Hi! My name is Erik Hogan. I’m an award-winning filmmaker and the Director of Post Production for Fire Starter Studios based in Los Angeles. I'm also the creator of 'Crappy Superheroes from the Public Domain' and cannot begin to tell you how excited I am to finally be able to share this project with the world!

I'm a big fan of comic books and comic book culture. However, most importantly, I love how flawed humanity can be - especially when it's funny.

'Crappy Superheroes from the Public Domain' scratches both of those itches for me. This is a show with funny, short, episodes that EVERYONE can binge-watch…and not just comic book fans, but anyone! People that…

• don't like comic book superheroes.
• are suffering from 'Superhero Fatigue' in pop culture.
• need an escape from our difficult and divisive society.
• need a good laugh.

Using my own money, resources, and post-production skills I have created an eight-minute pilot episode of 'Crappy Superheroes from the Public Domain'. I had the time of my life crafting my vision for this project. I believe we have made a 'binge-worthy' show that ANYONE can enjoy! And I think I did just that.

But don't take my word for it. You can check it out right here and see for yourself!

So now, armed with this pilot episode, I have a new mission:

Make Crappy Superheroes from the Public Domain into a YouTube web series!

But I Need Your Help!

If you liked the episode and would like me to make more…PLEASE DONATE whatever you can! 

What sets this Indiegogo fundraiser apart from others…

This show is already developed and you know exactly what you are getting! I already have a highly entertaining episode for you to watch! And if you haven't watched it, please do!

Why Make This Show?

Several years ago, I watched the 'Adam Ruins Summer Fun' episode of Adam Ruins Everything on TruTV. While talking about how important it is to let literary characters lapse into the public domain, host Adam Conover said, “Remixing the works of the past is an essential part of how we create new culture.” I had just come to LA when I heard this and was looking for my first big solo project. Adam’s words inspired me. I thought, “Hey, I wonder if there are any comic book superheroes that are public domain? And if so, maybe I can find one that I can breathe new life into?” So that night, I did a quick Google search and was delighted to find there are hundreds, if not thousands, of comic book heroes in the public domain!

“YES!”

I started digging deeper into the characters and reading what I could find about them. My research on nearly every character led me to the same conclusion… these are all terrible! This got me thinking even more. Why are there so many and why are they so bad? The answer seems to be all because of one hero.

When the first issue of Superman came out in 1938 it was HUGE financial success. That success inspired lots of new writers to come up with their own 'super-characters' with the hope that they too could cash in on the comic book hero craze. The market became saturated with wave after wave of new “super” heroes. Some of them were great, but a lot of them were not. Like...A LOT. Shortly after WWII, many of the publishing companies that housed these characters were shut down, and the public lost interest. For a variety of reasons many of these heroes never received a copyright and now reside in the public domain.

I kept reading and researching. As these colorful characters from the public domain floated in my brain, I realized that they were begging to be given new life…and to be roasted. 

And Crappy Superheroes from the Public Domain was born!

Quantity vs Quality

It is very important for me to share with you (potential donor) that this will not be a 'turn and burn' type of show. I am not a TikTok creator rushing content to my feed. I am committed to creating the highest quality show possible, and that takes time. Your donation will help me hire additional professionals to help create the most visually dynamic, funny, binge-worthy show imaginable!

No A.I., just the investment of artistic human beings.

The Crappy Superhero Break-Down

You have seen Episode 1 (you just watched it, right?).

I have a plan to make FIVE MORE EPISODES. 

• Episode 2 - Dynamite Thor
• Episode 3 - Dr. Hormone
• Episode 4 - The Magician from Mars
• Episode 5 - The Puppeteer
• Episode 6 - Stardust, The Super Wizard

I am looking to turn this campaign for Crappy Superheroes from the Public Domain into an IN DEMAND campaign. This means if we can hit our first funding goal...the campaign will remain open indefinitely...and we can raise all the funds for all five episodes!

My FINANCIAL GOAL for the NEXT episode is $15,542.

It is CRUCIAL FOR THIS CAMPAIGN to hit the goal of $15,542.

If we do not hit this initial goal in the next 45 days, the campaign will be over for good. Any money raised will go towards making Episode Two with whatever funds we have raised but without your support the show sadly ends. That will be it for Crappy Superheroes from the Public Domain – only two episodes.

But I don't want that to happen. I am calling upon you all to help me hit this goal, so that we can give this campaign the chance it deserves!

What goes into making an episode?

Crappy Superheroes from the Public Domain is a highly stylized type of series. Each episode is shot entirely in front of a green screen. Green screen productions are very complex and require a lot of set-up and take time to shoot. After scenes have been filmed - the footage goes into post-production where all the magic happens.

I did all the post-production for the pilot episode, but I will need a team of highly skilled artists to complete the remaining episodes in a timely manner. That's going to cost money. But that's not all, here are all of the other factors that go into a single episode.

- SAG Actors 

- Production Crew (Camera, Sound, Lighting)

- Studio Space Rental

- Costumes

- Hair/Make-Up

- Music (all composed by Broadway conductor, Nick Williams!)

- Insurance

- Food for Cast and Crew

- and a ton of other little production expenses that add up.

When can you can expect to see new episodes?

The success of this campaign will determine the frequency of new episodes released.

If we hit our initial goal of $15,542, and we go in to IN DEMAND mode...

All episodes that are fully funded (by the end of December) will go into production in February 2025 with release dates in April/May 2025. They will either be released all at once or, depending post-production, one by one at, hopefully, a monthly frequency.

Remember, these are not videos that are cranked out in a few days. They will take time.

All donors will be kept updated on the progress of all episodes!

HOWEVER...

We are planning to film the next episode (Dynamite Thor) in January 2025. If we don't hit the initial goal of $15,542, this will be the only episode we film and will be released most likely in March. 

Wanna help in other ways?

If you are not able to donate, that is totally cool. You can still help us in other ways.

• SHARE THIS FUNDRAISER WITH EVERYONE YOU KNOW! Help make some noise and get eyes on this incredible project.
• SHARE THE PILOT EPISODE! If you've gotten this far, and still haven't watched it...what are you waiting for? You can watch it right here on this page! Give it a LIKE, and share with everyone!
• SUBSCRIBE TO THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL! Please subscribe to @CrappySuperheroes on YouTube. 
• JOIN THE TEAM! For the pilot episode, I did all the post-production. I am always looking for great post-production artists to help me. If you think this show would be your jam, and you are proficient with After Effects, Adobe Illustrator, or Photoshop...please hit me up at this email: crappysuperheroes@gmail.com 

My Final Pitch

Crappy Superheroes from the Public Domain is a silly show.

It's funny. It's irreverent. But most surprising is that it's educational. It gives us a sense of what we've been through. It allows us to take a long look into time to explore society, pop culture, and what is deemed as 'good'.

And this show...it's good. It's damn good. And I'm proud of it.

Since I started my journey as a filmmaker, I have always been able to make something special. Now I'm asking you to believe in me. Believe that we can make something that's not just special...

But something that will inspire and create new culture.

Please help me make a really good show. 

Thank you for your time.

Erik Hogan