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Kickstarter Marketing 101 on The Corner Box - S3Ep38
The guys get into the real mechanics of launching a comics Kickstarter without just throwing a link into the void and praying to the algorithm gods. David breaks down why the campaign is won before launch day, how email lists and “notify me” clicks create the first-day fire, and why stretch goals work best when they feel like party favors instead of cheap bait. John digs into the questions creators actually ask: do updates cost pledges, do non-comics audiences convert, and how much should you show before you spoil your own book? From there, the conversation jumps into “Here’s What John & David Read This Week” with Joe Palmer’s Destination Kill, the absolute fever dream of Neil Adams on Mr. T and the T Force, and a heartfelt detour into the wild, too-short career of Seth Fisher. It’s part creator survival guide, part comics archaeology, and part “how did Mr. T end up kicking through a roof?”
Captions:
“It’s almost like doing a pre-order for the pre-order.” — John translating Kickstarter strategy into direct-market terms
“When you generate $10,000 in 12 hours, Kickstarter pays attention.” — David on why day-one momentum changes everything
“The stretch goals are kind of like the party favors.” — David on treating a campaign like a celebration, not a begging bowl
Splash Page:
[00:00] – Hall of Fame Host Energy: David kicks things off by needling John with the Transformers Hall of Fame intro, and John takes the bait beautifully.
[03:32] – The Kickstarter Firestarter: David lays out the big lesson: if you wait until launch day to build heat, you may already be cooked.
[06:57] – Pre-Campaign Is the Campaign: The “notify me” page becomes the whole game, turning awareness into day-one pledges.
[13:32] – Three Hours to Funded: Super Kaiju Book 3 hits its goal fast, giving David a real-world case study instead of vague creator advice.
[16:49] – Stretch Goals as Party Favors: David reframes extras as a celebration for backers and a smart way to move fence-sitters.
[25:14] – Link in Bio or Get Buried: The guys get into how social platforms punish links and force creators into smarter, weirder promotion tactics.
[34:09] – Don’t Ignore the Monster Fans: David makes the case for chasing kaiju lovers, roller derby people, and genre fans outside the comics bubble.
[48:51] – Mr. T Saves Literacy and Kicks Through a Roof: John opens a polybagged time capsule and finds Neil Adams, gold chains, moral chaos, and pure comics madness.
[51:58] – The Seth Fisher Appreciation Lap: David revisits The Flash: Time Flies and celebrates Fisher’s dense, inventive, future-shocked artwork.
Support the Corner Box:
David Hedgecock (https://www.funtimego.com) - The Corner Box Co-Host
John Barber (https://www.pugworldwide.com) - The Corner Box Co-Host
The Corner Box (https://www.thecornerbox.club) - Official Website
Dive Deeper Into the Back Issue Bin:
Creators Mentioned
David Hedgecock (https://www.funtimego.com) - The Corner Box co-host and Fun Time Go publisher breaks down his Kickstarter playbook from direct experience.
John Barber (https://www.pugworldwide.com) - The Corner Box co-host, longtime Transformers writer, former IDW editor-in-chief, and current PUG Worldwide editor-in-chief asks the creator-side questions that make the Kickstarter talk useful.
Rolando Mallada (https://www.instagram.com/rolomallada) - Artist on Super Kaiju Rock-N-Roller Derby Fun Time Go, praised by David as a major selling point of the campaign’s interior art.
Bart Sears (https://www.bartsearsart.com) - Legendary artist discussed as a past live-event guest and character designer for Sugar Bomb.
Rich Johnston (https://bleedingcool.com/author/rich-johnston/) - Bleeding Cool writer mentioned as receiving a launch-day exclusive for the Super Kaiju Kickstarter.
Jay Gonzo (https://www.instagram.com/jaygonzoart) - Artist behind the collector’s box artwork for Super Kaiju, praised for his Day of the Dead-inspired style.
Dave Baker (https://www.heydavebaker.com) - Creator mentioned through John’s Jay Gonzo story and a broader comics-world connection.
Joe Palmer (https://www.instagram.com/palmerjoeart) - Artist of Destination Kill, which John calls a fantastic first issue.
Neal Adams (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neal_Adams) - Legendary comics artist whose work on Mr. T and the T Force sends John into full back-issue joy mode.
