I’ve been marinating on most of this for a while now, but I figured that putting some of these points to digital paper was overdue. Especially since the momentum has remained strong in regards to the Iron Age movement and those either directly involved with it or sitting just on the edge of its orbit.
Things are going good, but they could and should be going better.
In 2023, those of us who have a genuine passion for this rebellion against the mainstream need to work towards playing on a grander stage. We need to bond together and galvanize. No, that doesn’t mean that we all have to agree on everything and work with those we’d rather not. It simply means that we need to support the movement as a whole.
So, let me expand on that.
There are those of us who use our growing platforms to help other creators beyond just ourselves. I’ve been doing it for quite a while with my Wednesday promo threads on Twitter. I also try and help those who need a boost when they release something new or when they feel like they aren’t getting enough eyes on their creation.
Additionally, YouTubers like A Drink With Crazy, John A. Douglas, and Iron Age Media have been putting in the work to really build something tangible for all of us. I’ve also talked about getting my channel going and I need to just do it.
I know that there are others who are also trying to grow and do similar things to help grow the Iron Age movement into something formidable. Realistically, I think it could become quite fucking gargantuan. So far, I’ve been damn impressed with what I’ve seen from a lot of people.
The thing is, there are also a lot of people who already reap the benefits of these growing outlets. The reason I bring that up, is because many of them could do more. Now I’m not here to shame anyone or single anyone out, but if you have grown because of the hard work of others giving you a boost, maybe take the bull by the horns, work harder, and help the next creator.
For those who don’t know, I’ve been in the Comicsgate orbit since it really began. With that, I’ve seen what guys like Ethan Van Sciver have done for other creators by simply having them on his channel and promoting their projects. On the flipside, I’ve seen that man get burned by those who used him and were nothing more than grifters that eventually bit the hand that fed them. This also makes me very wary of who I really allow into my close circle.
The reason I bring this up is twofold.
First, Ethan created a spectacular template for others to follow, regardless of whatever specific fandom or creative medium they find themself in. Seeing what he’s done for at least half a decade is something I have tried to emulate in my own way within the growing Iron Age community. My reach is nowhere near Ethan’s, but as I build it, I want to bring hardworking creatives along the way with me. I want to promote those who make cool shit and don’t have the means that I do to get it in front of more eyes. Again, this is why I need to get more serious about my YouTube channel, which I want to be a space for Iron Agers, Comicsgaters, and other creators to come together.
Second, there is a lot of crosspollination between the Iron Age and Comicsgate, as well as other, similar fandoms that are just tired of what the mainstream has to offer in regards to entertainment. With that, I think there needs to be more crosspollination with the creators and certainly with those who use their platforms to promote indie alternatives to the mainstream dreck. I plan to do this, and you should plan to do this.
Additionally, I think that a lot of the Iron Age creators and fans haven’t been around this block as long as I have and aren’t that aware of Comicsgate, its deep lore, and the lessons that many within that movement had to learn along the way. There’s a lot to learn from that history, as well as the ways to engage (or not engage) our cultural adversaries. Not to mention, how to promote and distribute a truly independent product.
The thing is, Comicsgate is the Iron Age. It’s just one portion of the larger pie. We all have similar interests, goals, and passions. As I’ve shown, crosspollination works - a rising tide raises all ships and all of that.
For me, this is why I include Comicsgate people in my promo threads. I’m an avid comic book collector and I think that a lot of people that read pulp are. Comics themselves are pulp. All these genre things we love evolved from the earliest forms of pulp.
I think that too many people are looking for their favorite nerd culture YouTubers to see what the Iron Age is doing and to get more involved. Most of these people don’t create anything other than content for their channel. They’re not writers and artists, they’re critics. But they also thrive on destroying modern culture and don’t really have the need to help build anything other than their own niche spaces, despite their claims to want great entertainment again. What happened to CNN when Trump was no longer the president?
But here’s the thing, if you aren’t an artist or a writer but have a passion for this stuff, you can add your voice to the mix. You can start a YouTube channel or use Twitter as a way to promote those that you feel deserve it. You don’t have to stand on the sidelines and to be honest, the creators need you as well.
Ultimately, we must come together and build together. No, this isn’t communism, it’s motherfucking capitalism, as it works mutually to benefit those of us who work hard, forge relationships, and create a real future that doesn’t need to rely on the corporate masters.
Getting back to my earliest point, it’s time for many to step up to the next level. Help lift up the next person. Hell, I’ve created a pretty solid template on how to include and promote others in this realm. It shouldn’t just be me and a few others, it should be all of us. The cream will rise to the top, the hard word will pay off, and we’ve all got a solid community already, which can only help us to learn, grow, and get better.
There’s a big fucking void and it grows wider with every mainstream IP that releases new content. The market is there, the fans are hungry, and we can give them what they need. We just have to work hard to come together and get our work in front of their eyes.
That’s it; I said what I said.
Well said. Thank you. I think the biggest take away from watching entertainment over the past few years is keeping the fan in mind. Aim to entertain, show respect, work hard, and have fun. The mainstream media is doing the exact opposite. CROM! How long can they withstand us?
It's time to put the drama aside and come together. GALVANIZE! Together, we are the wall the mainstream can't tear down!