Bonus Episode: What About Crowdfunded Comics?

What About Crowdfunded Comics? By Matthew Murray 🦇 and Mara L. Thacker Published in Comic Books, Special Collections, and the Academic Library edited by Brian Flota and Kate Morris Read the full book chapter . Notes Caitlin McGurk and Jenny E Robb, "Comics in Special Collections: Purposeful Collection Development for Promoting Inclusive History," in Comics and Critical Librarianship (Sacramento, CA: Litwin Books, 2019), 169; examples of crowdfunded comics providing a platform for marginalized voices include Black Comix Returns: African American Comic Art & Culture, Bystander: Stories, Observations & Witnessings from South Asia and Sensory: Life on the Spectrum—An Autistic Comic Anthology Todd Allen, "Is Kickstarter the #2 Graphic Novel Publisher?," PublishersWeekly.com, July 10, 2012, https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/comics/article/52925-is-kickstarterthe-2-graphic-novel-publisher.html. "Kickstarter Stats," Kickstarter, accessed August 12, 2021, https://www.kickstarter.com/help/stats. Chris Arrant, "These Are the Titles Driving Kickstarter Comics to Their Biggest Year Yet," gamesradar, July 21, 2021, https://www.gamesradar.com/these-are-the-titles-driving-kickstarter-comics-to-their-biggest-year-yet/. "Monthly Ranking for Patreon Comics: Ranking for Top Creators by Month," Graphtreon, accessed August 12, 2021, https://graphtreon.com/monthly-ranking/comics . "Ended on Ulule," Ulule, accessed August 12, 2021, https://www.ulule.com/ discover/?categories=bandes-dessinees&offset=0&statuses=ended&languages=fr. Oriana Leckert, "Pow! 2020 Is the Best Year Yet for Comics on Kickstarter," Kickstarter.com, October 20, 2020, https://www.kickstarter.com/articles/2020-is-the-best-year-yet-for-comics-on-kickstarter. Kat Calamia, "Should Major Publishers & Creators Be Crowdfunding Comics alongside Independent and DIY Creators?," GamesRadar+, September 22, 2020, https://www.gamesradar.com/should-major-publishers-and-creators-be-crowdfunding-comics-alongside-independent-and-diy-creators/. While Image Comics is a well-known comics publisher, they tend to operate more like self-publishing than many traditional publishers as they do not pay page rates or advances, provide minimal editorial oversight, and charge a flat publishing fee. "Drainers—An Underground Graphic Novel," Cloudscape Comics, Kickstarter, accessed January 12, 2021, https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cloudscape/drainers-an-underground-graphic-novel; Robert Jeffrey II, "Route 3: Vol 1," Kickstarter, accessed January 12, 2021, https://www.kickstarter. com/projects/1484007393/route-3-vol-1; Richard C. Meyer, "'No Enemy, But Peace' Graphic Novel," Kickstarter, accessed January 12, 2021, https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/863672719/no-enemy-but-peace-graphic-novel; "Are You Ready for War in the Neighborhood?," Ad Astra Comix, Indiegogo, accessed January 12, 2021, https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/1856162. A "stretch goal" is an amount above the initial amount asked for at which point additional rewards are "unlocked." A "tier" is a level of support tied to a specific amount of money. The campaign for "Atomic Robo and the Spectre of Tomorrow HARDCOVER" lists "Fifty copies for Libraries + another Print in Print Set!" as a stretch goal in an image but doesn't describe these goals in text anywhere on the project page. Rachel Seeger, "SPROUT: A Wordless Comic Book for Kids," Kickstarter, accessed January 12, 2021, https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1511570919/sprout-a-wordless-comic-book-for-kids. Tom Humberstone, "Solipsistic Pop 4: Maps," Indiegogo, accessed January 12, 2021, https://www. indiegogo.com/projects/solipsistic-pop-4-maps#/; Becca Hillburn, "7 Inch Kara Volume 2: An All Ages Watercolor Comic," Kickstarter, accessed January 12, 2021, https://www.kickstarter.com/ projects/beccahillburn/7-inch-kara-volume-2. Isaac Cates, "Cartozia Tales: Ten Issues," Kickstarter, accessed January 12, 2021, https://www. kickstarter.com/projects/1765342446/cartozia-

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