Looks like Jim simply ignores the Bravura continuity. And I’m fine with that!

This is a project definitely worth funding!

Got the notice there was only 48 hours left and it had been funded, so I had to make my decision whether to back it or not. I was avoiding spending much of anything especially on what amounts to essentially frivolous stuff while I was out of work, but it looks like I will be going back in a couple of weeks and we've managed ok with unemployment and stimulus payments, so I broke my no buy rule and backed this to get the hc and the Dreadstar Universe source book.

-M

It might make it in some form, but it is a Kickstarter exclusive hardcover, which means whatever makes it to stores will be different unless the store buys it for sale from Kickstarter (which means you will pay more in store since they will pay the Kickstarter price-I didn't see a retailer backer level like some campaigns do). Usually that means a stripped down paperback version without any of the extras and different cover art. Of course, that's assuming a publisher distributed by Diamond picks it up as it won't meet publisher minimums for Diamond to carry it on its own (publishers have to meet a minimum number of units moved before Diamond will even consider carrying them and not every publisher who meets that minimum gets picked up-a single hardcover or trade is not going to move enough units to meet that minimum threshold. And the Dreadstar Universe Guide is a Kickstarter only volume, so that will not likely make it to stores in any form.

I understand the reluctance to fund Kickstarters, I avoided it for years, and I realize that some campaigns are preludes to wider releases, but those are more exceptions than the rule, and if there was a publisher already interested in carrying this, it's unlikely Starlin would have had to Kickstart it. Add to that, his last Kickstarter was wildly successful blowing past its funding goal, but those books still haven't been picked up for distribution by any publisher working with Diamond, and I wouldn't count on seeing this in stores in the future.

-M

PS and that isn't even taking into consideration the effect the Diamond shutdown will have on the market and what looks to be retailers and publishers contracting rather than expanding the number of books they carry to dela with the short term aftermath of the shut down.

My secret agenda, I want to hit the stretch goal and get the set of Starlin prints

but, moreso I don't want people who are interested in this to miss out. I really hope it hits wider distribution, but I just wouldn't count on it right now. I myself am regretting not backing his last Kickstarter, I just couldn't swing it at the time and I doubt those books will ever hit the market.

-M

I thought this was already done and expired. I was waiting for my copy to arrive. 

I just got the survey request last night, so progress is happening with the delivery process on these.

-M

I'd bet if you asked the average movie goer who was responsible for the ideas in those movies, they'd say Stan Lee or Kevin Feige and couldn't name Starlin even if he got named in the credit thank yous. So there's not lot of name recognition for Starlin with that billion dollar movie that is going to fuel any kinds of sales for a project of his. Further, Starlin had lots of editorial conflicts during his last stint at Marvel and burned some bridges, and none of his OGN projects set the sales world on fire. Further, both Slave Labor Graphics and Dynamite lost money publishing trade collections of the Dreadstar material in the last decade or so, cancelling them before the finished the entire run, so no one was lining up to do more Dreadstar or more Starlin projects. despite Dreadstar getting optioned (especially since it has wound up in development hell and likely will never see the light of day as an actual film or TV project).

He certainly has a core fanbase (of which I am a part of), but that core base is not large enough to move the dial enough for a publisher to take a risk on a publishing venture like this. Starlin is an established creator, so he won't come cheaply, he owns the property so there's no chance of a larger payoff for media rights down the road or licensing/merchandizing of the property, so where exactly is the appeal to an established publisher to sign up for this type of project? It is exactly the kind of project that Kickstarter can handle and handle well.

-M