Since the conversation has gone all over the map, I've decided to grab this and focus the conversation to be a little more specific in a SURVEY FORMAT.
Below will be 16 questions. Take 5-10 mins to answer, since the answers will help benefit everyone.
- Questions 1- 11 are for everyone
- Queston 12 is for anyone outside of North America
- Questions 13-16 are for Creator/Publishers
For this thread, let's just stick to the questions and stay away from debates on art, or announcements on the next big company idea. By aggregating this information, I think it will be informative to us all as to how you as an individual, company, producer or purchaser can respond to the information.
Please provide your answers in an alternate color so it's easier to distinguish questions from the answers.
If you feel uncomfortable with any questions, you do not need to answer it. Some of these questions of course may be slightly leading - for that I apologize.
AN UNOFFICIAL SURVEY REGARDING CHRISTIAN COMICS
1. Have you purchased a "Christian Comic" in the last year FROM SOMEONE ON THESE BOARDS?
- IF YES - what did you buy, who published it and where/how did you buy it?
- IF NO - Why did you not buy? (Price? Quality? Timing? Awareness?)
2. Have you purchased a "Christian Comic" in the last year from someone who is NOT ON THESE BOARDS? IF so what was the title and who published it?
3. Were you satisfied with your purchase and the purchase process?
4. Are you aware of Christian Comics and where do you generally find your information? (Google, Comix International, Comix 35, CCAS, word of mouth, other?)
5. Do you find it difficult to find or buy Christian Comics on the web?
6. What is your BIGGEST COMPLAINT about Christian Comics?
7. What is your FAVORITE THING about Christian Comics?
8. If you are a comic purchaser - what would you like to see MORE OF in the Christian Comic space?
9. IF you are a comic purchaser:
- how much would you pay for a comic?
- how much would you pay for a digital comic?
- Where do you want to buy or get your comics? (online, store, other)
10. IF you are a comic purchaser is there something publishers should be doing to make your life easier?
11. IF there was ONE THING YOU COULD FIX in Christian Comics it would be...?
12. FOR OUTSIDE OF NORTH AMERICA: Is there anything that North Americans* should change so their product is more suitable to your environment? Do you care? (Let us know where your from)
*Full Disclosure: I am Canadian.
========= Questions below for Creators and Publishers Only =================
13. Are you Christian Publisher? If so, who are you and where can we find you online?
14. Have you PUBLISHED A CHRISTIAN COMIC? And if so what is it and where can it be found? (THIS IS NOT FOR IN PROGRESS OR BEING DEVELOPED - Must already exist as a product that can be purchased)
15. IF you are a publisher/creator what is your biggest issue? (Cost, marketing, distribution, printing, digital, editorial, time for production, lack of audience, finding good talent, website, general apathy of the audience?)
16. IF you have published a Christian Comic, have you been satisfied with the response you have received? If yes, are you willing to share how large your audience is? If no, have you been given feedback as to why not, and are you willing to share?
IF you reached here. and weren't bored to tears...THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. Hopefully this will help everyone understand what is kind of going on, and help people get what they are looking for.
I thought it would be interesting to find out what's really going on in our heads here on the CCAS board.
According to the previous "New Comic Company Idea" thread and "WHY ARE SO MANY CHRISTIAN COMICS AND MEDIA SO BORING.?" we see a need but why?
And what is it that you the individual creator, publisher or purchaser islooking for? These are just some of the questions that I hope to seetouched on.
Replies
1. Have you purchased a "Christian Comic" in the last year FROM SOMEONE ON THESE BOARDS?
I'm pretty sure I have. off the top of my head i got the Modern Masters Lee Weeks book. it was published by TwoMorrows and i got it at a comic shop.
2. Have you purchased a "Christian Comic" in the last year from someone who is NOT ON THESE BOARDS? IF so what was the title and who published it?
Can be hard to define. There are lots of comics either by Christians or with Christian themes.
3. Were you satisfied with your purchase and the purchase process?
yes
4. Are you aware of Christian Comics and where do you generally find your information? (Google, Comix International, Comix 35, CCAS, word of mouth, other?)
mostly talking with friends, including sites like this
5. Do you find it difficult to find or buy Christian Comics on the web?
no
6. What is your BIGGEST COMPLAINT about Christian Comics?
they are often not relevant
or
they are relvant and too edgy
7. What is your FAVORITE THING about Christian Comics?
they present the Gospel in a very expedient format.
8. If you are a comic purchaser - what would you like to see MORE OF in the Christian Comic space?
quality books that stay away from cursing, etc.
