From my post at the Comic Book Industry Alliance forums:

As part of our ongoing marketing efforts to get Elemental Fources in front of retailers and comic book readers, I am offering up the first three issues of the series for free. The first 50 comic book retailers that email me their store information will receive complimentary copies. With the recent Diamond announcement concerning publisher minimums, it is a great time to jump on the small press bandwagon!

Elemental Fources is distributed by Haven Distributers and can be ordered from the Enemi Entertainment Independent Publishers Catalog. The series was recently reviewed in Comics Buyer’s Guide (#1651). National advertising and multiple convention appearances are in the plan for 2009, so this is the perfect time to see what the series is all about.

Eric Mullarky, Publisher
New Baby Productions
eric@elementalfources.com

www.ElementalFources.com

I have been rushing home each day during the last week to check the mail. When was the new issue of Comics Buyer’s Guide going to arrive??? Finally, today, it was there! The review by Kurt Anthony Krug that I have been anticipating for many months has seen print. Getting Elemental Fources reviewed in a national publication is an excellent promotional tool, and I am very anxious to get some results. Check out page 53 of CBG #1651 (on sale 1/21/09) for the excellent review.

Mr. Krug is a local writer who also crafted the great article about New Baby Productions that appeared in the Oakland Press newspaper back in September. Click here to read that article.

I highly encourage everyone to point out the CBG review to your local comic shop and ask them to order copies.

Retailers, I would like to remind you that Elemental Fources is available from Haven Distributors and can be found in the Enemi Entertainment Independent Publishers Catalog. And if you are not comfortable ordering from them (why?!?), contact me to discuss bulk pricing, promotional material, store appearances, etc.

Eric Mullarky, Publisher

I just found out yesterday that some Elemental Fources characters will appear on the May 2009 edition of the Enemi Entertainment Independent Publishers Distribution Catalog. The cover will be drawn by Chris Herbert, who creates the comic book series Lazerman with his brother Alan through their company, HBComics. I have had some correspondense with Chris, and he is a great guy who works very hard at promoting Lazerman. Him and Alan are a great asset to the indie publishing scene, and I look forward to possibly working with them in the future.

Be sure to check out their comic. It sounds like a lot of fun and I plan on getting copies ASAP. In Chris’ own words:

The series is about a comic book geek, who in a bizarre twist of fate, actually ends up getting superpowers himself. Naturally he does what ANY comic geek would do…he decides to become a superhero just like in his comics. Unfortunately for him, in real world things don’t quite work like they do in the comics.

I have posted some cover images below.

HBComics.com

Two important notes for today:

• New Baby Productions has partnered with Eagle One Media to offer digital downloads of the Elemental Fources comics. Check out their Comic Book Digital Download Store for books from several publishers, including IDW, Alterna, Moonstone, Chimaera, Rorschach, Antarctic, and many others:
  
  
  
  This is very similar to what is already being done with Wowio, but I like the idea of getting in at the beginning of a project. It will be interesting to see how the results vary between the two services.

• I just signed up for a table at the Mid Summers Expo (comic, toy and pop culture convention) in Detroit, taking place on July 11, so long from now. I had a lot of fun at the XcapeCON 2 in Flint last month, and a lot of the same people will be participating. It should be a good time. I will provide more details as the event comes closer.

  In addition to Mid Summers, I am planning to set-up at Motor City Comic Con in May. Other than that, nothing else is planned for 2009 at this time. I want to try to hit more cons this year to promote Elemental Fources. Possibilities include: SPACE (Columbus, OH, April); Wizard World Chicago (Chicago, IL, August), Fan Expo Canada (Toronto, ON, August), Pop Culture Con (Cincinnati, OH, September), and Mid-Ohio-Con (Columbus, OH, October). Any other cons I should seriously consider as a small indie publisher? Maybe something closer to the beginning of the year?

Eric Mullarky, Publisher

My 2009 New Year’s Resolution for New Baby Productions is to keep a better schedule of providing updates on our comics, creators, and other projects. And what better way to do that than with a blog integrated into our web site. Others are doing it with success and the Blogger software allows for readers to easily participate with their own comments and links.

2009 will be an exciting year for the company, as Elemental Fources hits comic book stores through our distribution agreement with Haven Distributors/Enemi Entertainment. Haven has partnered with Enemi to bring a full service distribution solution to the indie market. They offer a catalog tailored exclusively to small publishers, bringing quality books to 2,300 indie-friendly stores across North America.

As of this moment, artwork for Elemental Fources #6 is almost complete. With issues #1 through #3 already available, subsequent issues will be sent to the printer when orders for the first three come in. One of the limitations with being a small press is that we can not get too far ahead of ourselves. Printing is expensive and money must be saved for advertising to allow us to compete with the other books out there. Updates will be provided as books become available. We will also be seeking out opportunities for new series and trade editions.

Speaking of advertising, be sure to check out Comics Buyer’s Guide #1650 for our ad. Advertisements will also appear in future issues of Comics Buyer’s Guide and various Twomorrows publications. Be sure to let us know what you think of our marketing attempts.

Additionaly, creators that are participating with New Baby Productions will also be working on some big projects with other comic companies. Penciller J.C. Grande has a new series coming out from Image. And letterer Jaymes Reed will be working with Bluewater.

So keep checking back as we move forward in 2009 and beyond!

Eric Mullarky, Publisher