Mr. T (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._T) - Pop culture icon at the center of the wild Now Comics book John brings to the table.
Pete Stone (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Stone_(writer)) - Writer credited in the discussion of Mr. T and the T Force.
Seth Fisher (https://www.floweringnose.com/) - The late artist celebrated for his inventive, dense, wildly imaginative comics work.
John Rozum (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Rozum) - Writer of The Flash: Time Flies, the Seth Fisher-drawn DC one-shot David revisits.
Sergio Aragonés (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergio_Aragon%C3%A9s) - Referenced as a comparison point for the amount of visual information packed into Fisher’s pages.
Zeb Wells (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeb_Wells) - Writer of Fantastic Four/Iron Man: Big in Japan, one of Fisher’s last major works.
Joe Hill (https://joehillfiction.com/) - Writer mentioned in connection with a posthumously published Seth Fisher story.
J. M. DeMatteis (https://www.jmdematteis.com/) - Writer of Green Lantern: Willworld, remembered as a perfect match for Seth Fisher’s surreal visual imagination.
Mark Badger (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Badger) - Artist mentioned by John while connecting DeMatteis’ stranger comics work to Fisher’s energy.
Topics & Resources:
Super Kaiju Rock-N-Roller Derby Fun Time Go: Fuji-Tengu Flames (https://bleedingcool.com/comics/super-kaiju-rock-n-roller-derby-fun-time-go-fuji-tengu-flames/) - The Book 3 campaign discussed in the episode, including its launch push and press strategy.
Kickstarter Comics (https://www.kickstarter.com/comics) - The crowdfunding ecosystem David breaks down throughout the first half of the episode.
Bleeding Cool (https://bleedingcool.com) - Comics news site mentioned as part of David’s launch-day press push.
Comic Geek Speak (https://www.comicgeekspeak.com) - Podcast mentioned as part of David’s campaign outreach.
Destination Kill (https://oni-press.myshopify.com/products/destination-kill-1) - The Oni Press sci-fi comedy John recommends during the weekly reading segment.
Oni Press (https://oni-press.com) - Publisher of Destination Kill, brought up during John’s new-comics enthusiasm.
Mr. T and the T Force (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._T_and_the_T-Force) - The bizarre Now Comics back issue John brings in, complete with Neil Adams art and a polybagged trading card.
Now Comics (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Now_Comics) - Publisher behind Mr. T and the T Force.
Superman vs. Muhammad Ali (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman_vs._Muhammad_Ali) - Neal Adams classic used as a comparison point for big, goofy, high-energy celebrity comics.
The Flash: Time Flies (https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Flash:_Time_Flies_Vol_1_1) - The Seth Fisher-drawn DC one-shot David uses as his entry point back into Fisher’s work.
Green Lantern: Willworld (https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Green_Lantern:_Willworld_Vol_1_1) - Seth Fisher and J. M. DeMatteis’ surreal Green Lantern story, remembered fondly by David.
Fantastic Four/Iron Man: Big in Japan (https://www.marvel.com/comics/series/1845/fantastic_four_iron_man_big_in_japan_2005_-_2006) - The Marvel mini-series by Zeb Wells and Seth Fisher discussed as one of Fisher’s final major works.
Myst III: Exile (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myst_III:_Exile) - Video game David mentions as part of Seth Fisher’s creative path before returning to comics.
Locke & Key (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locke_%26_Key) - The Joe Hill series connected to one of Fisher’s posthumously published comics stories.
Justice League Europe (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justice_League_Europe) - Bart Sears’ run is referenced while David talks about bringing him into Fun Time Go live-event orbit.
Rocky III (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocky_III) - The film that made Mr. T’s Clubber Lang iconic, referenced through the Mr. T trading card.
Marvel (https://www.marvel.com) - Mentioned across the episode through David and John’s industry histories, Fisher’s Big in Japan work, and the broader state of current comics.
DC Comics (https://www.dc.com) - Mentioned through Seth Fisher’s DC work, The Flash: Time Flies, Green Lantern: Willworld, and the current comics landscape.
IDW Publishing (https://idwpublishing.com) - Referenced through David and John’s editorial history and the wider independent comics scene.
