Last week, I had the pleasure of speaking to Dave Ryan, the man creating the HUGE indie crossover story in the comic book realm coming later this year. Dave took time off his busy schedule to answer a few questions regarding this larger than life project.
BelkisNYC: What is War of the Independents?
DRyan: It’s a voice for indie creators. A chance for their character to be seen in an ocean of obstacles. A huge independent crossover in which I hope will spread light on an often-overlooked wealth of ideas.
BelkisNYC: What are you hoping to get out of this concept?
DRyan: Beyond a personal satisfaction a seeing some of my favorite characters together, I hope that many of the creators involved have had their expectations for filled and can recognize the community they have become.
BelkisNYC: What was the process of thinking about it and then actually executing it?
DRyan: It took a lot of time and research to become familiar with all of these fantastic characters. The art alone needed special attention in that it had to stand up on a professional level as well as be aware of the individual creators style.
BelkisNYC: What has been the biggest challenge of launching WOTI?
DRyan: Dedicating my time to a project that is a massive commitment and seeing no financial returns for about 5 years.
BelkisNYC: What are your marketing efforts for WOTI?
DRyan: The Internet is primarily responsible for most of the connections I’ve made and it’s making it much easier to market the concept but in reality you have to pound the pavement and deliver as the Internet translates into about 10% of actual returns and sales.
BelkisNYC: How has social media changed the awareness of WOTI (if at all)?
DRyan: Myspace and Facebook have been a blessing in many ways as well as Kickstarter.
BelkisNYC: It definitely shows that you have a strong following on all three networks. Congrats. What advice would you give to our readers if they ever want to undergo a project like this?
DRyan: Don’t try it! haha
BelkisNYC: Any final thoughts or comments?
DRyan: If you’re a creator and interested in getting your character in the War of the Independents or just want to check out the great rewards available then take a look over at http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/DaveRyan/war-of-the-independents
Also, don’t forget to watch this War of the Independents video.
