About two weeks ago I took a week off my day job to do what I called the “Incredible Doom Logistics Vacation Week”.

The logistical tasks, unrelated to writing or drawing the comic, had been piling up for months and I was starting to feel overwhelmed. So I took some time, made lots of lists, and plowed through them as best I could. Here are some things that I accomplished.

Season 1

• Slipcase
  • Researched packaging / postage for the upcoming slip case to hold all of season 1.
  • Picked up “chip board” to be cut into the final slipcase.
  • Designed the interior of the slipcase, including a thank you page for all previous Patreon backers.
  • Shot and edited a video explaining how to assemble the slipcase once it arrives.
• Issue 6
  • Printed / assembled the remaining copies of Issue #6
  • Shipped all remaining copies of Issue #6
  • Created and submitted a version of Issue 6 for ComiXology.
  • Got issue 6 to buyolympia.com for individual orders
• Planed a big celebration / promotion for the public end of season 1.
  • Wrote promotional material for the public conclusion of Season 1

Season 2

• Got quotes from five different printers for printing Season 2
• Got quotes from a fulfillment company to possibly ship Season 2
• Created dozens of pages of spreadsheets trying to figure out how to make Season 2 make sense financially now that the printer for Season 1 isn’t available any longer.

Phew!

While I didn’t get everything done that was left to do (the business plan for season 2 isn’t nailed down yet) but it feels SO much better to have all the above off my shoulders.

We did run into a snag however.

The Slipcase

Before we launched Incredible Doom I knew I wanted it to fit into a slipcase that you could put on your shelf. So, to make sure that was possible, we figured out how we were going to do it in advance.

We reached out to a press that had done something similar for a friend, and also tried something we thought was a bit clever. We bought a Cricut machine.

The Cricut machine is mostly used by crafters to take digital shapes and patters and cut them out of paper for use in scrap books and such things. We wondered if we could use it for something else.

We’ve already used the Cricut to do things like cut out the holes in the feelies for issue 1, making it look like a miniature piece of paper used in a dot matrix printer. We also used it to cut the three ring binder holes in the feelies for issue 3.

Secretly, we’d also done tests for using it to cut much thicker material in order to create the slipcase.

We did tests back before the series launched, and did tests again shortly before announcing the slipcase.

Then, during the “Logistics Vacation Week” we finalized the slipcase design, and Jesse started producing the slipcases on mass.

Or that was the plan.

The Cricut machines failure rate was incredibly high. So high in fact that Jesse would work for hours and not get a single usable slipcase. That’s no good.

So, after two years of the Cricut machine waiting patiently for this day, I’m in contact with the same printer we spoke to before we launched issue 1, to get a quote for them to create the slipcases for us instead.

Although we’ve loved putting together all the little handcrafted issues, items, and slipcases from season 1, we’re ready to hand some of those duties off to someone else and get back to the writing and the drawing.

We’re getting it all worked out. Because of your support it’s not a huge setback. I’m confident we will be able to find a solution to the problem since we’ve got a budget to work with. Thank you to my Patreon members for that.

End

So that was the “Incredible Doom Logistics Vacation”.

In a few weeks I’ve got some more time off from day job planed. I’m thinking of calling it the “Incredible Doom Season 2 Write-a-thon”.

Stick around!

I just got back from the post office today after dropping the first batch of issue 6 in the mail, so I wanted to tell you a little bit about it before it hits your mail box. 

This issue we got to use  a cool technology to print the covers. Previously the covers had been offset press by our beloved Eberhart press. But when they ran into troubles and couldn’t print the last issue of the season, we scrambled to find someplace that we could make them at a similar price. This was no small task. Eberhart liked the project and had been cutting us an incredible deal. 

In the end we settled on the Independent Publishing Resource Center.We used their laser printers to print the guts, and Risograph machines to do the covers. 

Risograph, if you’re not familiar, is a technology that’s been around since the 80s that never really caught fire in the United States.  It’s similar to a black and white photo copier, but  allows you to print in a single color. You can then change out the drum and run the same sheets through the printer a second time for a second color. 

I’ve loved this technique, and wanted to try it for years. The finish product looks both professional and home made at the same time, which we figured was a fun aesthetic for the series. 

So the new issue features a Risograph dark green and red cover. Each one is unique, with it’s own artifacts and little printing glitches. I think it’s super cool.

Printing at the IPRC is fun, but it’s taken MUCH longer than anticipated, with an issue that has already had _many_delays. I’ve done six sessions at the center so far, and there are still about 40 more copies that need to be printed, which essentially makes up all the international orders. I hope to get back there this week and make a dent in those. 

Slipcase

We’ve also been working on creating the slip case backers will be getting in the mail as the next reward. Jesse has done some incredible work taking my original proof of concept design from two years ago, and turning it into a sturdy box, that should make a great home for the whole season, as well as the bonus issue that’s going to be printed after the slipcase goes out. 

The current design (which is still a work in progress) has a hole cut in the side to show the issue cover of your choice. But, it’s actually the interior of the case that’s my favorite part.

Since the spines of these issues are the thickest part of the book, when you stack all six of them together they make a triangle shape, kind of like a cheese wedge. Jesse figured out how to make the interior of the slip case triangular, while keeping the exterior a rectangle. So it holds the issues snugly, right up against the open circular window, while the box can still sitting squarely next to the other books on your shelf. It’s super cool. I can’t wait for you to see it. 

We’re still working on the final design features, but I had to share that part with you. 

Thank you

Thank you so much for being here. I can’t believe we get to make these comics. 

As always, if you think you know folks who might like the series, please send them a link to incredibledoom.com.

There are such exciting things to come!

• Matt