View all episodes
By David & JohnThe guys get into the real mechanics of launching a comics Kickstarter without just throwing a link into the void and praying to the algorithm gods. David breaks down why the campaign is won before launch day, how email lists and “notify me” clicks create the first-day fire, and why stretch goals work best when they feel like party favors instead of cheap bait. John digs into the questions creators actually ask: do updates cost pledges, do non-comics audiences convert, and how much should you show before you spoil your own book? From there, the conversation jumps into “Here’s What John & David Read This Week” with Joe Palmer’s Destination Kill, the absolute fever dream of Neil Adams on Mr. T and the T Force, and a heartfelt detour into the wild, too-short career of Seth Fisher. It’s part creator survival guide, part comics archaeology, and part “how did Mr. T end up kicking through a roof?”
Captions:
“It’s almost like doing a pre-order for the pre-order.” — John translating Kickstarter strategy into direct-market terms
“When you generate $10,000 in 12 hours, Kickstarter pays attention.” — David on why day-one momentum changes everything
“The stretch goals are kind of like the party favors.” — David on treating a campaign like a celebration, not a begging bowl
Splash Page:
[00:00] – Hall of Fame Host Energy: David kicks things off by needling John with the Transformers Hall of Fame intro, and John takes the bait beautifully.
[03:32] – The Kickstarter Firestarter: David lays out the big lesson: if you wait until launch day to build heat, you may already be cooked.
[06:57] – Pre-Campaign Is the Campaign: The “notify me” page becomes the whole game, turning awareness into day-one pledges.
[13:32] – Three Hours to Funded: Super Kaiju Book 3 hits its goal fast, giving David a real-world case study instead of vague creator advice.
[16:49] – Stretch Goals as Party Favors: David reframes extras as a celebration for backers and a smart way to move fence-sitters.
[25:14] – Link in Bio or Get Buried: The guys get into how social platforms punish links and force creators into smarter, weirder promotion tactics.
[34:09] – Don’t Ignore the Monster Fans: David makes the case for chasing kaiju lovers, roller derby people, and genre fans outside the comics bubble.
[48:51] – Mr. T Saves Literacy and Kicks Through a Roof: John opens a polybagged time capsule and finds Neil Adams, gold chains, moral chaos, and pure comics madness.
[51:58] – The Seth Fisher Appreciation Lap: David revisits The Flash: Time Flies and celebrates Fisher’s dense, inventive, future-shocked artwork.
Support the Corner Box:
David Hedgecock (https://www.funtimego.com) - The Corner Box Co-Host
John Barber (https://www.pugworldwide.com) - The Corner Box Co-Host
The Corner Box (https://www.thecornerbox.club) - Official Website
Dive Deeper Into the Back Issue Bin:
Creators Mentioned
David Hedgecock (https://www.funtimego.com) - The Corner Box co-host and Fun Time Go publisher breaks down his Kickstarter playbook from direct experience.
John Barber (https://www.pugworldwide.com) - The Corner Box co-host, longtime Transformers writer, former IDW editor-in-chief, and current PUG Worldwide editor-in-chief asks the creator-side questions that make the Kickstarter talk useful.
Rolando Mallada (https://www.instagram.com/rolomallada) - Artist on Super Kaiju Rock-N-Roller Derby Fun Time Go, praised by David as a major selling point of the campaign’s interior art.
Bart Sears (https://www.bartsearsart.com) - Legendary artist discussed as a past live-event guest and character designer for Sugar Bomb.
Rich Johnston (https://bleedingcool.com/author/rich-johnston/) - Bleeding Cool writer mentioned as receiving a launch-day exclusive for the Super Kaiju Kickstarter.
Jay Gonzo (https://www.instagram.com/jaygonzoart) - Artist behind the collector’s box artwork for Super Kaiju, praised for his Day of the Dead-inspired style.
Dave Baker (https://www.heydavebaker.com) - Creator mentioned through John’s Jay Gonzo story and a broader comics-world connection.
Joe Palmer (https://www.instagram.com/palmerjoeart) - Artist of Destination Kill, which John calls a fantastic first issue.
Neal Adams (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neal_Adams) - Legendary comics artist whose work on Mr. T and the T Force sends John into full back-issue joy mode.
