Asking Hard Questions Of EY3K0N’s Adam Pollina About Kickstarter

Posted in: Comics, Comics Publishers, Current News, DC Comics, Marvel Comics, X-Men | Tagged: adam pollina, EY3K0N, gran theft auto, grand theft auto, Khaby Lame

Adam Pollina got here again to comics final 12 months with one thing referred to as EY3K0N, alongside Jae Lee, Tom DeFalco, Jim Cheung, and Khaby Lame.

Adam Pollina is a comic book e-book creator and illustrator finest recognized for his work over thirty years on Marvel Comics’ X-Force and Rise of Apocalypse, Angel: Revelation at IDW, Charlemagne at Defiant, Rai and Fallen World at Valiant, Loose Cannon and Big Daddy Danger at DC Comics, after which final 12 months Pyrate Queen from Bad Idea Comics. A robust type someplace between Mobius, Jamie McKelvie and Geof Darrow, his work has been in demand from advertisers and designers consequently… however then he got here again to comics final 12 months with one thing referred to as EY3K0N. Which launched with massive names and a giant NFT launch. He then launched the very first comedian on Kickstarter that includes probably the most adopted TikTokker on the earth. The mission, which fairly frankly seems to be completely attractive and I’m completely down for, does not appear to have the Kickstarter backing one may anticipate. As it stands, regardless of getting the Kickstarter entrance web page yesterday, it has donations of $23,168 from 139 backers with 24 hours to go. Well over its purpose, however that isn’t what I’d anticipate from a brand new graphic novel from the likes of Jae Lee, Tom DeFalco, Jim Cheung, Siya Oum, Ulises Arreola, Ron Frenz, Pat Olliffe, Richard Starking, Allesandro Micelli, Kewber Baal, Fernando Ruiz, A.Ok.A, Blake Northcott, Scott Lobdell in addition to former artistic director of Xbox Studios Sean Stewart as lead author, with the co-creator of Grand Theft Auto Stewart Waterson and Jesse McMillin. And sure, Khaby Lame is probably the most adopted individual on TikTok. Turns out that when you construct it, they do not at all times come. So what is going on on with EY3K0N? I requested Pollina…

Rich Johnston: Adam, you’ve got been out of comics for some time however got here again massive with EY3KONS. What’s the largest distinction you’ve got seen between then and now?

Adam Pollina: Honestly, it seems like we’re all on the identical workforce — the creators and the followers.  When I used to be a child beginning out at Marvel, there was a complete advertising division and publicity division between the creator and the media and the creator and the followers. Long earlier than social media, there was no avenue for a younger Adam Pollina to speak on to followers exterior of going to the half dozen or so comedian e-book conventions throughout the nation.   The occasional retailer signing.   There have been instances I’d go to the places of work and depart with just a few piles of letters to the editors however it could have been out of the bizarre to write down to somebody at their residence. Now, right here we’re within the days of social media, and any fan wherever on the earth can attain out and say they beloved this, or “Try harder” or “Where did you learn to draw?”. With Kickstarter, it may be much more intimate for the dearth of a greater phrase.  It is extra like a partnership.   It is saying, “Hey guys, look what I and the rest of my team made!  Do you want in?”  They attain into their wallets and say “Hells yeah!”  I can see the numbers tick up with each single backer and I can reply their questions straight. So sure, it’s totally different and I could not be any extra enthusiastic about how we’re making comics immediately.

Rich Johnston: Did you discover attaching that launch to the NFT market, simply because the NFT market was about to fall off a cliff, an issue looking back?

Adam Pollina: I do not take a look at life as a collection of obstacles.  I at all times see all the pieces as a chance. Growing up, I fell in love with Batgirl when she appeared in season three of a present that was cancelled.   But somebody at DC was watching and so they introduced her into the DC fold and he or she’s been round ever since.  Comics, films, animated tv reveals, the works. There was one other character, who began on an animated DC providing, Harly Quinn.   I can not say for certain however I’m fairly certain she began as a one-off who simply bought tremendous loopy fashionable to the purpose she’s had her personal collection for ten years, she’s had her personal films and animated collection. The level is nobody is aware of the place inspiration comes from or what characters or worlds are going to talk to a wider viewers. When it’s a 50-year-old doll like Barbie or Bazooka Joe the cartoon, or Cap’n Crunch the film. So I’m grateful every single day that the world of EY3KON was launched to the world and the people who supported us then are nonetheless our base.  And they’re standing with us as we develop. I see Rebel Studios as a content material creation firm and I see it as a spot that has attracted a few of the most proficient creators within the enterprise in addition to permitting me to succeed in out to individuals who see EY3K0N as their first alternative to work within the trade. From small acorns do mighty oaks develop, because the saying goes.

