by Jamison Ashley
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UPDATED:

Less than four months ago, several left-wing comics journos were lamenting Richard Meyer being selected as one of the the Top 100 Most Powerful People in Comics.

But could that list have been any more accurate? Since it’s publishing, Meyer’s Youtube Channel, Diversity & Comics, has hit nearly 65,000 subscribers (as of this writing), and is adding an average of around 5000 new subs every month. Now he’s taken his approach to changing the comics industry to an entirely new level by launching a crowdfunded comic book via INDIEGOGO with an initial goal of raising $5,000 to enable Meyer, along with artist Jon Malin (Cable, New Warriors, Thunderbolts), and colorist Brett Smith (G.I. Joe, Wolverine, Batman, Justice League, Harley Quinn), to self-publish their one shot, “Jawbreakers: Lost Souls,” a tale of a team of ex-superheroes who are attempting “to save a ‘monster’ from a vicious warlord who wants to exploit it”.

In spite of being repeatedly maligned by toxic, leftist creators who seem to reject anyone who doesn’t agree with their politics, the #ComicsGate and #MoveTheNeedle community has insisted from the beginning that they merely wanted comic books with solid artwork and sound storytelling devoid of any and all petty politics. This hasn’t prevented several lower-tier comic journalists and creators from coordinating gas-lighting efforts to paint the movement, they’re allies, and voices like Meyer, Douglas Ernst, and other prolific Youtube personalities like Capn Cummings, Yellowflash, Just Some Guy, That Umbrella Guy, Captain Frugal, and several more who are supportive of #ComicsGate and #MoveTheNeedle, as “misogynists,” “racists,” “Nazis,”and “bigots”.

It is this very same group of like-minded fans who responded to the Jawbreakers fundraising campaign in jaw-dropping fashion, hitting the initial $5K goal within 90 minutes of the launch of the campaign. In fact, by the end of the first day, the team ended up with nearly $40,000 in backing funds – all raised in a single day. After only 5 days online, these intrepid creators have exceeded their original goal by 1045%, raising over $50,000 in merely 4 days. And there are 19 days left.

In addition to luminaries such as Jon Malin and Brett Smith, it was just announced that if the campaign reaches $60,000, the next stretch goal will unlock a special exclusive cover for this book for the Indiegogo Perk print run by longtime DC Comics and Marvel Comics artist, Ethan Van Sciver (Green Lantern, Superman/Batman, New X-Men, and Flash: Rebirth), who has openly expressed support for #MoveTheNeedle on several occasions and has himself been attacked by many of those same toxic journalists. But, just like the creators of this book, Ethan is also known for pushing back against these attacks.

It’s worth mentioning, that when pressed for evidence to back up their claims, these same toxic creators can’t come up with anything tangible, and when they try, it’s frequently circumstantial or outright pointless. The old saying “if you don’t have anything nice to say…” repeatedly comes to mind.

In the meantime, how much money could this comic raise before the campaign ends? Could it hit $100,000? Already it’s earned as much as the average monthly Marvel Comic sales for titles like Jessica Jones or Iron Fist. Far more than the typical Image or other indie comic. If that’s not a reason for the critics to step back and reassess what they’ve been saying about the audience for Meyer’s brand of criticism and opinion towards the state of comic books today, then there’s really not much else that will help them.

UPDATE MAY 9, 2018:
Today is the final day to support this project. As of this morning, they crowdfunded project surpassed $150,000 in backing, unlocked yet another stretch goal where Richard Meyer, Jon Malin and Brett Smith will have a store/convention appearance together somewhere in 2018 in the Continental U.S. and the location will be voted on by fans. Other stretch goals included printing the book in a square-bound cardstock format, an exclusive Cover by Ethan Van Sciver, and additional brand-new JAWBREAKERS- Book Two, the original 32-page Jawbreakers: Book One (RE-MASTERED), and several other perks.

It’s still not too late to get in on this hot project. Visit the INDIEGOGO page for Jawbreakers before midnight tonight by clicking right here.