Comments on: On Professional Publishers using Kickstarter

By: Links: Kickstartin’ a Debate

Links: Kickstartin’ a Debate — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 14:36:55 +0000

[...] campaign to publish Unico, Atom Cat, and Triton of the Sea. Writing at Comics 212, for example, Christopher Butcher questions an established publisher’s rationale for using the platform.”I feel it speaks [...]

By: lori

lori — Sat, 30 Jun 2012 01:30:12 +0000

While I was surprised that DMP needed to do this in order to fund these books I don’t think it’s a bad thing, in fact I’m relieve KS is there to help when needed.

Maybe my perspective is a bit personal, seeing as I’m in the middle of closing down my comic book store and liquidating the inventory online as I speak, but after several imprints closing and then Tokyopop hanging by a thread right now, I think we need to keep in mind there is a major issue going on with the manga industry, money. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised DMP is effected as well. In the last 3 years at least 8 lines I read have gone out.

I agree and disagree with the “I don’t care as long as I get manga mentality”. On one hand I think KS it a great legitimate way to fund a project, on the other I don’t believe in scanlation even if it brings me good reads, it hurts the industry and fundamentally tramples the writers/artists rights which is appalling considering your enjoying said artists works.

I also think that while I agree this can be risky and some people will lose confidence in the publisher, I’m sure DMP considered this carefully. And we must aslo keep in mind they publish several books a month via DMP line and their other imprints like June and Doki Doki, so using KS to fund a bigger more premium books, for me is ok, I’ll support them because I want this industry to survive.

By: Hmm

Hmm — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 18:48:45 +0000

Generally KS is used by an individual creator, for example, to get a web comic into print. You’ve followed the comic for a couple years, because the creator has generously shared their creation with you, for free. You’ve anticipated updates, left feedback, maybe you’ve learned (too much) about the creator’s personal life. The idea of KS comes up, there is sincere enthusiasm and appreciation in both the audience and creator, who have been on this journey together, that this project can go to the next level. There is transparency about the process, audience involvement, maybe unexpected setbacks, the triumph of things going right, and finally getting that book in the mail.

DMI is an established company with 1) access to means of production, 2) a mixed record on responsiveness to fans and 3) as a private company no obligation or demonstration of transparency. It is using KS not for original content, but to produce a licensed project with guaranteed profitability (how much? we’ll never know). This seems like a violation of the spirit of KS at least; not the traditional KS audience/creator journey but simply another way for DMI to get money. I’m not interested in the Tezuka projects, or maybe I’d feel differently.

OTOH I am a buyer of their BL, and I admit to selfishly hoping that if KS is a success for DMI, they might use it to fund smaller projects, like printing the final book/s of certain BL trilogies that have been left hanging. I have zero interest in t-shirts, posters, full-color, etc., I just want the standard pulpy paperback, but I would certainly be willing to pay for it in advance through KS, if that’s what it takes.

By: David Oakes

David Oakes — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 15:45:39 +0000

A Publisher that neither Prints nor Markets remains a Gatekeeper. They are using their name cache to say “This is something we like, so you should like it too”. Admittedly, the Creators themselves should be able to do that. But given the industry that we have, at the moment the Publishers have a greater/wider name recognition.

If this is the last gasp of the Great Houses, and we will see the rise of “Warrior King” Creators that will carve out their own turf using KS and IGG as their (mercenary…)armies, this could be a good thing. But it could just as easily become existing powers filling up grassroots efforts in an attempt to block anyone else from usurping them.

By: Do Real Publishers Use Kickstarter? » Manga Worth Reading

Do Real Publishers Use Kickstarter? » Manga Worth Reading — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 22:33:09 +0000

[...] always-smart Christopher Butcher has posted some thoughts about professional publishers using Kickstarter. He’s referring to Digital Manga, which is putting out works by Osamu Tezuka using the [...]

By: Doctor Popular

Doctor Popular — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 21:06:04 +0000

I hear where you are coming from on many of these points, in particular the “lack of confidence” issue when larger publishers go on KS, but I feel like you aren’t addressing the reasons why publishers may want to use KS.

Marketing.

Whether or not you need the dough, putting a comic project on Kickstarter is a fantastic way to promote that product. It’s a way to stick out and find new fans on a still new platform… and it’s a great way to make existing fans feel ownership over a project, which means they’ll be even more passionate about sharing projects they’ve supported.

I’m fine with seeing any publishers using KS to “fund”/promote their product, I just wish they could better leverage it for cheaper products. In other words, if a project does fantastically well, I’d hope they could use that larger order to negotiate better pricing for the final book.