A hero trying to save a doomed city. A villain causing the destruction. Tart Acid plays both parts depending upon your perspective.
This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.
I woke up with a bit of "Pay the Mortgage" work to do, but can't complete it for the time being so I thought I'd hit you up with a Day 2 Update. FYI: I usually update about once a day early in the campaign and then ratchet it back to two to three times a week (depends a lot on if something big happens unexpectedly).
As you know, the first day was absolutely incredible. I wanted to say thank you again, so I dusted off this old "Than Kyu" image Ludo created for our Kickstarter Backers:
Ludo and I are continually heartened and humbled by the support for our book. We plan to continue trying to repay that support with a series that surprises, excites and touches you emotionally to the best of our ability.
Stretch Goal #1
We have normally used Stretch Goals to improve the quality of the comic we print. Better Cover quality, heavier, nicer paper stock in the interiors. This allowed us to have lower initial funding goals and work our way up to a comic that physically represents the passion of our readers, and the care the team puts into the story.
We have made the decision to start Kickstarting this time with the "Preferred" version of the comic for a variety of reasons. One of which is, we simply want to deliver the highest quality comic we can. Starting at a higher "floor" takes away some of the fun stretch goals, but it does give everyone a better sense of what they are funding from the get go.
So, if we aren't trying to make the cover nicer, or the pages heavier, what are we actually trying to get done with the funding we raise from here on out?
The simple answer is Tart 14. All funding not used in printing, producing, and delivering these Kickstarter rewards will go to production of Tart 14. That, however, is a really crappy stretch goal.
Cuz we're doing Tart 14 no matter what. There's no "Throw me the Idol, I'll throw you the whip" here.
However, Ludo and I have wanted to start exploring some of the characters and relationships around Tart a bit more as the series progresses. To do that I have written an 8-page story that can act as an epilogue to Tart 13. Ludo has a good bit of the artwork ready. We just have to know if we complete it now, or at a later date.
I don't think we're going to have to wait. When we reach $8,000 raised, we will be able to budget the funds to complete this epilogue and deliver it as a bonus PDF with your digital rewards. This could eventually live in a physical form (who knows, maybe there will be a different stretch goal if we continue to raise funds - hint hint), or it could be a bit like a secret little moment only our backers get. We just want to provide a slightly richer look into our world.
HOW YOU CAN HELP US ACHIEVE IT?
If you are new to Tart, I want to explain one thing about how we view our backers.
You are now part of the team. But you are your own coach. You can be as involved, or uninvolved with this as you want. Our editor Cassandra Bell started out as a reader we met at New York Comic Con.
She volunteered to help check grammar for me on a Kickstarter page just like this. I then read a screenplay of hers and realized she had some serious writing chops.
Now, not everybody is going to end up working on the comic, but we welcome you to take ownership of the success we achieve, just like she did.
Note again: You've already backed us. You've already helped us succeed. So, if that's the end of your interest, that's okay, too.
But if you want to help spread the word, that would be incredible. I can tell everyone in the world this is a great comic. Nobody cares what I think. I'm biased. But you, as a reader saying it. That carries weight.
Part of the reason we created the Appetizer Catch Up was to give our readers a tier they could tell their friends about that wouldn't feel daunting. It's seven comics to read instead of thirteen. And only for $25.
If you are interested in telling people about Tart, this tier is the one I would suggest.
The $13 digital bundle is also a great, great way to check out the book for anybody who is watching their entertainment budget.
This is not to say the $75 Baker's Dozen Catch Up Tier doesn't have value. We have cut our print runs for issues 8-13 by about 75%. So the issues you get there are much more rare, and will sell out much more quickly than the larger print runs we did for Chapters 1-7. Collectors will want those issues in their Collections.
Anymore, we print the number of issues we need to fulfill a campaign and then try to match the number left over from the previous campaign so we can sell them as sets.
KICKSTARTERS I LOVE
I try to spotlight one or two other Kickstarter Campaigns in each update that I feel have merit for our readers. If I share it, I've backed it. And if I share it, I believe the creator behind it will likely deliver on their promises.
I'm really excited about a ton of amazing comics running right now, and these two are right up there for me (they happen to be the very first to close too, so they're getting shared first).
