Posted in: Comics | Tagged: Comics, Darren Merinuk, entertainment, Ken Eppstein, kickstarter, Nix Comics, Rockin' Bones Comics

Nix Comics Turns To Kickstarter To Fund Two Releases For Record Store Day

Ken Eppstein writes for Bleeding Cool:

My name is Ken, editor, publisher and lead writer for Nix Comics.  I started Nix Comics in 2010 shortly after closing my record shop in Columbus, Ohio.  The comics I publish made to be at home both in comic shops and record/music shops. The first Nix Comics publications were funded by selling off all of the old store stock, but that money has long since been depleted and I've turned to Kickstarter to publish special projects, like the two publications I am currently trying to get to the shelves by National Record Store day in April of 2015.

Darren Merinuk's Rockin' Bones Comics originally ran for four issues on NEC in the early 90s.   Each issue was chock full stories inspired equally by pre-code horror comics, Roger Corman-esque B-Movies and records by garage, surf and punk records.  In true punk rock fashion, Rockin' Bones wasn't appreciated in its time, but since its cancellation and thanks to Merinuk's prolific career as an album and poster artist, it has become beloved by the greasy rocker kids of the world.  Robert Hack, artist of Archie's new the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina has called Rockin' Bones "one of the coolest comics of all time."

The collected edition will come in the be 120 pages long, include new and revised artwork from the same period of Merinuk's career and come in the same 5"x7.5" pocket size as Nix Comics other successfully crowd funded book, Mark Rudolph's Closing Doors and Pure Entertainment #1.

Pander Bear was created by Bob Ray Starker and myself to be a voice for all of the devious, belligerent, manipulative and otherwise unsavory thoughts that run through my head when marketing Nix Comics.  Pander Bear is a bizarre creature of my Id who does and says the things I'd like to think I would never do or say.  The original Pander Bear webcomic ran in 2011 and 2012. He has appeared in various advertising and marketing pieces since, including a facebook page that could be used as a clinic on how NOT to promote a kickstarter.

The Pander Bear Comic and Record Set will include annotated versions of all the original web comic strips as well as unpublished strips and material previously only seen by retailers in the Nix Wholesale catalog.  The record portion of the set features covers of Cheap Trick's "I Want You to Want Me" and Stiv Bators (of Dead Boys fame) "I'm An Evil Boy" both lyrically altered to be in Pander Bear's voice.  The music is performed by Columbus cartoonist Matt Wyatt's band, dubbed The Unbearables for this project.

Rewards Include:

Books:
$1+:  Pay What you Digital PDFs of both books.
$15:  The Pander Bear "I Want You To Want Nix" Comic and Record Set.
$18:  The Collected Rockin' Bones TPB
$25:  Both comics
$50:  Both comics plus signed copies of all four Rockin' Bones issues (Limited to 10.)
$100:  Both comics plus Issues #1-7 of Nix Comics Quarterly, #1-2 of Nix Western Comics (Including a comic and Record Set), Mark Rudolph's Closing Doors and Pure Entertainment

Books and Records:
$25:  The Rockin' Bones TPB and the Mants "Destroyed by Fuzz EP" (Limited to 10.)
$50:  Various Albums with Darren merinuk art from his personal collection plus both books. (Limit 1 each)

Original Art:
$75:   A Test Pressing of "I Want You To Want Nix" with a Hand Drawn Pander Bear sketch. (Limited to five)
$200:  Pages of Original Art from from Rockin' Bones (Limit 1 each, natch!)

Swag:
$5:    A Set of Nix Comics Stickers
$18:  One of three print designs, including the new Rockin' Bones cover,

Martian Romance by Merinuk and Pander Bear by Matt Wyatt
$55:  A Pander Bear Softie Toy, hand made by Indie Comix crafteur Evette Makes Things (Limited to 5.)

Being a small pub that has put a lot of focus on local as opposed to national marketing, I know that a lot of you probably haven't heard of Nix Comics.   Tell you what I'll do… I'll send a link with review PDF copies of all of the Nix Comics publications to date to anyone who both pledges to the campaign and sends an email to ken@nixcomics.com with the subject line "Bleeding Cool."  That's good for any reward level, including the digital "pay what you want."  (Sorry to be cynical, but to keep folks honest, the link will be sent after the Kickstarter ends.)

I also would like to extend a wholesale rate offer to any shop owners who contribute to the campaign.  I'll double the number of books offered for any of the non-limited quantity reward levels for any shop or shop owner that pledges.  Again, pledge and then send me an email to ken@nixcomics.com with the subject line "Bleeding Cool: Retailer Pledge."  Include a link to your website or facebook page and I'll thank and tag you on social media.

Kickstarter Link:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/nixcomics/nix-comics-presents-rockin-bones-vs-pander-bear

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