Episode 49 - Building Your Audience and Overcoming Defeat (with Curtis 'Specks' Thompson)

My guest today is Curtis “Specks” Thompson, the writer and creator of the comic series Legacy of the View. His series follows southern high school student Chaz Johnson, as he comes to terms with his new superpowers while just wanting to live his normal teenage life as a baseball player.

After his first foray on Kickstarter failed, Curtis took measurable steps to increase his audience, and relaunched to success. We find out exactly how he did it in this episode (his current Kickstarter just passed his funding goal, and he’s on to stretch goals!).

Enjoy!

Legacy of the View is LIVE ON KICKSTARTER through 6/3/2021. You can support it HERE!

SHOW NOTES:

Legacy of the View on Kickstarter - www.kickstarter.com/projects/specks706/legacy-of-the-view-3

Legacy of the View’s Website - www.legacyoftheview.com

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Facebook - @LegacyOfTheView

Instagram - @LegacyOfTheView

Episode 48 - Finding Success with Your Sophomore Series (Featuring KJ Kaminski, Writer of The Resistents and Sophia Saturn)

KJ Kaminski had a problem. His first series, The Resistants (along with its spin-offs), had been fairly well received. KJ found himself attending conventions all across America.

But what do you do when your new title is coming out?

It’s totally new and totally different, so you might be worried about whether your existing audience will jump on board for another series!

KJ and I talk about his fears and apprehensions with launching his new series, Sophia Saturn, and what steps he took to launch this new title to the stars!

Enjoy!

Sophia Saturn is LIVE ON KICKSTARTER through 4/30/21. You can support it HERE!

SHOW NOTES

Sophia Saturn #1 - 5 Kickstarter - www.sophiasaturn.com

Big Blue Comics’ Website - www.bigbluecomics.com

SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook - @BigBlueComics

Twitter - @BigBlueComics

KJ on Twitter - @KJKaminski11

Instagram - @BigBlueComics

Episode 47 - From Screenwriting for Amazon and Netflix to Comic Book Writing for Kickstarter (Featuring Aaron Wroblewski, Writer of Enenra)

Enenra is LIVE ON KICKSTARTER through 3/26/21. You can support it HERE!

LINKS:

Enenra’s Kickstarter Page - www.kickstarter.com/projects/a-aron/enenra-issue-3-and-4

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Twitter - @Aaron_Wrob

Facebook - @EnenraGNovel

Facebook - @AJRoblewski1

Episode 46 - Growing a Fanbase and Creating Momentum with Your First Comic Book Series (with Nicholas Mueller, writer/artist of Demon Hunter Raven)

Nicholas Mueller had a problem.

He had just launched his first book, Demon Hunter Raven, but it was barely getting any traction! After his first campaign barely funded, he realized something needed to change.

Now, Nicholas is four issues into his comic series, and his latest crowdfunding launch funded in mere days. We’re talking with him about his work and career, and how he grew his fanbase and built momentum by just “being a real person.”

If you’re looking for some strategies to build your brand, this is the one to listen to!

Enjoy!

Demon Hunter Raven is LIVE ON KICKSTARTER through 3/19/21. You can support it HERE!

SHOW NOTES:

Demon Hunter Raven #0 - 3 Kickstarter - www.kickstarter.com/projects/dhrchap1/demon-hunter-raven-chapter-3

BMR Comics Website - www.bmrcomics.com

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Facebook - @BMRComics

Twitter - @NicholasMulle7

Instagram - @BMRComics

Episode 45 - An American Comic Book Artist in Japan! (with Bitsy Tandem, Creator of Maiden in Disguise))

My guest today is a comic book artist, writer, and creator who left her hometown in the United States to live abroad in Kushima, Japan. She’s the creator of Maiden in Disguise, a comic book following the coming-of-age story of a gamer girl and her epic hero avatar in an online MMORPG.

We talk about the highs and lows of writing AND creating, the differences between American and Japanese comics and culture, and so much more!

Maiden in Disguise is LIVE ON KICKSTARTER through 3/11/21. You can support it HERE!

