Table of Contents
Welcome Back (00:00)
Project Updates
Main Story
Indie Comics are Different (03:22)
A Different Angle (04:28)
The Big Naked Crowd (05:47)
Updates
Coming Up on Substack (08:39)
Upcoming Appearances (09:02)
Pesto Comics Release Calendar (09:36)
Instant Ink Comic Book Podcast (11:42)
Super Secret Epilogue (12:12)
Welcome Back
Last week, I opened my post with a story of optimism. Even with all the turmoil and strife in the world, I truly felt like everyone was feeling pretty good about the year ahead.
Boy, did that wear off quickly. I've done myself the favour of not digging too deep into social media rabbit holes this week. More than anything, there seems to be a lot of the old engagement baiting that I thought we were getting away from.
I remain hopeful that we can turn a corner this year. I still think escapism is the way to go versus dystopias and apocalyptic settings. We're already getting our fill of that in real life.
Equally optimistic is the release schedule for Pesto Comics and beyond. As it stands, I'm planning seven more Kickstarter campaigns this year - with 5 comics and 2 prose works - and 6 novellas in two series for Kindle Unlimited. A lot of this work is in various stages of progress, so I'm not feeling overwhelmed by any of it yet, but burnout is a big risk as it all relies on things moving forward smoothly.
None of this counts the first campaign of the year either, one which started the year off with a bang. Naked Kaiju Woman was built for Kickstarter. The same Kickstarter that can't get enough taboo comics. With less than 3 days left in the campaign, I thought it would be fun to look into the topic of NSFW comics on Kickstarter in depth.
But before that…
Project Updates
Less Than 3 Days Left for Naked Kaiju Woman
At 9pm EST, the campaign for Naked Kaiju Woman will come to a close. It's been a surreal campaign as its found what's easily the biggest audience for a Pesto Comics project in the short time it’s been around.
This is being written a little ahead of schedule. As of this moment, the target remains at 500 backers or more. It’s not being unreasonable as there are 580 followers who haven’t backed the campaign yet. Even a 3rd of them will rocket us beyond that target.
It was, frankly, not even a consideration when I hit the launch button for the campaign on January 8th. To have that within our sights is something else entirely.
If you haven't backed it yet, don't wait too long. You'll, of course, be able to pick it up during our next campaign with From Parts Unknown #2, but you won't get all the same sweet bundles as this campaign -- or the last few enamel pins.
Back it while you still can.
Big Smoke Pulp Vol. 1 Off to the Printers…Finally
If I learned anything from the Big Smoke Pulp Vol. 1 campaign - it's not to do a thank you page in the back pages. With the comics, I've been pretty good about getting them to the printers the moment funding comes through. With Big Smoke Pulp, I found myself twiddling my thumbs while I waited for surveys to come in.
Now that they finally have, the order has been put in with the printer and copies should hit my door in a couple weeks. At this rate, it'll be a couple weeks in a row of fulfillment between NKW and Big Smoke Pulp.
Good thing I really enjoy that whole process! I'll be sharing more about all of those in post-mortems in the comic weeks.
But now, let's talk about what really sells on Kickstarter - and everywhere else for that matter: taboo.
Main Story
Indie Comics Are Different
Naughty comics and Kickstarter have been synonymous with one another nearly from the beginning. The whole idea of independent comics is to give the readers something they couldn't pick up at their LCS - though some would argue you could also get naughty comics at the height of the LCS boom in the ‘90s too.
Do you want an instant viral social media post?
Ask if folks are for or against NSFW comics.
You'll get all kinds of answers. Some hate it, swearing they'd never support it. Some say they like it if it's done “right". Other say they're not into it, but they don't begrudge others from enjoying it. Few say they're readers themselves.
And, yet, it's an extremely popular genre of comics.
The fact of the matter is that indie comics are meant to tell stories that you can't find anywhere else. They have the ability to service a niche within a niche within a niche and still find the people interested in the niche turducken you’ve created.
That's the magic of it all. Not just NSFW, but any genre that is underserved in comics market can find a home on Kickstarter (or IndieGogo, or Crowdfundr, etc.)
