L.E. Becker of WARP 9 in Clawson, Michigan comments on the news of Top Cow Productions relaunching Cyber Force for "free" (see "'Cyber Force' Relaunch Free").

I should just close up my store now.  Better yet, how about I just leave my cash register open and let "customers" take what they want?  In an age where money has been tighter than ever, Top Cow has done the one thing that, even though they THINK is a good idea, just boggles the mind.  Produce a free comic, for FIVE ISSUES.  And the best part?  We the retailers get to give it away ourselves, at a cost of 30-40 cents each!

Let me clarify, in case no one knows.  Top Cow Productions, through the website Kickstarter is collecting funds, from comic fans, to relaunch Cyber Force.  The idea is to collect enough money to make the first 5 issues free to anyone who wishes to try it.  So the money is ALREADY COLLECTED (keep that in mind), and the publisher can produce the comic and send them out to the stores so that we can give them out.  Ok, pretty ambitious.  Not a bad promotion, especially if everything is paid for and we the retailers get them for free... wait... what?  NOT free to us?  We have to pay 25 cents each (which if you add shipping, an extra 5-15 cents a book depending on which region you are, up to 40 cents)?  Ummm… what happened to the Kickstarter funds?

I know there's a cost to ship and distribute the books.  But, why should we the retailer pay for that?  Especially for five issues?  Especially if you got the funds from Kickstarter?  If anything, THAT cost should have been figured into the fund.

The problem I see now, is that if this promotion is successful, then other companies will try to emulate it.  Personally, in my opinion, and this is nothing against any of the people who work/own Top Cow, I think it makes one look rather weak for a major company to start a project like this on kickstarter.  Then again, I might have to use Kickstarter to set up a fund so that we can distribute Cyber Force #1.

Just kidding.  We're not ordering it.  We give out enough free comics on Free Comic Book Day (and the soon to start Halloween FCBD), and even though I like the idea of promotions, this one falls exceptionally flat.

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