Transparency Agenda Daily September 8th 2016 - And now for something different...

Transparency Agenda Daily August 3rd 2016 - Wednesday comic & RPG Marketing

Transparency Agenda Daily July 27th 2016 - Wednesday Comic & RPG Marketing

Transparency Agenda Daily July 13th 2016 - Wednesday Comics Recap

The artwork carries it all...

While the kickstarter has been going on, I am working on Chronicles of the Gatekeepers (Our multiverse based adventure multi-path by Michael McCarty) layout and I wanted to get inspired on a cover for the Adventure Alpha: To Save a Soul. So I went to my favorite out of business comic book company, CrossGen​ and Jim Cheung​ for something I could use. And this is what I got my creative juices flowing. Then for the Omega adventure, I stuck with Crossgen but I when with artist Yanick Paquette​, Negation cover #11.

But with all this going on, I still need a cover for the sidetreks that I could use multiples of times. And out of the blue can Ivan Reis​ cover from DC Comics​ JLA. All these will work well on helping the artist come up with the correct image to help make this series even more appealing. What do you think? Talk to you later...

Transparency Agenda #68: Crisis on infinite fantasy settings with 3PP AKA The Until 2 AM Phone Call!

I’ve been quiet. TOO quite…

I have been behind the scenes working on a few things that we will be showing off soon for you to enjoy. But, while this is going on I keep going back to a CRAZY idea that keeps popping back in my head.  Simply put, this is what I keep thinking: I (We) should do DC Comics’ Crisis on Infinite Earth as an Adventure Path viakickstarter for Pathfinder with a joint co-operation with various 3PP.  Now many of you are laughing at me right now. You are like, “You can’t do Crisis. It’s is impossible.” First I don’t believe in impossible. I am sorry, but there is no such animal as impossible.  All that success needs to make thing happen is: will and sweat. It just amazes me that DC and Marvel Comics have done SO MANY comic series that would work as Adventure Paths: Civil War, Dark Phoenix Saga, DarkestNight, Infinite Crisis, Siege, X-tinction Agenda, plus MANY more. No need to remake the wheel here. I am going to get this worked out SOMEHOW. And then I am going to do Crisis for Pathfinder and people will love it. Those of you who are still telling me it is impossible and I can do it: Thanks!  I need a lot of fuel for this fire. Talk to you later…

Cross of Fire Saga - Inspiration in an image

What does this image or Nekron from Green Lantern Blackest Night storyline mean for Cross of Fire Saga? Let's call in inspiration and go from there. Talk to you later...

Transparency Agenda #38: The Comic Book / Industry Rant

DC Heroes Omni-Gadget and why I want something like this for Pathfinder especially for Machinesmith

Roughly two years ago, Playing D&D with Porn Stars did a post on one of my favorite aspects from the DC Heroes RPG, the Omni-Gadget. Simply put the Omni-Gadget is a device that could be used emulate a power at a certain level.  The created it with the reason of how does Batman carry the exact item he needs at that exact moment like Shark Repellent in his utility belt? Omni-Gadget answers that.  I have always like the concept of this device for superhero RPGs and I have felt it would work VERY well for the Machinesmith in Pathfinder. I need a quick gadget? Then make it with Omni-Gadget it. These would be one-shot items that you could use in a clutch.  Yes I know it sounds like a “spell in a can” because it IS a “spell in a can”. Personally I would limit any Omni-gadget to a 2^nd level spell or lower. This is one of those things I think if done well could be VERY cool, but of course would have to be very limited to keep the games balance. What do you think about creating an Omni Gadget for Pathfinder? Is it too powerful? Too game braking? I would love to hear what other people think.  Talk to you later…

Animated Justice League: Doom Trailer

Sex & Violence in comic books, say it isn't so!

