Kickstarter

'The Objectivist' Fixes a Major Irritation of Comics Kickstarter

Indie creators team with Neon Ichiban on simplifying the digital comic redemption portion of crowdfunding campaigns.

If redeeming digital comics rewards were easier, would you pledge to more comics Kickstarter projects? At the very least, that's one big perk included in the recently launched campaign for original graphic novel The Objectivist, which is partnering with Neon Ichiban for digital fulfillment.

The Objectivist comes from the talent-packed creative team Curt Pires (Galactic, Fireborn), Alex Diotto (Indigo Children, A Ghost Arm...), and Luca Casalanguida (Lost Fantasy). The 140-page story follows a man who decides to take a stand against corruption in his city after being inspired by a vigilante comic strip, bringing haunting questions about the morality of such actions. In other words, the side of heroism in comic book stories we don't typically see. A truly stunning ashcan short story is included with the campaign launch (you can snag it for FREE).

The graphic novel will be made available for backers to read on Neon Ichiban's digital comics platform, where it can take full advantage of features like Frameflow guided panel reading mode. Backers can also download a DRM-free PDF after signing up for an account. No keeping up with Dropbox links or requesting access from Google Drive. I suspect that'll cause grumbles from some purists, but most average comic readers will dig it better than the alternative...

Getting the digital companion version of a Kickstarter comic has always felt like a messy afterthought. That's the nature of sending PDF files months after requesting them. Like two ships passing in the night, remembering to circle back for your digital copy is a pain (as previously opined), and pushes it into the same actionable headspace as employer emails and other important documents you are encouraged to keep copies of for record-keeping.

"It gives people more of a tangible product when it’s connected to a digital comic service [better] than simply handing off a PDF. They’ll still be able to download PDFs if they want but it also enables us to offer cool things like digital remarques," – Curt Pires

I enthusiastically backed this project, especially after seeing it would also show up in my Neon Ichiban library – no navigating to download a file, remembering which folder to drop it into, etc. Also, let's be honest, folks: how much are you really prioritizing that digital backup copy if you selected the "Jae Lee variant Hardcover Edition" reward tier?

"It gives people more of a tangible product when it’s connected to a digital comic service [better] than simply handing off a PDF. They’ll still be able to download PDFs if they want but it also enables us to offer cool things like digital remarques, and the whole ecosystem behind the delivery to service them if there’s any issues," Pires told Weird City on why the team chose to partner with Neon Ichiban. "Beyond that, it represented a good cross-promotional effort that builds on the relationship I already have with DSTLRY and neon ichiban from Galactic."

Remarques is a platform feature allowing creators to generate revenue from signatures and custom sketches on digital books (aka Remarques) sold through Neon Ichiban. In other words, fans can bring their iPad to conventions to get their specific copy personalized like they would a print version, or purchase a commission online from eligible creators.