The Anxiety of Launching a Comic Book Kickstarter
- D. P. Brown
- Sep 30
- 3 min read
When people hear the word Kickstarter, they often picture creativity, possibility, and excitement. And yes — those things are very real. But what doesn’t get talked about enough is the other side: the anxiety, the endless second-guessing, and the weight of putting a piece of yourself out there hoping others will support it.
The Tiers: A Balancing Act
This is my 7th Kickstarter. While figuring things out gets easier every campaign I do it's still a lot of work to run. One of the most daunting parts is structuring the reward tiers. They’re not just numbers on a page — they’re promises. Every tier has to be appealing enough to draw in backers but realistic enough that I can actually deliver on it without drowning in costs or logistics. Too simple, and people might skip over them. Too complex, and I risk confusing or overloading myself. The pressure of getting them “just right” can feel like walking a tightrope.
Wearing the Business Hat
Launching a comic book Kickstarter also means stepping outside the comfort zone of being “just a creator.” Sometimes you just want to crawl into a whole and just be concerned with creating. But that's not reality. Suddenly, you’re in charge of marketing strategies, budgeting, shipping logistics, and customer service. It’s not just about whether the story sings on the page — it’s about whether you can afford the print run, whether international shipping is priced right, whether your stretch goals are realistic.
That’s where the artistic side and the business side start pulling in different directions. The artist in me wants to dream big, add more pages, push the creative vision further. The business side has to rein that in: Can I actually deliver this on time? What’s the real cost per unit? Will this reward tier lose money instead of raising it? It feels like playing tug-of-war with myself.
The Waiting Game
Then comes the hardest part: waiting. Watching those first few days tick by as the campaign goes live is nerve-wracking. Will anyone back this? Will people believe in it the way I do? Every new pledge feels like a sigh of relief, every lull feels like a weight pressing down harder. Then comes dreaded Kickstarter DEADZONE! This is where the REAL work comes in. Promoting, reminding people you are still there during the slow down period. You don't want to feel like you're being a bugaboo but at the same time you gotta get this thing funded!
The Desire to Succeed
At the heart of it all is a very human need — the desire to see the project succeed. Not just for me, but for everyone who puts their faith in me by backing it. I want to give them something they’ll treasure, something worth their investment. But that desire can easily twist into fear: what if it fails? What if I can’t reach them?
Why It’s Worth It
Despite the sleepless nights and the anxiety, Kickstarter is also a powerful reminder of community. I love the rush when I look down at my phone and get a green KS notification that someone backed my project. Every pledge is someone raising their hand and saying, I believe in this and I appreciate it so much. People work hard for their money and for them to spend and support my projects just amaze me every time. That’s what keeps me going — knowing that even through the nerves and doubt, there are people out there who want to see the dream come alive.
-DP
Writer and creator of The Theme of Thieves comic book series. Think LOST meets QUANTUM LEAP meets THE WIRE!
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