The big winner outside of CG crowdfunding in the past week was Timothy Lim with his Kamen America x Black Hops event which finished on Kickstarter with $102,351 from 2,280 backers. The crossover event between Lim's most prominent titles was the first Iconic Comics campaign to break six figures on a single crowdfunded campaign.
Still trying to get my brain around Catholic boy Doug Ernst embracing the Anime tiddie-fest that is, well, all of Tim Lim's books. Say three Hail Marys and an Act of Contrition, Dougie. Wonder what his bosses at the Moonie Paper Washington Times think about this kind of thing?
Is it just (credible) non-mainstream/non-CG creators having each others backs or something? Iconiccomics.com seemed (to me, at any rate) to have popped up out of nowhere.
Attached is some preview art of the eponymous "Knifehand" shooting a lime green laser from his hand behind a abstract pile of pistachio, salmon, lavender and beige. Is it supposed to be a building? A wack-ass AT-ST? I still have no idea.
It's almost certainly a knockoff Metal Gear. Zack discovered the franchise sometime last year and start reading about it but not actually playing the games. The new art seems heavily inspired by Yoji Shinkawa and that leads me to believe that the whole project will be shooting for a MGS vibe. Zack's comments when announcing the project were split between "why the fuck are you launching this" and "wooahhh that looks like MGS!!"
For what it's worth, I think it could be cool. But I think it's a bad idea to launch now, regardless of Zack's justifications. The refunding of backers for the Rock N Roll Ninja floppy and t-shirt is what truly baffled me. Especially since, if I'm remembering correctly. the original RNRN campaign (now called "Meep") was just for a floppy. Zack changed this to a 100 page GN because he wasn't happy with the funds raised in the first few days and figured it was because people want bigger books from him. But he left the floppy as an option for those who actually wanted it, which makes sense. And losing thousands of dollars because you don't feel like printing a t-shirt just seems ridiculous to me. This is probably the most appropriate comic to even have a t-shirt available, given the subject matter.
I don't think he's going to be thrilled with the performance of Knife Hand. He 100% should have saved this for a backup story in JAWBREAKERS 4 with Ethan publishing. Not only would he have the full force of Ethan's promotion and energy, but he has stated that the Knife Hand story is a silent issue. No dialogue. That's why it took him a day to write. If you ask me, a silent issue is perfect for a backup. Not so much for its own campaign. If this is a litmus test for how many people will still back Zack's campaigns despite the backlash over his recent missteps, I honestly think he might be in for a rude awakening. He really should just let himself be absorbed by ALL CAPS at this point. I don't think he's cut out for the publishing side of things.
If this is a litmus test for how many people will still back Zack's campaigns despite the backlash over his recent missteps, I honestly think he might be in for a rude awakening. He really should just let himself be absorbed by ALL CAPS at this point. I don't think he's cut out for the publishing side of things.
Zack doesn't seem to be cut out for much of anything lately.
It's actually kind of amazing how he's not only refused the help and advice of guys like Ethan who have his best interest in mind, but actually done the exact opposite of what they suggest. Frog says "Fulfill your late stuff first before anything else" and Zack politely nods and launches another campaign. I've dealt with friends like Zack before and you just eventually have to stop offering your hand to them and let them fail. That's the only way some people can get it together.
While I agree with you that he needs to let someone else handle the publishing side of things, I really don't think Zack has it in him to not be in control of every little detail of every little thing. Having control issues and a lack of focus and foresight is a bad combination. It leads to things like cancelling tiers because you can't be bothered to take the time to fulfill them or changing the entire look and page count of a book which is already six months into funding.
His reaction to fan criticism is probably his biggest pivot on an issue he used to care about. The critical comments on the 499 campaign were met with "Here's a refund". Zack used to heart react every single comment on his YT channel, critical or not, just to let the person know he'd read it. He went out of his way to let everyone know he was paying attention. On the Knifehand video, he only reacts to the comments that kiss his ass and ignores his rightfully pissed off backers.
Dongs compared this to Breitweiser's The Saints campaign and I think that's about right. Zack has been taking his audience for granted and he's due for a massive failure. What his reaction to it will be is anyone's guess but if his "crowdfunding is dying" video is any indication, he won't blame himself.
Zack is a scammer. Collecting money & not delivering the promised products & then announcing new campaigns to get more money is a scam. And this fraud still pretends that he is better than woke Marvel & DC but he is way worse and so are his comics.
I think that's a bit too far about him being a scammer. People are verified to be working on his stuff and he has delivered in the past. He should rightfully be taken to task for being late. But scammer? I can't go there. Yet.
His problem is that he's fucking autistic, easily distracted and refuses to ask Ethan for help due to his pride.
And for some reason he still wants to be accepted by the folks that hate him and will always hate him. This has been apparent for a long time. Throwing blatent SJW comics like Zoë Quinn's a recommendation. Making his main character in those Pandemic comics a fierce black gal. Trying that dumb donation to the trannies suicide foundation. Constantly distancing himself from Comicsgate even though that is virtually impossible. He will always be CG whether he likes it or not. At least EVS understands this and embraces it.