9. IF you are a comic purchaser:
10. IF you are a comic purchaser is there something publishers should be doing to make your life easier?
11. IF there was ONE THING YOU COULD FIX in Christian Comics it would be...?
12. FOR OUTSIDE OF NORTH AMERICA: Is there anything that North Americans* should change so their product is more suitable to your environment? Do you care? (Let us know where your from)
*Full Disclosure: I am Canadian.
========= Questions below for Creators and Publishers Only =================
13. Are you Christian Publisher? If so, who are you and where can we find you online?
i'm an editor and creator
14. Have you PUBLISHED A CHRISTIAN COMIC? And if so what is it and where can it be found? (THIS IS NOT FOR IN PROGRESS OR BEING DEVELOPED - Must already exist as a product that can be purchased)
my book Heaven Forbid can be purcashed from www.lamppostbookstore.com also on amazon and many other book sellers. pretty much just online though. for instance, i don't think borders carries it on their shelves. also, not in comic stores at this time.
15. IF you are a publisher/creator what is your biggest issue? (Cost, marketing, distribution, printing, digital, editorial, time for production, lack of audience, finding good talent, website, general apathy of the audience?)
more advertisement would be good, stores carrying more on their shelves, and distributers who are hesitant to Christian material.
16. IF you have published a Christian Comic, have you been satisfied with the response you have received? If yes, are you willing to share how large your audience is? If no, have you been given feedback as to why not, and are you willing to share?
the responses i receive in person and from people on line are great. i'll admit i don;t keep up enough with my numbers- i try to focus more on the creative side
1. Have you purchased a "Christian Comic" in the last year FROM SOMEONE ON THESE BOARDS?
Yes, the Action Bible, does that count?
2. Have you purchased a "Christian Comic" in the last year from someone who is NOT ON THESE BOARDS? IF so what was the title and who published it?
Yes: "God's Love is like a conjoined twin" by Dean Rankine, published by Lamp Post.
3. Were you satisfied with your purchase and the purchase process?
Yep.
4. Are you aware of Christian Comics and where do you generally find your information? (Google, Comix International, Comix 35, CCAS, word of mouth, other?)
Comix International, CCAS, word of mouth, local Christian Bookstore
5. Do you find it difficult to find or buy Christian Comics on the web?
Mmmm, not really. Being in Australia makes buying from overseas a bit pricy though, postage-wise.
6. What is your BIGGEST COMPLAINT about Christian Comics?
I find most of them either too ametuer, or too moody, or too boring, or unoriginal. Just like secular comics! But some are great.
7. What is your FAVORITE THING about Christian Comics?
I don't actually have a favourite thing... well, apart from they glorify God while also entertaining.
8. If you are a comic purchaser - what would you like to see MORE OF in the Christian Comic space?
Family friendly, all-ages stories with some good humour, not all angst and martyrdom and personal crusade.
9. IF you are a comic purchaser:
10. IF you are a comic purchaser is there something publishers should be doing to make your life easier?
Probably, but I couldn't tell you what it is.
11. IF there was ONE THING YOU COULD FIX in Christian Comics it would be...?
Me.
12. FOR OUTSIDE OF NORTH AMERICA: Is there anything that North Americans* should change so their product is more suitable to your environment? Do you care? (Let us know where your from)
*Full Disclosure: I am Canadian.
I'm from Australia, but I'm not sure if anything needs changing. Helpful, aren't I.
========= Questions below for Creators and Publishers Only =================
13. Are you Christian Publisher? If so, who are you and where can we find you online?
N/A
14. Have you PUBLISHED A CHRISTIAN COMIC? And if so what is it and where can it be found? (THIS IS NOT FOR IN PROGRESS OR BEING DEVELOPED - Must already exist as a product that can be purchased)
I've had a 24 page full colour comic about 'The Story Of Jesus' published by the Australian Bible Society. It can be found here for only $1.50 each.
15. IF you are a publisher/creator what is your biggest issue? (Cost, marketing, distribution, printing, digital, editorial, time for production, lack of audience, finding good talent, website, general apathy of the audience?)
Finding the time to work on my own project. That and lack of marketing knowledge.
16. IF you have published a Christian Comic, have you been satisfied with the response you have received? If yes, are you willing to share how large your audience is? If no, have you been given feedback as to why not, and are you willing to share?
N/A.
Thanks for taking the time to write up this survey, Martin, hope you find my answers slightly informative.
Cheers,
Matt
Why didn't I think of that!
Thank you Justin. We'll look into it.
Martin
Hey Martin,
You may want to consider creating a survey through surveymonkey.com or something similar. It'll be easier to send out to others, and easier for you to organize and summarize the answers (surveymoney does much of it for you).
