KICKSTARTER KINESCOPE - BLISS BY JOHN NORTON
ARTIST AND CREATOR JOHN NORTON IS AT IT AGAIN! HIS KICKSTARTER FOR ISSUE #1 OF BLISS WAS A SUCCESS AND HE'S ON HIS WAY WITH ISSUE #2. JOHN RECENTLY CHATTED WITH CBI PUBLISHER JOHN MICHAEL HELMER ABOUT HIS NEW COMIC PROJECT...
JMH: What is Bliss?
JN: Bliss is my creator owned comic book. Focused on the title character of Bliss, who is an amnesiac, the story follows her as she attempts to remember her past and rediscover her identity. But when Bliss is attacked, she finds that she has amazing abilities, which she will need to use if she wants to stay alive.
JMH: Can you describe the world/universe she’s from?
JN: The story is set on Earth in the present day. And while it seems to be normal to Bliss (and the readers) she quickly finds out that there it is far from what she thought.
JMH: Does Bliss have supporting characters and if so can you tell CBI about them?
JN: Bliss is befriended by Angelica, who is an exotic dancer, and Dwayne, a construction worker and bouncer. They help get Bliss back on her feet and try to help her remember her past. As the story goes on though, there might be a bit more to them that Bliss will discover as well.
JMH: Was Bliss inspired by anything from your past or real life experiences?
JN: Aside from taking personality traits from relationships and friends, the character of Bliss doesn’t have any real life connections. Many characters that I have created are directly based on people I know, but Bliss was pretty much an original character and idea.
JMH: Do your stories carry a message to the readers?
JN: A few years ago I was reading an interview somewhere that said there aren’t very many female lead stories and how hard it was to break that mold. At the time, I was originally planning on doing a different story, but decided to take on that challenge. I wanted to create a comic that had a heroine that could be talked about in the same vein as Wonder Woman, or Buffy, or Ripley from Aliens. Iconic female characters that could be enjoyed by both men and women.
I also tried to throw in a little message about people’s perceptions of other genders. The petite girl could do construction work. The big, muscular man could be kind and sensitive. Basically saying that appearances can be deceiving and that stereo types are overrated.
JMH: Talk about the creative team involved with Bliss…
JN: It’s all me. I created the story and characters, did the writing, pencils and inks. And even did the lettering. It is my goal to do a four issue mini-series that I have done from start to finish all on my own. Aside from some art assists and coloring on the covers, this is a one man job.
JMH: How did issue one do?
JN: The first Kickstarter was a success. I had 62 backers from all over the world, including Germany, Australia and South Korea. I have been selling the book at different conventions and it is displayed in a local comic book store. Everyone that I have talked to about it has really enjoyed the book and are anxious for me to continue the story, especially since it ended on a cliffhanger.
JMH: What kind of reward levels do you have for supporters?
JN: There are some basic reward levels, like a digital copy for $5 and a physical copy for $10. There are also some art reward levels where you can get some custom art done by me along with the book itself.
JMH: Will Bliss be released in digital format, web comic, or print?
JN: It will be primarily in print form. I am sending a digital copy to backers and hope to someday release the story as a web comic.
JMH: Where can readers get a hold of Bliss?
JN: They can go to my facebook page, Nortonman Art & Comics and buy a copy of the first issue. They can also buy a copy at NightFlight Comics in Salt Lake City, or buy one directly from me at any comic convention I attend. And obviously, anyone who backs my Kickstarter will receive a copy.
JMH: How can fans contact you?
JN: They can follow me on Facebook at Nortonman Art & Comics, Instagram @Nortonman Art and Twitter @Nortonman37. I am also on Deviant Art and Youtube under the username Nortonman.
JMH: What advice do you have for anyone thinking about going the Kickstarter route for their property?
JN: Plan ahead. Do some research and make realistic goals. Don’t ask for too much money for your overall goal or your reward levels if you are brand new. People don’t want to risk too much money on an unknown property. Stay in contact with your supporters and treat your fans like royalty so they will continue to come back and spread the word about your awesomeness.
JMH: Is there anything coming up in further Bliss stories, or other projects you want people to know about?
JN: My goal is to finish the Bliss four issue mini-series, and after that work on a horror themed graphic novel. I will also be attending The Palm Springs Comic Con at the end of August, and the Salt Lake Comic Con in September, where I will be selling my comics, prints and original commission art.
JMH: Pitch Bliss to the readers! In 10 words, tell us why the Bliss books are a no-brainer to support…
JN: An original story, creator owned, featuring a badass female lead.
JN: Bliss is my creator owned comic book. Focused on the title character of Bliss, who is an amnesiac, the story follows her as she attempts to remember her past and rediscover her identity. But when Bliss is attacked, she finds that she has amazing abilities, which she will need to use if she wants to stay alive.
JMH: Can you describe the world/universe she’s from?
