Professional Comics Creator End of Summer Roundup

News

How Does the DC Fallout Impact You?

COVID-19 hit the comic book industry like a tsunami in the spring, and the end of summer was no different. When DC announced major cuts to both its staff and it’s upcoming releases, it sent shockwaves through every level of the industry that we’re still trying to understand weeks later.

Jim Lee explained the move to the Hollywood Reporter as part of a plan to focus on the core line of books and devote more resources to new readers and digital markets. Industry experts like Rob Salkowitz put the story into a historical and business context, assessing the need for change and the perspective of DC parent company.  Other news outlets are still trying to read the tea leaves, but no matter what happens comic creators at every level are going to have to adjust to the new realities DC is responding to and creating.

Additional reading: Are Independent Comics Worth Making if Marvel Stops Publishing?   

Major Publishers Invade Kickstarter

August also put a spotlight on major comic book publishers generating major revenue and minor animosity with Kickstarter. While Bleeding Cool points out that crowdfunding has always had space for major creators,  the New York Times focused on Hollywood superstars using the platform to create major comic book events. While there are vocal accusations of major publishers displacing independent creators, the reality of crowdfunding is if you have a crowd of your own, you can get funding. If your book has a different audience than Keanu Reeves’ book, his Kickstarter probably won’t impact your efforts at all.

Business

What are the three economic realities of publishing comics?

(GlobalComix)

While managing the finances of your book might not be as exciting as seeing your vision come to life or as inspirational as seeing your book on the shelf of a comic shop, it is a critical aspect of independent publishing that revolves around three basic economic realities.

How do you create a budget for publishing your comic?

(GlobalComix)

Before you sell your house, beg your grandmother for money, or rob a bank to publish your comic, it helps to know how much money you need in the first place. It doesn’t make any sense to spend a lot of time stressing about cash when you don’t have a clear idea of the costs you’re trying to cover

New Ways to Track Comic Book Sales

(Comics Beat)

While good retailers know very closely what their customers will buy, there is still no substitute for sell-through sales data. Now, ICv2 is giving us the Q2 sell-through rankings via ComicHub.

Legal

A Simple Guide to Creative Contracts

(Creative Contract Consulting)

Drafting, negotiating, and signing the contracts for your creative project might take some time and cost you some money, but you'll save money in the long-term and put both you and your book in a better position to succeed.

Opinion

How to Break Into Comics (Video)

Industry Analyst Perch offers one simple (but not easy) method for getting into the comic book industry.

Events

GlobalComix Demo Webinar

GlobalComix is a digital marketing and distribution platform designed to maximize exposure and revenue for comics of all types and genres. Join the CEO of the company for a free webinar or Tuesday, September 22nd at 8:00 pm Eastern to learn how to use GlobalComix's newest tools to publish, amplify your reach and readership, and get to know your audience.

Special Thanks

Once again, I’d like to thank all the backers for my upcoming book The Business of Independent Comic Book Publishing. Special thanks goes out to my editorial and business team that made the campaign a huge success.  

Nicola Black

David Hyde

Joseph Illidge

Mike Marts

Have fun with your comic

Gamal

If you’d like this free monthly newsletter sent to you via email, please sign up here.

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

Talking to Professionals on the Business of Comics

by Gamal Hennessy

The comic book industry is a confusing, chaotic and insane industry for everyone involved, especially the newcomer. Fledgling writers and artist often make mistakes on the business side of things that cost them tens of thousands of dollars, years of work or both.

The best way to avoid mistakes in the comics industry is to learn from professionals who already know what they're doing. Over the summer, Aaron Long of Comicosity asked dozens of established comics professionals what type of advice they would give to new creators. The insight they provided covered professionalism, marketing, accounting, time management and outlook, but one of the most consistent statements is the same thing I've preached on this site for years. 

COMIC CREATORS NEED TO UNDERSTAND AND NEGOTIATE THEIR CONTRACTS

When I worked at Marvel and Central Park Media, we often sent out contracts to talent saying "have your lawyer look over this before you sign it" knowing full well that person didn't have a a lawyer. I started C3 to change that and give writers and artists a chance to understand and benefit from the legal side of comics. The professionals already understand this. Read their comments and learn from their mistakes. 

Have fun.

Gamal

Success in the comics industry requires an understanding of the business, creative, and legal aspects of the medium.

Sign up forThe Professional Comics Creator to get monthly e-mail news, tips and advice on how to get the most from your characters and stories

PLEASE NOTE: THIS BLOG POST IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR LEGAL ADVICE. IF YOU HAVE A LICENSEING OR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ISSUE, DISCUSS IT WITH YOUR LEGAL ADVISOR OR CONTACT C3 AT gamalhennessy@gmail.com FOR A FREE CONSULTATION.

What is a Contract and Why Do Artists Need Them?

by Gamal Hennessy

If you’re a professional freelance artist, you already have a lot to worry about.

Do you need to concern yourself with contracts too?  

In a world of instant transactions and online business, do you really need to spend time and money on a piece of paper no one wants to read and few people understand?

And what is a contract anyway?

What’s the point of it?

When do you need to have one?

The first episode of my video series will touch on all these questions, and then talk about what could happen if you don’t have the right contracts for your work.