A biographical journey through the career of legendary wrestling color commentator, Tony Schiavone, as told through comics!
Latest Updates from Our Project:
BackerKits are coming soon!
almost 2 years ago
– Sat, May 01, 2021 at 02:31:04 AM
We set a few new records, friends!
First and foremost, again, on behalf of the whole team, THANK YOU to all of you for your support of BUTTS IN SEATS: THE TONY SCHIAVONE STORY.
After doing a little digging around, it seems this book is not only in the Top 100 Funded Graphic Novels on Kickstarter of All Time (putting us in company alongside Keanu Reeves -- yes, seriously!), but it's also the #1 Funded Wrestling Graphic Novel on Kickstarter of all time! Wooooooooooooo!
These are huge, huge accomplishments... and we thank you all for it. Truly.
BackerKits are coming soon!
The BackerKit links will be sent out soon to the e-mail connected to your Kickstarter (the same e-mail where you got notice of this message), so be ready! BackerKit is basically like an online shopping cart that will be per-populated with what you already ordered... and you'll also have a chance to add-on some cool extras, too, if you really want to "treat yo'self."
(Spoiler: In preparation of my next Kickstarter-released graphic novel in the horror/noir TALES OF MR. RHEE series, I'm offering one of the stand-alone graphic novels at in the series at a super-discounted price... so if you like scary stuff, get ready!)
Cameo Backers: Did you get me your photos yet?
If you are one of the lucky 13 backers who managed to pledge at the "Hey Look! That's Me!" level, be sure to check the last update that was sent (it was only sent directly to those of you who backed at that pledge level) so you can get me your photos! The art for the book is primarily finished, and we just need to get all of you drawn-in to finish everything and send the files to the printer!
If you happen to be in the Buckeye State this Saturday...
Finally, if you happen to be in the Columbus, Ohio area, feel free to c'mon out to PackratComics in Hillard, Ohio this Saturday (May 1st) to say "Hello" during my signing event there! I'll be signing books at their "Free Comic Book Day Lite" event from 10:00 AM until at least 5:00 PM! Packrat Comics is a fantastic store, and there will not only be a ton of free comics available, but I'll also be bringing some rare treats from my personal comic vault, too!
Thanks all! I'll be in touch soon with another update... and perhaps even some new peeks at some previously unseen art from the book!
Representing Team BUTTS IN SEATS,
Dirk Manning
IMPORTANT: We Need Your Photo
almost 2 years ago
– Sun, Apr 25, 2021 at 07:48:03 AM
This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.
Thank you.
almost 2 years ago
– Mon, Apr 19, 2021 at 03:34:57 PM
Truly... thank you.
Those of you who've seen any of the interviews that Tony and/or I have been doing across the Internet over the last few weeks (several of them have been saved to my YouTube channel HERE under the "Podcasts of Note" playlist -- feel free to subscribe!) may have heard us say that this Kickstarter campaign was exceeding all expectations.
Now that the campaign has finished with $135,392 in presales, 2,357 backers, and 17 Stretch Goals unlocked... let me reiterate not only how much this campaign has exceeded all out expectations, but, again, how THANKFUL we all are for your support.
So, what's next? Watch this space...
At this point funds are being collected by Kickstarter, and I, at least, will be celebrating by heading over to Source Point Press headquarters this weekend to help them finish moving into their new office space.
After I get back, editor Drena Jo and I will begin doing a final pass on all the art and lettering on the book (with Tony, of course) before sending it to Source Point Press Art Director Josh Werner and the crew to start putting the files together and getting the book ready for print.
(Right now over 90% of the art is finished, with the lettering being completed as I type this.)
Through these updates we will keep you posted on the process of the book being printed and delivered -- and perhaps even share some preview art and process pictures -- so please make sure to keep an eye on these messages and at least take a glance at them when they're sent. I promise not to send too many as to overwhelm you.
A note about (and from) the team...
Before I head out for now, I want to take a moment to show recognition to our "internal team" who has been working on this book with me and Tony Schiavone for the past year: The aforementioned editor "The Boss" Drena Jo, "Gimmick Attorney" Mike Dockins, "Dependable" Dave Silva, and "The Queen of Social Media" Laurie Schiavone-Engel all were instrumental in making the creation of this book -- and the execution of the campaign -- such a positive process.
Finally, here's a note from the most valuable member of our team... Tony's best friend Bug:
There's really no way to follow that, so I'm going to wrap this up for now... but I'll be in touch again soon!
Thanks, all!
Representing Team BUTTS IN SEATS,
Dirk Manning
Are you getting what you want? Including all the Stretch Goal bonuses?
almost 2 years ago
– Fri, Apr 16, 2021 at 06:02:07 AM
Because this is the final countdown!
As I type this we have ten hours left in the campaign for BUTTSIN SEATS: THE TONY SCHIAVONE STORY, and we cannot thank you all enough for your support on this campaign! This is a quick final reminder of a few things as we approach these final hours of this campaign (which ends TODAY at Noon EDT)!