A Different Angle
Like most things, there's nuance to the entire genre of NSFW comics. Sometimes, it's just an excuse to draw naked women in compromising, and uncomfortable looking, positions. Other times, it's to get to the heart of sexuality and all the fun, raunchy, emotional goodness which that can entail.
In my case, I just thought it would be fun to explore the idea of nudity in comics while having some giant kaiju battles through a city.
Naked Kaiju Woman came to be as a way for me to dip my toe into the NSFW space without losing the heart of the stories I like to tell. I've been very clear that, although it's very much a NSFW book, it's not your typical Kickstarter nudie book. Rafael, JP and I are trying to pull off something a little different than the norm.
More importantly, boobs weren't the only hook with this story.
Some backers may have been drawn in by the NSFW angle alone, sure, but most have said they really like the concepts. The “how does She-Hulk's clothes stay on when she grows" idea. The riff on Attack of the 50-Foot Woman. The satire of nudity in comics in general.
That gets folks in the door (and, as I still can't believe, more than ever). My hope is through the story we've put together, we do more than just titillate with the sight of a giant naked woman punching kaiju through buildings.
The Big Naked Crowd
It's hard not to feel like there's nothing but NSFW comics out there and they're sucking up all the air in the room. It doesn't take long after scrolling the front page of Kickstarter to find dozens of NSFW comic projects coming out every week - and breaking through their goals shortly after launching.
Much like I pick on the folks at cons selling magnets and stickers, it's hard not to resent these projects for “selling out". It's easy to come to the conclusion.
Yet, I think it's an oversimplification. There are dozens of creators doing NSFW their way, which happens to be a very engaging, entertaining way. From Kat Camalia and Phil Falco, to Anthony Stokes, to Charlie McElvy, to Pat Shand, to the many creators at Bad Bug, and a bunch I’m sure I’m missing. Everyone is coming at it in a unique and different way, telling stories that are true to them and not just a straight cash grab.
If anything, doing an NSFW comic is barely a guarantee of success as you're entering the ring with some of the biggest names in indie comics to do so. You have to come with something special to break through. Just having naked ladies, usually, isn't enough on its own.
Do I Have to Do NSFW to Be Successful?
When I wrote Naked Kaiju Woman, it came naturally. I wasn't thinking about how to cash in on a trend on Kickstarter. If I were, I’d have 100 different variants with barely different hair-colours and states of undress to hit new goals.
I wanted to tell a story about characters I feel for - one of which just happens to become a giant woman who fights monsters.
I've put the same level of thought and care into telling this story and growing these characters as I have with any of my projects.
Am I happy I had something that worked for this NSFW crowd? Absolutely. It was a great opportunity.
Would I have forced it if I didn't have an idea that worked? Hell no.
To answer the question of whether you have to do an NSFW book to be successful - I’d say absolutely not. That’s not to say you should ignore all trends on Kickstarter (or your platform of choice) and just do whatever you feel like. Not if you want to really hit new goals and grow your audience.
It just might be a tougher climb. You’ll find your audience if you’re creating great work that breaks through. Superhero comics, for instance, are terribly difficult to sell on Kickstarter - and yet, there are a number of creators doing it successfully.
All said, if you want to do something deeply personal that may not break through, that’s okay too. Just adjust your expectations accordingly.
In the long run, it’s just about creating new and different comics. I'm still a big fan of all things pulp. I love my noirs. I love sci-fi. But, most of all, I love telling stories that have deep characters and fast-paced, multi-layered plots.
If it's checking all those boxes, it satisfies my needs - whether they keep their clothes on or not.
Until next week...
Release Info & Updates
Upcoming on Substack
February 5
Being Cool is Overrated
It’s time to retire “guilty pleasures”.
February 12
Post-Mortem: Naked Kaiju Woman
Reviewing the 6th Pesto Comics campaign.
February 19
Fun with Fulfillment: Big Smoke Pulp Vol. 1
Part II of the Big Smoke Pulp Vol. 1 Post-Mortem
Upcoming Appearances
Pesto Comics Release Calendar
Lots to come in 2025 and a lot in various states of fulfillment.
By clicking the link or clicking here, you will find a spreadsheet keeping you up to date with all of our releases in one handy spot!
Instant Ink Comic Book Podcast
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