Newspapers. Believe it or not, they still exist! And they’re not just for telling you yesterday’s news, Peanuts reruns and where the good yard sales will be this weekend.
A new Kickstarter asks the question “what if newspaper but comics criticism?”
The Comics Courier is a twice-annual print newspaper that will feature a mix of essays and reviews of comics new and old, away from the churn of the Wednesday floppy cycle. Led by publisher Tiffany Babb, who previously co-edited the monthly digital comics magazine PanelxPanel and was deputy editor of Popverse, The Comics Courier will feature writing by folks like Douglas Wolk, author of the book All of the Marvels; Dave Baker, creator or co-creator of the graphic novels Everyone Is Tulip, Forest Hills Bootleg Society and Mary Tyler MooreHawk; and regular ComicsXF contributor Sean Dillon.
(Other contributors include Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, Kat Calamia, Brad and Lisa Gullickson, Jim McDermott, Carrie McClain, Lillian Hochwender and Liam McGuire.)
Baker is also contributing one of three limited-edition prints that will serve as rewards for backers, along with artists Nicole Goux and Lee Gatlin.
Just a few days into the campaign, the Courier is already more than double over its goal, which Babb says will go to paying writers more (PAY WRITERS MORE!) and helping fund a second issue.
ComicsXF talked with Babb recently about newspapers, comics criticism and, perhaps most importantly, fonts.
Full disclosure: I have already backed this project because as a newspaperman of nearly 20 years and a person who writes about comics for nearly 10, I loved the idea of a project that blends my two worlds. On with the show!
ComicsXF: First of all, the project funded on the first day and is still going strong, so congratulations. Now you can put your feet up, right?
Tiffany Babb: I am amazed at the immense support from the comics community. Launching a Kickstarter is kind of like walking alone into the dark — you just don’t know what to expect, and I’m really moved by the response to the campaign. Of course, the work is definitely not done. The campaign has really just started, and I’m working on the newspaper itself, too!
CXF: Tell me about those stretch goals.
Tiffany: Our first stretch goal — a pay bump for all of the contributors — has already been met! That is a particularly exciting one for me, because paying writers is a huge driving force behind why I’m doing this project in the first place. We’ve got a couple more stretch goals coming down the road that I think are pretty fun, but saying too much would be a surprise! You’ll probably hear a bit more next week.
CXF: What is the origin of this project? What made you want to pursue print media in this digital age?
Tiffany: Gosh. I’ve been thinking about doing some sort of comics criticism project for a while now. I honestly swiped the newspaper format idea from Brian Canini and co.’s The Columbus Scribbler. That paper is really more comics focused than comics criticism focused, but I just love the idea of a newspaper that you can hold in your hands. I read a lot online, but at the end of the day, I just want to get away from the screens. Plus, as a writer, it’s nice to see your work in print!
CXF: What hole were you looking to fill in comics journalism/criticism through this project?
Tiffany: It’s no secret that a lot of platforms that feature writing about comics have been shutting down. There’s a lot of reasons for that — the major bits being that there’s just very little money in it and usually very little support for it and you can only run on passion for so long. Really the hole I’m looking to fill is to create a new place where great writers can publish their work and get paid for it.
CXF: How did you gather your collaborators?
Tiffany: I just put together a group of writers whose work I really love and respect. The contributors for the first issue are a good mix of people I’ve worked with before and people I haven’t, so that’s been fun. But the coolest part of working with these writers is that — because the Courier is print and not tied to the release schedule — I get to say, “What do you want to write about?” with no qualifiers attached, and that is such a privilege.
CXF: As the publisher of a newspaper, have you felt the urge to demand pictures of Spider-Man or wear one of those green, translucent visors?
Tiffany: How did you know that I was wearing a green, translucent visor at this very moment? That’s some strong journalism-sense right there. As for the other thing … I’m literally fighting the urge to demand photos of Spider-Man every day. It’s become a bit of a problem. But that’s just the newspaper life, baby.
CXF: The Kickstarter campaign ends on Halloween. What’s the scariest thing about making a comics-focused newspaper in 2024?
Tiffany: Falling flat on my face and failing in front of everyone I know! I know that what we’re putting together is good and that it’s gonna turn out great, but starting something new in a new format is truly terrifying. And Kickstarters are so public! Having funded on our first day was a huge relief, really.
CXF: What’s a key way this experience is different from another project you worked on, the late, lovely PanelxPanel?
Tiffany: There are key ways that the paper and the magazine are similar. There are obviously some similar people involved with regular PxP contributors like Hass, Lillie, Jim and Sean writing for our first issue, and there’s an emphasis on in-depth writing. As for the differences, PanelxPanel was mostly digital, which was really great in many ways (the magazine could highlight much more work), but I really wanted to make something in print. We also don’t have feature comics for the paper, so the content is much more eclectic.
CXF: Speaking of PxP, how much coaxing did it take to bring Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou on board?
Tiffany: Ah, just a bit. Hass has been so supportive of this project literally since its inception, and I’ve been bothering him constantly about my design choices. One of the secret reasons I chose a newspaper over a magazine (beyond the fact that newspapers are awesome) is that there are a LOT of guidelines for newspaper design (I consistently refer to the three books about newspaper design I’ve purchased). I figured I couldn’t mess it up too badly. But for things like the logo and front page … you can’t rely on just the guidelines, and Hass has really been a blessing as I panic and wonder if I’ve just made a mess of things.
CXF: You’ve got some great rewards, including prints by Dave Baker, Nicole Goux and Lee Gatlin. But the thing that got me was the branded reporter’s notebook. As a recovering reporter, I’d love to shove that thing in my back pocket on the way to an interview. How’d you settle on what you wanted to offer backers apart from the Courier?
Tiffany: I’ve been a big fan of all three of our print artists for ages, and I was thrilled to be able to work with them on this campaign. The prints are so cool and representative of each of their styles, which is exactly what you want to see. As for the reporter’s notebook, I just thought it would be really cool to have — and I’m glad that others agree.
CXF: Let’s talk about fonts! Newspaper font needs tend to be different from magazine font needs, due to the paper stock and the fact that people equate newspapers with serif fonts generally. Have you agonized over font choices yet, and if not, do you intend to?
Tiffany: I have agonized a lot over font choices … I have made decisions … Who can tell if they were the right decisions or not? But! You can expect a serif font as our main typeface in the paper.
CXF: Are you already thinking about issue #2?
Tiffany: I am! Foolishly, probably, as I’m still finishing up issue #1. But honestly, the response to the Kickstarter campaign has been pretty invigorating, and I am already sketching out ideas.
Support The Comics Courier on Kickstarter.
Dan Grote is the editor and publisher of ComicsXF, having won the site by ritual combat. By day, he’s a newspaper editor, and by night, he’s … also an editor. He co-hosts The ComicsXF Interview Podcast with Matt Lazorwitz. He lives in New Jersey with his wife, two kids and two miniature dachshunds, and his third, fictional son, Peter Paul Winston Wisdom. Follow him @danielpgrote.bsky.social.
