Archie Comics Launches Kickstarter to expand their Archie relaunch

From Yahoo News:

Archie Comics, the acclaimed and bestselling comic book publisher that is home to some of the best-known pop culture creations in the world, including Archie, Jughead, Betty & Veronica, Josie & The Pussycats, Sabrina the Teenage Witch and the hit AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIE series, announced today that it would launch a historic crowdfunding campaign via the popular Kickstarter platform.

The Kickstarter campaign’s call to action is a simple one: Help Archie Comics build a New Riverdale. Specifically, the Kickstarter will ask fans to help fund a slate of titles that build off the surefire success of ARCHIE #1 ­­­­­— the debut issue of a new, ongoing ARCHIE series from writer Mark Waid (Daredevil, Kingdom Come) and artist Fiona Staples (Saga). The series will be crafted by some of the biggest names in the comic book industry and feature the most beloved characters in comic book history.

The three new titles, launching over the next 18 months, include:

JUGHEAD — Featuring the adventures of Archie’s hamburger-loving best friend, from acclaimed writer Chip Zdarsky (Sex Criminals, Howard the Duck) and an artist TBA. An off-the-wall series full of laughs, unexpected twists and a modern sense of humor.

BETTY AND VERONICA — Girl-next-door Betty Cooper and wealthy socialite Veronica Lodge are best friends and fiercely competitive. While they both have a history with that guy Archie, the series puts the focus squarely on them — their friendship, their high school lives and adventures beyond Riverdale. Written and drawn by comic book legend Adam Hughes (Wonder Woman, Before Watchmen: Doctor Manhattan).

LIFE WITH KEVIN — Kevin Keller, the hugely-popular and historic character that broke new ground in Riverdale by being the first gay character in the company’s publishing history returns in a new ongoing series. Writer/artist Dan Parent (Kevin Keller) and inker J. Bone (The Spirit) tell a tale of an older, more experienced Kevin as he navigates a new city, new romance and leaving home.

Source: Yahoo News

Commentary: I've been really excited about the Archie relaunch.  Archie Comics has done a lot of cool stuff over the last few years, and when they announced Mark Waid and Fiona Staples would be rebooting Archie, I was immediately interested.  BUT, it does sort of bug me when an established corporation uses Kickstarter to help fund their projects.  I do understand what they are saying in their Kickstarter when they say:

"Archie isn't owned by a corporate behemoth. We're more like David, fighting against Goliath. The reality is that we're not Marvel or DC. We see this as a good thing. We move quickly. We take risks and we are not beholden to any paper-pushers with a profit margin to meet. The only people we answer to are you, our fans, which we love.

But the reality of publishing is what it is, and if we want to expand and bring you more of a good thing—which is what this Kickstarter is all about—we need funding. We want to bring you more great comics by the best and brightest, featuring your favorite characters. But we can't do it alone.

But it still just feels odd to me.   I see Kickstarter as something to help new talent get their works started, not just a platform that corporations can use to build capital.  So, I was very torn about whether or not to give them more press on this potentially controversial issue.

All that said, I still ended up kicking 20 bucks in for the Kickstarter.  I do like Archie Comics and their many efforts at expanding their business model.  I just hope we never see the day when Disney or Warner Brothers tries to fund some of their projects this way...