To those who suggested Kickstarter; no, I won't be using any crowdfunding platform. Can't be bothered to over complicate things for myself with different pledge levels. I like to keep things simple; print the comic and then offer it for sale. Nor would I want anyone else to publish it, as the whole incentive for me in self publishing is to be in complete control of the comic for a change.
So... it's at the same stage it's been for the past couple of years. It'll be out sometime but I don't know when. My priorities have to be to my mainstream work as that's what pays the bills so self publishing is on the back burner for now. Sorry I can't give you more definite news about it as yet. I'm sure you can appreciate that we're all living in difficult times these days with the escalating cost of living. Although work is picking up a little with various one off art jobs I'm not out of the woods yet. (But I'd end up living in the woods if I blew it all on printing comics that don't break even for years.)
I would be happy to loan you the money for a small interest fee repayable in 12 months and perhaps 10% of sales? If you're agreeable say yes and I'll e mail you so you know who I am. This is a genuine offer Mr.Stringer.
ReplyDeletePS I would be willing to increase my loan so you could afford full colour printing throughout in which case my interest fee may be higher and I would expect 12% of sales. Please respond to this message. Your benefactor.
ReplyDeletePlease consider this. I am reaching out to you. It would be a good business decision to accept my offer.
ReplyDeleteThank you but that won't be necessary.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry if I gave the impression my post was a cry for help. It wasn't. It was intended as a statement of fact that I will be self publishing again but currently I can't give a date as to when.
I'm sure you mean well but I won't be seeking any loans or reliquishing any percentage of sales profits to anyone. As I said in my post, the thing I enjoy about self publishing is that I have control over my comics. I've no interest in doing full colour versions as that would take considerable time colouring the pages and would double the price of the comic, which wouldn't be welcome by anyone.
Thanks again for your offer but it's a firm "no" I'm afraid.
Mr Stringer I think you're being a fool declining my generous offer but I will extend it until the end of this week for you to reconsider this opportinity. You would not hesitate if you knew who I was. Just reply with a simple yes and we will condider that a binding contract, then I will e mail you to reveal my identity. You have until the 14th of this month.
ReplyDeleteI've already given you my reply so I'd ask you not to call me a fool. A fool would take some anonymous stranger up on an offer that sounds as suspect as yours. Agreeing to it in a blog comment would NOT be "a binding contract". Your whole "generous offer" reeks of it being a scam. Do not contact me again.
ReplyDeleteWell said, Lew. I'm one of those folks who are very keen to see Colin #5, but not if it means you entering any Faustian pacts. I can't think of a single example from the history of comics where giving away control worked out to the benefit of a creator.
ReplyDeleteThanks Tony. Hopefully I'll get issue 5 out sometime this year. Reprints of No.1 and No.4 will be first though.
ReplyDeleteKeen to see #5, but only when it is something you have time and some comfort to be able to enjoy doing so.
ReplyDeleteThanks Gavin. I wish I could say when that will be as the issue has been delayed for two years now. With the cost of living being what it is I can't promise anything yet. Any income is immediately spent on bills right now.
ReplyDeleteLike most people I totally understand this Lew. We really are living in strange times at the moment anyway but Combat Colin is yours and I don't blame you for wanting to keep total control of this. Of course I am happy to wait until you are ready to publish it and complete the series and I'm just grateful for you doing this. Part of me still hopes that after this finishes (will this go up to about 7 if you publish the follow up stories at the conventions?) that you then do Robo-Capers too! Carry on the great work.
ReplyDeleteThanks. It'll be six issues including some of the follow up stories, then the plan is to do the colour strips from Aces Weekly in an A5 horizontal comic special. All just conjecture at this point though as I've recently lost more work.
ReplyDeleteNo chance of a Robo Capers collection unfortunately as Marvel still own it. Not that they'll ever reprint it though. I understand a few Robo-Caspers strips turn up in the back of IDW's collections of Marvel UK's Transformers stories but they never send me complimentary copies so I've no idea how many they've used.
Oh that's brilliant! It will be worth the wait and I look forward to that. That's such a shame about Robo-Capers and very disrespectful of IDW not to contact you first as they know that you are the creator. From what I remember I think that they published the strips you did of the funny Transformers that didn't make the grade.
ReplyDeleteDarren
I was contacted recently to be told they're going to use a couple more but I doubt I'll receive a book.
ReplyDelete