Surprised your not getting any replies. I've filled it out below. I didn't see any options to change the color of the text, so its all in black.
1. Have you purchased a "Christian Comic" in the last year FROM SOMEONE ON THESE BOARDS?
No, because I am pumping all my money into DeoMortals, my imprint. I just can't afford all the Christian comics I want, and I do want plenty of them. If I buy comics, it's from the 25 cent bins once every 3 months, and I got some old Spire Christian Comics that way. However, I did get Sergio Cariello's The Action Bible for Christmas!!
2. Have you purchased a "Christian Comic" in the last year from someone who is NOT ON THESE BOARDS? IF so what was the title and who published it?
No.
3. Were you satisfied with your purchase and the purchase process?
NA.
4. Are you aware of Christian Comics and where do you generally find your information? (Google, Comix International, Comix 35, CCAS, word of mouth, other?)
CCAS, CCnet, Comics International.
5. Do you find it difficult to find or buy Christian Comics on the web?
No idea.
6. What is your BIGGEST COMPLAINT about Christian Comics?
It would be good if there was a website that just advertised and reviewed ALL the Christian comics AND had a chat/message board feature as well. A site where we could talk about Christian comics and the characters, and not just about how the inking needs to worked on here and there. Basically a combination of CCAS, CCnet, and http://www.christiancomicsinternational.org/cccatalog.html. I haven't been on CCAS but a short time, but what I like about CCAS so far is the level of daily involvment. What I like about CCnet is the level of excitement about what characters and stories people are doing, and the cool interaction they have like contests and picture dumps. What I like about Christian Comics International is that they list and review every comic, but they don't have a chat feature or boards. If only the good things about all 3 could be combined, now that would be sweet.
7. What is your FAVORITE THING about Christian Comics?
Potential. There's still a lot of possibilities.
8. If you are a comic purchaser - what would you like to see MORE OF in the Christian Comic space?
Superheroes. That's why I do my own. Other Christian creators seem to be focused on other things than superheroes.
9. IF you are a comic purchaser:
I don't mind getting them online, and I would pay up to 4.99 for a Christian indy comic, 99 cents for a digital copy.
10. IF you are a comic purchaser is there something publishers should be doing to make your life easier?
Keep up communication with me.
11. IF there was ONE THING YOU COULD FIX in Christian Comics it would be...?
I'm not qualified to answer this yet. There are experienced people who probably have opinions on this.
12. FOR OUTSIDE OF NORTH AMERICA: Is there anything that North Americans* should change so their product is more suitable to your environment? Do you care? (Let us know where your from)
*Full Disclosure: I am Canadian.
========= Questions below for Creators and Publishers Only =================
13. Are you Christian Publisher? If so, who are you and where can we find you online?
deomortals.com- still being worked on, so there's just a construction placeholder for now.
14. Have you PUBLISHED A CHRISTIAN COMIC? And if so what is it and where can it be found? (THIS IS NOT FOR IN PROGRESS OR BEING DEVELOPED - Must already exist as a product that can be purchased)
same website, the second issue is in progress. The first issue is waiting on the cover, so its "in progress", too.
15. IF you are a publisher/creator what is your biggest issue? (Cost, marketing, distribution, printing, digital, editorial, time for production, lack of audience, finding good talent, website, general apathy of the audience?)
Marketing and Perceived apathy of the target market, then also time for production, and cost/printing cost.
16. IF you have published a Christian Comic, have you been satisfied with the response you have received? If yes, are you willing to share how large your audience is? If no, have you been given feedback as to why not, and are you willing to share?
I can't qualify to answer this question, but I do want to point out one thing. I don't know if it has been pointed out yet, but it should be something obvious. And that is that marketing lists are very important. Does someone have a marketing list that is comprised of contacts that are outside of CCAS and CCnet members, or Carabha forum members, Guardian forum members, Community Comics members, etc? Or are we all just marketing to each other? Marketing to each other doesn't make anyone any money, does it?
Is there a shared list, or opportunities to combine lists, or someone who can serve as a marketer? I know Scott Shuford is on these boards. Doesn't he do grass roots marketing of some sort? Does anyone else?
-Ribu
Bump.
Please fill it out - it will help everyone, including you...and you and you...
Oh, one additional note:
IF YOU DON'T WANT YOUR ANSWERS SEEN BY EVERYONE, PLEASE PRIVATE MESSAGE ME THE ANSWERS.
I will then collect all the answers and give you guys the run down of what the results are. Let's put a deadline on this: 2 weeks starting December 31st 2010.