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Funded! This project successfully raised its funding goal on September 14, 2012.

Hardcover stretch goals FINALLY

Update #18 · Aug 21, 2012 · 17 comments

Thanks again for all the support; the enthusiasm for the project has been great, and honestly saved us from a couple clerical errors. (Under-calculating made for some tense moments.) We are forever grateful. 

The original goal was based on a modest run of 2000 copies; since we've passed that, we have to adjust all our print and shipping numbers. And, at the time, we jumped the gun a little on the 96 pages-upgrade without accounting for the additional weight, freight and shipping cost. 

We were also pretty surprised by the additional print cost of hardcover, (even more in the case of a dust jacket). And again, there's the increased weight for freight and mailing. So: 

STRETCH GOAL ONE: $81,000 This a self cover version with no dust-jacket, the front and back cover printed on a glossy hardcover. 

STRETCH GOAL TWO: $87,000 This is a dust-jacketed hardcover with the front and back cover on the jacket. 

Hopefully we can make these goals, and we'll look into another stretch goal if we make these. We're still hoping to get Jason Wright onboard and reunite the Secret Six team. More pages is a possibility (but we can't promise). If all of you who have been hoping for an HC option feel comfortable upping your pledges, let's go for it. 

You've all made this a fun ride; we know many of you have tweeted or re-tweeted, and posted to Facebook about our project. If any of you who haven't would care to help the project along in this way, or if you already have and would like to re-post or re-re-tweet (re-re-re-tweet anyone?), it would be big boost. 

We want to have this book be the best we can make it. And to answer a question received more than once, the increase to 96 pages isn't just added filler (sketches and such, although bonus material will be in there); the added pages will be story content.

And let's end this update with one of the truly great songs:

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Comments

    1. Fb_profile_picture.small

      Creator Henry O. Harrell on August 22, 2012

      This is one of the most glorious stretch goals I've ever seen on Kickstarter. I just wanna throw my 2 cents in and say THANK YOU to the glorious people running this show. A free* upgrade to hardcover for hitting a stretch goal, which, as of this comment, you are only $7k away from with 23 days to go is amazing. Hopefully, people realize how awesome this is and increase their donations accordingly, as I will do after clicking 'Post Comment.'

      *Free isn't really free when you're almost tripling your original goal, but my enthusiasm remains.

    2. Us.small

      Creator Gail Simone/Jim Calafiore on August 21, 2012

      Ammon-- You can increase anything or nothing; if we don't make it to the stretch goal, we stay softcover. There's no individual upgrade; it's all or nothing

    3. Missing_small

      Creator John LaRosa on August 21, 2012

      Agreed.....only see 3 comments on the main update, so the info is buried here....just fyi.

    4. Fb_profile_picture.small

      Creator Karl Maurer on August 21, 2012

      Might want to promote the fact that the stretch goal that adds hardcover turns existing orders into hardcover. That's COOL! (Found by reading all the comments on this update)

    5. Ammon1%20(wince).small

      Creator Ammon Beckstrom on August 21, 2012

      How much of an increase will it cost to upgrade (ballpark figure please)?

    6. Us.small

      Creator Gail Simone/Jim Calafiore on August 21, 2012

      We will look into the dust-jacket/no dust-jacket preference question; not one we really wasn't anticipated.
      Increasing a pledge is done by clicking the "manage your pledge" button under "days to go". I think you have to be logged in for it.

    7. Missing_small

      Creator John LaRosa on August 21, 2012

      What is the additional pledge to go to a Hard Cover with no dust jacket? How do you increase a pledge?

    8. Missing_small

      Creator Derek Chen on August 21, 2012

      Been waiting for this update! I personally prefer a non-dust jacket hardcover myself, as they tend to wear and get damaged easily.

    9. 0819120014_01.small

      Creator Jamie Wilson on August 21, 2012

      The song is cute, lol. I agree, lets get Jim dancing to it now! You guys rock, me and my son are super excited for this graphic novel!

    10. N19103360_30902427_5784.small

      Creator Jared Evans on August 21, 2012

      HULK LIKE SONG!!! HULK FOXTROT NOW!!!

    11. Us.small

      Creator Gail Simone/Jim Calafiore on August 21, 2012

      All books will ship hardcover if we reach the goal. We're not requiring anyone to up their pledge...
      But the help would be greatly appreciated.
      Besides, if we wait for just new backers, it would probably put us over the 3000 print run, and then we have new costs.
      And what, no comments about the song?

