Comics get launched on Kickstarter all the time – from webcomic collections to new creations to everything in between, creators use the platform to see their creations come to life. But Double Take, a new publisher based out of New York, has one of the most ambitious, yet affordable, Kickstarter campaigns I can recall.
First of all, the company – led by Bill Jemas, former Marvel Comics vice president – is using Kickstarter to raise $15,000 to bring the world 10 new ongoing series. Those comics are all set in the same universe as the George Romero classic Night of the Living Dead, and all ten are launching at once. The Kickstarter is quite a unique one, both in its low overall cost, the value per dollar of its comics, and how simple the reward structures are: $5 gets you 10 digital comics, $10 gets you 10 print comics, $20 gets you a year’s digital subscription to all ten, $50 gets you all the trade paperbacks of the first arc of the ten new series. Aside from a few bundles and art prints, that’s it – it is all about these comics.
I got to ask Jemas a few questions about the company, the launch, the subject matter, and more. If this sounds interesting to you, here is the link to their Kickstarter, which is halfway funded with more than a month to go.
Note: Double Take is an advertiser at Multiversity Comics. However, this is not paid content and this interview was set up prior to the advertising agreement.
My first question, when I heard about Double Take, was this: why Night of the Living Dead? What is it about this property that spoke to you enough to launch an entire line in the same universe?
Bill Jemas: It’s the best thing in the public domain. Night of the Living Dead offers expansive leeway for world building and allows us to make it our own, and we do.
How closely will these stories get to the action from Night of the Living Dead? Will we encounter familiar characters and settings, or are these simply tales set in that world?
BJ: A little of both — want a peek? It was important that we include the characters that are familiar to fans of the film, but we also go far beyond the limits of the film and the world you know. Take a look at our website where the first 10 issues will be free. “Z-Men” #1 is already up in full for free now.
This is one of the most ambitious publishing launches in recent memory from a new publisher – why go with ten books to start?
BJ: The standard for new comic book companies is failure. We are striving for greatness, and 2 or 3 books at a time won’t get us there. A universe begins with a Big Bang not a whimper.
Your Kickstarter is fascinating for a few reasons; first of all, your incentives are extraordinarily affordable, and almost egalitarian in what is offered: no limited edition prints, no variants, just comics. To me, that shows how confident and proud you are of the books. Was there a temptation to do something more extravagant for the rewards?
BJ: We are very proud of the stories we are telling and the work will stand on its own. We may offer more extravagant rewards once we hit goal and go toward a stretch goal.
Unlike a lot of new publishers, Double Take has a large, quite successful corporation as the parent company. With that in mind, why was a Kickstarter the way to go for you guys? Is this as much about getting the word out and building an audience as it was about raising the funds?
BJ: We are using Kickstarter differently in that we want comic fans to get the product easily and affordably while allowing retailers to get in on the ground floor much more affordably than they can through distribution. Readership is goal #1.
The Kickstarter mentions a second set of books coming in 2016 – will these be similarly set in the Romero-verse, or is that going to open up another shared universe?
BJ: Same universe, with some twists. I think you’ll like it.
The lineup of creators on these books are, for the most part, relatively unknown to mainstream comics fans. What can you tell us about each of the creative teams to pique our interest?
BJ: We have three star writers doing two books each: Jeff McComsey (best known for his Zombie collections, Fubar and Mother Russia) is on “Z-Men” and “Rise,” Brian Finklestein and Peter Aguero – our Moth Radio Hour Grand Slam champions – are professional writers and storytellers and are also doing two each. Brian on “Slab” and “Medic,” Peter on “Home” and “Honor.” Double Take is fortunate to have three wonderfully talented creators working in the office, Michael Coast, our story editor, along with Julian Rowe and Kurt Tiede – graphic artist.
You were at Marvel for one of the most important and yet tumultuous times in their history – what, from that experience, do you bring to Double Take? Which project – launching a new company, or reviving a flailing one – seemed more daunting?
I think I’m genetically programmed to fix broken things. “I love the smell of napalm in the morning”. Starting anew is certainly more daunting for me.
Finally, give our readers a reason to drop $10 on these books.
These are great stories by great storytellers. The way they weave into a common universe makes the 10 books for 10 bucks a really fun reading experience.
