Reproduct Verlag, which is known for its finely curated comic and graphic novel program, actually wanted to publish many books by celebrities from the international scene in the fall.

Among others, albums by Barbara Yelin, Sascha Hommer, Shigeru Mizuki and Paco Roca were planned.

But these works are now on the brink, because the publisher is struggling with the high prices for paper and energy - two problems that affect many independent publishers and pose existential questions.

“The prices for offers that we obtained from the printers are sixty percent higher than last year.

It's an economic disaster," says Dirk Rehm, head of Reprodukt.

Kevin Hanschke

volunteer.

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The reasons for the price increases are complex.

The pandemic has led to the supply chains for wood being interrupted: many comic book publishers, including Reprodukt, have their books printed in Eastern Europe, in Poland, Lithuania or Latvia, where there is now a wood shortage due to the Ukraine war.

Paper mills are also focusing on making boxes as mail order is booming and companies like Amazon are paying higher prices for paper.

Rising energy costs do the rest.

In addition, the success of the global comics market since the pandemic has also caused prices to rise: the circulation has increased by a third in some cases - more has to be pre-financed.

Rehm hopes for the “community”

That's why Reprodukt wants to try out a solution that comes from the start-up sector: a crowdfunding campaign via the Startnext financing platform, where private donors can donate online.

Rehm is hoping for the “community”, as he says, and that as many regular customers as possible invest in the autumn programme.

The crowdfunding model is not uncommon in the international comic publishing world.

In the United States, Fantagraphics initiated a Kickstarter project back in 2014 to fund its spring and fall programs through this fundraising website.

The publisher took in a total of $220,000, around $70,000 more than the target of $150,000.

Rehm is now hoping for 30,000 euros to cover a fifth of the production costs for the new program.

It will comprise thirty books, including works such as "Reports from the Ukraine" by the Italian comic artist Igort or "Werewolf" by Noëlle Kröger.

The campaign is scheduled to run for four weeks, and four of the eight publishing house employees were involved.

In a video they explain in which areas the funds are invested.

In addition, artists who support the campaign also have their say: “We have received positive feedback from our pool of authors, artists and translators.

Many understand the situation and are happy about the attempted solution.” Among others, Atak, Charles Berberian, Brecht Evens and Anke Moistenberger support the fundraising.

They also help reproduct through edition prints.

If the money doesn't come together, Rehm expects

that he has to reduce the publishing team and that the editions will be smaller this year.

However, Reprodukt not only wants to benefit financially from its project, but also through closer reader loyalty.

Hardly any more efficient printers

Rehm has heard about similar problems from other German comic publishers.

Unlike the similarly large Splitterverlag, which often produces its volumes on the same paper and can therefore place larger orders for it, Reprodukt selects an individual type of paper for each comic publication and therefore works with more than ten printers.

"For us, it's all about the high-quality feel and colour.

Each of our print shops specializes in different things,” says Rehm.

At the largest European comics festival, which recently took place in Angoulême, France, raw material prices were an important topic, says Rehm.

A specific problem of the G-7 countries was discussed: Due to outsourcing, in many of these countries there are hardly any more efficient print shops,

that can compete qualitatively with those in Eastern Europe, China or India.

This development also poses challenges for comic book publishers.

Rehm hopes that the situation will improve in the fall.

But he worries about the Ukraine war:

"The future of comics is currently being decided on the German market." If the Reprodukt campaign were to work, it would be a unique model in Germany, because an entire publishing program has not yet been financed through crowdfunding, although there have been attempts for years to do so to enable individual publications on the Internet.

Reproduct started planning early because other publishers could also seek support through crowdfunding.

This is also the forecast of the German Book Trade Association.

Not just for comics.