    12. Imag0097-1.small

      Creator Maya K on August 21, 2012

      Good luck! Let's go Hardcover!!

    13. Memarley.small

      Creator HanoverFiste on August 21, 2012

      Jim & Gail want to stretch for a hardcover. I say we hold out until we get a video of Jim dancing.

    14. En-atlantis-rising-box-lid-op.small

      Creator Galen Ciscell on August 21, 2012

      So to clarify the HC will be an additional cost? Just clarifying because some Kickstarter stretch rewards are rewards that get added on to all existing pledge rewards (usually of a certain level and higher), while others "unlock" extras that can be added on to your pledge for an additional cost.

    15. Missing_small

      Creator Tom Arends on August 21, 2012

      If we reach the HC goal I assume that will include the alternate cover as well correct?

    16. Missing_small

      Creator Aaron Schroeder on August 21, 2012

      Man...Lets go for the hardcover!!

    17. Missing_small

      Creator Alex Johnson on August 21, 2012

      What would we need to do to upgrade our SC versions to a HC version? Assuming you stretch that far?

      I'd raise my pledge if Jim would undertake (at least one) more of these:

      Pledge $75 or more
      30 Backers Sold out
      Get a re-marked edition of the book by mail with a head sketch inside the front cover by Jim; and the PDF and the wallpaper.
      Est. delivery: Feb 2013

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    Portfolio review. If you're an aspiring artist and don't get a chance to show your work at cons and get feedback, Jim Calafiore will review your portfolio, (a PDF version of no more than 10 pages), and give you an in-depth critique, suggestions and recommendations. Jim often reviews portfolios at shows, but they are fairly brief given the time constraints of the average show. This will be a detailed review. Gail Simone will also offer comments on your work from a writer's perspective. And get the book by mail and the PDF and the wallpaper. (If you'd like to get the book plate signed by Jim and Gail included in the book, add $10)

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    SCRIPT REVIEW for aspiring writers. Gail Simone will read your original script and give you specific and detailed critique and comments. Benefit from the storytelling knowledge Gail has a accumulated in her years of comic book writing. Jim Calafiore will also offer comments from the artist's perspective. And get the book by mail and the PDF and the wallpaper. (If you'd like to get the book plate signed by Jim and Gail included in the book, add $10)

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    Get your original character designed by Jim Calafiore. Are you a creator without an artist? Jim will design from scratch your original character. You will receive one round of preliminary sketches, with one round of changes; next you will get tight pencils of a turnaround (front-side-back views), with one round of tweaks; lastly you will receive a final black & white turnaround, along with a B&W single figure pose of your character. If you would like Jim to do the color design, add $500. This will include a hi-res full-color PDF version of the single figure pose that can be printed out. (There will also be a signed release granting you sole exclusive rights to the design. It's all yours to use as you want.) And get the book by mail and the PDF and the wallpaper. (If you'd like to get the book plate signed by Jim and Gail included in the book, add $10)

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    This is a one of a kind edition; an opportunity to own all of Jim Calafiore's script pages with notes and thumbnails, and all the original layout roughs for the whole main story of LEAVING MEGALOPOLIS. The volume will be over 160 pages (more if we exceed the 105k stretch goal), more than 80 pages of Jim's original pencil layouts, showing his creative process. Also included will be Jim's original layouts for both the regular and alternate covers for the graphic novel, as well as a selection of the original character pencil roughs. (For a longer, detailed description, see the description at the top of this main page, or look at the update titled ONE LAST REWARD.) This will be bound in a single hardcover volume, a little larger than 8 1/2 x 11. The cover will feature the same art as the regular graphic novel. We are limiting this to CONTINENTAL US ONLY because, to be honest, it scares the willies out of us to think about shipping a one-of-a-kind out of the country. If you are outside the continental US, but plan to attend a convention in the US that Jim or Gail will be attending next year, you can pledge for the book and pick it up there. As an additional bonus, for any backer who pledges for this volume, if you are attending a convention that either Gail or Jim or both are attending, you can choose to receive the book personally at a lunch with the creator(s). And get the book by mail and the PDF and the wallpaper.

    Estimated delivery: Apr 2013