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{{short description|American cartoonist and publisher (born 1978)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox comics creator
{{Infobox comics creator
| name = C. Spike Trotman
| name = C. Spike Trotman
| image = Charlie Spike Trotman Templar AZ 2008-06-08 detail2.png
| image = Charlie Spike Trotman Templar AZ 2008-06-08 detail2.png
| imagesize =
| caption = Trotman and her ''Templar'' characters at the 2008 [[Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art|MoCCA]] Festival in New York City
| caption = Trotman and her ''Templar'' characters at the 2008 [[Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art|MoCCA]] Festival in New York City
| birth_name =Charlie Trotman
| birth_name = Charlie Spike Trotman
| birth_date ={{Birth date and age|1978|11|18}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1978|11|18}}
| birth_place =Washington D.C
| birth_place = [[Washington, D.C.]], U.S.
| death_date =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_place =
| nationality = American
| nationality = American
| area =Cartoonist, Publisher, Editor
| area = Cartoonist, publisher, editor
| cartoonist =
| cartoonist =
| write =
| write =
| art =Alternative/Indie comics
| art =
| pencil =
| pencil =
| ink =
| ink =
| edit =
| edit =
| publish =
| publish =
| letter =
| letter =
| color =
| color =
| alias =
| alias =
| notable works = ''Templar, Arizona''<br/>''Smut Peddler''
| notable works = ''Templar, Arizona''<br />''Smut Peddler''
| awards = [[Glyph Comics Award]], 2007
| awards = [[Glyph Comics Award]], 2007
| website = http://ironcircus.com
| website = http://ironcircus.com
| sortkey = Trotman, C. Spike
| subcat = American
}}
}}


'''Charlie '''"'''Spike'''"''' Trotman''' (born November 18, 1978) is an American [[cartoonist]] and publisher known for creating the long-running web comic ''[[Templar, Arizona]]'', and for publishing the ''Smut Peddler'' anthologies of what she describe as "ladycentric porn".<ref>{{cite web|title=Smut Peddler, 2014 Edition|url=http://ironcircus.com/portfolio/smut-peddler-2014-edition/|publisher=Iron Circus|accessdate=27 November 2015}}</ref> She is the founder and owner of [[Iron Circus Comics]].
'''Charlie Spike Trotman''',<ref>{{Cite tweet |user=Iron_Spike |number=960625520097550337 |title=Casual reminder for article writers and Twitter managers: Spike is part of my legal name. C. Spike Trotman. No quotes necessary. ( o_o)-b Thanks!}}</ref> also known as '''C. Spike Trotman''' (born November 18, 1978), is an American [[cartoonist]] and publisher known for creating the long-running web comic ''[[Templar, Arizona]]'', and for publishing the ''Smut Peddler'' anthologies of what she describes as "lady centric porn".<ref>{{cite web|title=Smut Peddler, 2014 Edition|url=http://ironcircus.com/portfolio/smut-peddler-2014-edition/|publisher=Iron Circus|access-date=27 November 2015|archive-date=December 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151203013714/http://ironcircus.com/portfolio/smut-peddler-2014-edition/|url-status=dead}}</ref> She is the founder and owner of [[Iron Circus Comics]], an [[Alternative comics|indie comics]] publisher which [[Forbes]] described as "a powerhouse of the indy landscape."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Salkowitz |first=Rob |title=For Publishing Pioneer C. Spike Trotman, Crowdfunding Is Still The Way To Go |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/robsalkowitz/2021/08/25/for-publishing-pioneer-c-spike-trotman-crowdfunding-is-still-the-way-to-go/ |access-date=2022-03-12 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref>


