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--:-- Georgia Howe: Welcome to an extra edition of Morning Wire. I'm Georgia Howe.
--:-- John Bickley: And I'm John Bickley, editor-in-chief of the Daily Wire. Today, we're talking about the future of pop culture.
--:-- Georgia Howe: That's right. Our guest is Eric July, author of the comic book series Isom One and founder of the Ripperverse. Welcome to the show, Eric.
--:-- Eric July: Thanks for having me.
--:-- John Bickley: So, Eric, let's dive right in. The superhero genre is in decline, with recent box office flops and cratering comic book sales. But you're part of a new wave of creators who are bucking that trend. Can you tell us a bit about your experience with Isom One?
--:-- Eric July: Sure. Isom One was a huge success, and we're now working on the second installment. We've already sold over 23,000 copies, which is over a third of what we sold with the first book.
--:-- Georgia Howe: That's impressive. I noticed that the trailer for Isom Two was animated. Are you exploring an animated adaptation of the series, or was that just a one-off?
--:-- Eric July: It was a filler, a way to gauge our audience's response. But we were blown away by the reaction, and we're now considering more animation in the future.
--:-- John Bickley: That's great to hear. I've been following the rise of manga in the West, and it's clear that there's still a huge appetite for comics and superheroes. But the traditional comic book industry is struggling. Do you think we're seeing a general trend, and do you think Isom One could be part of a revitalized American comic industry?
--:-- Eric July: I think there's definitely a trend towards manga and other forms of international comics. And I believe that Isom One and other independent creators like us can help revitalize the American comic industry.
--:-- Georgia Howe: That's a great point. You mentioned that manga often tells stories in a similar way to American comics. But even when they're drawing on American influences, they're still outselling us. What do you think is behind that success?
--:-- Eric July: I think it's because manga is often more focused on storytelling and character development, rather than trying to fit into a specific genre or mold. And I think that's something that American comics can learn from.
--:-- John Bickley: That's really interesting. You also mentioned that the traditional comic book industry has a content issue, where they're not able to keep up with demand. Do you think that's a major factor in their decline?
--:-- Eric July: Absolutely. I think that's a huge part of the problem. When you're trying to appeal to a broad audience, you end up watering down your content and losing your unique voice.
--:-- Georgia Howe: That's a great point. You've also talked about the importance of having an integrated supply chain, where you're responsible for printing and shipping your own comics. Can you tell us more about that?
--:-- Eric July: Yeah, I think it's really important to have control over your own distribution. When you're relying on third-party companies, you're at their mercy, and that can be a real problem.
--:-- John Bickley: That's a great point. And it sounds like you're also taking steps to prevent the kind of interference that can happen when you're dealing with big studios.
--:-- Eric July: Yeah, I think that's really important. When you're in control of your own content and distribution, you're able to make decisions that are in the best interest of your fans, rather than trying to appease a broad audience.
--:-- Georgia Howe: That's really refreshing to hear. You've also talked about the importance of decentralization and creating parallel economies. Can you tell us more about that?
--:-- Eric July: Yeah, I think that's really important. When you're relying on big corporations and traditional industry structures, you're limited in your ability to innovate and take risks. But when you're creating your own parallel economy, you're able to do things on your own terms and create something truly unique.
--:-- John Bickley: That's a great point. And it sounds like you're also seeing a lot of talented creators from the traditional industry making the move to independent creators like yourself.
--:-- Eric July: Yeah, that's definitely happening. I've seen a lot of talented creators come over to the Ripperverse, and I think that's a great sign for the future of the industry.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Well, Eric, it's been great talking to you. Thanks for sharing your insights with us.
--:-- Eric July: Thanks for having me.
--:-- John Bickley: And that's all for today's extra edition of Morning Wire. Thanks for listening, and we'll see you tomorrow.
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