Kickstarter Corner is back and focusing on Nix Comics Quarterly, published by our very own Ken Eppstein!
Kickstarter is the fundraising website that's become a home for comic creators looking to raise funds for their self-publishing projects. Kickstarter allows creators a set amount of time to raise money for a specific project. Projects receive pledges from members of the site to fund the project. However, members only have to fund the site IF the project is the project is 100% backed by the deadline date. If short by even one dollar, the project is left without any funding, giving a certain do or die mentality to the projects on the site. In an effort to provide some of these projects an extra boost, Kickstarter Corner will periodically take a look at Kickstarter projects that look to provide a something fresh and different to the world of comics.
Today's Kickstarter Corner focuses on one of our very own columnists, Ken Eppstein. Ken is the publisher, editor and writer for the Stumptown Award nominated
Nix Comics Quarterly, a horror anthology featuring some of the best horror art and stories from some of Columbus Ohio's finest creators.
"
Nix is a rock n roll horror anthology featuring artistic contributors that I've gathered from both my friends who are into comic books and friends who are long time rockers," said Eppstein. "I'm a big fans of bands like the Ramones, Cramps, Misfits and the Kinks and I intend to Nix to be the illustrated equivalent of one of my idols' albums: A bunch of fast paced and slightly twisted fables. Power-pop on a page!"
While the first issue was written entirely by Eppstein, issue #2 featured stories by Patrick Roach and Dustin Goebel and issue #3 will feature a piece written by Rachel Deering. In addition, Eppstein employs a variety of local Columbus artists such as Max Ink, Michael Neno, Matt Wyatt and Bob Starker. Wyatt and Starker are both long time Columbus area music scene fixtures, adding to Nix's rock music and comic crossover motif and appeal. Eppstein also has an open submission policy (found here), which gives writers and artists across the country a chance to write and illustrate for the book.
When asked why he created
Nix Comics Quarterly, Eppstein explained that it was due to a lack of comic book material on the market that he was interested in. "I decided to take my cue from the micro-brew guys who were tired of the same ol' Budweiser vs. Miller dilemma and decided to make their own beer. Nix is the type of comic I would want to buy myself."
Nix Comics Quarterly has received its share of accolades and acclaim as well. In addition to some local reviews, Nix was also nominated in the Best Anthology Category of the Stumptown Awards. When asked about how Nix has been received, Eppstein replied "It's a little spooky.... Everybody who reads the book, from straight-laced co-workers to burned out rocker types, says they like it. I was particularly shocked and flattered when I submitted it to Stumptown and was nominated in the best anthology category. Thank you to the nomination committee out in Portland. I keep waiting for a bad review."
While Eppstein has enough money saved to pay his artists, Eppstein is turning to Kickstarter to help defray the printing costs for the upcoming issue of
Nix Comics Quarterly. "I think that Kickstarter provides an easy tool for asking for help from your friends and supporters. It's to art patronage what Ebay was to the old fashioned yard sale. It used to be hard to resell used items due to the limitations of letting people know what you had and figuring out how much it was worth. Ebay provided a fun and interactive solution to that problem with the on-line auction format. Kickstarter does the same thing for raising funds for art projects."
Eppstein already has a strong start on Kickstarter, with 84% of his goal of $500 already pledged with over three weeks remaining on his campaign. Eppstein has met success on Kickstarter befor. "My goal was a modest $500 for the Kickstarter campaign for issue #2," said Eppstein. "I ended up receiving over $700! That's like listing an old record on ebay for 99 cents and having two crazed collectors bid it up to $50 bucks!"
For those interested, a $15 Kickstarter pledge will get you all three issues of the anthology sent to your home. At the end of the day,
Nix Comics Quarterly is a book worth reading. If you enjoy punk or garage rock, horror anthologies such as Creepy, or good, gritty local comics, then be sure to support Nix Comics Quarterly! Click
here to donate to the cause!
Written or Contributed by: Christian Hoffer
http://173.199.169.70/index.php/features/miscellaneous-features/14645-kickstarter-corner-nix-comics-quarterly.html/
by LOLtron » Wed Jul 13, 2011 10:48 am 
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