== Early life ==
== Early and personal life ==
Growing up in her hometown [[Potomac, Maryland]], Trotman was a fan of ''[[Bloom County]]'', ''[[Calvin and Hobbes]]'', ''[[The Far Side]]'', ''[[Power Pack]]'', and ''[[Excalibur (comics)|Excalibur]]'' comic strips in the Sunday ''[[Washington Post]]'' newspaper.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://comicsalliance.com/hire-this-woman-cartoonist-and-publisher-spike-trotman/|title=Hire This Woman: Cartoonist and Publisher Spike Trotman|website=ComicsAlliance|language=en|access-date=2018-11-15}}</ref> She attended [[Spelman College]] (1996-2000) achieving a bachelor's degree in Fine and Studio Arts, then attended the [[School of the Art Institute of Chicago]] (2000-2001).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/nov/13/spike-trotman-smut-peddler-templar-arizona-from-slice-of-life-to-smut-a-comic-book-artist-doing-it-her-own-way|title=Spike Trotman: from slice-of-life to smut, a comic book artist doing it her own way|last=Dean|first=Michelle|date=2015-11-13|website=the Guardian|language=en|access-date=2018-12-03}}</ref> Her work centered on relationships and culture, and erotica. She also self-published on the web.<ref name="She changed">{{Cite book|title=She changed comics : the untold story of the women who changed free expression in comics|others=Gomez, Betsy,, Williams, Maren,, Comic Book Legal Defense Fund|isbn=9781632159298|edition= First|location=Berkeley, CA|oclc=951760329|year = 2016}}</ref> She married Matt Sherridan, the author she collaborated with on ''Sparkneedle'' in 2004.<ref name="She changed"/>
Growing up in her hometown [[Potomac, Maryland]], Trotman was a fan of ''[[Bloom County]]'', ''[[Calvin and Hobbes]]'', ''[[The Far Side]]'', ''[[Power Pack]]'', and ''[[Excalibur (comics)|Excalibur]]'' comic strips in the Sunday ''[[Washington Post]]'' newspaper.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://comicsalliance.com/hire-this-woman-cartoonist-and-publisher-spike-trotman/|title=Hire This Woman: Cartoonist and Publisher Spike Trotman|website=[[ComicsAlliance]]|date=October 22, 2014 |language=en|access-date=2018-11-15}}</ref> She attended [[Spelman College]] (1996–2000) achieving a bachelor's degree in Fine and Studio Arts, then attended the [[School of the Art Institute of Chicago]] (2000–2001).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/nov/13/spike-trotman-smut-peddler-templar-arizona-from-slice-of-life-to-smut-a-comic-book-artist-doing-it-her-own-way|title=Spike Trotman: from slice-of-life to smut, a comic book artist doing it her own way|last=Dean|first=Michelle|date=2015-11-13|website=the Guardian|language=en|access-date=2018-12-03}}</ref> Her work centered on relationships and culture, and erotica. She also self-published on the web.<ref name="She changed">{{Cite book|title=She changed comics : the untold story of the women who changed free expression in comics|others=Gomez, Betsy; Williams, Maren|publisher= Comic Book Legal Defense Fund|isbn=978-1632159298|edition= First|location=Berkeley, CA|oclc=951760329|year = 2016}}</ref> She married Matt Sheridan, the author she collaborated with on ''Sparkneedle'' in 2004.<ref name="She changed"/> She is also a member of the [[Democratic Socialists of America]].{{Citation needed|date=April 2023}}


