Last week saw the release of Alt-Hero #1 to backers. I read the book and thoroughly enjoyed it (though I did read the script much earlier). Now we’re seeing the digital release on amazon to the general public. Already this morning it’s the #1 new bestseller, #2 in the category overall, and at #2,200 of all books in the kindle store. An impressive start after already having broken barriers with its $235,000 crowdfunding campaign.
The book launching again to incredible success on Amazon is just another message to the establishment. Get with the times, or you’re going to be run over. The thing is, they’ve shown time and time again at Marvel and DC that they have no interest in changing, no interest in caring what their customers think, and no interest in anything except for pushing their extremist agendas, so even with success here, we won’t see these companies making a move. They’re backed by big Disney and Warner Bros. money. It doesn’t matter if they make a profit. They exist for film licenses alone.
But where this will have an impact is for companies that struggle to make ends meet like Image, IDW, Dynamite, and the other small companies. It will take more than just a book reaching this level of success, or even two now that we have Jawbreakers and Alt-Hero, but if we can keep up the momentum on our end we’ll end up changing the industry, because the companies that do struggle to survive WILL want to at the very least get advice from those who are making money. These are businesses after all.
They’ll have to get with the times and get with the cooler, non-corporate approved content in order to maintain their audiences who are expecting fresh stories with fresh takes. We are putting out fresh ideas and fresh books that are reminding people of what it was like back in the old days, when writers weren’t censored in the name of political correctness.
There’s a lot more to come. I’m 4,000 into my draft of the Alt-Hero novel after working hard this weekend, and I have comics on the way as well. For now, the momentum is on our side, let’s keep the pressure on and keep it going.
If you want to help me create comics and keep the pressure on, support my Patreon. It’s about the only way this blog is monetized if you’d like to just help out, but I also put up short stories, novel snippets, and other cool content. Support is about halfway to where I’d be able to create a weekly web comic of a page a week to get things going–which is definitely where I want to be. As soon as we get there, the sooner we can move the needle.
Hausman says
It dropped pretty quick, but then the crazies that listen to InfoWars gave it a boost.
Laurie says
D&C says he’s heard from insiders that Disney’s about had it with Marvel’s low sales, and is going to come down hard. I’m not holding my breath, but they did just fire G. Willow Wilson from Ms. Marvel for low sales.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Marvel comics was put under the aegis of Kevin Feige at the cinematic universe?