Incredible Doom, 90s BBS Comic, Using Every Model Possible

There are so many options for creators to attempt to make money off their comics today, and smart ones use whatever they can. Take, for example, Matthew Bogart, who last month launched Incredible Doom (co-written with Jesse Holden). As soon as I heard that the comic was “about ’90s kids making life-threatening decisions over the early internet” I knew I had to read it. (Mainly because my graduate work was about comic fandom in the same era.) And I really liked his previous book, The Chairs’ Hiatus, about a broken-up band.

But which way to choose? He’s serializing online, with new pages every two weeks adding up to a new issue every two months. (Sign up for the mailing list to make sure you don’t forget about it.) Issue #1 is available in full, with issue #2 posted in part. Or if you subscribe to his Patreon, you can read the comics early or, at a higher level, get the print issues sent to you at a discount rate.

If you like print without commitment, the issues are available from the shop without the monochrome color toning. Assuming that there will be an eventual Kickstarted collection, that’s all the major ways I know of to make money from readers.

As for the story, it’s darker than I expected, but I’m curious to see where it goes, particularly with the issue #2 introduction of Richard. Allison’s abusive father forces her to help with his magic act, and she discovers early BBS culture as a way of escape. What a flashback seeing the code screens! And passing references to long-distance phone bills.