== Career ==
== Career ==
Her first notable online publications were ''Sparkneedle'' and ''Lucas and Odessa'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tcj.com/the-bossest-comics-on-girlamatic/|title=The Bossest Comics on Girlamatic {{!}} The Comics Journal|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-19}}</ref> which she began serializing on [[Girlamatic]] in 2003.<ref name="ComicsAlliance2">{{cite web|url=http://comicsalliance.com/hire-this-woman-cartoonist-and-publisher-spike-trotman/|title=Hire this Woman: Cartoonist and Publisher Spike Trotman|last=Asselin|first=Janelle|date=2014-10-22|work=[[Comics Alliance]]}}</ref> Trotman released ''[[Templar, Arizona]]'' in 2005.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/nov/13/spike-trotman-smut-peddler-templar-arizona-from-slice-of-life-to-smut-a-comic-book-artist-doing-it-her-own-way|title=Spike Trotman: from slice-of-life to smut, a comic book artist doing it her own way|last=Dean|first=Michelle|date=2015-11-13|website=the Guardian|language=en|access-date=2018-11-16}}</ref> It was printed in four volumes via [[Iron Circus Comics]], of which she is owner and founder. It is Chicago, Illinois's largest alternative comics press founded in 2007 concentrating on fantasy, sci-fi, porn, erotica, horror, and queer-friendly books{{Citation needed|date=May 2020}}. It has raised over $1 million over its first 14 [[Kickstarter]] campaigns.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/redeye/culture/ct-redeye-c2e2-iron-circus-comics-20180326-story.html|title=Iron Circus Comics brings diversity to the comic book market|last=Jackson|first=Cheryl V.|work=RedEye Chicago|access-date=2018-11-16|language=en-US}}</ref> In [[Kickstarter]]'s first year, she funded a print edition of the book, ''Poorcraft: The Funnybook Fundamentals of Living Well on Less'', an instructional book illustrated by Diana Nock.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.patreon.com/diananock|title=Diana Nock is creating comics|website=Patreon|language=en|access-date=2019-03-19}}</ref>
Her first notable online publications were ''Sparkneedle'' and ''Lucas and Odessa'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tcj.com/the-bossest-comics-on-girlamatic/|title=The Bossest Comics on Girlamatic {{!}} The Comics Journal|date=August 12, 2011 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-19}}</ref> which she began serializing on [[Girlamatic]] in 2003.<ref name="ComicsAlliance2">{{cite web|url=http://comicsalliance.com/hire-this-woman-cartoonist-and-publisher-spike-trotman/|title=Hire this Woman: Cartoonist and Publisher Spike Trotman|last=Asselin|first=Janelle|date=2014-10-22|work=[[ComicsAlliance]]}}</ref> Trotman released ''[[Templar, Arizona]]'' in 2005.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/nov/13/spike-trotman-smut-peddler-templar-arizona-from-slice-of-life-to-smut-a-comic-book-artist-doing-it-her-own-way|title=Spike Trotman: from slice-of-life to smut, a comic book artist doing it her own way|last=Dean|first=Michelle|date=2015-11-13|website=the Guardian|language=en|access-date=2018-11-16}}</ref>


In 2007, she founded [[Iron Circus Comics]], a Chicago-based alternative comics publisher that was described by the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' as a pioneer in the industry for bringing queer-friendly fantasy, sci-fi, and erotica books to market and publishing underrepresented artists.<ref>{{Cite web |title=One-Woman Publisher C. Spike Trotman Gives Voice To Underrepresented Characters In Comics |url=https://www.spreaker.com/user/oregonpublicbroadcasting/one-woman-publisher-c-spike-trotman-give |access-date=2022-03-12 |website=Spreaker |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Jackson">{{Cite web |last=Jackson |first=Cheryl V. |title=Iron Circus Comics brings diversity to the comic book market |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/redeye/ct-redeye-c2e2-iron-circus-comics-20180326-story.html |access-date=2022-03-12 |website=chicagotribune.com|date=April 5, 2018 }}</ref><ref name="Alverson">{{Cite web |last=Alverson |first=Brigid |title=Trotman's Iron Circus Celebrates 'Strange and Amazing' Comics |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/comics/article/79187-trotman-s-iron-circus-celebrates-strange-and-amazing-comics.html |access-date=2022-03-12 |website=PublishersWeekly.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Hudson |first=Laura |title=It's Time to Get Real About Racial Diversity in Comics |language=en-US |magazine=Wired |url=https://www.wired.com/2015/07/diversity-in-comics/ |access-date=2022-03-12 |issn=1059-1028}}</ref> She told the ''Chicago Tribune'' that increasing diversity and representation in comics was part of her motivation for starting Iron Circus Comics: "When I was getting into comics, there was absolutely no room for people like me — people of color who wanted to tell their own stories, or women who wanted to tell their own stories. Comics had a very firm idea of what would sell or what qualified as niche. Anything a white, heterosexual man would make would be interpreted to having universal appeal, but anything I would make would automatically be classified as difficult to relate to or niche.”<ref name="Jackson"/>
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Trotman states that her company Iron Circus is a platform for works by creators who have been underrepresented by mainstream comics{{Citation needed|date=May 2020}}. She published ''The Less Than Epic Adventures of T.J. and Amal'' by [[E. K. Weaver]], and ''Shadoweyes'' by [[Sophie Campbell]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Encyclopedia of black comics|last=C.|first=Howard, Sheena|others=Gates, Henry Louis Jr.,, Priest, Christopher J. (Christopher James), 1961-|isbn=9781682751015|location=Golden, CO|oclc=974683696|year = 2017}}</ref> Trotman created ''The Sleep of Reason'' (a horror anthology), ''New World'', The ''Smut Peddler'' series, ''Poorcraft: The Funnybook Fundamentals of Living Well on Less'', and more.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.opb.org/news/article/c-spike-trotman-webcomic-templar-arizona-xoxo-festival/|title=Webcomic Artist C. Spike Trotman Gives Voice To The Underrepresented|last=Scott|first=Aaron|website=www.opb.org|language=en|access-date=2018-11-16}}</ref> In 2012, she revived the title ''Smut Peddler'', first published by Johanna D. Carlson and Trisha L. Sebastian in 2003, created by women, primarily for a female readership.<ref name="CA2">{{cite news|url=http://comicsalliance.com/spike-trotman-indie-comics-interview-poorcraft/|title=Books That Feel Real: Spike Trotman On 'Poorcraft 2′ And Building An Indie Comics Empire|last1=Asselin|first1=Janelle|date=12 December 2014|access-date=27 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208204133/http://comicsalliance.com/spike-trotman-indie-comics-interview-poorcraft/|archive-date=8 December 2015|url-status=dead|publisher=[[Comics Alliance]]|df=}}</ref>


