The Disruption Continues: The Professional Comics Creator for November 2021

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The comic book industry heads into the final quarter with disruption in the areas of crowdfunding, distribution, legal issues, media deals and talent acquisition. Stay up to date with the Professional Comics Creator.

Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding as a Publishing Program

(Publisher’s Weekly)

 The current queen of Kickstarter, Spike Trotman of Iron Circus Comics talks about building community, distribution after a successful campaign and building a publishing company on Kickstarter.

Kickstarter Adds Forward Funders with Deep Pockets

(ICV2)

"Kickstarter has added another level of support for creators looking to get their projects funded on the platform: Forward Funders, organizations that commit to spending a given amount of money to back projects."

Distribution

There is No Paper

(Comics Beat)

"Some foresee an inevitable rise in cover prices, a slowdown in variant editions, a rising interest in back issues, and, of course, a shift to digital."

Diamond Had 25 Years to Prepare for the Future…

(ICV2)

As this new competitive era kicks off, Milton Griepp looks at how the three major comic book distributors compare in variables important to retailers and publishers.

Legal

Amy Chu, Joseph Illidge & Pam Noles Join CBLDF Board Of Directors

(Bleeding Cool)

"The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund has added comic book creator Amy Chu, comic book editor Joseph Illidge, and comic convention organizer Pam Noles to its Board of Directors."

Dr. Seuss Comic Lawsuit Settles Out of Court

(Comics Beat)

"The ruling sets a precedent that mash-ups may not have legal protection, as the court found that simply putting two properties together wasn’t transformative enough."

Media

The Sudden Cancellation of Y: The Last Man

(The Hollywood Reporter)

For many comic creators, Hollywood is the ultimate goal. The story behind the Y: The Last Man cancellation shows that a comic book TV deal doesn't guarantee a happy ending.

Insecure Writer Plans to Launch a POC Comic Book Company

(The Hollywood Reporter)

Partnering with Stranger Comics’ Founder Sebastian A. Jones, Penny is launching a joint venture to identify and support new talent in the independent comic book world — functioning as an incubator and development lab for BIPOC creators and their IP.

Talent

GlobalComix Announces a Talent Marketplace for Comic Creators

(Comic Book Resources)

"The potential of GlobalComix’s Talent Marketplace offers an elegant solution for creators looking to foster partnerships, increase productivity and bring stories to market in a manner that we haven’t seen before."

Image Workers Form a Union

(Comics Beat)

"It's the first step in a long journey of calls for unionizing various levels of the comics industry, but it is important to note that the union does not include creators."

If you have questions about the business or legal aspects of your comic book publishing and you'd like a free consultation, please contact me and we can set something up that fits in with your schedule.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS BLOG POST IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR LEGAL ADVICE. IF YOU HAVE AN ISSUE WITH YOUR COMIC PROPERTY, DISCUSS IT WITH A QUALIFIED CONTRACT ATTORNEY OR CONTACT C3 FOR A FREE CONSULTATION

The NYCC Preview Edition of The Professional Comics Creator for October 2021

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CPI is a new educational service on the business and legal aspects of the comic book industry. We offer multiple live education lessons per month, weekly Q&A sessions, expert interviews, and more.

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As we head into NYCC, we’re looking at movement in the worlds of copyright ownership, continued distribution disruptions, and practical career advice for anyone trying to thrive in comics.

Legal

Ditko Estate Attempts to Gain Copyright to Spider-Man

(Comics Beat)

Copyright termination is a process included in the 1976 Copyright Act and allows creators to terminate a copyright agreement after 56 years. The termination for both characters would go into effect in 2023 if backed up by courts. But Disney is expected to fight reassignment by claiming that the work was done as “work for hire”.

Marvel Suing to Keep the Rights to the Avengers

(The Hollywood Reporter)

The litigation figures to focus on the “Marvel Method,” a loose collaborative working atmosphere where initial ideas were briefly discussed with artists responsible for taking care of the details. The Marvel Method has been the subject of prior litigation such as a dispute a decade back over “Ghost Rider.”

Distribution

IDW Follows the Big Two Away from Diamond

(Comics Beat)

"It’s yet another major blow to Diamond’s once near-monopoly on distribution to the direct market, but many had been waiting for this particular shoe to drop. Image, Dark Horse Dynamite are among the major publishers still distributed by Diamond exclusively." 

Pandemic Related Printing and Distribution Problems Hit Comics

(Bleeding Cool)

As demand for comic books of all descriptions has increased over the pandemic, unfortunately, the ability to print and distribute comic books has been hampered.

Career

Is Working in Comics Just a Side Hustle? (Video)

(Perch)

Millions of people have money in the stock market, but they’re not stockbrokers. Thousands of people invest in real estate, but they’re not real estate moguls. How many people create comics as their sole source of income?

New Guide for the Comic Book Letterer

(Screen Rant)

"Letterers play a critical role in the comic book creation process, and The Essential Guide to Comic Book Lettering promises to be an exhaustive guide for those who wish to break into the field."

Character: A Book Review

(Creative Contract Consulting)

Comic book characters can exist and inspire beyond the confines of their story if they capture the imagination. If you want to create quality characters and comics on any level, McKee’s books are an important addition to your professional library.

 Have fun with your comic.

Gamal

If you have questions about the business or legal aspects of your comic book publishing and you'd like a free consultation, please contact me and we can set something up that fits in with your schedule.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS BLOG POST IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR LEGAL ADVICE. IF YOU HAVE AN ISSUE WITH YOUR COMIC PROPERTY, DISCUSS IT WITH A QUALIFIED CONTRACT ATTORNEY OR CONTACT C3 FOR A FREE CONSULTATION