It's almost certainly a knockoff Metal Gear. Zack discovered the franchise sometime last year and start reading about it but not actually playing the games. The new art seems heavily inspired by Yoji Shinkawa and that leads me to believe that the whole project will be shooting for a MGS vibe. Zack's comments when announcing the project were split between "why the fuck are you launching this" and "wooahhh that looks like MGS!!"
For what it's worth, I think it could be cool. But I think it's a bad idea to launch now, regardless of Zack's justifications. The refunding of backers for the Rock N Roll Ninja floppy and t-shirt is what truly baffled me. Especially since, if I'm remembering correctly. the original RNRN campaign (now called "Meep") was just for a floppy. Zack changed this to a 100 page GN because he wasn't happy with the funds raised in the first few days and figured it was because people want bigger books from him. But he left the floppy as an option for those who actually wanted it, which makes sense. And losing thousands of dollars because you don't feel like printing a t-shirt just seems ridiculous to me. This is probably the most appropriate comic to even have a t-shirt available, given the subject matter.
I don't think he's going to be thrilled with the performance of Knife Hand. He 100% should have saved this for a backup story in JAWBREAKERS 4 with Ethan publishing. Not only would he have the full force of Ethan's promotion and energy, but he has stated that the Knife Hand story is a silent issue. No dialogue. That's why it took him a day to write. If you ask me, a silent issue is perfect for a backup. Not so much for its own campaign. If this is a litmus test for how many people will still back Zack's campaigns despite the backlash over his recent missteps, I honestly think he might be in for a rude awakening. He really should just let himself be absorbed by ALL CAPS at this point. I don't think he's cut out for the publishing side of things.
Yes, a knifehand standalone story would do for JB4. He could actually have JB4 ready by the time he fulfills JB3 and EGtH and come out with a campaign that will be delivered by AllCAPS within 3 or 4 months.
My guess is: YBZ is running low on funds and is panicing. His views are getting low (because his videos are becoming re-hashes of his best of).
I mean, do we need 5 Vita Ayala videos a month? Hell no!
This is why more people should go the JSG routine: 1 or 2 videos per week, well scripted and about something he cares about. JSG's LotR videos are great, on the same spirit as his comic videos and he delivers. @COMMI3 MARK is doing right by going for this sort of content and I hope more CGers would follow instead of doing IBS snorestreams.
I was watching this video and at some point he said: do the easiest thing first. No, you dumbass! Eat your fucking frog. Do the toughest job first, deal with it, then go to the easier stuff because if you don't you will keep procrastinating to avoid it.
Seriously, I believe full time youtubing will turn anyone into a cow sooner or later.
I watched Comictropes latest video (on Kentaro Miura) after skipping 3 or 4 of his other videos and I can hardly believe I was watching that guy the day his (scheduled) videos came out. That video on Berserk was painfully mediocre and I get the same feeling from Zack. Stale videos they shove out there for adsense shekels.
YBZ, if you are reading this: Keep Knifehands for JB4ever and start working on it ASAP.
Have it ready by the point you fullfill both your big campaigns, then launch JB4ever, do an apology video explaining what took you so long and how you will fix it in the future, and then aim for the moon.
A bit of a Weeb Wars cross-over:
Nick Rekieta, who will host a panel with Yellow Flash, ThatStarWarsGirl, and Cecil this weekend at Anime Matsuri (Hero Hei may join, too), announced that @PocketJacks will be at that same convention:
But, why? Rekieta, Yellow Flash, and even ThatStarWarsGirl have been involved in Weeb Wars in some capacity. @PocketJacks? Not so much.
Gotta say - YBZ is a massive (heterosexual) faggot. I've been subbed to his channel for years and posted a comment last night in response to his Knife-hand vid which caused him to immediately block me! The offending comment:
Customer opinions DON'T MATTER w/Ya Boi Kelly Zack DeConnick. "If you don't like long delays, don't buy my books. Problem solved!"
I mean - that's a pretty mild roast, right? I guess I struck a nerve. Jesus - this guy used to take the piss out of Nerkish for being too sensitive...
Silent issues should take more writing to get the point across unless it's a writer artist doing the work. Doing a story without dialogue or captions that makes sense takes extra care and attention to detail on lifting for him.
The art looks okay. It's a little concerning that there are no backgrounds in the panels shown though. A silent book is an artist showcase and a reader needs extra detail and story telling to make up for the lack of exposition and dialogue or the experience feels very thin.
John Byrne style backgrounds aren't going to cut it.
Hey @FROG this is a Jawbreakers book, are you publishing it? Is this the finished art without backgrounds? Why isn't this a back up story?
I don't think anyone was champing at the bit for a Knife Hands storycampaign. (edit)
The way I understand it, the main Jawbreakers books will be published by @FROG under ALL CAPS and Meyer will make side stories.
This book falls under the latter.
The problem is backers don't even have Jawbreakers 3.
