Comic Lab

Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are thrilled to welcome Erika Moen, creator of OhJoySexToy. They talk about her currently running Kickstarter to launch a collection of sex-education cartoons. She has a decidedly different approach to the "soft launch" for Patreon backers discussed on an earlier ComicLab podcast — and her strategy is worth strong consideration.   Then, the gang tackles some great topics like the uncomfortable relationship we artists have with photo reference. Why is there a stigma around using it? And what's the best way to use it? Then Brad and Dave marvel over Erika's participation in Helioscope studios. She assures the two crusty hermits that working in an office full of other cartoonists can actually be a positive experience.   Finally, they grapple with the complexities of character design, and discuss the importance of diversity and inclusiveness in building a comic.   BUT FIRST... Dave and Brad catch the Bonjoro bug. It's either an incredibly powerful tool for cultivating Patreon

We recorded Drunk ComicLab Saturday, and boy are our livers tired. Brad and Dave talk about the fun they had recording this upcoming Patreon-exclusive show — and the horrors they faced the morning after.Then a listener asks: "How to you stay motivated to comics year after year?" The guys go on to discuss the Toronto Comic Arts Festival (May 12-13), handling an underperforming Patreon tier, working on a new comic at the same time you're working on an existing one, and the mixed blessing that a cartoonist's flexible schedule can sometimes be. Show Notes: 00:10 — Drunk ComicLab: Look Back in Horror 10:29 — How to you stay motivated to do comics? 19:47 — The Toronto Comics Arts Festival ‚ is it a good show? 24:02 — What to do with an underperforming Patreon tier 33:52 — How to explore an idea for a new comic while maintaining your current comic 49:49 — A cartoonist's schedule is flexible — and that can be a mixed blessing. Great rewards when you support ComicLab $2 — Support the show and get early acc

The Eisner Award nominations were announced, and there's a lot to talk about! Then it's on to questions from our Patreon backers. In a social-media landscape that favors branding the creators themselves over their creations, it it OK to have a pen name? And what's the best approach to warm-up sketches? BUT FIRST... Brad hit a monster pothole on a winding Philadelphia thoroughfare, rupturing the tire, forcing him to pull over on a road with no shoulder and wait for AAA Roadside Assistance for over an hour as cars swerved around the curve, narrowly missing collision after collision. And it was his in-laws' car. Show notes 0:00 — Brad hits a pothole in his in-laws' car 10:56 — There are now 5½ hours of ProTips! 13:02 — Dave's recording in his closet. And getting no respect. 13:51 — mini-review — the Orbi mesh wifi system  15:13 — Drunk ComicLab is coming! 17:35 — Brad does a podcast and gets interrupted repeatedly. 18:47 — Eisner Award nominations 33:33 — The Hugo Awards 35:41 — Warm-up sketches 38:00 — Doing p

Dave and Brad field some tough questions about the best ways to handle negative comments and clingy fans. They also discuss using Instagram stories for comics promotion and strategies for writing longform comics But first, following up on last week's fascination with the "B.C." comic strip, Brad tells Dave about how the Flintstones used to do in-show smoking commercials. Show notes 3:24 — "The Flintstones" did smoking commercials 6:19 — Brad gets a bicycle, and that touches off some memories 13:39 — Audio Question: What about Instagram Stories for promoting comics? 22:15 — Building a webcomics career is a little like building "drip sandcastles." 26:47 — Handling negative comments 41:37 — Strategies for writing longform comics 45:42— Writing yourself into a corner. On purpose. 56:47 — How to deal with clingy fans Great rewards when you support ComicLab $2 — support the show $5 — submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast $10 — record an

Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar answer a wide variety of questions submitted by Patreon backers, such as: Are gag comics sustainable on the Web? We'll ask Dave, who has been doing a gag comic for 20 years. Also... How can I use hashtags more effectively? How many updates do I need to build a readership? How can I keep up my energy at conventions? And... Doctor, does this Winkerbean look Funky to you? But first, Dave has moved into his new house, and his high-speed internet connection... isn't. Show notes 8:00 — Are gag comics sustainable on the Web? 26:11 — Using hashtags more effectively 39:14 — What is the minimum update schedule required to build an audience 52:05 —Keeping up your energy at comic conventions Great rewards when you support ComicLab $2 — support the show $5 — submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast $10 — record an audio question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast $50 — Sponsor the show! We’ll read a brief promo for y

Brad and Dave tackle listener questions! First, a high-school art teacher asks why they can't seem to finish a project once it's started. And then, the guys list some Dos and Don'ts for people who are planning to launch their first Patreon campaign.  BUT FIRST... When Brad makes a post on Facebook, and the responses drive him up the wall, Dave realizes that he's dealing with a split personality.   Great rewards when you support ComicLab $2 support the show $5 submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast $10 record an audio question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast $50 Sponsor the show! We’ll read a brief promo for your comic/product and read it twice during the show AND you get the exclusive ProTips podcast Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the editor of Webcomics.com Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.  

