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Cosplayers, Tabletop Gamers and Sneakerheads Run This Agency
How Kris Longo, Collin Millington and Jeremy Atkins built Modern Fanatic on passion over demographics
Kris Longo, CEO of Modern Fanatic, leads a fandom-focused marketing agency from Los Angeles that rejects traditional demographics in favor of passion. Co-founders Collin Millington operate from New Jersey as President and COO, and Jeremy Atkins drive communications from Portland, Oregon. Together, they’ve built a lean team of 13 staff and permanent freelancers around a simple question: “How much time, bandwidth and passion do you give to your fandom?” Rather than chasing 18-34 year-olds on spreadsheets, they ask how much people actually invest in the things they love. It’s a philosophy that attracts emerging, ambitious brands willing to take chances—and talent that actually belongs there.
The Culture Code: Staff as Fans, Not Just Workers
Authenticity is built into Modern Fanatic’s DNA. The team isn’t performing enthusiasm—they live it. Cosplayers, tabletop gamers, D&D players, comic collectors, sneaker heads. The agency matches talent to accounts that genuinely matter to them, creating a rare alignment between passion and work.
When someone who actually cares about a fandom works an account, the output transforms from obligatory content into something that resonates. It’s the difference between a booth and a movement.
What Modern Fanatic Is Known For
Modern Fanatic’s defining approach centers on “brandom”—mashing brands with fandom culture. They reject the notion that traditional demographics lead the charge. Kris explains that after years working in comics and game publishing, he knows the misconceptions about fandom are widespread. The assumption is always too narrow: only guys, only women, only a certain income level.
Instead, Modern Fanatic goes to conventions, understands the people who populate these spaces, and leans into passion over demographics. Brands come to them ready to celebrate fandom rather than co-opt it.
Three Core Strengths
Collin breaks down what sets Modern Fanatic apart. First, they create authenticity. The staff aren’t just workers—they’re fans. If it’s cosplay, tabletop gaming, D&D, comics or sneakers, the agency ensures staff members who genuinely care work those accounts. Second, they’ve built a reputation for storytelling that sticks. They’ve created full lore and origin stories for toy products, giving brands texture and depth in fandom spaces. Third, they move with speed. No 500-person committee. No holding company overhead. They were making pivots at San Diego Comic Con until Tuesday before Wednesday’s preview day.
Why Independence Is Non-Negotiable
Jeremy explains that independence gives Modern Fanatic the ability to make decisions on the fly. Being indie means they can turn down clients that aren’t the right fit. The board advises rather than decides. There’s no distant stakeholder overriding a decision.
That autonomy means every client they take on gets full conviction. Every project gets a team that chose to be there. Best work happens when you’re not serving multiple masters.
What Brands Actually Learn
Brands come to Modern Fanatic frustrated. They’ve dropped millions at Comic Con for stuffed animals and mailing lists that don’t convert. They’ve mistaken presence for connection. Working with Modern Fanatic teaches them the difference between co-opting culture and celebrating it—between dominating a conversation and underwriting it.
Kris describes the approach: “Do you want the big, exciting, splashy, expensive display, or do you want an agency that’s going to roll up their sleeves and have discipline and do the hard work every single day that pays dividends?” Modern Fanatic offers the latter.
Why Talent Chooses Modern Fanatic
Weirdos, misfits, underdogs—those are the people Modern Fanatic builds around. If you’re into D&D, there’s a spot for you. The agency offers on-the-job training for fans learning marketing mechanics, permanent freelancers get a piece of the business when they bring in clients, and you work on accounts that matter to you.
Jeremy and Collin also incentivize business development. If a staffer or freelancer brings in a client, even if they don’t work directly on that account, they get a genuine reward. It’s a haven for people who want their work to match their passions.
Weirdos, Misfits, Underdogs
When you’re not afraid to be weird, you pitch things like a Godzilla therapist mockumentary for Bandai Namco. The concepts may not always get activated, but they’re the ones clients remember. Kris explains: “There’s no real somebody may have signed up for a mailing list, but there’s no real return on investment when you do something like that.” Instead, they push for meaningful work.
The underdog spirit permeates how Modern Fanatic approaches everything. Kris puts it plainly: “We get up every day like it’s our first day, like we have something to prove.” Not arrogance. Hunger.
A Letter to the Brands We’d Love to Work With
The team has passions beyond their client roster. Collin is excited about cannabis marketing and mentions Houseplant as an example of what they admire. Jeremy gives a shout out to Joe Sunday and Roundhouse agency in Portland—a peer who’s built something special—and Everywhere Brewing in Orange, California. Kris leans into the same theme and singles out Maker’s Mark for potential collaboration. He’s long been a fan of their ambassador program and sees opportunities to expand that for the digital age.
Learn more
Modern Fanatic
Kris Longo LinkedIn
Collin Millington LinkedIn
Jeremy Atkins LinkedIn
Modern Fanatic LinkedIn
Contact: brandom@modernfanatic.com
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