1) To get all 17 of the Kickstarter Exclusive Stretch Goal bonuses and add-ons, your pledge must include the Kickstarter Exclusive DeluxeHardcover. If you want all the free bonus items (the pin, the bonus comic, the variant cover, the signed bookplate, etc) and your pledge doesn't include the hardcover, please make sure to adjust your pledge (using the "Manage" option) to adjust accordingly. (And, hey, it's totally cool if you just want the softcover edition! We appreciate and respect that! This is just a friendly last-minute reminder so there's no surprises or ill will later, friends!)
2) The Kickstarter Exclusive Hardcover Edition of the book will never be made available again after this campaign ends and will not be available for purchase in stores, etc. If you want an extra one as a gift for someone else, to keep, or -- let's be honest here, friends -- just as an investment, you can add the appropriate funds to your pledge and will then be able to put the extra items in your BackerKit once we send that out after the campaign ends. Here's the Add-On chart should you wish to "treat yo'self." And, yes, if you get two Kickstarter Exclusive Hardcover Edition copies of the book, you get two sets of all the Stretch Goals bonuses, too!(Two pins, two bonus comics, etc.)
3) Funds will be collected after the campaign ends, and then in a few weeks when the dust settles we'll you'll get a link to the BackerKit so you can finalize your order. In the meantime, and even after that, we will keep you updated on the production of the book via these updates, so please continue to read these, OK? We won't send them out too often -- just often enough to keep you in the loop -- and I'll make sure to include some cool sneak peek images and such of the production process as I can!
Again, THANK YOU for your support everyone! If you want to give the campaign a last push, feel free to share this link:
Otherwise, I'll see you on the other side when this campaign ends in a few hours!
Representing Team BUTTS IN SEATS,
Dirk Manning
CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION UNLOCKED! Are you getting all the Stretch Goals?
almost 2 years ago
– Tue, Apr 13, 2021 at 09:45:33 PM
THE CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION HAS BEEN UNLOCKED!
Hey all!
With a little more than two days left in the campaign (the preorder window closes Friday at Noon EDT) we have sailed past $120,000 in presales, unlocking THE CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION of the Kickstarter Exclusive Hardcover of the BUTTS IN SEATS: THE TONY SCHIAVONE STORY! This super-deluxe version of the book comes with it's own golden embossed championship belt on the cover, a golden ribbon bookmark, and three Kickstarter Exclusive trading cards featuring Tony, Lois, and Bug!
"How do I get all 17 Stretch Goal Bonuses and Upgrades?"
It's simple, friends: All 17th Stretch Goal upgrades come for free with ANY pledge level that includes the Kickstarter Exclusive Hardcover Edition of the book.
As long as your pledge level includes the HARDCOVER edition of the book, you'll get, for free with your book:
A free digital PDF of the book
A triple-autographed bookplate (me, artist Josh Werner, Tony Schiavone)
10 Bonus Pin-Ups in the book
Four bonus stories in the book
Kickstarter Exclusive "Behind the Scenes" comic book
CAPTAIN AMERICA #193 homage Variant Cover artwork
Kickstarter Exclusive "BatSchiavone" Enamel Pin
Bonus insert double-page spread featuring comic art of EVERY wrestler/wrestling personality who cut a video promo for the book throughout the campaign on social media -- and a stand-alone lithograph of this same amazing image
Embedded Golden Ribbon Bookmark (to hold the place of your favorite page)
Kickstarter Exclusive Embossed Gold Belt on the Variant Cover
Three Kickstarter Exclusive Trading Cards
YOU GET ALL OF THIS FOR FREE WITH ANY PLEDGE LEVEL THAT INCLUDES THE KICKSTARTER EXCLUSIVE HARDCOVER!
Not to put too find a point on it, but only the PDF, the 10 pin-ups, and the four bonus stories are in the softcover, trade paperback, direct market edition of the book, friends... so if you want to get ALL the bonus swag, make sure you've pledged for the Kickstarter Exclusive Hardcover of the book. (If you want both versions of the book, you can pledge at the "Tag Team" or "Gimme Everything!" level to get them both at a bundled price, too!)
This campaign ends Friday, April 16th at Noon EST, and at that time orders will be locked, funds will be collected, and number of Kickstarter Exclusive Hardcover Editions -- now "The Championship Edition" of the book -- will be locked-in, friends... so, again, check your pledge and make sure you're getting what you want... and if you want to adjust your pledge, you can select "Mange" to adjust it accordingly.
You're all amazing. Let's bring this campaign home strong.
On behalf of the whole team... THANK YOU, friends. Truly. If you want to share the news about the campaign, feel free to share this link:
Otherwise, we'll talk after Friday at noon when the campaign, ends.
Thanks all! Truly!
Representing team BUTTS IN SEATS,
Dirk Manning
P.S. -- If you really want to treat yourself, we added one more set of "Hey Look! That's Me!" pledge levels to the campaign, too, giving you one last chance to be drawn into the book! There's only three of them, and they're going to go fast! Don't wait!
