D.J. Coffman - Sequential Artist, Thinker

So it’s been an interesting week after my 32nd birthday. Lots going on, too much to think about let alone be able to talk about, but some things are on my mind professionally, etc. I’m in between my work on the Free Comic Book Hero By Night stuff, and starting up on issue 3 of the series, so I’ve had time to work up new business plans and just generally think more about business and the future and help out friends and encourage other creators. I love it… sometimes I get scared shitless for brief moments, but most of the time I feel that we’re ALL really onto something BIG. Webcomics+Comic Books+Hollywood+New Media— it’s all exciting to think about.

The other day, our friend Scott Rosenberg emailed us (us being Jason Embury and myself) asking for some help in the blogging realm of things. He had a previous blog setup for him, but it was not efficient and not really a blog, it was actually setup on a pHp bulletin board forum system, and he had a lot of spam coming in, and it was just generally complicated for him to login and actually DO this blogging thing. Not that we’ve been ragging on him about it, but as friends we generally want him to have a BETTER blog. And it’s not that he’s webtarded either, but this guy is just so busy in his job that he’s never had time to get in and learn all this stuff, installing Wordpress, setting up Mysql databases, I know it all sounds complicated and technical, because I was there once too! But it goes without saying, between Jason and myself, well definitly myself, I know all that stuff like the back of my hand and it can be done quickly— within a few hours, using our WONDER TWIN powers, Jason and I built him a respectable CEO blog over here, check it out.

I forgot to mention, he also happens to be our BOSS in a way, head of Platinum Studios and all that, but that’s not why we did it– and I don’t think that’s why Scott asked us– we would have done it for any friend of ours who needed help, and Jason and I both sort of virtually high five and point at each other and say– WE’RE AWESOME! And it just feels good, you know?

One the business side of things, Platinum Studios is just awesome. Awesome to deal with, awesome people inside… from the personal assistants (go Shev!), to the graphic artists (Nicollette, Tony, Zach) and to the folks in charge on all levels. I wish i could give them all shout outs. I only know about business from a DIY point of view, and it’s been a learning experience talking with BIG GUNS about much bigger things. It’s true– there’s no doubt about it, the comic book publishing side of things is NOT a money maker, not for any publisher really, but here’s Platinum Studios in this awesome position where they are in the heart of new media, film, tv, directors— BIG deals.

I’ve been talking to Scott a lot this week about new plans, or kicking ideas around– it’s interesting to meditate on what I can do on our my as a sort crack unit, grassroots, social object, webcomics, comic book producer, covering smaller costs. Say, I can probably do sales direct to my fans on back issue stock, make $3k in a month, and put that back into the overall HBN machine for promotion, etc… sort of a all-in-one promotion/advertising/micro-merchandise budget—- but a plan like that won’t work on their level of business, because their ad guy or sponsor guy isn’t hustling after the smaller money, he’s going for deals with BIG companies. 6 figure deals…. stuff we can’t do on that level. There are webcomics guys out there who say, HEY, you CAN do it yourself, don’t sign up with a company like Platinum, etc etc— but that’s not true. The truth is, Hero By Night is just beginning, it can’t really command some 6 figure sponsorship deal on its own through their ad guy, they can sell package deals and work with bigger companies. So yes— there are GOOD things that can happen on their end, and I also believe where the boat has been missed is on the small deals. Maybe this is the REAL key here somewhere. For creators signed up with Platinum to be able to micro-manage their own brands at some point. I’m trying to find a NEW way of accomplishing all this with what we have here, and I think I’ve come up with some interesting plans.

Why do I do this though? I could just rest on my laurels like other creators, collect a check or page rate and let that be that and move on to the next thing. I think I do it because I CARE. Not just in my own stake in the company with HBN, but how this could work for other creators or brands inside their character library. They have this HUGE library built up of properties that only get pitched around Hollywood, and that’s fine– it’s totally worked for them. But I’m sort of taking their slogan to a new level in my head…. “Comics fueling media everywhere…” — so to me, there HAS to be “comics”– they’re a public company right now, soon to be traded and all that (I don’t know how any of that stock stuff works) and right now, I feel SUPER happy that HBN is their flagship title out there—

While the sales aren’t stellar right now, (no comic really is these days!) the book is changing minds about Platinum out there in the comics community. It’s garnering great reviews over and over again, and I think it can grow into something special. It’s not that I think we can revolutionize the comics world with one title, I think it’s that I KNOW we can. And I’m not going to rest on my laurels.

Ok, off to draw and loosen up a bit here.