MINDSPLATTER: FEBRUARY 2026
A new chapter is rising. It's victory... is at hand!
Happy February! I hope you’re keeping warm, dear Splatterites. The transition to Substack added a bunch of new subscribers to the mix! So to all you wonderful newcomers - before you dive into this month’s issue, be sure to check out…
…and don’t forget to browse the splatter archives to catch up on previous entries.
The Last Wardens audio drama is in Spotify’s BEST indie audiobooks of 2025!
I consider this full-cast audio adaptation of THE LAST WARDENS vol. 1 as one of my proudest, and strangest achievements in the last few years, not only because of the cast (Felicia Day, Anjali Bhimani, Mark Meer, Shiva Negar, Ginny Di and more), but because this version really utilized the jump to a new medium in a unique way. You don’t have to read the comics to get into the audio drama, but fans of the book will definitely get extra value from the new content we added.
This version expands the book’s plot and recontextualizes specific moments in a cool way. It’s only 4.99 USD for 2:15 hour long, high quality immersive adventure that you can listen to on Spotify, Audible and iTunes. An audio drama purchase is no different than a comic one. It really helps me to keep pushing these kinds of ambitious, creative endeavors. So come on! Show some love for original works and check it out today:
Vancouver Comicon was a good time! Thank you to everyone who showed up and picked up copies of my books. This event allowed me to connect with the local community, test my setup and sort out some point-of-sale kinks in time for this year’s Fan Expo Vancouver. If you wanted to attend and missed this round, no worries! I plan to come back for future VCCs in Heritage Hall later this year.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
February 8, 12pm-5pm: Book signing @ INDIGO BOOKS (1033 Robson Street)
February 14-16, 2026: Guest creator @ Vancouver FAN EXPO
April 23-26, 2026: Guest creator @ Calgary FAN EXPO
Now, it’s time to end the GREAT REGRESSION series with:
In chapter 4 we discussed the importance of localization and global reach for the industry’s recovery, and today we’re going to bite into something that’s right up my ally! Branding and growth strategies. As always, we’ll start by discussing…
POOR USER PROFILING AND TARGETING
People sometimes confuse this with “target demographics”, but the answer to the question of “who is your target user?” is often a sobering one. Building a tight user profile is a fluid, and difficult process that many businesses skip, or fail to do without bias. It forces focus, clarity, sacrifice and self examination. When it comes to finding your audience, the more you broaden your scope, the less likely you are to score a sale and develop customer loyalty, but publishers often just make stuff for themselves, because they think of themselves as creators and not a business. Biases, targeting audience segments that are going extinct, and fear of neglecting entire segments of potential buyers lead to emotionally driven policies, brand dilution, and lackluster, or highly inconsistent sales. The practices and philosophies that built the big IP holders were successful for a reason, and yet...many business owners only take what they like about them, and neglect the harsher, but more effective parts of the process. The result: a sea of weak IPs and brands that suffer from an ongoing identity crisis.
FUZZY BRANDING
Some publishers actually handle this better than others, but...brand cohesion is still a common issue in this field. Some publishers or imprints tend to broaden their appeal instead of carve a niche with precision, and sticking to it. This makes the brand itself “fuzzy” and difficult to define. Name a publisher, and ask a casual consumer to define their brand of content. If they struggle to respond with clarity, and give an answer that’s long-winded, scattered, insecure or generic - congratulations. There’s a branding problem. For independent creators, diversifying diversification can be a strength, but for a business - this lack of focus can be devastating.
LACKLUSTER BRAND GROWTH STARTEGIES
Publishing alone isn’t enough anymore. It can be a start, but when you’re building IP - having no clear plan on how to expand your brand to other mediums and markets is a massive vulnerability, because it can’t be emotion driven, opportunity based, or worse of all…purely reactive.
DEFINE AND RESTRICT THE TARGET USER:
Pick your target user and double the fuck DOWN for a bit. Don’t make this choice lightly, or based on gut feeling. Research, examine, investigate and understand who you’re targeting and why. Financial report data is meaningless without context and careful analysis. Rome wasn’t built in a day. So start small, focused, specific and grow from there. If your initial targeting proves wrong, then pivot. But even THAT conclusion has to be done carefully. Post Mortems are crucial at every step of the way. Failure to capture a target demographic doesn’t necessarily condemn the content. It’s easy to blame invisible market forces, but marketing, distribution, development or production misfires can all be factors as well, but without vision there’s no post mortem, and with no post-mortem there’s no internal examination, and with no internal examination a business you’re just shooting in the dark and choosing whatever conclusions “feel right” to you. Not to be crude, or sexist, but metaphorically speaking...you need some balls. And all I have to say about that is...
BRAND CLARITY:
Commitment is scary, but necessary. When consumers are asked to describe your brand, their answer should be immediate, clear, confident and fitting with your original intent. Consumers crave authenticity (or at least they THINK they do), so...be true, be real, and be specific. Don’t start by trying to appeal to everyone. Dominate a single segment first, carve a niche and branch out from there. The good news is that tight target profiling leads to brand clarity. Get step 1 done right, and step 2 will be easier. Remember: you can’t START with having “something for everyone”. You first have to establish brand loyalty. It’s OK to experiment, but to become “DISNEY 2020s”, first you need to become “Disney 1930s”. If you skip the first step, your brand will suffer, and so will your consumer’s retention and loyalty.
INTENTIONAL GROWTH:
It’s OK to chart a path, fail and adjust, but treating cross-market brand growth as an outcome and not as a clear goal is a fundamental error. Sorry to bust your bubble, but strong and enduring brands don’t grow organically. Organic growth is the stimulant, but deep-roots require vision. Right now, the philosophy is reactive “trend chasing” and the fallacy drilled into people’s brains through the “field of dreams” model. Sorry to tell ya...but “if you build it - they will come” is not a plan. That’s a lottery ticket...and a lottery ticket is just a gamble, not an investment strategy.
DO’s
Research, define and invest in your target user.
Solidify, clarify and restrict your branding.
Create a clear, and intentional growth plan for your brand.
Develop internal milestones, and a healthy post mortem pipeline.
DON’Ts
Don’t try to appeal too many consumers. Zero-in on your niche first.
Don’t muddle your brand through reactiveness, inconsistency or insecurity.
Don’t treat growth as something you’ll “figure out when you get there”. Have a plan on HOW to get there from the start, and adjust it as you reach, or miss your pre-set milestones.
Holy mother of god...we MADE IT! I hope you enjoyed this rant-filled journey, and found it helpful, or insightful. I plan to compile all 5 entries into a single article for anyone who wants to read it all in one place, but… gimme some time to get it sorted. I got other shit to do, okay?! Jeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez!
…….
*Ehem* *Ehem*
Anyhow, see you all next month Splatterfolk!
Yours truly,
~ Amit Tishler
