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Comic Lab

Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett

The podcast about making comics — and making a living from comics! It's half shop talk, half how-to, and half friendship. WE SQUEEZED IN THREE HALVES. It's tips and tricks and all the joys of cartooning as a pro. So pull up your drawing chair, put on some headphones, and join us while you draw! And if you like what you hear, join our community at patreon.com/comiclab (For sponsorship inquiries: comiclabpodcast@gmail.com)

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32 episodes
weekly
Avg 1 hr 6 min
English

Episodes 32

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#444
June 18 · 1 hr 1 min
Exclamation points!!!
What seems like a simple question about exclamation points opens up a much bigger discussion about the power of comics lettering. Brad and Dave talk about punctuation, word balloons, font choices, and the unique grammar of comics.
#443
June 11 · 1 hr 17 min
Alaska Comics Camp 2026
Today’s show is sponsored by Huion, makers of the Huion Kamvas 22 (Gen 3)! Dave returns from Alaska Comics Camp with a glowing review of what he calls one of the most meaningful experiences of his professional life. He explains how the camp blends education, community, mentorship, and artistic growth in a remote setting that forces attendees to disconnect from technology and reconnect with one another.
#442
June 4 · 1 hr 12 min
Hiring a Social Media Manager
Brad and Dave discuss the pros and cons of outsourcing social media and ultimately argue that most creators should handle it themselves.
#441
May 28 · 1 hr
Quiet on the set!
With both Brad and Dave nominated for awards this year, the guys spiral into a surprisingly deep conversation about awards, marketing, ego, and whether creators should plaster “award nominee” stickers all over their books. Later, they tackle a listener question about using 3D models, digital sets, and reference material in comics production
#440
May 21 · 1 hr 5 min
Is the comic strip dead?
The newspaper comic strip didn't go extinct — it evolved. But if your work doesn't keep up, your career may be fossilized! From Reddit-ready square comics to vertical-scroll storytelling, they explore how creators are adapting to phones, social media, and changing reading habits while keeping the heart of the comic strip alive.
#439
May 14 · 54 min
Keeping it Short — Making a Living 40 Pages at a Time
Today's episode is sponsored by Huion! Go to https://comiclabshop.com and use code COMICLAB5 for an exclusive 5% discount! (Valid through June 14th.) Brad and Dave tackle a listener question that gets to the heart of creative careers: Can you make a living telling shorter stories, or does success demand long-form work? As always, the answer is equal parts practical advice and creative philosophy — grounded in real-world experience and delivered with ComicLab’s signature mix of humor and honesty.
#438
May 7 · 1 hr 5 min
Writing Funny Words Funnily
A listener asks whether some words are inherently funnier than others — and it opens the door to a deep dive on word choice, dialogue, and how to make jokes land harder. Brad and Dave also revisit a past take on political cartoons (turns out, they're thriving on Reddit), talk about the return of Web 1.0 strategies like guest comics, and reinforce a core principle: Own your platform and your audience.
#437
April 30 · 1 hr 2 min
Nobody Has Ever Made a Living in Comics
A Bluesky thread where cartoonists shared their financial realities unintentionally became an echo chamber of discouragement. Brad and Dave explain that self-selection bias skews these conversations negative, since many successful creators don’t participate. The result is a distorted picture that makes it seem like no one is succeeding, even when plenty are.
#436
April 23 · 1 hr
I've got an audience... now what do I DO with them??
Today’s show is sponsored by Huion — go to https://comiclabshop.com and use the code COMICLAB5 to unlock an exclusive 5% discount! On Today's Show: Your comic is gaining traction — but now readers want answers faster than you can tell the story. Brad and Dave explain why that’s actually a great sign — and how to turn audience curiosity into a powerful engine that keeps readers hooked instead of overwhelming your narrative. PLUS — CONGRATULATIONS TO DAVE KELLETT FOR HIS HUGO AWARD NOMINATION!
#435
April 16 · 1 hr 9 min
Reclaiming Our Power
Today’s show is sponsored by Huion, makers of the Huion Kamvas 22 (Gen 3). The platforms we trusted to grow our audience have pulled the rug out from under us, and it’s time to take that control back. Brad and Dave explore how creators are reclaiming their power by ditching platform dependence, rebuilding direct connections through newsletters, webrings, and other community tools.
#434
April 9 · 1 hr 1 min
Making a Splash (Page) in Comics
Today’s show is sponsored by Huion, makers of the Huion Kamvas 22 (Gen 3) — go to https://comiclabshop.com and use the code COMICLAB5 to unlock an exclusive 5% discount! On today's show, Brad and Dave break down splash pages — what they are, how they’ve been used traditionally, and how they function differently in print versus webcomics.
#433
April 2 · 1 hr
I've been framed! (...in a gallery)
In this episode, veteran cartoonists Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett tackle a question every cartoonist eventually asks: Where should I invest my time and energy? From gallery shows to professional organizations to keeping up with “the kids,” this conversation is packed with practical, experience-tested advice.

Showing 21–32 of 32 episodes