Rich Johnston: You’ve introduced in Khaby Lame, probably the most adopted individual on all of TikTok to be a part of the graphic novel, along with his personal character, and he is been featured on the TikTok channel. But the take up of the Kickstarter by his followers appears to have been comparatively non-existent. How come?

Adam Pollina: That is simply partially true.   Because once you take a look at the metrics — and I do not really feel it my place to share another person’s numbers — Khaby introduced 10s of thousands and thousands of eyeballs and hits to the mission.   He introduced us an consciousness that we might by no means have reached on our personal. Anyone that followers him on TikTok is watching him at no cost.   I used to be by no means below the phantasm that the core of his base was going to signal on to Kickstarter and pay X-amount of {dollars} for a product that they won’t have any familiarity with (As you realize there are some individuals who do not even realise comedian books are nonetheless printed and even the place to search out them). But Rebel Studios is right here for the lengthy haul — and if there have been individuals who did not essentially reply to one in every of our properties does not imply they will not leap on the subsequent comedian or the subsequent function movie we put out.

Rich Johnston: What does it say about TikTok influencers normally?  

Adam Pollina: What do I do know?  I by no means actually seen myself as their target market.   What are your theories?

Rich Johnston: Makes me marvel if I ought to ove a few of my very own promotion elsewhere… But you’ve a few of the largest and finest comedian e-book creators throughout the trade on this mission. How conscious do you assume their followers are of EY3KONs?

Adam Pollina: Honestly, I’m not fully sure. Several of our creators do not even have any social media platforms.  The Kickstarter may very well be the primary time they’re listening to concerning the EY3K0Ns. Quite a lot of our efforts have been in attempting to succeed in viewers on new and creating platforms. But we wish completely nobody left behind.

Rich Johnston: EY3K0N simply made it onto the entrance web page of Kickstarter.com yesterday? Has that moved something?

Adam Pollina: I’m certain it hasn’t damage us in any approach.   The reality is we have at all times regarded to BleedingCool to spice up our numbers!   Let’s speak once more after this text comes out.

Rich Johnston: No stress. I seen Black Mask simply added Bleeding Cool tier covers to Godkiller. Does that assist? No thought. But let’s have a look at what occurs, as a result of I genuinely assume this EY3K0N comedian seems to be very cool, and perhaps, simply perhaps it is going to be even cooler if solely 139 individuals have backed it. Okay, let’s formally make that 140 EY3K0N donors whereas I’m typing this, we could? Putting my cash the place my youth is. They say the largest time to push a Kickstarter is earlier than you launch, and simply because the marketing campaign ends. With twenty-four hours left to go, what do you hope from the ultimate push?

Adam Pollina: I’d be mendacity if I stated I would not like to see even increasingly individuals be part of within the closing stretch.   (We’ll be including add-ons and even giving freely each onerous copy and digital incentives to make sure.).  But if the web took two days off and I realized on Saturday we hadn’t made a dime extra, I’d transfer ahead thrilled on the connections, the backers, the followers we have made and the creators we have gotten to work with creating our personal world. I’ve acknowledged many instances we’re right here for the lengthy haul.  In reality, I’m going to print this text out and pin it to my drafting board so once you interview me for our ten-year anniversary, we’ll speak about Rebel Studio’s previous and future. As at all times, thanks, Rich, for giving creators a platform to share their ideas and goals.

Rich Johnston: November the thirtieth, 2033. I’ve simply checked and it is a Wednesday. See you then, Adam. And the EY3K0N anthology’s Kickstarter concludes tomorrow…

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rebelstudios/the-ey3k0n-anthology

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