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Iron Circus has published over 30 titles, including ''The Less Than Epic Adventures of T.J. and Amal'' by [[E. K. Weaver]] and ''Shadoweyes'' by [[Sophie Campbell]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Encyclopedia of black comics|last1=Howard |first1=Sheena C.|last2=Gates, Jr. |first2=Henry Louis |last3=Priest |first3=Christopher J. |isbn=978-1682751015|location=Golden, CO|oclc=974683696|year = 2017}}</ref> Trotman created ''The Sleep of Reason'' (a horror anthology), ''New World'', The ''Smut Peddler'' series, and ''Poorcraft: The Funnybook Fundamentals of Living Well on Less'', an instructional book illustrated by Diana Nock.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Diana Nock is creating comics |url=https://www.patreon.com/diananock |access-date=2019-03-19 |website=Patreon |language=en}}</ref> In 2012, she revived the title ''Smut Peddler'', first published by Johanna D. Carlson and Trisha L. Sebastian in 2003, created by women, primarily for a female readership.<ref name="CA2">{{cite news|url=http://comicsalliance.com/spike-trotman-indie-comics-interview-poorcraft/|title=Books That Feel Real: Spike Trotman On 'Poorcraft 2′ And Building An Indie Comics Empire|last1=Asselin|first1=Janelle|date=12 December 2014|access-date=27 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208204133/http://comicsalliance.com/spike-trotman-indie-comics-interview-poorcraft/|archive-date=8 December 2015|url-status=dead|publisher=[[ComicsAlliance]]}}</ref> In [[Kickstarter]]'s first year, she funded a print edition of the book, ''Poorcraft: The Funnybook Fundamentals of Living Well on Less'',In 2022, Iron Circus Comics published ''The Poorcraft Cookbook'', illustrated by Nero Villagallos O'Reilly based on characters developed by Trotman.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ho |first=Soleil |date=2022-02-28 |title=This unique graphic novel is the ultimate guide to frugal eating |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/article/My-favorite-dishes-from-weeks-of-mostly-eating-at-16931324.php |access-date=2022-03-12 |website=San Francisco Chronicle |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-08 |title="The Poorcraft Cookbook" Serves up Some Fun, Hearty, Budget-Friendly Recipes |url=https://www.themarysue.com/poorcraft-cookbook/ |access-date=2022-03-12 |website=The Mary Sue |language=en}}</ref>
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== Selected works ==
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'''''Templar, Arizona''' (2005) –'' The comic is an alternative history webcomic set in a fictional Arizona town. It focuses on ancient religions and survival cults, with a diverse cast of characters, relationships, cultures, and romances.<ref name="She changed"/>


