Comic Lab

A new father asks if his baby will change how he writes. "Hey, Comics Dads, I'm worried," he says. "Hey, Worried, we're Comics Dads," we reply. And then Dave invites Brad to pull his finger. After they discuss the effects of parenthood on creativity, a friendly zinester writes in to take Brad to task over his dismissal of zines as "nutty."ON TODAY'S SHOWHow does fatherhood affect writing?UPDATE: Google's AI meltdownUPDATE: Zines are not "nutty"UPDATE: Dave may have been wrong about Patreon's free membership tier"Why is my audience so small?"CHAPTERS00:00 Parenthood and Writing: Impact and Misconceptions20:24 Navigating Parenthood: Challenges and Joys22:20 The Evolution of Humor: From Wit to Dad Jokes25:00 The Importance of Socializing for Personal Growth32:30 AI and Social Media: Implications for Users38:13 Navigating Social Media Privacy and Bulk Deletion40:27 The Impact of Government Action on Data Protection42:05 Reconsidering Patreon's Free Membership Tier52:22 The Value of Passionate Readership and Audie

After six weeks of working on their comic, a listener asks how soon they can expect to make a living doing this — and gets an earful from Brad and Dave.  Plus, Brad and Dave share more of their picks for Reuben Award nominees.In this episode, Brad and Dave discuss the importance of having realistic expectations and enjoying the creative process when making comics. They share their own experiences of how long it took them to see financial success and build an audience. They caution against starting a Patreon too soon and making decisions based solely on trying to gain more backers. They emphasize the need to focus on the love of creating and the joy of storytelling rather than solely focusing on financial success. Overall, they encourage the listener to have patience and enjoy the journey of creating comics.Also, Brad and Dave explore the potential impact of AI on search engine optimization and the web ecosystem. Next, they discuss the importance of giving artists creative freedom when commissioning art.  The

How much of your work would you consider "top tier?" Fifty percent? Twenty percent? And speaking of the top tier, Brad and Dave share a partial list of people they think should be nominated for a Reuben Award this year.In this episode, Brad and Dave discuss the ratio of their work that they consider to be top-tier. They also talk about the benefits of posting comics panel by panel. Next, they share their lists of cartoonists who should be considered for the golden Reuben Award. They also touch on the ethical dilemma of selling redrawn original art and the importance of original art in the collector's market.ON TODAY'S SHOWHow much work is "top tier"?Posting panels vs pagesWho would Brad & Dave pick for the Reuben Award?Redrawing pages to sell as originals?TAKEAWAYSPickleball is a fun and inclusive game that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.The ratio of top-tier work to average work varies for each cartoonist, but striving for improvement over time is important.Posting comics panel by panel is benefici

We've all heard successful creators complain that younger hopefuls "just don't want to do the hard work." They disregard the complicated nature of achieving their status and dismiss aspiring novices on the basis of one single factor. Survivorship bias is undoubtedly a result of flawed reasoning. ...But is it bad advice?Brad and Dave discuss survivorship bias in the creative community and its impact on success. They acknowledge that survivorship bias exists but argue that it is not the sole determinant of success. They emphasize the importance of hard work, honing skills, and making adjustments based on feedback. They also discuss external factors that can impact a creative career, such as personal circumstances and societal biases. The hosts share their own experiences and offer advice for aspiring creators. In this part of the conversation, the hosts discuss the importance of perseverance and being consistent in order to achieve success in comics.Also, they also address the question of working below one's ar

How did Brad and Dave know when they'd "made it"? ALSO: Now that you have a website with a blog... what do you write??Brad shares a heartwarming story about his dad's induction into the Michigan High School Bowling Hall of Fame. They discuss the concept of 'making it' as a cartoonist and the different definitions of success. They also address the challenges of rating one's comic in terms of age appropriateness and content warnings. In this part of the conversation, the hosts discuss how to handle sensitive content on websites and social media platforms. They mention using content warnings, marking sensitive posts, and utilizing tools provided by social media platforms. They also talk about the importance of considering the audience's age range and the different standards and gradations of content in various mediums. In the second part of the conversation, they discuss the use of blogs on websites and how they have evolved over time. They mention the historical use of blogs for SEO purposes and the shift towar

How do you know when you're giving your readers too many details? — or not enough? Where's the sweet spot between action and exposition? We're going deep on storycraft this week! PLUS: Zines, gutters, and distribution!THIS WEEK'S SHOWHow much story to writeShould you be doing a zine?GuttersBordersDistribution 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.Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Having completed their Kickstarters, Dave and Brad review the promotional outreach that delivered the biggest results and make a shocking discovery. Traditionally, social media platforms were the biggest drivers of Kickstarter pledges. But in 2024 they barely made the top ten. That raises an important question: If we can't rely on social media to deliver a Kickstarter pledge — and if it's increasingly difficult to build an audience there — why are we using it?ON TODAY'S SHOWKickstarter post mortemSocial media is dead... now what? 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.Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Is it possible to build traffic for your comic without building an audience? Also, an anonymous post on Reddit accuses Webtoons of using a predatory contract. ON TODAY'S SHOWBuilding traffic vs. building an audienceUPDATE: SDCC PanelsUPDATE: Dave's 500 for 50Is the Webtoons contract "predatory?" 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.Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