SNOW WHITE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE 1-4
When I read the first issue of Snow White Zombie Apocalypse, I will admit to missing the brilliance. The gore in this book is extreme. I was focusing more on the zombie's exploding as in the image above than the story that was happening around the viscera.
It took a second read before I made a realization. This book is funny.
The high concept is a zombie breakout has occurred in the land of fairy tales, and Snow White and Prince Charming wander the landscape trying to stay alive - with Prince Charming's runaway libido often making that difficult.
There are only 14 hours left in this campaign, so don't delay!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/brentonlengel/snow-white-zombie-apocalypse-1-4
DUST PIRATES
I have good news and bad news on Dust Pirates. The Good News: you have three full days to back this one (still urgent, but not an emergency). The Bad News: I haven't actually read any of this one so I can't do much more than say the writing team comes from the immensely popular Metal Shark Bro series, and everyone who has interacted with them says they are really good dudes.
Since I can't talk about it from my own experience, here is a paragraph stolen from their Kickstarter page:
-- Ysennia, a revolutionary water mage transports two dashing pirates, the quick-witted and charming Blackheart Sam Bellemy and the tough and thoughtful Quinitor from 1790’s Earth to a desert world known as Atlantis in a desperate attempt to save its people from Xsicor, the tyrannical emperor of Atlantis. --
Ooo... looks like we have ourselves another use of Atlantis. That's pretty cool.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ninjanuns/the-dust-pirates
I'll probably send an update Thursday or Friday depending on what is happening with the campaign or production. Feel free to message me through the app or email me at [email protected] for anything you need or want to tell me.
Kevin
PS - I had the joy of joining my friend Shane and Ludo on Shane's brand new Podcast "Beginning, Middle, and End" a few weeks ago. Shane shared the link to the episode today, so I am sharing it with you. This is less Kickstarter intensive talk than last night's, but I think it was a fun exploration into how Ludo and I work together to create this series:
PPS - Please forgive any typos I missed. As you might guess, I was a little too excited to get much sleep last night, and I don't bother Cassie to look these over and save me the embarrassment like she does in the comic.
You joined over 200 people today to make Tart 13 a reality.
I am overjoyed. I am so very, very thankful.
The only thing I am not, is surprised.
We have been inspired to continue our story because of our Kickstarter Community. So we are not going to be surprised when you band together like this to assure us a successful new issue.
But the fact that I knew you would be there for us does not take away from how appreciative I am. Ludo too.
He sent us all the greatest gift today. In celebration of the new launch he actually started art on Tart 14 today and sent me some images. I can't share them just yet, but I can share what I just poured to celebrate this evening.
I had my first taste of Kronenbourg 1664 in London on my Honeymoon. I really liked it, and just happened to note it was imported from France.
It just so happens that a woman I met on the honeymoon later introduced me over email to a French artist who was working on a story starring some Time Traveling Demon Hunters, but he was stuck and looking to collaborate with a writer. Since then, I've tried to grab a 1664 to celebrate many of the milestones Ludo and I reach together.
It feels too right not to.
Ludo once asked me if I would have written a book like Tart if he hadn't been involved. I stopped and really thought about the DNA of the story we were telling. I owed him the real truth whether it was what we wanted to hear or not. I was ecstatic to admit, "There's no way."
This book is a synthesis of his original idea, the inspiration I draw from his art, and how I can find a story that excites me (and I think will satisfy our readers) in that forest of ideas.
This is a 24 day campaign. I'll be updating you on lots of stuff starting tomorrow. But tonight. I raise my glass to you.
You did something incredible today. We have 23 more days to build on it. But we do so in a place of passion and excitement. And that is a place that makes Kickstarters fun!
Thank you so much.
See you tomorrow!
Kevin
PS - This update might have come a little earlier tonight, but my buddy Chucky Pineau and I crossed our streams about what time our talk on Chuck's Shop Talk would start. The good news... I can share the link for our talk if you have interest in listening:
Chuck's Sp Talk Episode 32: Kevin Joseph
Chuck and I shared an Air B&B and Booth at Houston Comicpalooza two years ago and had an absolute blast. I hope this talk is half as fun for you as it was for me. Here's a photo of us surviving a flooding event in Houston that we fool heartedly decided to walk through because our Air B&B was just 6 blocks away from Astros Stadium.
