In debuting their comic book, Scam, Comixtribe, put it on a 48 foot billboard on the Las Vegas strip.
The publisher, creator Joe Mulvey, and the local comic shop, Maximum Comics in Las Vegas, put this big old ad up in the air, and instead of staying in Vegas, it turns out we’re talking about it here.
So what do you think? Effective advertising to a new audience? Do billboards work on you when you drive by? People have long lamented comic book’s lack of advertising on mass media, like television commercials. Detractors would say that it’s not cost effective, in terms of audience engagement and return. In this case, we’re talking about a billboard that a lot of people will see, but how much impact will it have. Maybe it’s more effective than a banner ad, but you can’t like it on Facebook.
Here’s more on the comic itself.
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It helps that it has a GTA art vibe.
I have to admit I think “What’s hot tomorrow is in a comic shop TODAY!” is a great tagline.
Sweet fancy Moses that’s a catchy tagline. True too.
What’s hot tomorrow IS in a comic shop today. And we as fans all know it.
Josh is right-you can’t like it on face book, but you sure can like the pic of it on our various sites. And also our hope is to broaden a fan base and bring people to comics who weren’t giving them a shot in the first place. The good people at ComixTribe and myself just love the medium and want it to flourish and get the respect and attention it deserves.
Buying banner ads is something we’ll do as well but unless your going to those sites, they won’t be seen. Since SCAM is about Superpowered conmen on the biggest heist of their lives, we decided to roll the dice and take a shot.
I mean, PAPER TOWELS have more advertisement than Comics. Let’s think outside the box a little for comics and show that this medium is THE most innovative and creative medium out there.
Plus now I get to go to Vegas and see it in person, where I’ll gamble and try to win money for some more advertising.
What’s next? Commercials? Face tattoo’s?
I hope you guys will give he book a chance when it comes out later this month.
This was my first thought to. It’s so true.
Glad you dug it, RobotZombie! The tagline is nothing new to the iFanboys of the world, but it’s time to make the rest of the world recognize it, too.
We’re trying to beat the drum about comics outside of traditional channels. You won’t find a bigger advocate for the comics medium than Joe Mulvey, who’s poured his heart and soul (and wallet!) into this creator owned series he’s writing and drawing.
SCAM #1 hits the shelves of retailers world-wide on August 29th, and SCAM #2 (AUG120968) is in previews NOW! Check with your retailer to make sure their in on the SCAM!
I love it. I downloaded the first issue back in January on Graphicaly and have been waiting for the second to drop. “what’s hot tomorrow is in a comics shop today. ” That is a great message to get out to the public. Kudos to everyone involved, very ballsy.
The great thing about billboards is that most people drive past them everyday, which does tend to influence them in some way or another. There were billboards on the way into my old neighborhood and there was usually one alcohol ad at a time, and I can tell you, there were several times where I’d be walking home, see the billboard and think “Yeah, I could really use a drink.” I wouldn’t necessarily buy the exact liquor or beer being advertised, but it got me in the liquor store.
I would love for someone to try this in Massachusetts because we do have a chain “comics” store that even non-comics readers shop at (it’s mostly a music/movie/novelties shop these day, but they still have comics there), so we’ve already gotten over that hurdle of letting the mainstream know where to buy comics.
Massachusetts has a ton of great shops out there that have been very supportive to ComixTribe and SCAM, and is a great Comics state.
Our opinion is that people don’t know comics outside the characters they see in theaters. There’s very little done to get those viewers to go to the shop after the movie. But with an actual add space, just like other forms of entertainment, you can tease the product in a way to make the person want it. That’s our goal. To get them INTO Maximum comics and other comic shops and ask about SCAM. Gateway book to allow the retailer to open up the amazing world of comics to new readers.
Truth is, we love comics, we love making comics and we want everyone to know it. I hope you’ll give SCAM a chance wen it comes out later this month.
Well, it worked for me!
I have thought that publishers and some shops need to work a bit harder to reach out to new customers…and this is a creator putting his money where his mouth is!
Just called my local shop and I am in!
Good luck
I READ THE FIRST ISSUE A FEW MONTHS AGO IT WAS GOOD BUT NOTHING BEEN OUT SINCE.
That’s right, Jmack.
SCAM #1 initially launched in just 21 stores, with a first printing of just 777 copies. (Long since sold out.) Based on that, and the success of SCAM and some other ComixTribe titles on micro-distribution level, we were able to get a distribution deal for Diamond.
So, August 29, SCAM #1 is being re-released to the entire comic market.
SCAM #2 is in previews NOW! (AUG120968)
So more is definitely on the way! Here’s a more of a look: http://www.comixtribe.com/comics/scam/scam-2-of-5-october-2012/
I’m not gonna lie, billboards are an ideal adspace for comics. The new 52 commercials suffered by virtue of using too many static images in a video. A billboard is a big space to showcase world-class art of familiar characters.
It was seeing how far comic art had come (by surfing the webs) that got me into the medium.
Anything that gets eyes on COMICS is a good thing to me. And we always hear how it’s not cost effective compared to the audience that will actually buy, but HOW can you really know how large your audience is when you NEVER advertise to them.
Make a campaign that’s meant to drive up sales all over and let’s see where we go from there. EVERY form of entertainment advertises BUT comics. I sincerely don’t get it and that’s what made us take a chance with this.
Thanks for checking it out and we hope you’ll give SCAM a shot later this month.
According to some quick googling, billboard advertising costs on average between $700 to $2,500 a month. That may seem high, but it’s got to be cheaper than a TV or radio spot, and it lasts longer too. I’m sure it’s not as cheap as internet/web ads, but I’m sure someone here knows more about it that I do!