Owner
In 2010, while writing freelance for Examiner, Patrick began affiliate marketing on his own website, Ascension Comics. Drawing in his audience from his work as the “San Diego Comic Books Examiner“, this website differentiated from other comic book news and review websites with witty tone, heavily influenced by the 1990’s cult hit, “Mystery Science Theater 3000“.
During Patrick’s time at IDW Publishing, he spent time with the editing department. Here he’d developed a reputation for being able to identify what worked and didn’t in a story.
With Ascension Comics, Patrick was able to spotlight what was working in comics each week as they came, showcased with humor and wit. Of course, the perfect audience for this was other MST3K fans who read comics.
Patrick knew where to turn.
Mike Nelson, MST3K’s host during the television shows later seasons, had recently begun his own company, “riffing” or providing humurous commentary on Hollywood movies and sold it online as company called Rifftrax. This company was based in San Diego, not far from where Patrick lived.
Having met Nelson a few times, he agreed to be interviewed and shared it to his social media during the promotion of one of his live events. His following gravitated towards Patrick’s review of mainstream and indie comics. Ascension Comics became an affiliate marketer for Rifftrax, receiving a precentage of sales from generated traffic.
So what happened?
Running a website that provided quality review and humor at the rate Patrick attempted became unstustainable for him to do alone. He was unable to recruit help and had to step away from the website ultimately to focus on more lucrative work and still have time for parenting.
