This is an interview with Josh Smeaton, the founder — along with collaborator Josh Sippie — of Hullabaloo, a kids comics magazine! In print!
The two Joshs are running a Kickstarter to help fund the first issue. I asked Josh Smeaton to give me some more details about their very cool project.
What first gave you the idea to launch this kids comics magazine?
Watching the steady decline of kids reading for fun.
I fell in love with reading as a kid because of the accessibility of cheap comics at 7-11 and grocery stores. I also religiously read the comics page in the newspaper that was delivered to our house everyday.
Those things don’t really exist anymore. Nowadays the only time most kids read is for school or because their parents make them. Of course reading rates are plummeting. It’s not fun anymore.
I wondered, what if we could change that? Give them silly, frivolous comics that don’t ask anything of them. Give them absurd characters and ridiculous stories. Something they’d actually want to read. Then mail it to their house. It just shows up for them every month. What kid wouldn’t fall in love with that?
You have an impressive group of creators involved! How did you get them on board?
Threats, blackmail, and intimidation.
Really, it was just explaining what we wanted to do and how we planned to do it. Pretty much everyone I talked to loved the idea and saw the need for it.
Josh Sippie, who is an editor at HarperAlley is also part of the magazine. He’s brought on some fantastic creators, including Tim Probert and George Jreije.
We’re not able to pay a lot at this stage, so it certainly wasn’t for the money. Ultimately, what we’re trying to accomplish lines up with their values and interests. Making awesome comics kids will fall in love with and potentially open up their work to a whole new world of readers.
And the comics in the magazine are just a few pages long. A much easier commitment than a 200 page graphic novel.
How long have you been working on the project so far? What were the main stages you went through in producing the first issue?
It was just over a year ago I stopped daydreaming about it and began work in earnest on it. There is so much involved and I’m sure there is a better way to go about it.
The main points were getting our creators on board for the kick off and subsequent issues. Figuring out printing, distribution, marketing, laying out the magazine, branding, website, email lists, Kickstarter, running ads. It has been a learning curve to say the least.
Have you shown Hullabaloo to kids already? What has been their reaction?
Yes, I’ve shared it with different kids and it’s great to hear how excited they are and to see which different comics are their favorites.
My favorite interaction was when I came across a granddad and his 3 grandsons who were probably between 10 and 13. I happened to have an advance copy of Hullaballo with me. I asked if they like comics. I got some lukewarm yes’s. Then, when I gave them the magazine, they lit up. As I left, they were arguing over who got to read it first, with the grandad snapping at them that they had to share.
Maybe our catch phrase should be “causing chaos wherever we go”.
You decided to do a crowdfunding campaign to launch the magazine. Why did you decide to go the crowdfunding route, and what are you doing to get the word out about it?
We’re not backed by a company. I’m personally funding the magazine out of my savings and it’s not cheap. But I believe in what we’re doing. Kids are going to read the heck out of this doofy magazine!
So the crowdfunding is twofold. One, to give people the opportunity to preorder the magazine which helps with some of the production costs. And two, build awareness and sign up as many subscribers as possible so we can get this into their kid’s hands.
I’ve been running ads, sending out newsletters, posting on social media and connecting with folks one on one. We’ve built some momentum but my reach is limited.
How can people support you?
Back our Kickstarter! The print magazine is how it’s meant to be enjoyed by kids and will give them a break from screens for a bit. We have a digital option as well if you would prefer that or are outside of the U.S.
There are some fun add ons as well, such as your kid appearing in the magazine. Those are optional, but a nice way to help us reach our goal while getting some extra fun for your kid as well.
The other way we could really use your help is by spreading the word about Hullabaloo. Post on social media, write about us in your newsletter, email a friend.
If you have a big audience, that’s wonderful and very much appreciated but truly, if you personally tell just one friend that is a parent or grandparent about us, that would mean the world to us.
We’re so excited to be making reading fun for kids again!
Hullabaloo’s Kickstarter ends on Oct 23, 2025, so make sure you back the project before then!