Mr. T (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._T) - Pop culture icon at the center of the wild Now Comics book John brings to the table.
Pete Stone (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Stone_(writer)) - Writer credited in the discussion of Mr. T and the T Force.
Seth Fisher (https://www.floweringnose.com/) - The late artist celebrated for his inventive, dense, wildly imaginative comics work.
John Rozum (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Rozum) - Writer of The Flash: Time Flies, the Seth Fisher-drawn DC one-shot David revisits.
Sergio Aragonés (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergio_Aragon%C3%A9s) - Referenced as a comparison point for the amount of visual information packed into Fisher’s pages.
Zeb Wells (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeb_Wells) - Writer of Fantastic Four/Iron Man: Big in Japan, one of Fisher’s last major works.
Joe Hill (https://joehillfiction.com/) - Writer mentioned in connection with a posthumously published Seth Fisher story.
J. M. DeMatteis (https://www.jmdematteis.com/) - Writer of Green Lantern: Willworld, remembered as a perfect match for Seth Fisher’s surreal visual imagination.
Mark Badger (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Badger) - Artist mentioned by John while connecting DeMatteis’ stranger comics work to Fisher’s energy.
Topics & Resources:
Super Kaiju Rock-N-Roller Derby Fun Time Go: Fuji-Tengu Flames (https://bleedingcool.com/comics/super-kaiju-rock-n-roller-derby-fun-time-go-fuji-tengu-flames/) - The Book 3 campaign discussed in the episode, including its launch push and press strategy.
Kickstarter Comics (https://www.kickstarter.com/comics) - The crowdfunding ecosystem David breaks down throughout the first half of the episode.
Bleeding Cool (https://bleedingcool.com) - Comics news site mentioned as part of David’s launch-day press push.
Comic Geek Speak (https://www.comicgeekspeak.com) - Podcast mentioned as part of David’s campaign outreach.
Destination Kill (https://oni-press.myshopify.com/products/destination-kill-1) - The Oni Press sci-fi comedy John recommends during the weekly reading segment.
Oni Press (https://oni-press.com) - Publisher of Destination Kill, brought up during John’s new-comics enthusiasm.
Mr. T and the T Force (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._T_and_the_T-Force) - The bizarre Now Comics back issue John brings in, complete with Neil Adams art and a polybagged trading card.
Now Comics (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Now_Comics) - Publisher behind Mr. T and the T Force.
Superman vs. Muhammad Ali (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman_vs._Muhammad_Ali) - Neal Adams classic used as a comparison point for big, goofy, high-energy celebrity comics.
The Flash: Time Flies (https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Flash:_Time_Flies_Vol_1_1) - The Seth Fisher-drawn DC one-shot David uses as his entry point back into Fisher’s work.
Green Lantern: Willworld (https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Green_Lantern:_Willworld_Vol_1_1) - Seth Fisher and J. M. DeMatteis’ surreal Green Lantern story, remembered fondly by David.
Fantastic Four/Iron Man: Big in Japan (https://www.marvel.com/comics/series/1845/fantastic_four_iron_man_big_in_japan_2005_-_2006) - The Marvel mini-series by Zeb Wells and Seth Fisher discussed as one of Fisher’s final major works.
Myst III: Exile (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myst_III:_Exile) - Video game David mentions as part of Seth Fisher’s creative path before returning to comics.
Locke & Key (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locke_%26_Key) - The Joe Hill series connected to one of Fisher’s posthumously published comics stories.
Justice League Europe (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justice_League_Europe) - Bart Sears’ run is referenced while David talks about bringing him into Fun Time Go live-event orbit.
Rocky III (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocky_III) - The film that made Mr. T’s Clubber Lang iconic, referenced through the Mr. T trading card.
Marvel (https://www.marvel.com) - Mentioned across the episode through David and John’s industry histories, Fisher’s Big in Japan work, and the broader state of current comics.
DC Comics (https://www.dc.com) - Mentioned through Seth Fisher’s DC work, The Flash: Time Flies, Green Lantern: Willworld, and the current comics landscape.
IDW Publishing (https://idwpublishing.com) - Referenced through David and John’s editorial history and the wider independent comics scene.