This week, we're talking to Dave Blazek, creator of "Loose Parts," a single-panel comic syndicated to more than 120 newspapers worldwide. Blazek is a three-time NCS Silver Reuben award winner and a danged delight. We'll discuss how he became an "accidental cartoonist" and his unique approach to writing humor. 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.Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

New Yorker cartoonist Jason Chatfield joins us to talk about cartooning for the venerable mag, working with a writing partner, doing stand-up at Dangerfield's comedy club, helming the 104-year-old Ginger Meggs syndicated comic, and much, much more!ON TODAY'S SHOWJason Chatfield on SubstackChatfield on creative collaborationsDoing standup at Dangerfield'sChatfield on building subscriptions on SubstackIs There Something In This? podcast 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.Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

We all have creative peaks and valleys. How can we maximize the good times and minimize the bad?ON TODAY'S SHOWCan you really maximize creativity?UPDATE: Dave's TikTok prediction may still come trueUPDATE: 3-part series on Kickstarter coming to Pro TipsFavorite comics from outside the US 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.Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

How important is rebranding after a series of unsuccessful ventures? Also, how does one get their comic translated into another language — and why?ON TODAY'S SHOWRebrandingTranslating a comicUPDATE: The importance of monthly Profit/Loss statementsUPDATE: Authors EquityPlanning for page turns 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.Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

It's our most useful, actionable, practical show yet! Stufffed with handy tips and constructive advice for cartoonists and comic creators!ON TODAY'S SHOWPen namesUPDATE: Dave's Kickstarter at picklesbook.com UPDATE: Patreon Welcome surveysHonorifics, acronyms, and abbreviations in word balloons.  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.Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Dave has some thoughts on AI. And Brad hates to stretch. That's it. That's the show.ON TODAY'S SHOWArtificial Intelligence is going to force us to be more creativeHow important is it to rest?NOTE: The Kickstarter for Brad's new Evil Inc books ends this week! Time is running out! 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.Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Scott Kurtz is on the show to talk about the release of his new book, "Table Titans Club." It's available at Target stores nationwide, along with Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and your local bookstore!ON TODAY'S SHOWReimagining the "Table Titans" webcomic as a middle-school graphic novelWorking with an editor for the first timePivoting from self-publishing to traditional publishingBook shows vs comic conventionsEarly accolades for the bookPersonal appearancesNOTE: The Kickstarter for Brad's new Evil Inc graphic novel is in full swing! 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.Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Kickstarter delivers on Discovery in a big way. So would it be wise to use it to replace our failing social media platforms?ON TODAY'S SHOWUsing Kickstarter as social media?UPDATE: NCS Reuben Awards 2024UPDATE: Dave has "Still Got it!"Posting a parody on Webtoon to gain notorietyNOTE: The Kickstarter campaign for Brad's new Evil Inc book is in full swing! 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.Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

TikTok and Instagram reels are moving to the forefront of social media. Is it time to learn video/animation so you can promote your webcomic?ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW...Using animation to promoteUPDATE: Short Story ChallengeUPDATE: Eisner deadlineUPDATE: AI ArtA digital-exclusive eComic 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.Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Every once in a while, someone asks if it's possible actually to make a living in comics. It's a fair question, and it deserves an honest answer.SPONSORED BY... ComicLab is brought to you this week by the book "How Comics Were Made, a Visual History from the Drawing Board to the Printed Page." Comics historian and ComicLab fan Glenn Fleishman has spent years researching the history of newspaper comic strip production and reproduction and is bringing his expertise to this printed work full of comics from Yellow Kid through Krazy Kat, Doonesbury, Peanuts, and, yes, Dave's own Drive! It will feature never-before-seen original drawings and printing artifacts, such as "flongs," the hilarious old-fashioned name for printing molds. The book draws from museum collections like the Billy Ireland Library and the Charles M Schulz Library, generous access to artists' own archives, and Glenn's personal collection. Glenn's taking the book to crowdfunding in February, using lessons drawn from this very podcast! You can read

A listener asks if they should write one big, successful comic or several mediocre ones. We have a bigger question: What makes you think you have a choice?! Also, it turns out the whole "Substack nazi" thing was yet another case of Platform Panic.SPONSORED BY... ComicLab is brought to you this week by the book "How Comics Were Made, a Visual History from the Drawing Board to the Printed Page." Comics historian and ComicLab fan Glenn Fleishman has spent years researching the history of newspaper comic strip production and reproduction and is bringing his expertise to this printed work full of comics from Yellow Kid through Krazy Kat, Doonesbury, Peanuts, and, yes, Dave's own Drive! It will feature never-before-seen original drawings and printing artifacts, such as "flongs," the hilarious old-fashioned name for printing molds. The book draws from museum collections like the Billy Ireland Library and the Charles M Schulz Library, generous access to artists' own archives, and Glenn's personal collection. Glenn's

BE ADVISED: We'll be discussing issues like death and dying in this episode. Dave turns fifty years old, and it has us talking about cartooning in the second half of one's life. And we're not the only ones asking existential questions. Our first question asker is worried that they're not going to have time to work on all of their ideas in one lifetime! Finally, we break down Wacom's troubling use of AI art in a promotional image!ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW...Dave turns 50 years oldToo many ideas for one lifetimeComicLab 500UPDATE: Wacom uses AI art in a promo 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.Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.