I’m sure, in your internet wanderings, that you’ve checked out Kickstarter and IndieGoGo, or at least heard about them by now. You’ve probably backed at least one campaign. Every week thousands of new projects are launched through these websites, and many creators have found that this is a great way to bypass the regular publication/distribution model, to get their projects directly into the hands of their fans.
It really is a bold new era, where creators come to you directly with their wares, and properties sink or swim based on the whims of the fans instead of editorial edicts and profit margins.
But seriously, crowd funding has been a game changer in its few years as a viable publication model, allowing many projects that wouldn’t necessarily have seen the light of day come to life because of fans like you. In a lot of ways it has become THE new distribution system, getting unique product directly into the hands of the consumer. Now, there are so many different campaigns being launched on a weekly basis, with a little something for everybody. But where do you start?
Let us be your guide to the thrilling world of crowd funded comics, art books, film, toys, games, and associated geek and sundry. Each week we’ll scour the aforementioned websites, and profile those projects that we feel are worthy of your Paypal fees. Those projects that are offering something different than what you get at your local comic shop. Projects that defy classification, ones with interesting backer rewards, books that you might love, but would otherwise probably not happen without your support. Plus, you get cool stuff!
So here is this week’s campaign, Amazing Heroes: Retro Style Action Figures.
This week’s column is a special one, as Bill Murphy of Fresh Monkey Fiction and Amazing Heroes put aside some time to answer a few questions about the figures and Kickstarter campaign.
What is Fresh Monkey Fiction?
Fresh Monkey Fiction came from a desire to have a place where I could showcase the work of other like minded artists, such as the Artist’s Spotlight section of our site, as well as grow my own projects. Our 1st action figure project is Amazing Heroes, but we also have comic books, like the pulp hero adventures of The Midnightmen and our new kindle novel Pendragon Armada, which is a sci-fi spin on the legend of King Arthur.
What is it you love about these more obscure Golden Age characters?
What’s not to love…the designs, the origins, the wacky stories. There is something simple and innocent about these heroes, their stories were told in a different time. When I read them them I get transported back to simpler time, a time where comics were fun and exciting, not dark and brooding. You can read tons of these stories for free at the Digital Comics Museum.
Do you have plans for more figures in the future?
We sure do! We already have the characters for wave 2 designed and ready to go. We would love to see this line continue, not just with Golden Age heroes, but even some modern day ones, done in this simple, yet classic style.
What do you feel are the benefits of using Kickstarter?
I love Kickstarter. I really think it’s going to change the landscape of how we produce independent products. There are so many upsides, from cost savings to connecting directly with your fans of your work. That’s what I love the most.
What’s next for Fresh Monkey Fiction and Amazing Heroes?
We’ll Amazing Heroes is our focus for now. We’ll be releasing the next volume of our Pendragon Armada series toward the end of the year. We’re also working on revamping another 80’s line.. if you like 3″ gold army heroes it might be right up your alley.
Any last words for our readers?
I’d just like to say thanks to everyone who has supported the Amazing Heroes Kickstarter so far. It’s only been a few days, but it’s been great to see so many people reach out. Please keep posting comments and leaving feedback. If this line gets off the ground it’ll be because of you. If you’re going to Comic Con be sure to check out the contest we’ll be having… more info will be posted this week at www.freshmonkeyfiction.com Now let’s keep going and get us to our Champion of Mars stretch goal figure!!!!
Now, onto the campaign!
“Imagine you’re a kid in the 1980s, surrounded by action figures of every movie, TV, and comic book character you can imagine, all brought to life in molded plastic.
Now imagine you’re the weird kid, like me, who was in to that lost corner of comics, the dusty back issues from the 1940s the other kids never heard of–The original Daredevil. Stardust, the Super-Wizard. The Black Terror. Silver Streak. Then throw in a long-lost toy line like Captain Action.
Let’s just say my homemade figures of these guys got me laughed at on the playground. Lots.
Flash forward thirty years and I’m now a grown man who knows how to make real action figures, one who has found more weird kids like me who love that lost old stuff. You know, the stories where men were men who fought for what was right, heroes who put down dictators and villains bent on subjugation. They weren’t just super heroes, they were AMAZING HEROES.”
I was, and still am, one of those weird kids. I would have killed for these figures back in the day. This line of 4.5″ action figures would have been perfect to go along with my Secret Wars or DC Super Powers figures. Imagine the epic crossover confrontations I could have had! Thanks to this fantastic campaign, that might finally be a possibility. These figures have that vintage look that’s oh so popular right now, right down to their packaging.
These figures are an Alex Ross wet dream for toy collectors, bringing together some of the best remembered action heroes of yesteryear, some getting the action figure treatment for the very first time! This line will include the Black Terror (No Tim though); Captain Action; the original Dare-Devil; Stardust, The Super Wizard; and the villainous Blank Slate; with stretch rewards for additional figures featuring Champion of Mars and Silver Streak. There are Kickstarter exclusive figures for Lash Lightning, Vulcan, the Liberator, and the original yellow and blue Dare-Devil as well.
The window-box style packaging is fantastic, but the limited to 25 sets Kickstarter exclusive bubble packaging jumps right out of the 1980s with retro styling that would totally not be out of place in the Gemco (remember THAT store?) toy aisle. Everything about these figures is great, and not just in a nostalgic way. I want to play with them right now! I just want to reenact this fantastically bizarre Stardust scene.
The figures themselves are awesome, but there are even better backer rewards. Have you ever wanted a custom action figure of your own character? Well, that’s one option. There’s also the Amazing Heroes Handbook written by comic historian Christopher Irving, and the chance for your brand/logo or website to appear on the packaging and other related materials as an official sponsor!
But all of this is only possible if they successfully make their pledge goal, so get pledging! I want a Green Lama action figure one day, but that’s only possible if this first series gets funded.
Be sure to check them out at www.freshmonkeyfiction.com, follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FreshMonkeyFiction, and on Twitter @freshmonkeyfic.