TKO Studios: A New Publisher Spars with the Comic Book Status Quo

Written by Zeke Perez Jr. 

The way we watch TV shows in 2018 is a far cry from how we did in a not so distant past. Just 10 years ago, let’s say, the most typical way people followed a given program was on a week-to-week basis. The Netflix-style subscription model has reframed that. Now, instead of tuning in for appointment television weekly, people are willing to play the long game between seasons and wait for all of a show’s episodes to come out at once. A new comic publisher - TKO Studios - is asking why the same can’t be done in the world of comic books.
 
Why should people wait month-to-month for each new issue of a comic to drop? And why should they wait for months after the final issue of a run to see the whole collection gathered in a trade paperback? TKO hopes to present a solution to those questions, aiming to give its readers quality content, all up front.
 
On December 10th, TKO Studios posted a thread on Twitter that certainly sought to rattle the cages of the current comic book industry, claiming that it hopes to be the ‘first modern comic book company.’ In the thread, TKO laid out its star-studded staff, its new approach, and an invitation to check out its content and give it a shot.
 
TKO Studios wants to give readers the opportunity to binge-read comics the way they sit down to binge-watch episodes of their favorite shows. They want the readers to have control over how they pace the series, rather than waiting months to see how the story unfolds. To accomplish that, TKO plans to release all six issues for each of its miniseries at one time. To accommodate a variety of readers and collectors, each miniseries will be released in three formats: as six individual issues packaged in a collector’s box, as a trade paperback, or digitally. All will be in the deluxe oversized style to best show off the art. While products are available for purchase straight from TKO, they’ve stated that they’re also up for working with comic shops to get their physical products in stores.
 
TKO Studios isn’t just putting forward a novel idea. They’re backing that idea up with quality creators and content. The all-star staff features big players in the comic industry, such as Roxane Gay (World of Wakanda), Jeff Lemire (Essex County, Sweet Tooth), Jordie Bellaire (Batman, The Wake), and Gabriel Walta (The Vision), just to name a few. Tze Chun is on as co-founder and publisher, with Sebastian Girner serving as Editor-in-Chief. The assembled crew is diverse and acclaimed, with several Eisner-winners and nominees involved. With such an experienced and talented team, there is little doubt that the quality will be there. 

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TKO has introduced four launch titles already, with four more titles on the way. Thus far, they have a war serial focused on a female sniper (Sara), a Western (The 7 Deadly Sins), a tale that harkens back to the old horror comic days (The Fearsome Doctor Fang), and a unique murder mystery (Goodnight Paradise). Each title brings about fantastic new combinations of writers and artists who may not have had the opportunity to collaborate before, setting up limitless potential.
 
I’m somewhat torn on the idea of this new business model, but also very intrigued by it. While I do like the anticipation that builds when waiting for comics to release on the traditional timeframe, I also find myself falling behind on comics easily if I’m not able to make it to my comic shop to pick up my pull list on a given week. In practice, then, I do often tend to binge-read my comics anyway, waiting until they pile up before I dig through them. The publishing approach that TKO is putting forward seems to fit nicely with how I already read my comics, but it might be an adjustment for folks who look forward to new comic book day every Wednesday and who devour their new pickups the day of.
 
I am also hopeful about the positive implications this approach might have for writers and artists. Sitting in on panels at various comic conventions, I’ve heard comic creators talk about the pressures of publisher deadlines. I’ve also seen comic series that were slated for a larger run get cancelled and, as a result, watched the creators struggle to wrap up their intended story in the few remaining issues they had left. I’m curious to see if releasing comics in a bundle might provide writers and artists a little more freedom, allowing them to work on their publications well in advance and to pace their stories how they desire.
 
While TKO Studios is obviously taking some big risks with its new model, I’m given a boost of confidence based on the people who are behind the company. In other types of media that are shifting away from the status quo, it seems the most successful attempts are those that are grassroots efforts, with individuals on the inside creating change. An example that comes to mind is the sports journalism site, The Athletic. The site hoped to move away from the ad and click-driven model that the traditional sports page was turning into. The site’s creators hired great sports writers within the industry to spur the movement, banking on them to create quality content. With the knowledgeable team TKO has assembled, it is poised to challenge key players in the comic book industry.
 
The TKO Studios site is up for preview now, using the password “vipaccess” to enter. On the site, readers will find the four aforementioned series available for purchase. Right now, the full first issue of each series is available to read for free. Readers can also pre-order the next four series that are slated to come out. I’m personally most excited about Sara and The Fearsome Dr Fang from the first set and I’m most looking forward to Sentient, The Banks, and Pound for Pound in the next batch. Time will tell if TKO Studios can go for the knockout in its battle with the comic book industry, but their early releases are promising.
 
You can find TKO Studios on Twitter (@TKOpresents), Instagram, and Facebook. 

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