Gotta say - YBZ is a massive (heterosexual) faggot. I've been subbed to his channel for years and posted a comment last night in response to his Knife-hand vid which caused him to immediately block me! The offending comment:
Customer opinions DON'T MATTER w/Ya Boi Kelly Zack DeConnick. "If you don't like long delays, don't buy my books. Problem solved!"
I mean - that's a pretty mild roast, right? I guess I struck a nerve. Jesus - this guy used to take the piss out of Nerkish for being too sensitive...
- Creating comics (art and story) takes really no time at all. The entire "creative" portion of KNIFE-HAND took two days of work by Richard.
- Making print files for printers, talking to printers, putting together backer lists and talking to fulfillment companies is hard. Its so hard that its where Richard apparently spends all his time.
- Richard has stress-related OCD. When "fans" are critical of Richard, it activates his OCD and slows his work down.
- Richard has to keep launching new campaigns because he has a tremendous backlog of stories that are awaiting being made into even more campaigns. So at the same time that Richard has no time to work on fulfilling books, he has enormous amounts of time to write new scripts and commission new books.
- He seemed at one point that even leaving his house these days is stressful for poor Richard. Going to the post office or shipping center is hard.
- As soon as he ships something that is late, it no longer matters that it was late. The only thing that matters is how many books are currently late.
- After several years of doing this, Richard is still clueless about how to work with a fulfillment company. Knowing how to package things together is hard.
None of that makes any sense. Especially given that Richard doesn't work a real job and he is doing this stuff full time. He did (probably) tell part of the truth when he talked about how he needed books & campaigns coming out on a regular basis without gaps. But he needs that because of the income consequences to himself. He needs to have money coming in on a regular basis to pay his bills. In particular I suspect his child support obligations.
Generating the files for the printer is not as hard as he makes it and if it is hard for him, that work is easily outsourced to people who can do it fast None of the back-end work he is complaining about is particularly difficult and he usually has many months of time in which he could be doing things like producing backer lists. He could also easily have all of the additional junk packaged up for fulfillment months before it was needed. The art on these comics takes months to produce. You don't have to wait until every single page of art is done to start working on the back end tasks.
As usual, there is no explanation of how, given that the back end is so hard, that newer books can end up coming out before the late books.
I would tend to think that the real problem is some combination of (a) him being lazy and (b) him being short on money. Because he has been pushing out low effort work for the past year in a way that someone low on money or behind on money would tend to do. Its not a coincidence that the projects that tend to be late are projects that are rather expensive to produce.
I've always wondered about his finances for these projects. Unlike most crowdfunders, he has to pay for the art. He also is often paying for the writing as well. He is also well behind the grifter curve in terms of the money per backer he is extracting. What seems like alot of money on paper may not be all that much after he gets done paying everyone associated with his books. And paying for all those children of his.
Weird. Why wouldn't a Catholic enjoy an anime inspired comic with a hot heroine?
Silent issues should take more writing to get the point across unless it's a writer artist doing the work. Doing a story without dialogue or captions that makes sense takes extra care and attention to detail on lifting for him.
The art looks okay. It's a little concerning that there are no backgrounds in the panels shown though. A silent book is an artist showcase and a reader needs extra detail and story telling to make up for the lack of exposition and dialogue or the experience feels very thin.
John Byrne style backgrounds aren't going to cut it.
Hey @FROG this is a Jawbreakers book, are you publishing it? Is this the finished art without backgrounds? Why isn't this a back up story?
I don't think anyone was champing at the bit for a Knife Hands storycampaign. (edit)
I’m not publishing it, no. Nothing is coming to ALL CAPS until the other campaigns are fulfilled, I advised him to save this project for JB4, but he wanted to publish it himself immediately.
Man, the hits just keep coming for Mr. Meyer. Why does this feel like a Ponzi scheme now? Is he trying to cover costs of previous crowdfunders with more crowdfunders? This is collapsing faster than a structurally unsound condo in Florida. Ethan's redemption arc must now include telling Zach what he must hear before it's too late. Has Ethan yet admitted what the world has been saying about 499?
Comicsgate: Comics so late and bad, they make the mediocre look visionary.
It took awhile, but the last twitching limbs of Zack's career is set to disappear within the great frog's maw. I don't see any way around Ethan picking up the entire tab at this point. He let Richard test the waters for his own success so some of it is a returned favor. You gotta tell the truth even though it may mean you won't be friends after you say it. Even if he's bound to never publicly trash these moves out of loyalty, it's terribly misplaced and a huge disservice to Ya Boi if he doesn't tell him privately and help him stop the bleeding before amputation is the only option.
Those long ass streams are way better and far more productive for when you're chasing the watch hours for monetization. The time it took to make that Xanderhal video or the Forced Adversity one I could have easily done 6 or 8 Russian Troll Factories and scooped up 5 or 6 times the watch hours from a fraction of the views.
Dunno about Kelly Sue but I could definitely see him offering a job to Mags Visaggio in the future... 
