I often say on the ComicLab podcast: ”It’s hard to drive towards an art style that you want. Usually, it’s something you see in the rearview mirror.”

An online publisher has become the center of some genuinely alarming stories. Brad and Dave break down five hard lessons comic creators can learn when a publisher shows signs of instability, mismanagement, or collapse.

Today’s Show

• Five Lessons from a Publisher in Crisis
• Submitting your work for awards

Summary

Cartoonists Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett explore the importance of owning and controlling one’s career in the comic industry. They discuss the need for business acumen among cartoonists and the risks of signing contracts. The conversation emphasizes the value of learning from mistakes in self-publishing, the power of transparency among creators, and the benefits of submitting work for awards. Ultimately, they stress that the goal is not independence at all costs, but informed consent in business relationships.

Takeaways

• Imposter syndrome should not prevent you from submitting your work.
• There is a percentage of humans who can close their nostrils underwater.
• Cartoonists must be prepared to be business people.
• Your best defense is often not signing a contract.
• Mistakes in self-publishing are manageable and teach valuable lessons.
• Transparency among creators is crucial for success.
• Experience changes the power dynamic in negotiations.
• Submitting for awards can provide valuable insights into your work.
• Reviewing your work helps improve your editorial and aesthetic eye.
• Self-publishing allows for greater control over your career.

Many cartoonists are familiar with Wally Wood’s indelible contribution to comics theory: The 22 Panels That Always Work!

A listener asks: “Should you judge a book by its cover?” Cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar say… YES! Next, a cartoonist who is too embarrassed to promote his own work gets some encouragement and words of advice from the veteran comic creators.

TODAY’S SHOW

• Should you judge a book by its cover?
• Too embarrassed to promote

Takeaways

• A book’s cover plays a significant role in its marketability.
• It’s important to design a cover that reflects the content of the comic.
• Promoting comics can be challenging, especially in unexpected social situations.
• Introverts can find it difficult to promote their work in person.
• Having a decoy website can help ease the promotion process.
• It’s okay to feel uncomfortable discussing your work with strangers.
• Using humor can help deflect awkward conversations about your work.
• Online promotion can be more effective than in-person promotion.

A few days ago, I published some thoughts on rethinking comics collectives. Since then, I’ve received an outpouring of questions — mostly about building a strong collective. What are the ingredients? Who should be invited to join and why? How should the responsibilities be divided? Here are some thoughts.