How Kickstarter is kicking its comics division into high gear by finding a place for big companies while continuing to nurture small press

In some ways, crowdfunding has turn into a approach for tasks that had been too dangerous to ever occur to occur – with its supporters ready to give creators the arrogance to do one thing they in any other case would not. While at first it was primarily the area for small, impartial companies (and people) to sort out their dream tasks it is grown to be that and extra, for bigger entities to do even larger issues that even which may suppose in any other case is unattainable.

And that is indubitably true with comics. In 2025, the crowdfunding chief Kickstarter has seen the variety of comics undertaking launches on its platform rise to its largest but – and the success charge, percentage-wise, is additionally up. And earlier this yr it hosted the most important funded comics crowdfunding marketing campaign ever – reaching its $40k aim in its first two minutes, and in the end garnering $4.65m from 11k+ backers over its month-long marketing campaign. That was the hardcover reprint of the traditional ’80s Marvel Transformers run in a new bespoke set referred to as The Transformers Compendium. This undertaking was organized by Transformers comics licensor Skybound Leisure, together with Transformers’ proprietor Hasbro, and Skybound’s publishing associate Picture Comics. 

With all of that occurring and Comedian-Con Worldwide: San Diego looming, Popverse caught up with Kickstarter’s senior outreach lead for comics Sam Kusek to speak about all of this, in addition to current new options to assist shield Kickstarter backers, and the rise of AI-generated work on the platform.

Popverse: Sam, how would you say Kickstarter and the comics class have modified and developed since you’ve got been right here?