JN: The story is set on Earth in the present day. And while it seems to be normal to Bliss (and the readers) she quickly finds out that there it is far from what she thought.
JMH: Does Bliss have supporting characters and if so can you tell CBI about them?
JN: Bliss is befriended by Angelica, who is an exotic dancer, and Dwayne, a construction worker and bouncer. They help get Bliss back on her feet and try to help her remember her past. As the story goes on though, there might be a bit more to them that Bliss will discover as well.
JMH: Was Bliss inspired by anything from your past or real life experiences?
JN: Aside from taking personality traits from relationships and friends, the character of Bliss doesn’t have any real life connections. Many characters that I have created are directly based on people I know, but Bliss was pretty much an original character and idea.
JMH: Do your stories carry a message to the readers?
JN: A few years ago I was reading an interview somewhere that said there aren’t very many female lead stories and how hard it was to break that mold. At the time, I was originally planning on doing a different story, but decided to take on that challenge. I wanted to create a comic that had a heroine that could be talked about in the same vein as Wonder Woman, or Buffy, or Ripley from Aliens. Iconic female characters that could be enjoyed by both men and women.
I also tried to throw in a little message about people’s perceptions of other genders. The petite girl could do construction work. The big, muscular man could be kind and sensitive. Basically saying that appearances can be deceiving and that stereo types are overrated.
JMH: Talk about the creative team involved with Bliss…
JN: It’s all me. I created the story and characters, did the writing, pencils and inks. And even did the lettering. It is my goal to do a four issue mini-series that I have done from start to finish all on my own. Aside from some art assists and coloring on the covers, this is a one man job.
JMH: How did issue one do?
JN: The first Kickstarter was a success. I had 62 backers from all over the world, including Germany, Australia and South Korea. I have been selling the book at different conventions and it is displayed in a local comic book store. Everyone that I have talked to about it has really enjoyed the book and are anxious for me to continue the story, especially since it ended on a cliffhanger.
JMH: What kind of reward levels do you have for supporters?
JN: There are some basic reward levels, like a digital copy for $5 and a physical copy for $10. There are also some art reward levels where you can get some custom art done by me along with the book itself.
JMH: Will Bliss be released in digital format, web comic, or print?
JN: It will be primarily in print form. I am sending a digital copy to backers and hope to someday release the story as a web comic.
JMH: Where can readers get a hold of Bliss?
JN: They can go to my facebook page, Nortonman Art & Comics and buy a copy of the first issue. They can also buy a copy at NightFlight Comics in Salt Lake City, or buy one directly from me at any comic convention I attend. And obviously, anyone who backs my Kickstarter will receive a copy.
JMH: How can fans contact you?
JN: They can follow me on Facebook at Nortonman Art & Comics, Instagram @Nortonman Art and Twitter @Nortonman37. I am also on Deviant Art and Youtube under the username Nortonman.
JMH: What advice do you have for anyone thinking about going the Kickstarter route for their property?
JN: Plan ahead. Do some research and make realistic goals. Don’t ask for too much money for your overall goal or your reward levels if you are brand new. People don’t want to risk too much money on an unknown property. Stay in contact with your supporters and treat your fans like royalty so they will continue to come back and spread the word about your awesomeness.
JMH: Is there anything coming up in further Bliss stories, or other projects you want people to know about?
JN: My goal is to finish the Bliss four issue mini-series, and after that work on a horror themed graphic novel. I will also be attending The Palm Springs Comic Con at the end of August, and the Salt Lake Comic Con in September, where I will be selling my comics, prints and original commission art.
JMH: Pitch Bliss to the readers! In 10 words, tell us why the Bliss books are a no-brainer to support…
JN: An original story, creator owned, featuring a badass female lead.
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About the interviewer –
John Michael Helmer is the Publisher and CEO of Red Leaf Media, LLC. Red Leaf Media operates:
www.ComicBookInterviews.com
www.RedLeafComics.com
www.luckycomics.com
www.smallpressheroes.com
www.whichwhoiswhat.com
John’s creator-owned properties include: The Leaf, Canada’s Greatest Hero, Sky Watcher, G.I.s versus Zombies, MacSorly, RCMP, The Armor Guardians, World War II Comics, Dune, Master Spy!, Willing & Able and many others.
John can be reached at: comicbookinterviews@mail.com and redleafcomics@mail.com
About the interviewer –
John Michael Helmer is the Publisher and CEO of Red Leaf Media, LLC. Red Leaf Media operates:
www.ComicBookInterviews.com
www.RedLeafComics.com
www.luckycomics.com
www.smallpressheroes.com
www.whichwhoiswhat.com
John’s creator-owned properties include: The Leaf, Canada’s Greatest Hero, Sky Watcher, G.I.s versus Zombies, MacSorly, RCMP, The Armor Guardians, World War II Comics, Dune, Master Spy!, Willing & Able and many others.
John can be reached at: comicbookinterviews@mail.com and redleafcomics@mail.com