Trotman is known for integrating crowdfunding into her publishing company's business model.<ref name="Reid Next Crowdfunder">{{Cite web |last=Reid |first=Calvin |title=Spike Trotman Steps Away from Kickstarter for Her Next Crowdfunder |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/comics/article/88496-spike-trotman-steps-away-from-kickstarter-for-her-next-crowdfunder.html |access-date=2022-03-12 |website=PublishersWeekly.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Alverson"/> Trotman "built a comic book publisher from the ground up," with Iron Circus Comics raising over $2.5 million over its first 30 [[Kickstarter]] campaigns.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jackson |first=Cheryl V. |title=Iron Circus Comics brings diversity to the comic book market |language=en-US |work=RedEye Chicago |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/redeye/culture/ct-redeye-c2e2-iron-circus-comics-20180326-story.html |access-date=2018-11-16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-21 |title=Interview: The Poorcraft Cookbook and C. Spike Trotman's Poetic Crowdfunding Evolution |url=https://womenwriteaboutcomics.com/2022/02/interview-the-poorcraft-cookbook-and-c-spike-trotmans-poetic-crowdfunding-evolution/ |access-date=2022-03-12 |website=WWAC |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnston |first=Rich |date=2022-02-10 |title=Spike Trotman Drops Kickstarter For Iron Circus Comics |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/spike-trotman-drops-kickstarter-for-iron-circus-comics/ |access-date=2022-03-12 |website=[[Bleeding Cool]]|language=en}}</ref> Trotman moved away from using Kickstarter to an independent crowdsourcing platform after Kickstarter announced it would migrate to using [[blockchain]] technology.<ref name="Reid Next Crowdfunder"/><ref>{{Cite web |first=Jesse |last=Schedeen |date=2022-02-08 |title=The Poorcraft Cookbook: How Iron Circus Comics Is Breaking New Crowdfunding Ground |url=https://me.ign.com/en/comics/194164/preview/the-poorcraft-cookbook-how-iron-circus-comics-is-breaking-new-crowdfunding-ground |access-date=2022-03-12 |website=[[IGN]] Middle East |language=en-ae}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |first=Jay |last=Peters |date=2021-12-08 |title=Kickstarter says it's switching to crowdfunding via the blockchain |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/12/8/22825086/kickstarter-crowdfunding-blockchain-open-source-protocol-cleo |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=The Verge |language=en}}</ref>
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'''''Smut Peddler''''' (2014 and 2016) ''–'' An anthology featuring erotic comics''.'' The stories focused on varying sexual preferences often with science-fiction or fantasy themes.<ref name="She changed"/> Works featured in ''Smut Peddler'' involved sexual variety and consensual relationships. Male cartoonists were permitted to work on stories, but only as part of a team involving at least one woman creator.<ref name="SP20142">. Two volumes have been published to date.{{cite web|url=http://ironcircus.com/smut_peddler_2014/|title=Smut Peddler 2014: Submissions are now open!|website=Iron Circus Comics|accessdate=27 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.comic-con.org/ape/2014/special-guests/c-spike-trotman|title=C. Spike Trotman|date=2014-05-30|work=Comic-Con International: San Diego|access-date=2018-11-15|language=en}}</ref>

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== Selected works ==
⚫
*''Templar, Arizona'' (2005) – The comic is an alternative history webcomic set in a fictional Arizona town. It focuses on ancient religions and survival cults, with a diverse cast of characters, relationships, cultures, and romances.<ref name="She changed"/>
⚫
*''Smut Peddler'' (2014 and 2016) – An anthology featuring erotic comics. The stories focused on varying sexual preferences often with science-fiction or fantasy themes.<ref name="She changed"/> Works featured in ''Smut Peddler'' involved sexual variety and consensual relationships. Male cartoonists were permitted to work on stories, but only as part of a team involving at least one-woman creator.<ref name="SP20142">. Two volumes have been published to date.{{cite web|url=http://ironcircus.com/smut_peddler_2014/|title=Smut Peddler 2014: Submissions are now open!|website=Iron Circus Comics|access-date=27 November 2015|archive-date=July 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706184153/http://ironcircus.com/smut_peddler_2014/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.comic-con.org/ape/2014/special-guests/c-spike-trotman|title=C. Spike Trotman|date=2014-05-30|work=Comic-Con International: San Diego|access-date=2018-11-15|language=en}}</ref>


