Press
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 12/18/2011
Cranium Comics Thinks Local
AUSTIN, TEXAS – With news appearing on a daily basis relaying the country’s shaky financial situation, it’s no wonder that the smaller companies often are the ones that take a hit.
Refusing to succumb to the fate of many small-time business in the face of a recession, Cranium Comics has decided to open their books up to advertising. And not any advertising. The company has targeted local Austin businesses as its first foray into the advertising medium. “We ran a test last year and it seemed to go over pretty well.” Said Anthony Rezendes, one of the founders of the company. “We initially started it as a way for other comic creators to share their comics – similar to a grassroots ad network. We explored the idea of getting other business involved and there seems to be some interest.”
Anthony attributes this interest to making sure similar markets are being attracted. For instance, his comic has a strong male demographic, with ages ranging from 18-45. With another title scheduled to be released during Staple! Independant Media Expo in March, the company is excited about its product.
Offering something unique has been important to the company as well. “At the heart of it, we want to tell good stories” Ron Bates, current writer of the comic Brawn and editor of the company’s other titles mentions. “We believe we’re putting something out there that is unique and different. Providing alternatives to mainstream comics but in a way that is respectful of the medium was important to us.” With over a thousand fans on Facebook and a growing list of hundreds of newsletter subscribers, the company has seen traffic to their site grow from month to month . Many readers looking for alternatives seem to find what their looking for with Cranium’s offerings and come back year after year to get the next book.
Like many small companies, Cranium is just trying to find its niche. And if it turns out that offering up ads in their comics helps all involved, all the better. Cranium Comics can be reached at their website www.craniumcomics.com. If you are interested in purchasing the comics as they are available, Make sure you attend Staple Independent Media Expo in March 2012.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 06/22/2009
Part-Time Comic Creators Share Their Stories in New Podcast
AUSTIN, TEXAS – What happens when two comic creators team up to share their ideas? No, we’re not talking about the latest hero-inspired silver screen summer blockbuster. We’re talking about Keith Quinn, founder of Local Heroes™ and Anthony Rezendes, owner of Cranium Comics™ and their new joint venture, the Part-Time Comics podcast.
The idea for Part-Time Comics began as a conversation between both Quinn and Rezendes over lunch earlier in the year. They were already sharing their indie web and print comic publishing experiences with one another, but felt their discussions had broader appeal.
“We talked about our creation processes, and how we’ve tried to be successful without quitting our day jobs,” said Quinn. “Creating a podcast that could potentially help other people trying to accomplish similar goals, while also driving the two of us toward our own goals, seemed like a great idea.”
The podcast centers around both Quinn and Rezendes developing their own projects while gearing up for the 2010 Staple! Independent Media Expo in Austin, Texas. Because each is pursuing their goals a little differently, they each hope to shed some light on two distinct avenues for success.
“Something like this is great for me because it helps me stay on track so far as meeting my goals” Rezendes said. “Also, it’s easier if you have a ‘spotter’—someone who can keep you focused and on task as they are going through the same sorts of things. I think Keith and I can provide that for each other.”
Discussions topic will include size and format of comics, web sites, printers, distribution, and marketing techniques, all from a “do it yourself” perspective. The underlying idea of taking the financial bootstrapping approach—essentially creating something with no financial resources from external investors—appeals to both of them.
“For the time being, we realize we’re not going to be making much money off of our efforts, if any,” Rezendes said. “Right now, it’s about following your passion, doing what you love, and making time for your ideas to help them grow.”
The first Part-Time Comics podcast was released on Friday, June 12, with a new episode to be shared every other Friday thereafter. New episodes will be shared through Talkshoe.com and iTunes as they become available.
About Part-Time Comics
Part-Time Comics is a bi-weekly podcast from Anthony Rezendes and Keith Quinn, two guys who create comics while still trying to keep their day jobs. New episodes are shared every other Friday. Listen in at www.parttimecomics.com, http://www.talkshoe.com, and iTunes. For more information on Part-Time Comics, go to www.parttimecomics.com.
About Keith Quinn
Keith Quinn is an MMOG game designer, web designer, and illustrator. In his free time, Keith creates the comic strips Local Heroes™ (www.localheroes.us) and Playtime Projects™ (www.playtimeprojects.com), and the Heroes Incorporated® comic book. For more information on Keith and his projects, visit www.hurm.com.
About Anthony Rezendes
Anthony Rezendes is a senior interactive designer for a non-profit organization. Besides also being a freelance graphic artist, Anthony co-created the Brawn™ comic book. For more information on Anthony and his projects, visit www.craniumcomics.com.
Cranium Comics is a trademark of Anthony Rezendes. Hurm, Local Heroes, Playtime Projects, and Heroes Incorporated are trademarks or registered trademarks of Keith Quinn. All other trademarks are the properties of their respective owners.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 02/25/08
CRANIUM COMICS LOOKING TO TURN HEADS AT STAPLE! ’08
AUSTIN – A new hero is on the streets of Austin—and the company who put him there is planning a super debut.
Brawn is the brainchild of Cranium Comics, a newly launched publishing house bringing its inaugural title to this week’s Staple! Independent Media Expo in Austin. Cranium Comics is one of more than 80 exhibitors taking part in Saturday’s convention at the Monarch Convention Center.
“We chose Staple to introduce Brawn because we’re an Austin company and we see this as an emerging hub for independent media,” Anthony Rezendes, Cranium Comics founder, said. “Staple has a collaborative environment which is very helpful when you’re trying to do something new and distinctive. The creative talent there is really at the forefront of what’s happening in the industry. We’re eager to see what’s being exhibited and to make our title part of the discussion.”
Brawn’s genesis began on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, where Rezendes, an artist, and Brandon Church, the comic’s writer, grew up. The two had long talked about doing a project together, a goal that seemed missed when Rezendes moved to Austin in the mid-1990s and Church moved to North Carolina. Then, three years ago, Church contacted his childhood friend to say he’d developed a storyline and needed an illustrator to bring it to life.
“I’d always been interested in comics but I wasn’t interested in taking the traditional super hero to the page,” Rezendes said. “I’m drawn more to the neo-realism of a Harvey Pekar or Craig Thompson. But Brandon’s story had an edge to it—the psychology was driving the action—and I knew we had the foundation for something unique. It was a long process of back and forth, but we got the product we were looking for.”
The story centers on a hard-drinking dock worker who is laid off from his job and, while inebriated, gets behind the wheel of a car. He wakes the next morning to find he’s been transformed into a being with mechanical limbs but has no memory of how it happened.
“The hook for me is that it explores what happens when someone is very powerful physically but has very human frailties. Just because you’re superhuman doesn’t make you a super human-being,” Rezendes said.
The book introduces an ongoing mystery about the origins and purpose of the transformation, one that will be explored in future issues. Rezendes said Cranium Comics is interested in developing other titles provided the stories explore alternative or non-traditional subjects.
Cranium Comics will be offering individually numbered Brawn editions 1 through 100 at the Staple Expo. The event is open to the public starting at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Monarch Center in Lincoln Village.
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