SHOW NOTES:

Maiden in Disguise Kickstarter - www.kickstarter.com/projects/thebitzr/maiden-in-disguise-manga-1-gamer-girl-or-epic-hero

Eotera Website (Home of Bitsy’s Multiverse) - www.eotera.com

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Instagram - @BitsyTandem_TheBitzr

Twitter - @TheBitzr

Facebook - @theBitzr

Episode 44 - Starting Your Own Crime and Superhero Anthologies (Featuring Randy Stone, Creator of The Sensational Swan)

In this episode of Under the Mask, we’re taking you back to a time where comic titles were liberally littered with colorful adjectives. Words like uncanny, fantastic, and sensational!

Randy Stone is a comic book writer and creator, known for his works Champion, published by Arcana, and Eskimo Kisses, published by Scout Comics. He’s also the creator of the crime-noir comic anthology Crime Pays.

His latest work, The Sensational Swan #1, features a psychiatrist by day who’s also a superhero when the sun goes down? How would he diagnose himself? We discuss The Sensational Swan as well as finding a creative team, how this and his last anthology have raised his visibility in the comics scene.

The Sensational Swan #1 is LIVE ON KICKSTARTER through 2/28/21. You can support it HERE.

Enjoy!

LINKS:

The Sensational Swan Kickstarter - www.altruistcomics.com/swan

Altruist Comics Website = www.altruistcomics.com

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Facebook - @altruistcomics

Twitter - @altruistcomics

Randy Stone’s Twitter - @randystonecotw

Episode 43 - Getting Your Comic Out There, From Webcomics to Amazon! (with The Table's Gustavo Soria)

This week, I’m talking with Gustavo Soria, a comic book writer, creator, and artist based out of Guatemala.

Soria released his debut comic book, The Table, as a webcomic. He recently printed the book and put it on the #1 online sales platform, Amazon. We talk about his process behind creating, how an editor helped him focus, and also how the Guatemalan comic book scene is different than America.

Enjoy!

The Table is available to read for free as a webcomic HERE. You can also buy a physical copy of The Table on Amazon HERE.

SHOW NOTES:

The Table Webcomic - www.zigmacomics.com/thetable

The Table on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Table-Gustavo-Soria

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Facebook - @TheZigmaComics

Instagram - @Zigma_Comics

Episode 42 - What Happens When a Comic Book Geek Gains Superpowers? (with Omni artist J.W. Sims)

This week, I’m talking with comic book artist and colorist J.W. Sims, colorist of Broke Down and Four Dead Bodies. He’s also the owner of Hooligan Alley Comics, publishing books like Darkest Night and Project 34.

In latest work, Omni #1, we find out what happens when comic book geek Floyd Miller gains superpowers, and models himself after his favorite fictional superhero, Mega.

Omni #1 is LIVE ON KICKSTARTER through 1/28/21. Go support it HERE!

SHOW NOTES:

Omni #1 Kickstarter - www.kickstarter.com/projects/hooliganalleycomics1/omni-1

Hooligan Alley Comics’ Website - www.hooliganalleycomics.com

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Facebook - @TheHooliganAlleyComics

Twitter - @JWSims34

Instagram - @HooliganAlley_Comics

Episode 40 - Talking Geek Girl with Sam Johnson

This week, I’m talking with Sam Johnson, a UK based comic book writer and creator. Sam’s the creator of Geek Girl, where popular girl Ruby finds a pair of high-tech glasses which grant her super powers, but also super kutziness!

Enjoy!

Geek Girl is LIVE ON KICKSTARTER through December 18th! Go support it HERE!

SHOW NOTES:

Geek Girl’s Kickstarter Page - www.geekgirlcomics.com

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Facebook - @geekgirlcomic

Twitter - @GKickstarter

Instagram - @SamJohnsonComics

Episode 36 - How to Publish (and Crowdfund) A Dozen Issues (with Tart Writer/Creator Kevin Joseph)

In this episode, I’m talking with Tart writer and creator Kevin Joseph. Kevin has published and crowdfunded a dozen issues of Tart, which is a huge accomplishment for an independent comic.

We talk about how he did it, and why your fans and followers are always the most important piece of the puzzle!

Enjoy!

Tart is LIVE ON KICKSTARTER through 11/27/20. Go support it HERE!

SHOW NOTES:

Tart #1 - 12 Kickstarter - www.kickstarter.com/projects/tartcomic/tart-1-12-demons-devils-and-demagogues

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Twitter - @KevinJosephCMX

Facebook - @tartofficial

Instagram - @KevinJosephCMX