== Recognition and awards ==
== Recognition and awards ==
[[Publishers Weekly]] named Trotman a "Star to Watch" in 2015, recognizing her as a "go-to source for best practices on crowdfunding."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cox |first=Erin |title=Catching Up with C. Spike Trotman |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/awards-and-prizes/article/83676-catching-up-with-c-spike-trotman.html |access-date=2022-03-12 |website=PublishersWeekly.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=PW Star Watch 2015 Honorees |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/people/article/68027-pw-star-watch-2015-honorees.html |access-date=2022-03-12 |website=PublishersWeekly.com |language=en}}</ref>

In April 2018, Kickstarter named Trotman as one of the seven Kickstarter Thought Leaders invited to lead talks and host community events.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.kickstarter.com/blog/introducing-the-kickstarter-thought-leaders |title=Introducing the Kickstarter Thought Leaders |website=The [[Kickstarter]] Blog |access-date=2020-05-27}}</ref>
In April 2018, Kickstarter named Trotman as one of the seven Kickstarter Thought Leaders invited to lead talks and host community events.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.kickstarter.com/blog/introducing-the-kickstarter-thought-leaders |title=Introducing the Kickstarter Thought Leaders |website=The [[Kickstarter]] Blog |access-date=2020-05-27}}</ref>


She won the Rising Star Award for Templar Arizona in the 2007 [[Glyph Comics Awards]].<ref name="CBR2">{{cite news|url=http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2015/04/spike-trotman-on-the-business-of-comics/|title=Spike Trotman on the business of comics|last1=Alverson|first1=Brigid|date=1 April 2015|accessdate=27 November 2015|publisher=[[Comic Book Resources]]}}</ref> She was a juror the Small Press Expo's [[Ignatz Award]]s in 2016.<ref name="SPX2016">{{cite news|url=https://www.smallpressexpo.com/spx-2016-ignatz-nominees|title=Spike Trotman on the business of comics|date=9 April 2016|accessdate=17 May 2020|publisher=[[Small Press Expo|SPX]]}}</ref>
She won the Rising Star Award for Templar Arizona in the 2007 [[Glyph Comics Awards]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/your_2007_glyph_award_winners |title=Your 2007 Glyph Award Winners |website=[[The Comics Reporter]] |date=2007-05-21 |access-date=2020-05-27}}</ref> She was a juror the Small Press Expo's [[Ignatz Award]]s in 2016.<ref name="SPX2016">{{cite news|url=https://www.smallpressexpo.com/spx-2016-ignatz-nominees|title=Spike Trotman on the business of comics|date=9 April 2016|access-date=17 May 2020|publisher=[[Small Press Expo|SPX]]|archive-date=January 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121071827/https://www.smallpressexpo.com/spx-2016-ignatz-nominees|url-status=dead}}</ref>


== References ==
== References ==
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{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Trotman, C. Spike}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Trotman, Spike}}
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[[Category:American erotic artists]]
[[Category:American cartoonists]]
[[Category:American cartoonists]]
[[Category:American comics creators]]
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[[Category:American erotic artists]]
[[Category:American webcomic creators]]
[[Category:American webcomic creators]]
[[Category:African-American comics creators]]
[[Category:African-American comics creators]]
[[Category:American comics creators]]
[[Category:Members of the Democratic Socialists of America]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1978 births]]
[[Category:1978 births]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American people]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American people]]

Latest revision as of 23:07, 25 February 2024

C. Spike Trotman
Trotman and her Templar characters at the 2008 MoCCA Festival in New York City
BornCharlie Spike Trotman
(1978-11-18) November 18, 1978 (age 46)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Area(s)Cartoonist, publisher, editor
Notable works
Templar, Arizona
Smut Peddler
AwardsGlyph Comics Award, 2007
http://ironcircus.com

Charlie Spike Trotman,[1] also known as C. Spike Trotman (born November 18, 1978), is an American cartoonist and publisher known for creating the long-running web comic Templar, Arizona, and for publishing the Smut Peddler anthologies of what she describes as "lady centric porn".[2] She is the founder and owner of Iron Circus Comics, an indie comics publisher which Forbes described as "a powerhouse of the indy landscape."[3]

