Comic Book Resources

Read Super Human Resources #1 for free

Super Human Resources trade cover

You might remember back in February when I ran a guest column by Ken Marcus, writer and creator of the mini-series Super Human Resources. Marcus shared some of this thoughts on how he approached marketing the book.

And just because the mini-series has run its course doesn't mean that the marketing ends -- Marcus dropped me a note over the weekend about the trade paperback collection of the mini-series. To help promote it, he and Ape Entertainment have put the first issue out on the web for free. The book is in this month's Previews, with an order code of JUN090688.

Guest column | Tips on marketing your comic

Super Human Resources #1

Editor's Note: I started talking to Ken Marcus, whose Super Human Resources comic comes out from Ape Entertainment next month, some time ago about doing a quick Q&A for the blog. But after doing a quick Google search, I realized I was way behind the curve. So instead, he agreed to write up a guest column. Playing off of a post I did last year, he offered to share some of the things he's learned about marketing his indy comic over the last few months.

And if you aren't interested in this topic, we've got you covered as well -- Marcus also sent over some preview pages from the first issue.

by Ken Marcus

Hey, peeps. My name is Ken Marcus. I’m the creator of the new mini-series Super Human Resources from Ape Entertainment. #1 is due in comic stores at the beginning of March.

Why am I talking to you? Um, besides shamelessly whoring my own book out? I’ve learned a few things about marketing my indy comic along the way, and I thought it would be helpful to share them with those thinking about publishing their own book. Particularly in light of the new Diamond sales thresholds.

Am I an expert? Hardly. Our sales numbers are not exactly lighting the world on fire. But they were pretty good for an indy from a first-time creator. In…I don’t know…the worst economic climate ever to launch a comic. I’m also an associate creative director at one of the top ad agencies in the country. So I know just enough about marketing to be dangerous. So I wanted to share what we learned. Starting with this little pick-me-up:

People do not care about you. Not readers, not retailers, not the press and maybe not even your publisher. No one gives two turds about your book except for you. (The publisher thing isn’t really true, but regardless, this NEEDS to be your working mindset.) So making other people give two turds about your idea rests solely on your shoulders. That’s another way to say “marketing.”

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