Dave and Brad welcome Ryan North, two-time Eisner Award winner, creator of Dinosaur Comics and writer for Marvel Comics' Squirrel Girl. We discuss his upcoming book, How to Invent Everything and his successful Shakespearean choose-your-own-adventure To Be or Not To Be. Along the way, we go deep on several topics involving writing — getting ideas, subconscious plagiarism, self-plagiarism, rejecting unoriginal ideas, creativity as a compulsion, juggling multiple projects, exorcising ideas, and much much more.   BUT FIRST — Brad explains how zinc is more precious than gold for your good health.   Show notes 9:13 — How did Ryan first get into writing for comics? 12:37 — Rejecting an idea if it's not completely original 16:30 — Creativity as a compulsion 18:08 — Getting the idea for "To Be or Not To Be" 19:10— Capturing ideas 24:14 — Writing Squirrel Girl fro Marvel Comics 30:06 — The "minced oath" 31:51 — Avoiding subconscious plagiarism 38:34 — Juggling multiple projects and how to decide wh

We're joined by webcomics OG Danielle Corsetto. She shares her unique perspective on Patreon, and she has some advice for last week's question about choosing the best comic convention — TCAF! Her strategy to implement Kickstarter in the process is one you'll want to hear. Plus, Dave Kellett asks if he should delete his Facebook account. And, finally both Danielle and Brad Guigar discuss ending a long-running webcomic. BUT FIRST... Dave and his wife book a hotel room for an anniversary celebration, and when the front desk sends up complimentary wine and chocolate-dipped strawberries, it gives him an idea — one that involves his ComicLab co-host! Great rewards when you support ComicLab $2 — support the show $5 — submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast $10 — record an audio question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast $50 — Sponsor the show! We’ll read a brief promo for your comic/product and read it twice during the show AND you get the

Whew! We covered a LOT of ground with this episode. First, one of our $10 backers sent in a fantastic audio question about longform comics and the continuous scroll presentation on the Web. Is it better than conventional previous-next navigation-button presentation? And that touches off a whirlwind of topics, including, but not limited to... Kickstarter — Dave's tips REALLY WORK WELL! Backerkit — Brad tries to get Dave on the pro-Backerkit team, but he's not having it Dave's hair Calls to action — followers have to hear a call to action an average of seven times before they act, therefore... Social-media repetitiveness isn't as bad as you think it is, especially if you're using... The Three Cs of Social Media THEN... a Patreon backer asks, "if you could go to only one comic convention, which one would it be?" And that touches off a discussion of best conventions for international creators, the NCS's new policy of allowing members free table space at several conventions. the new 'Ringo Awards and th

Brad Guigar went to the Patreon On Tour / NYC conference, and he brought back tons of useful advice from the crowdfunding giant. Learn how to get more backers and make more money. Then, he and co-host Dave Kellett move on to tackle writer's block! What can you do to kickstart creativity? They share some useable strategies that apply to several situations. Finally — which awards are most valuable for the average webcartoonist? Is it the Eisners? The Harveys? The NCS Division Awards? The Ignatz? BUT FIRST — Brad's wife wants him to lose weight, and the reason why has Dave in a full-on blush. Great rewards when you support ComicLab $2 — support the show $5 — submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast $10 — record an audio question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast $50 — Sponsor the show! We’ll read a brief promo for your comic/product and read it twice during the show AND you get the exclusive ProTips podcast Brad Guigar is the creator of

Dave returns from Emerald City Comicon with stories from the show. Was the show a success? What did he learn from tabling with Jake Parker? What did Jake learn from him? Will Dave go next year? And how does Jake keep his hair so lustrous and full of body? Then, it's on to questions from out Patreon backers:  My graphic novel is based on an 1897 book, using the original, characterful old language exclusively for the text. I'm not adding or changing a single word in the story, but will need a glossary in my intro… although I wondered also about using footnote.  What have you found is the optimal time/s of day (and which days) to post updates to maximize visibility (US time) on social media platforms?  BUT FIRST — What is "noodlin'" and why is Brad thinking about doing it in Alabama?! Drunk ComicLab We're past the halfway mark in under a week! Go rate ComicLab on iTunes right now to make this happen! Patreon Great rewards when you support ComicLab $2 — support the show, get early access to new shows