Early and personal life

[edit]

Growing up in her hometown Potomac, Maryland, Trotman was a fan of Bloom County, Calvin and Hobbes, The Far Side, Power Pack, and Excalibur comic strips in the Sunday Washington Post newspaper.[4] She attended Spelman College (1996–2000) achieving a bachelor's degree in Fine and Studio Arts, then attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (2000–2001).[5] Her work centered on relationships and culture, and erotica. She also self-published on the web.[6] She married Matt Sheridan, the author she collaborated with on Sparkneedle in 2004.[6] She is also a member of the Democratic Socialists of America.[citation needed]

Career

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Her first notable online publications were Sparkneedle and Lucas and Odessa,[7] which she began serializing on Girlamatic in 2003.[8] Trotman released Templar, Arizona in 2005.[9]

In 2007, she founded Iron Circus Comics, a Chicago-based alternative comics publisher that was described by the Chicago Tribune as a pioneer in the industry for bringing queer-friendly fantasy, sci-fi, and erotica books to market and publishing underrepresented artists.[10][11][12][13] She told the Chicago Tribune that increasing diversity and representation in comics was part of her motivation for starting Iron Circus Comics: "When I was getting into comics, there was absolutely no room for people like me — people of color who wanted to tell their own stories, or women who wanted to tell their own stories. Comics had a very firm idea of what would sell or what qualified as niche. Anything a white, heterosexual man would make would be interpreted to having universal appeal, but anything I would make would automatically be classified as difficult to relate to or niche.”[11]

Iron Circus has published over 30 titles, including The Less Than Epic Adventures of T.J. and Amal by E. K. Weaver and Shadoweyes by Sophie Campbell.[14] Trotman created The Sleep of Reason (a horror anthology), New World, The Smut Peddler series, and Poorcraft: The Funnybook Fundamentals of Living Well on Less, an instructional book illustrated by Diana Nock.[15] In 2012, she revived the title Smut Peddler, first published by Johanna D. Carlson and Trisha L. Sebastian in 2003, created by women, primarily for a female readership.[16] In Kickstarter's first year, she funded a print edition of the book, Poorcraft: The Funnybook Fundamentals of Living Well on Less,In 2022, Iron Circus Comics published The Poorcraft Cookbook, illustrated by Nero Villagallos O'Reilly based on characters developed by Trotman.[17][18]

Trotman is known for integrating crowdfunding into her publishing company's business model.[19][12] Trotman "built a comic book publisher from the ground up," with Iron Circus Comics raising over $2.5 million over its first 30 Kickstarter campaigns.[20][21][22] Trotman moved away from using Kickstarter to an independent crowdsourcing platform after Kickstarter announced it would migrate to using blockchain technology.[19][23][24]

Selected works

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  • Templar, Arizona (2005) – The comic is an alternative history webcomic set in a fictional Arizona town. It focuses on ancient religions and survival cults, with a diverse cast of characters, relationships, cultures, and romances.[6]
  • Smut Peddler (2014 and 2016) – An anthology featuring erotic comics. The stories focused on varying sexual preferences often with science-fiction or fantasy themes.[6] Works featured in Smut Peddler involved sexual variety and consensual relationships. Male cartoonists were permitted to work on stories, but only as part of a team involving at least one-woman creator.[25][26]

Recognition and awards

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Publishers Weekly named Trotman a "Star to Watch" in 2015, recognizing her as a "go-to source for best practices on crowdfunding."[27][28]

In April 2018, Kickstarter named Trotman as one of the seven Kickstarter Thought Leaders invited to lead talks and host community events.[29]

She won the Rising Star Award for Templar Arizona in the 2007 Glyph Comics Awards.[30] She was a juror the Small Press Expo's Ignatz Awards in 2016.[31]

