In a recent livestream interview, comic book creator Steve Kupiszewski shared his unsettling experience with Kickstarter, the popular crowdfunding platform, which abruptly removed his project due to its adult-themed content. Kupiszewski’s project, which had already garnered close to $1000 in pledges, was suddenly terminated by Kickstarter, leaving both the creator and his backers in a state of uncertainty and disappointment.
“I never even knew about [Fund My Comic] until now,” Kupiszewski stated, expressing his frustration with Kickstarter’s decision. “The book is done. I just use Kickstarter for printing purposes, to get the funds for printing.”
The issue came to light when several of Kupiszewski’s backers encountered errors while attempting to pledge to the project. Despite reaching out to Kickstarter support for assistance, no solution was provided. It was only after the campaign had concluded that Kickstarter informed Kupiszewski that his account had been disabled due to the adult nature of his comic.
“It’s not like pornography or nothing, it’s just regular mature audience books,” Kupiszewski explained. “If Kickstarter won’t allow it, [I’ll] have to find somewhere else to do it again.”
This incident has raised concerns among the comic book creator community about the potential for censorship and the limitations imposed by mainstream crowdfunding platforms. Many creators fear that their artistic freedom may be compromised if their content is deemed too controversial or mature for these platforms’ standards.
Larry Higgins of Nyobi Comics also expressed frustration over the incident, stating he was going to head over to FMC and “give Luke a shot”. He also expressed how valuable creator freedom is to the Indie Comics community. “Never hurts to have a backup plan.” he goes on to say.
Enter Fund My Comic (FMC), a crowdfunding platform dedicated to supporting comic book creators and their right to free expression. Luke Stone, the founder of FMC, emphasized the platform’s commitment to creative freedom during the interview.
“First and foremost, we want you to be able to make the book that you want to be able to make,” Stone asserted. “Freedom is not free unless it’s free for everybody. That’s my firm belief.”
FMC’s focus on free speech and its creator-friendly policies make it an attractive alternative for comic book creators who may face censorship on other platforms. The site boasts lower transaction fees, a streamlined user interface, and a growing community of passionate comic book fans who are eager to support projects that push the boundaries of the medium.
“We’re just waiting,” Stone said, referring to the potential influx of creators from Kickstarter. “It’s right now we’re just in the process of trying to market and get the word out there more.”
The platform’s dedication to protecting creators’ rights has already attracted a number of high-profile projects, including “Wild Wild Heart,” a controversial comic that was banned from Kickstarter mere days before its campaign was set to conclude. FMC quickly stepped in, offering the creator a new home for their project and ensuring that their hard work and creative vision would not be lost.
As the comics industry grapples with the challenges of crowdfunding and content restrictions, platforms like Fund My Comic offer a glimmer of hope for creators seeking to bring their visions to life without compromising their artistic integrity. By providing a safe haven for projects that may be deemed too risqué for mainstream platforms, FMC is helping to ensure that the comic book medium remains a vibrant and diverse space for creators and fans alike.
However, the rise of alternative crowdfunding platforms also raises questions about the future of the industry and the role that gatekeepers like Kickstarter will play in shaping the content that reaches audiences. As more creators flock to platforms like FMC, it remains to be seen how the established players will adapt to the changing landscape and address the growing demand for creative freedom and uncensored expression.
For Steve Kupiszewski and countless other comic book creators, the incident with Kickstarter serves as a stark reminder of the challenges they face in bringing their work to the world. But with the emergence of platforms like Fund My Comic, there is renewed hope that their voices will be heard and their visions will be realized, free from the constraints of censorship and conformity.
It looks to me like what Kickstarter is saying is that it’s Stripe that won’t process adult comics projects, not Kickstarter per se, and that if he wants to keep using Stripe to process his projects, then they shouldn’t be adult comics. Not that he can’t do adult comics on KS, just that he shouldn’t use Stripe to do it. I mean, G-Busters just finished and other adult KS projects from a variety of publishers are up and running. It’s not KS, it’s Stripe.