Relaunched Comics Using Sex and Violence To Sell: MyFoxDC.com

LPJ Design Business Judo: DC Comics' Second Feature Idea and how LPJ Design used it

On November 16, 2009 I wrote a blog post called DC Comics'Second Feature Idea. So with this basic idea I used it to do something similar with it the NeoExodus product line.  For example we have Enemies of NeoExodus: Folding Circle and connect with that product we have Heroes of NeoExodus: Brelin Swift.  This was my first attempt of doing a Second Chance for LPJ Design.  It was an easy way to make one product into two. Better yet this gave me the opportunity to sell the same products two different ways: as separated products or and joined bundled product.  Each product has its own separate price but if you purchase the bundle, you get them both for the same price as the larger product. So fans of NeoExodus can purchase the bundle and save money. While first timer customers can “test us out” by purchasing the “Second Chance” product first at the lower cost and if they like it they can purchase the larger, more expensive add-on. 

 I am also planning to do something similar to this when we start releasing new products for NeoExodus. One big book with a smaller book attached to it.  While it is not a revolutionary idea, it is proven and one that does work. While DC Comics might have stopped using it due to the rising cost of printing, since I am digital based it really cost me nothing to do, helps lower the production cost on a product and makes LPJ Design more streamlined and profitable. And that is what is best for up long term.  Talk to you later…

Batman: Arkham City 'Nightwing Trailer' -- LOOKS GREAT!

Jim Shooter talking about rates and contacts while at Marvel & DC Comics and why RPG publishers should listen...

The legendary Jim Shooter of Marvel Comic fame has a blog where he talks much about the comic book industry and his involvement in it. A few days ago he did a post talking about contracts and working for Marvel and DC Comics.  The thing that REALLY stood out to me on the contract was the artist, writing and plotting page rate amounts. They were all listed at $60 per page. $60 a page I am guessing was the "starter rate" and that was Marvel 10 years ago.   Now look at his DC freelance contract rate from 2007 - 2008. $100 a page? This guy has been the editor and chief at BOTH Marvel Comics and Valiant Comics and is on record for being the youngest paid writer EVER comics from a major (DC or Marvel) company and all he got was $100 a page.  I can bet you those rate might have actually gone DOWN due to so many new artists and writers looking to break in to the comic book industry and the book sales going DOWN. So I guess that $100 a page for artwork for a RPG page is looking a little over priced to me when most RPG don't sell over 5,000 copies. 

Now this Marvel Comics contract was from 2001 / 2002 but best of all it also included the Marvel Comic Incentive plan for the creative staff to make more money if their books sold better. Years ago (and I am talking about early to mid 1990s) I was talking to John Byrne about how much money he made while working on Fantastic Four and he told me since FF was selling so well (over 200k copies at the time) his incentive money was much, MUCH more than his regular paycheck from them. Kind of like a waitress, you make your real money on the tips and you get a paycheck.  If you want to be real scary, Chris Claremont and Jim Lee sold 8 million copies of X-Men #1 in the 1900s and just using the basic math on the incentive plan and "guestimating" on a few things, you can think that both Jim Lee and Claremont each maybe made over $100K on that single book off of their incentive plan. Now that is an incentive plan. 

After looking at this article it only makes me shake my head even more when people are asking for $150 for a single character design or 8 cents a word to write. If Marvel and DC Comics wouldn't pay you that much, why do you think I would, or better yet, be able to do it.  The ability to make a RPG for a reasonable amount is what helps keep us ALL in business. Think about that next time you do some freelance work. Maybe you should ask about an incentive plan for companies you work for over a flat rate. Looks like both of you could turn out winner on that.  Talk to you later...

Batman: Arkham City Trailer

Batman Year One Animated Movie Trailer

Get More: Movie Trailers, Movies Blog

Batman Arkham City Catwoman Gameplay!

Cover for new Legion Lost #1

I am not sure about this whole DC Comics Universe revamp, but this image for the new Legion Lost #1 has me interested. Talk to you later...

Young Justice introduces Artemis to the show...