Today’s show is sponsored by Wacom! Cartoonists Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett are talkin’ comics. The guys talk about how their drawing styles evolved, and then detail what a typical day in their studios looks like. Next, they talk about strategies for deconstructing a comic in order to learn from it. After that, a question-asker asks if there are times the guys wish they could go back in time to fix things in their comics. Finally, it may seem that promoting a short-form, humor-based comic strip is comparatively easy, but how does one promote a continuous-narrative comic?

BUT FIRST — When Dave pitches an idea to Brad, he can immediately tell Brad hates it.

Show Notes

• Constantly improving your drawing style
• Dave and Brad recall why they moved to a Wacom tablet
• What does a typical day at the studio look like?
• How do you deconstruct a comic to learn from it?
• Do you ever wish you could go back in time and fix certain things about your comic?
• What’s the best way to promote a continuous, narrative comic like Dave Kellett’s Drive?

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the editor of Webcomics.com

Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

This episoide of ComicLab is sponsored by Wacom! Now that Dave Kellett is settled in from his trip to San Diego for Comic Con International, so it’s time for Brad Guigar and him to get down to answering some listener questions!

• Page numbering — After receiving a polite rebuttal to his original dismissal of page numbering, Brad reverses course on the topic.
• Why MAD magazine folded (it had nothing to do with its content)
• AT&T’s WarnerMedia pulled its Rooster Teeth booth at SDCC — and what that may indicate
• What needs to be in place for a first-time webcomic?

But first… A convention attendee explains that Dave should do a sci-fi convention. If he wants to succeed. Really. Right now.

This episoide of ComicLab is sponsored by Wacom! Dave Kellett has returned from San Diego, after spending a week exhibiting at Comic Con International, and he brought stories and analysis with him. In today’s show:

• Dave and Brad remember the first time they used a Wacom Cintiq
• Did Dave turn a profit? Was the show worth the expense?
• Hollywood parties vs comic con parties
• Getting booth barnacled — by people who should know better!
• ComicLab listeners who visited the booth
• Dave walked the show floor at San Diego, and returned a changed man
• Is Comic Con International… shrinking

But first… a married couple approaches Dave’s booth, and says, “ComicLab helped our marriage…”

This week, Dave and Brad discuss…

• Increasing engagement on social media
• An improved hashtag strategy for Instagram
• When — and how — to ask for help
• Which comes first in writing — story, character or setting?
• What gratification do you get from comics?
• Prepping for San Diego Comic Con International