This week, as Dave Kellett preps for this weekend's Emerald City Comic Con, he asks co-host Brad Guigar if this should be the last time he exhibits at the show. Then, Dave and Brad discuss some new approaches to webcomic site design — particularly in regards to longform comics. BUT FIRST... What is "Drunk ComicLab" and how can you make it happen? If we get 100 ratings on iTunes, Dave and I will be cracking open bottles of Pino Noir and Laphroiag (respectively) and recording a special bonus show. Great rewards when you support ComicLab $2 — support the show $5 — submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast $10 — record an audio question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast $50 — Sponsor the show! We’ll read a brief promo for your comic/product and read it twice during the show AND you get the exclusive ProTips podcast Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the editor of Webcomics.com Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and

Today on ComicLab, we're taking questions from our Patreon backers: What do you do when you're more invested than your collaborator? When starting a new comic online, is it even worth it to start a website anymore — or should everything just be posted to Patreon? Can you Kickstart a book containing content that was originally Patreon-exclusive? BUT FIRST... Dave grapples with his impending old-man-hood when a barber offers to shave his earlobe hair. Great rewards when you support ComicLab $2 — support the show $5 — submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast $10 — record an audio question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast $50 — Sponsor the show! We’ll read a brief promo for your comic/product and read it twice during the show AND you get the exclusive ProTips podcast Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the editor of Webcomics.com Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive. His new book is being Kickstarted right now!

The wonderful Dylan Meconis joins Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett to take a question from a Patreon backer who wants advice on growing their readership. Another backer asks about finding balance between comics and "real life." BUT FIRST... they grapple with what "Love is..." This episode of ComicLab is sponsored by THE DAEMOS CHRONICLES: ADVENT LIGHT!  In a world where humans are endangered and live amongst mythological beasts, The Daemos Chronicles: Advent Light follows the story of a young monk who receives a prophecy from the Gods of his world and must travel between realms to learn its truth before tensions rise and war seals humanity's fate. Great rewards when you support ComicLab $2 — support the show $5 — submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast $10 — record an audio question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast $50 — Sponsor the show! We’ll read a brief promo for your comic/product and read it twice during the s

Today on ComicLab, we're going deep on one of the most important (and least-talked-about) aspects of cartooning — Editing! We also take our first patron-submitted question, and it's all about contracts between collaborators. BUT FIRST... When Dave eats McDonald's and subsequently questions his life choices, it's Brad to the rescue with the healing humor of some carefully-executed impressions. Great rewards when you support ComicLab $2 support the show $5 submit a written question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast $10 record an audio question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast $50 Sponsor the show! We’ll read a brief promo for your comic/product and read it twice during the show AND you get the exclusive ProTips podcast Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the editor of Webcomics.com Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

ComicLab co-hosts Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar welcome special guest Jake Parker — creator of Inktober and stand-out cartoonist/children's book illustrator — to talk shop. They discuss their deepest, darkest fears for their careers. And then they tackle how to recover from the completion of a monumental project. Jake shares his experiences from a recent Kickstarter, and they discuss the pros and cons of taking a creator-owned title to a publisher. But before any of that can happen, Jake has to explain what the heck a "Chicken Walker" is. If you guessed that it was related to a Skywalker, well... you're actually not far off! If you like ComicLab, consider becoming a Patreon backer, where you'll get member-exclusive Pro Tip episodes and more!

Dave and Brad discuss the Kellett family living in his studio while their house gets prepped for sale. And in anticipation of the Big Move, Dave makes a rather emotional decision — to pulp most of the unsold copies of one of his titles. Then, they each share the best cartooning advice they ever got. Interestingly enough, Brad's came from syndicated political cartoonist Bill Day and Dave received his from syndicated cartoonist Wiley Miller. And finally, a question from the Discord server — how do you share your comics on social media AND offer exclusive comics on Patreon at the same time?

This week, Brad and Dave welcome professional adventure cartoonist Lucy Bellwood. Lucy delivered a jaw-droppingly honest look at the life of a professional freelancer at the XOXO Festival last year, and it seemed only natural to discuss the importance of transparency in a profession so driven by social media. But first, Brad asks if they've ever performed a snow-day ritual.

Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar talk about what brought them to cartooning — and more importantly, why have they stuck with it for 20 years. It's a deceptively important question to ask yourself as a creator. And Dave and Brad dig deep into the reasons they do comics as opposed to another creative pursuit.

Welcome to ComicLab: The podcast about making comics, and making a living from comics! If you loved Webcomics Weekly, you're gonna love this show: It's half shop-talk, half how-to, and half friendship. _ WE SQUEEZED IN THREE HALVES._ To start the year off right, episode one focuses on Cartooning Resolutions for 2018! 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, kick in a dollar to help make more 'n better shows! https://www.patreon.com/comiclab