The Face From a Thousand Indie Comic Books — Kristopher Cronk
The world of independent comic books is far and wide. There are literally thousands and thousands of titles to choose from, and comic cons and shops are packed with new stories each week. And if you think that there is only one way into making comics, then you may want to think again.
Creators work with writers, artists, letterers, colorists, flatters, editors, publishers, printers, promoters… and probably many others. Truth be told, there are probably even more roles which are evolving and brand new which are not on the list.
One of these might be the “secret patron,” or someone who works to support creators beyond just buying the book or giving toward a Kickstarter. One of these types of support is to have yourself written into a story — a comic book cameo or sorts. This clever way to contribute to a comics’ success is how our friend Kristopher Cronk makes his presence felt in many, many titles.
Cronk works with creators directly, to insert himself into a story… sometimes in the background as an in-joke reference, sometimes with a speaking role. We caught up with Cronk, to ask him how this all started, and how many indie comics he’s been a part of, which are all part of a continuity, which he calls the “Crookedverse.”
INDIE COMICS ZONE:
Kristopher Cronk! We appreciate your time. Tell us a little bit about yourself…
KRISTOPHER CRONK
Sure. I am abstract artist from Indiana near Indianapolis.
ICZ:
Tell us how you got into comics… and then how did you get into Indie Comics?
CRONK:
I have kind of always been into comics or at least the art. My mother would let me pick one whenever she took my sister and I to the grocery store. I think was 6 or 7 at least that when I first remember the ritual. I would study each one and try to recreate each one in my own way.
First trying drawing the exciting cover then moving to the splash pages. On book would keep me out of her hair for at least a week or until we came across another rack at the gas station or a Kmart.
I don’t really see a difference between types of comics indie, the Big 2, and manga they are pretty much the same now aren’t they? Marvel and DC make movies now and are slashing their titles down to their mainstays. Crowd funding sites are pushing out more titles per year than any 100 publishers could ever dream and the Japanese books dominate Amazon. They are all comics pigeon holing a comic book as “indie” is putting it in niche within a niche in an even smaller niche wouldn’t you say?
ICZ:
Yes… you make a fair point. Tell us about some of the projects you’ve supported recently…
CRONK:
I share everything I support on your feed… mostly Kickstarter books sometimes Indiegogo (not a fan of that site, a lot of unfulfilled books there mostly “Comicsgate” dopes). Rarely do I venture to Fund My Comics, but I do for the right book or a friend.
But right now Public Defender … I am hoping his book funds because I want cover in my Crookedverse. Another is Ice and Bone. I tried to get into that guy’s book before but it failed to fund… so if Ice and Bone has legs, I’ll probably change my contribution.
ICZ:
So… how many books have you been featured in?
CRONK:
- • Chefs
- • Hiro: Blood of Patriots
- • Grey Matter
- • Kyrie: Book 3 – Robbers in the House of a Hundred Gates
- • Intrusive Thoughts 2
- • The Cryos 1 (to be reoccurring)
- • The Triskele Sisters 1 (to be reoccurring)
- • My Sex Witch Academia 1 & 2
Books in production
- • Boobs 3
- • Changling 3
- • Found in the Forgotten 1
- • Devil Flyer: Prequel
Funding
- • Public Defender (if it funds)
- • My Sexy Witch Academia 3
Other
- • And a novelist friend of mine hinted I’m going to be in his next horror novel but we’ll see
- • A credit in “The Last Kumite” movie … at the end of credits Crooked Painter is second to last name before the end… available for streaming on Amazon Prime
ICZ:
Why is it important for you to support indie comics?
CRONK:
Personally, I support new writers and artists trying to find their voice be it in fine art, music, books, performance art (acting or whatever some folks get weird with it) and comics. I do it because a long time ago when I started my career a couple of people supported me.
Isn’t that what we are supposed to do?
Unfortunately, now some folks believe if one is successful another must fail and don’t get me wrong. Some fail for a reason, but the ones that take that failure and retool. Then turn that failure into success learn so much more than those who succeed from the start.
