[frostfyre]

Hi there!
Since there are many comic book creators on this forum, in a variety of roles, I thought I'd take the opportunity to ask how many out there are working on comics currently and being published, and how many are indie/self published versus working collaboratively?

I'm struggling to get my own first indie effort out, and having the most difficult time finding a balance between achieving the quality I want, and actually producing a finished issue. The sad thing is, its only 8 pages (heck, I wanted to go simple, y'know?

I've posted a sample image in the "finished work" forum under Alya, for those interested.

In this thread, I'm really more interested about how people get going and keep going, especially on indie projects. Of course, the sad bit is, I've got to maintain the day job while trying to get this done

It's totally a labor of love! BTW, just 'cause I'm into indie stuff doesn't mean I don't love all the "big publisher" stuff too

[Fruitbat]

Try reading up at the Drawing Board at Figma.com

He's got a lot of resources.
I draw for DC. No big secret though. Just draw and draw and draw, then erase and start over until you get work.

[frostfyre]

Thanks for the tip, I'll check it out. Yeah, I know its all about practice. I'm actually an artist at a game company, myself. I've just been trying to branch out more, y'know? (3d, believe it or not, can get old)

Doing th indie thng, I'm my own writer, penciller, layout, colorist, letterer, and publisher... if I ever get the lead out-

[Chapel]

Well I'm an industry rookie, but I should have a book out around July or August.

I spoke to Flexible Elf about the topic of independent publishers just a little while ago. I haven't seen or met one that could really say that they have been successful. If you want it to succeed you would have to look at it from a business standpoint. One indie group I was going to work with laughed when I mentioned "business plan". Shortly after they disbanded and are working with another indie group now. (Who does have a business plan and a loan in progress). They will most likely achieve their goals. Thats another thing.. "goals" you have to have them. Make small ones and big ones. Also, I have a strong belief that most businesses will not succeed if you can't devote all of your time to it. Whether you think it or not.. this applies to comics also.

[Pat]

I'm the co-publisher of Radio Comix http://www.radiocomix.com and we've been pretty successful marketing our comics to niche buyers for five years now. Personally I've been in the industry for 11 years and I've seen a lot of people make a lot of mistakes. Indie comics are a real gamble these days... it's not uncommon for a new title with unknown creators to sell less than 600 copies through the direct market. I haven't looked at the numbers this past month, but the last time I peeked, 700 copies of a comic sold put you in the Diamond top 300. For those who don't know, Diamond Distribution http://www.diamondcomics.com currently accounts for about 95% of the direct market sales and represents the only reasonably accessible market you could enter. Other distribution methods (news stand, bookstore and others) require FAR too much capital or stock for an indie publisher, and many reserve the right to return unsold comics.

Honestly, very few indie companies in comics are generating much profit. The high cost of printing and production is just math that doesn't fit with the consumer's nostalgic belief that comics are cheap entertainment. The companies and creators who have managed to survive have done so by engendering strong retailer confidence. In your case, this would mean as much advertising as you could afford on issue #1, taking it up the rear for *several* issues in the gamble that readers and retailers would catch on to the quality. By issue 5, if your comic was good, you networked as much as possible and you weren't late (important!) you might see a turn around on your sales. In response to these awful conditions, Diamond has really raised their expectations of self-published efforts --many times requiring several issues to be completed before they'll even carry it. A lot of people think Diamond is leveraging undue control over small publishers, but in reality if you don't have all your ducks in a row you're going to be bleeding cash.

Sorry to go off on the business model --this is an art forum after all!-- but in this market it's EQUALLY important to your survival to understand the marketing of comics as well as understanding how to draw a good comic. Screwed up, huh?

My advice: Don't quit your day job. Don't expect to make any money. Don't take out huge loans until you know what you're doing. Finish several issues worth of material before you begin releasing comics. Link up with a decent publisher and take an active hand in marketing your book. Sure you might have more control self-publishing, but use the opportunity to learn the ropes from someone with experience. Frankly, while comic publishers often seem one
step removed from used car salesmen, they can actually be a big benefit to a newbie as well as the difference between making a few hundred dollars and losing your shirt. Talk to everyone you can in comics - 80% of my freelance jobs came from someone I knew. Shop your work around to everyone who will look at it. Learn to live with ramen.

Despite all the doom and gloom, you can make money. Take a hard look at where you want to go with all this and if you've got any specific questions I'd be happy to try and answer them.

-Pat


[This message has been edited by Pat (edited March 08, 2001).]

[frostfyre]

Wow, there's a lot of good information here!

I once heard that the first thing you need to do when creating a comic is give up any hope of making any money. Definately not planning on leaving the ranks of the salarymen anytime soon, but it makes it difficult to get in the creative time for myself.

I'd really hoped to get some folks chatting more about what sort of production routine they go through, especially those that are both author and illustrator. Personally, and I'm sure I'm not alone, I have a problem with letting go of the work, and wanting to continually refine a single piece or portion, rather than progress through the rest of the book.

Its funny, actually, as this forum has got me re-working some images that I'd previously managed to move past! Ah well... You need a strong start, right?

Chapel- thanks for pointing out the need to set and meet goals. This is a valuable thing, both in creating a business and in creating the pages themselves.

Pat- Awesome website, I'm familiar with Furrlough, its great stuff! Primarily, my aims with this project are to have fun with my characters and their situations in a different, non-moving, non 3D type world.

Every year they hold the Amateur Press Expo around here, so I though I'd give a shot to distributing it there, just as a fun sort of thing.

[Chapel]

You should set deadlines for yourself. What you have at the deadline is what you get. Then on to the next project. Thats how you move on.