Iron Circus Comics Explained

Iron Circus Comics
Genre:	Erotica Fantasy Science fiction
Imprints:	Smut Peddler
Founded:	2007
Founder:	C. Spike Trotman
Headquarters:	Chicago, Illinois
Distribution:	Consortium Book Sales & Distribution^[1]
Publications:	Graphic novels
Owner:	C. Spike Trotman

Iron Circus Comics is an American graphic novel publisher founded in 2007 by C. Spike Trotman. Based in Chicago, it is known for publishing the Smut Peddler line of "lady-centric porn"^[2] anthologies and graphic novels, and for its pioneering use of crowd-funding sites such as Kickstarter to finance graphic novel publishing, raising over $1 million in revenue through the platform in its first decade.^{[2] [3] [4]}

History

Trotman founded the company in 2007 to publish print editions of her webcomic Templar, Arizona. In 2009, the company began using the then-new service KickStarter as a tool to finance publication of graphic novels.^[5]

In 2012, Iron Circus published Smut Peddler, a 340-page anthology of erotic comics created by women (or creative teams that included women). Iron Circus financed the book's publication with $80,000 in donations and pre-orders through KickStarter.^[6] Another Smut Peddler volume followed in 2014. Since then, Iron Circus has published both graphic novels and themed anthologies under the "Smut Peddler Presents" banner, including Yes, Roya by Emilee Denich; My Monster Boyfriend; and Sex Machine.

Other books Iron Circus has published include anthologies Sleep of Reason, New World, Tim'rous Beastie, and FTL, Y'All!: Tales from the Age of the $200 Warp Drive, and graphic novels The Less Than Epic Adventures of TJ and Amal by E.K. Weaver, Letters for Lucardo by Otava Heikkilä, As the Crow Files by Melanie Gillman, Emperor of the Food Chain by David Malki, Crossplay by Niki Smith, and Rice Boy by Evan Dahm.^[7]

In 2016, Iron Circus and Image Comics began co-sponsoring the "Creators for Creators" publishing grant, an award given annually to an independent cartoonist, consisting of funds to produce an original graphic novel.^{[8] [9] [10]} The program was on hiatus as of 2021.^[11]

In March 2020, it was announced that Iron Circus was producing an animated short film based on Tracy J. Butler's Lackadaisy with the original creator involved.^[12] On March 29, 2023, the 27-minute short film released on YouTube.^[13]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Consortium - Iron Circus Comics . CBSD.
2. Web site: Iron Circus Comics brings diversity to the comic book market. Jackson. Cheryl V.. RedEye Chicago. 5 April 2018 . en-US. 2019-01-09.
3. Web site: Spike Trotman's Iron Circus Comics has raised $1 million on Kickstarter..and to celebrate they're having a sale. MacDonald. Heidi. 2017-10-24. The Beat. en-US. 2019-01-09.
4. Web site: Spike Trotman, powerhouse pioneer of indie comics. Boing Boing. 14 April 2018. en-US. 2019-01-09.
5. News: From A Read-Along Record To A Profane Tarot: The Year's Quirkiest Crowdfunded Comics. NPR. September 2018. en. 2019-01-09. Lehoczky. Etelka.
6. Web site: About Iron Circus. Dropbox. en. 2019-01-09.
7. Web site: Spike Trotman's Iron Circus Is Taking Over Comics with Smut and Sci-Fi. 2018-01-18. CBR. en-US. 2019-01-09.
8. Web site: Image And Iron Circus Announce The 'Creators For Creators' Grant. Sims. Chris. ComicsAlliance. en. 2019-01-18.
9. Web site: The Bleeding Cool Top 100 Power List 2018 Countdown. Bleeding Cool. Rich Johnston. 24 December 2018. 2019-01-09.
10. Web site: M. Dean's "I Am Young" Wins Initial $30,000 Creators For Creators Comics Grant. Bleeding Cool. Rich Johnston. 6 March 2017. 2019-01-09.
11. Web site: Submissions – Creators for Creators.
12. Web site: Iron Circus Comics Moves Into Animation With 'Lackadaisy'. The Hollywood Reporter. McMillan. Graeme. 16 March 2020. 2020-03-16.
13. Lackadaisy (Pilot). Lackadaisy. YouTube. March 29, 2023. March 29, 2023.