What the WGA strike means for comics...
Happy Writer’s Strike Week 1, everybody.
I’m not in the WGA, but I’m a proud member of SAG-AFTRA, so I can sympathize with the union’s aims.
The NY Times gives a pretty good rundown here.
How long it will last is anyone’s guess, but this recent tweet from Jimmy Palmiotti caught my attention:
Prophetic? We’ll see.
But something also tells me a whole lot more Film/TV folk—and by that I mean, even more than usual—will be using this time to turn their pitches into comics.
(No judgements, just an observation.)
Though I wonder… how long will the Big 2 continue to be the “Big 2,” considering the latest Bookscan numbers showing the top 750 graphic novels sold in 2022?
From The Beat:
The first superhero comic to appear is at #257 with Batman: Year One, making it the best selling superhero graphic novel of 2022.
Marvel had only one title in the top 750 up from ZERO in 2021, and that was Moonknight from Lemire and Smallwood
Yikes!
For my money, Batman: Year One is the best superhero mini-series ever made… but it was made in 1987. That’s… a long time ago.
The fact that it’s still DC’s top seller says a lot about the state of modern comics.
And so does this news from last week.
So with the market shrinking, and traditional comic book publishers in trouble, where is a striking Film and TV writer to go?
My guess is Kickstarter, which a decade ago was already the fourth largest publisher of graphic novels behind Marvel, DC and Image.
Again, no judgements here. More people on the platform means… more people on the platform.
And considering comics has been dealing with a dwindling customer base for a loooong time now, new blood is welcome.
So bring it on, Hollywood!
Which reminds me…
PRODIGAL SON
The western I am co-writing with Don Handfield, which was co-created with Martin Kove, AKA Cobra Kai’s Sensei Kreese, is coming to Kickstarter soon.
(See, I told you no judgements.)
The ashcan we did for NYCC made a bit of a splash, and I’m thrilled to see how that translates to Kickstarter.
More details coming soon, but in the meantime, why don’t you give us a follow to be among the first to find out when the campaign goes live?
You can click the image above, or…
In other news…
BLAZING BLADE OF FRANKENSTEIN Survey Smoke Test is Off!
If you backed BLAZING BLADE OF FRANKENSTEIN 1-2, the Backerkit “smoke test” went out today.
For those unfamiliar, the "Smoke Test" sends out surveys to only 5% of the backers as a way to make sure everything is working properly and there are no issues before we go wide.
So, if you're a part of the 5% that received your survey and you find any issues at all, please let me know as soon as possible and I will correct it.
What kind of issues do I mean?
Your add-ons didn't import from Kickstarter; Backerkit says you owe money, but you didn't add anything new to your cart; or literally anything else that doesn't look right to you. Please let me know ASAP.
(I don't anticipate there will be any issues. But you never know.)
Once it looks like everything is running smoothly, I'll approve the surveys to go wide.
Digital Rewards have been set up to go out through Backerkit, so please fill out those surveys when you get them!
Oh, also...
Metal Covers Have Already Arrived
And they look phenomenal.
(There are a limited number available as add-ons in the survey, FYI).
Awkward Transition Alert
Before I go, tonight David Schrader and I will be…
Live in Front of Your Naked, St(r)eaming Eyes!
That's right! Mr. Schraderpolis and I will be on PopX tonight at 9pm EST, alongside our pal Rob Multari of NIGHT WOLF.
If you'd like to tune in, click the image above, or...
What are we promoting? Well, in case you missed it…
CARMILLA UNBOUND: 1973
Thanks to you, CARMILLA UNBOUND got off to a phenomenal start. One week in, and we are closing in on our first stretch goal.
So on behalf of the entire team: THANK YOU!
If you’d like to join in and grab a great story behind one of these sweet, sweet covers—or some original art!—click the image above, or…
OK!
The Writer’s Strike reminds me: I have more thoughts on the streaming business and the state of the comics industry, but that’ll have to wait for another day.
After all, I’m not striking, and these comics deadlines won’t meet themselves.
Til next time, Frequent Frier.
- Clay
Most comic book stores don't use the system they take numbers from, so the results are maginally relevant as it is. It also doesn't include DCUI, MU, CU, and all the other digital subscription services.
However, ultimately I think that Marvel and DC will have to rethink how they do business. There's been some conversation about them using Kickstarter, where as I think they SHOULD do pre-sales. Let the audience decide what it wants and don't make 47 Bat books, but make what the audience wants. You need X pre-sales to make the book. If the numbers aren't there, we move on. No BS social media "votes" like Round Robin (which is BS - those books were always going to be made), just pure customer base asking for X book.
Example: I may be the only person asking for an omnibus of the 1997 Ka-Zar book, including the last 5 issues which have never been collected. But if I'm not, why can't the say, 50 of us or whatever pre-order it, they make idk 75-100 for collectors or to put on shelves, and everybody moves on happy. They don't have to print 2000 copies of something, and those of us that want a book don't have to wait for a "craze" or a movie to drop of our favorite character or something.