References

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  1. ^ @Iron_Spike (February 5, 2018). "Casual reminder for article writers and Twitter managers: Spike is part of my legal name. C. Spike Trotman. No quotes necessary. ( o_o)-b Thanks!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. ^ "Smut Peddler, 2014 Edition". Iron Circus. Archived from the original on December 3, 2015. Retrieved November 27, 2015.
  3. ^ Salkowitz, Rob. "For Publishing Pioneer C. Spike Trotman, Crowdfunding Is Still The Way To Go". Forbes. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  4. ^ "Hire This Woman: Cartoonist and Publisher Spike Trotman". ComicsAlliance. October 22, 2014. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  5. ^ Dean, Michelle (November 13, 2015). "Spike Trotman: from slice-of-life to smut, a comic book artist doing it her own way". the Guardian. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  6. ^ a b c d She changed comics : the untold story of the women who changed free expression in comics. Gomez, Betsy; Williams, Maren (First ed.). Berkeley, CA: Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. 2016. ISBN 978-1632159298. OCLC 951760329.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  7. ^ "The Bossest Comics on Girlamatic | The Comics Journal". August 12, 2011. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  8. ^ Asselin, Janelle (October 22, 2014). "Hire this Woman: Cartoonist and Publisher Spike Trotman". ComicsAlliance.
  9. ^ Dean, Michelle (November 13, 2015). "Spike Trotman: from slice-of-life to smut, a comic book artist doing it her own way". the Guardian. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  10. ^ "One-Woman Publisher C. Spike Trotman Gives Voice To Underrepresented Characters In Comics". Spreaker. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  11. ^ a b Jackson, Cheryl V. (April 5, 2018). "Iron Circus Comics brings diversity to the comic book market". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  12. ^ a b Alverson, Brigid. "Trotman's Iron Circus Celebrates 'Strange and Amazing' Comics". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  13. ^ Hudson, Laura. "It's Time to Get Real About Racial Diversity in Comics". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  14. ^ Howard, Sheena C.; Gates, Jr., Henry Louis; Priest, Christopher J. (2017). Encyclopedia of black comics. Golden, CO. ISBN 978-1682751015. OCLC 974683696.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  15. ^ "Diana Nock is creating comics". Patreon. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  16. ^ Asselin, Janelle (December 12, 2014). "Books That Feel Real: Spike Trotman On 'Poorcraft 2′ And Building An Indie Comics Empire". ComicsAlliance. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved November 27, 2015.
  17. ^ Ho, Soleil (February 28, 2022). "This unique graphic novel is the ultimate guide to frugal eating". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  18. ^ ""The Poorcraft Cookbook" Serves up Some Fun, Hearty, Budget-Friendly Recipes". The Mary Sue. February 8, 2022. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  19. ^ a b Reid, Calvin. "Spike Trotman Steps Away from Kickstarter for Her Next Crowdfunder". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  20. ^ Jackson, Cheryl V. "Iron Circus Comics brings diversity to the comic book market". RedEye Chicago. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  21. ^ "Interview: The Poorcraft Cookbook and C. Spike Trotman's Poetic Crowdfunding Evolution". WWAC. February 21, 2022. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  22. ^ Johnston, Rich (February 10, 2022). "Spike Trotman Drops Kickstarter For Iron Circus Comics". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  23. ^ Schedeen, Jesse (February 8, 2022). "The Poorcraft Cookbook: How Iron Circus Comics Is Breaking New Crowdfunding Ground". IGN Middle East. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  24. ^ Peters, Jay (December 8, 2021). "Kickstarter says it's switching to crowdfunding via the blockchain". The Verge. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  25. ^ . Two volumes have been published to date."Smut Peddler 2014: Submissions are now open!". Iron Circus Comics. Archived from the original on July 6, 2015. Retrieved November 27, 2015.
  26. ^ "C. Spike Trotman". Comic-Con International: San Diego. May 30, 2014. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  27. ^ Cox, Erin. "Catching Up with C. Spike Trotman". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  28. ^ "PW Star Watch 2015 Honorees". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  29. ^ "Introducing the Kickstarter Thought Leaders". The Kickstarter Blog. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  30. ^ "Your 2007 Glyph Award Winners". The Comics Reporter. May 21, 2007. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  31. ^ "Spike Trotman on the business of comics". SPX. April 9, 2016. Archived from the original on January 21, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
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