Kick-Watcher: Martin Monsterman, Black Idol vol 1 and LUST (NSFW)

By: Henry Barajas

Project: Martin Monsterman- Graphic Novel

Talent/Project Manager: Manny Trembley

Days to Go: 27

Goal: $7,000

The spiel: Manny Trembley is debuting his latest ALL AGES graphic novel with his company Fish Tank books.  Before he started his own company in this free comic book market he co-produced PX! Book one and two and co-created/ produced the two three-issued Sam Noir: Samurai and Sam Noir: Ronin Holiday.

It is the story of poor Martin Monsterman (pronounced like Letterman) who one day wakes to find himself the recipient of an inconsiderate curse. Each day he receives a notice (via letter, television, singing telegram, etc.) that explains that he will turn in to a specific monster that day. He must spend the whole day as that monster, and when a new day starts, he will change into something else. He could be a Godzilla-type creature, a crab man, a werewolf, a vampire, or the cockroach that ate Cincinnati. With the help of his two friends he must search the world for a way to reverse this daily, punctual curse. Martin Monsterman is an “adventure-monster-comedy” that has the potential to be developed in multiple standalone graphic novels.

What has worked for a lot of Kickstarter projects is something called “stretch goals.”  It’s where the project manager sets a smal achievable goal and create higher tier amounts with better incentives.  This is a good marketing strategy that has worked with obtaining more customers.  Trembley has done a good job with giving people visual examples of what they will be getting at every pledge level. I think it gives the potential supporter a better idea of what they are getting aside from the comic book.  More information is always better then less.

My goal is simple. Produce my graphic novel, Martin Monsterman in full color. That ain’t cheap. With your help I will raise the $7000 I need to get full color books printed and ready for you as well as conventions and for sale online. Martin Monsterman is my second release through FishTank Books. And it won’t be the last.

Project: BLACK IDOL, VOLUME 1

Talent/Project Manager: Peter Popken

Days to Go: 25

Goal: $40,000

The spiel:

THE STORY

A kingdom of wealth and grandeur reliant on a force so vast it shakes the earth. An island in a sea of poverty and suffering.

Standing between mysticism and tyranny, on the edge of apocalypse, a girl and a boy seek the truth and ultimately justice.

You know when buy a comic book and you say, this looks like a movie and video game.  BLOODLUST  is a product of every visual media you love.  Peter Popken has worked as a production artist of Prince of Persia, Speed Racer movie, V for Vendetta, UNKNOWN starring Liam Nelson, Martin Scorsess’s HUGO and the upcoming THOR: The Dark World.  The first nine beautiful pages are previewed on the Kickstarter pages.  Here is the page that sold me on the book:

THE GOAL

To produce the highest possible quality graphic novel, containing a suspenseful story with striking characters and artwork worthy of a collector’s bookshelf. In order to achieve this, I need to take a year off, to write, draw, manufacture the book and finally send it to all of you.

You can get the digital version of the book for only $25 but the printed hard cover edition will cost you $50.  Even though Popken didn’t make his name at DC and Marvel, I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets picked up after this project. My only worry is that he doesn’t find out the vast difference in what comics pay compared to what he’s used to in Hollywood.

Project: LUST

Talent/Project Manager: 44FLOOD 

Days to Go: 23

Goal: $4,400

Goal Status: Exceeded

The spiel: Ben Templesmith, Steve Niles and mention3 bring you a horror story that you can enjoy in various mediums all in one massive product.

LUST is a prose book, a comic book, & an art book by Steve Niles, Ben Templesmith, & menton3 exploring the interplay of virtue & vice.

LUST will be a limited-edition 9×12″ two-sided 48 page hardcover book written by Steve Niles with art on one-half by menton3 and art on the other half by Ben Templesmith.

LUST is being produced by 44FLOOD, as we’re all about offering unique projects direct to the reader that would often be considered unsuitable to the industry at large. Our goal is to get you involved through this Kickstarter campaign to make LUST a reality.