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Comic Lab · Yesterday · 59 min

Is there a LIMIT to comics success?

Is there a limit to how many cartoonists can build successful careers—or is the real limiting factor the cartoonists themselves? Cartoonists Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett examine the surprisingly vast comics ecosystem, where thousands of creators can cultivate separate audiences without ever appearing on one another’s radar. The market may have room for far more working cartoonists than we realize — but success requires more than artistic ability. Creators must also be willing to learn business, communicate consistently with their audiences, and improve when something doesn’t work. Also: Brad discovers that his brilliant new idea had already been implemented… by Brad. ON TODAY’S SHOW Is there a ceiling on the number of successful comics careers? Why artistic talent alone isn’t enough The danger of waiting for Marvel, syndication, or a publisher to “make” your career Audience-building isn’t “shilling”—it’s part of the job Could 10,000 different Brad Guigars all make a living? How niche comics find their “true fans” Three essentials for a sustainable comics career Why repeated promotional messaging matters The Council of Brads Do Kickstarter creators owe sales tax? Kickstarter Pledge Manager vs. BackerKit Dr. Wigglesby: Which comic was the first successful daily newspaper strip? You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon $2 — Early access to episodes $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards. If you'd like a one-on-one consultation about your comic, book it now! Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. He is available for personal consultations. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive. He is the co-director of the comics documentary, Stripped.

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Is there a limit to how many cartoonists can build successful careers—or is the real limiting factor the cartoonists themselves?

Cartoonists Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett examine the surprisingly vast comics ecosystem, where thousands of creators can cultivate separate audiences without ever appearing on one another’s radar. The market may have room for far more working cartoonists than we realize — but success requires more than artistic ability. Creators must also be willing to learn business, communicate consistently with their audiences, and improve when something doesn’t work.

Also: Brad discovers that his brilliant new idea had already been implemented… by Brad.

ON TODAY’S SHOW

  • Is there a ceiling on the number of successful comics careers?
  • Why artistic talent alone isn’t enough
  • The danger of waiting for Marvel, syndication, or a publisher to “make” your career
  • Audience-building isn’t “shilling”—it’s part of the job
  • Could 10,000 different Brad Guigars all make a living?
  • How niche comics find their “true fans”
  • Three essentials for a sustainable comics career
  • Why repeated promotional messaging matters
  • The Council of Brads
  • Do Kickstarter creators owe sales tax?
  • Kickstarter Pledge Manager vs. BackerKit
  • Dr. Wigglesby: Which comic was the first successful daily newspaper strip?

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

  • $2 — Early access to episodes
  • $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

If you'd like a one-on-one consultation about your comic, book it now!

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. He is available for personal consultations. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive. He is the co-director of the comics documentary, Stripped.

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