to some points expressed in the Beat article, where the author said Comixology was about to run out of money before the Amazon sale and that the team was laid off now because the division wasn't profitable. They are the giant in the space, so if they are struggling, it's not a good sign for digital overall.
Personally, though, I *love* digital, both as a reader and as a creator, so I can share my work with as many people as possible—especially readers like you who are overseas.
But I do wonder if I did a digital-only campaign if I'd get enough to support to make the book. People do seem to like owning a hard copy.
What do the rest of you think? Digital or physical? Sound off…
Breaking News
Before we go, this just in:
Thanks to DREAMQUEST editor Frank Pittarese for putting this look at the 1987 comics industry on my radar. Worth watching just to see Jenette Kahn’s sweater…
That’s all for now. Gotta figure out how I’m going to keep all this beer cold for 12 hours…
- Clay
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’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.