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Archie Comics Answer Its Kickstarter Critics

archYesterday, Archie Comics launched a Kickstarter appeal to fund their new Riverdale Reborn line. Citing cashflow problems with their new Target/Wal-Mart deal as the factor behind needing to use a Kickstarter to launch the new line.

A couple of retailers took umbrage at this, and there were questions from other creators and retailers as to why Archie Comics was choosing this option, the impact it might have on retailers, and the offers being made to customers.

Well, Archie Comics has added a FAQ to its Kickstarter appeal. And is answering some of the questions raised…

No. This Kickstarter was created to help fund the creation and accelerated launch of three #NewRiverdale comic book series geared for the comic shop market: Jughead, Betty and Veronica and Life with Kevin. The reason you've seen Target and Wal-Mart come up is because we had the huge (but not cheap) opportunity to get space at those major outlets for our mass market/digest titles. That meant we had to slow down the production on the #NewRiverdale series. But we didn't want that! So, here we are.

No— these books will be sold exclusively in comic shops. You'll find our digests and mass market product at Target and Wal-Mart.

Overall, it means we'll have Archie Comics #NewRiverdale comics in comic shops (not mass-market retailers like Target or Wal-Mart) much faster than we would have otherwise. It means comic shops will be able to sell more titles to fans that enjoy ARCHIE #1, and it also means Archie as a company will be able to create even more top-tier product for the direct market. The Kickstarter is NOT meant to compete with the direct market. If anything, the project was launched to help create products for it!

Good question. Obviously, spending any money is completely your call—the extra price is meant to support the goals of the Kickstarter, plus cover price. But again, completely up to you!

I'd like to add that the Kickstarter exclusives are more likely to retain their value for the amount donated – as this is the only way they can be acquired, then Archie have set the market price.


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Rich JohnstonAbout Rich Johnston

Founder of Bleeding Cool. The longest-serving digital news reporter in the world, since 1992. Author of The Flying Friar, Holed Up, The Avengefuls, Doctor Who: Room With A Deja Vu, The Many Murders Of Miss Cranbourne, Chase Variant. Lives in South-West London, works from Blacks on Dean Street, shops at Piranha Comics. Father of two. Political cartoonist.
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