The Business of the Comic Book Industry

I feel I've covered what you need to know about the business. If I missed something you want to know about. Please comment below and I'll get a blog post done for your answer.

Here's what I've covered:
Do You Want to Sell Merchandise With Celebrity Images?

How much do you get paid?

Top Ten Artistic Talent Scale

So You Want to Collaborate on a Comic Book or Graphic Novel?

Words and Art - Comic Book Readers and Creators

Pay the Talent!

Back-end Deal, My Ass!

So You Want to Self-Publish Your Comic Book or Graphic Novel

What are the Page Rates to do Comic Books?

Royalties and Profits in Comic Books and Graphic Novels - The Back End Deal

Comic Book Cog in the Wheel

No Money to Create your Comic Book or Graphic Novel?

Work For Hire - Good or Bad?

Where do I find an artist?

Writer Placing Ads for Comic Book Artists - What Works?

Starving Artists Will Do Anything for Cheap! - A Cautionary Tale

I'll leave you with this quote from an open letter to young freelancers by Mark Waid. I feel it's good information for everyone. You can read the entire letter here.

Be professional. Be a problem-solver. Be willing to compromise in the face of a solid argument.  Be willing to lose sometimes because you’ll learn more that way than you will by always winning. Ultimately, if a client is paying you for your services, he or she has every right to set the specifications, just as you have a right to your integrity. But when people jealous of how you make a living try to rag you with that old truism that every company employee has to eat shit now and then, remind them that you are not an employee. You’re a contractor. You do not receive health benefits, sick days, pensions, vacation time, or any of the other considerations traditional employees receive. Your clients have zero ethical or moral ground to lie to you, to denigrate you, to cheat you, to demand more from you than they’re paying for, to unapologetically walk back on promises or treat you maliciously, or to exploit your need to put food on the table. The good ones won’t. Never trust the bad ones.

read next - Kickstarter is Not for the Meek
previous - Starving Artists Will Do Anything for Cheap! - A Cautionary Tale

Keep reading and follow me. If you have found this helpful, please let me know and share with other creators. Are the explanations clear and complete? Feel free to ask me questions.

Remember… Just Create!

If you are interested in further expanding your knowledge, then I recommend these books.

You can support this blog when you purchase a book by clicking the link below, I get a piece of the action and helps me to continue doing this blog. Support an artist today.

copyright 2014 H. Simpson 

No Money to Create your Comic Book or Graphic Novel?

How can you get your comic book or graphic novel started with no money?

If you don’t have money to pay talent, then exchange services.

First, we have to again recognize that there are more writers looking for artists, than artists looking for writers. Here's what usually happens right or wrong:

1. Writer pays artist their rate and keeps ownership of their creation.
2. Writer pays artist and other talent below their rate and keeps ownership of their creation.
3. Writer pays artist and other talent below their rate and and shares ownership of the creation.
4. Writer pays nothing to artist and other talent and keeps ownership of their creation.
5. Writer pays nothing to artist and other talent and shares ownership of the creation.

Here's my idea to break the logjam. I haven't seen this offered. (Just because I haven't seen it offered doesn't mean it hasn't been offered. I haven't been on every forum.)

How about an exchange of services? You work on my project and I'll work on yours.

So now we get a new set of options:

1. Writer pays artist and other talent below their rate and keeps ownership of their creation and in exchange works for a similar reduced rate on talent's project on which talent retain ownership.
2. Writer pays nothing to artist and other talent and keeps ownership of their creation and in exchange works on talent's project on which talent retains ownership.
3. Writer pays nothing to artist and other talent and shares ownership of their creation and in exchange works on talent's project on which ownership is also shared.

So instead of placing an ad first, a writer or artist can approach someone they think would be a good fit for their project and offer to exchange services. 

(If I've missed a scenario, please let me know and I'll edit this.) 

to be continued…

read next - Work For Hire - Good or Bad?
previous - Comic Book Cog in the Wheel

Keep reading and follow me. If you have found this helpful, please let me know and share with other creators. Are the explanations clear and complete? Feel free to ask me questions.

Remember… Just Create!

If you are interested in further expanding your knowledge, then I recommend these books.

You can support this blog when you purchase a book by clicking the link below, I get a piece of the action and helps me to continue doing this blog. Support an artist today.

copyright 2014 H. Simpson

Comic Book Cog in the Wheel

A pair of hands or partner?

If a writer is going to hire an artist to be a pair of hands to just draw, then the rate should be just like any job and at least match the Federal minimum wage, which would work out to $58 a page for pencils only. A poverty level rate.

If a writer wants to have an artist be a collaborator, then each should share in the risk, ownership, copyright and royalties and whatever else they agree upon. If any money changes hands, however little; that amount is between them as creative partners in a speculative venture.

I have dealt with writers who don't want/can't afford to pay my rate, but want to keep all the rights, even to my artwork! Some have even asked to keep the artwork! Obviously, I didn't do a deal with them, but there are other artists out there who will. I think everyone agrees on that point, someone will step up and say "I'll do it!"

They’ll do it because they don’t know any better or think this is their big break.

to be continued…

read next - No Money to Create your Comic Book or Graphic Novel?
previous - Royalties and Profits in Comic Books and Graphic Novels - The Back End Deal

Keep reading and follow me. If you have found this helpful, please let me know and share with other creators. Are the explanations clear and complete? Feel free to ask me questions.

Remember… Just Create!

If you are interested in further expanding your knowledge, then I recommend these books.

You can support this blog when you purchase a book by clicking the link below, I get a piece of the action and helps me to continue doing this blog. Support an artist today.

copyright 2014 H. Simpson

Royalties and Profits in Comic Books and Graphic Novels - The Back End Deal

What are Royalties?

Your slice of the pie. Royalties are money paid to a creator or participant in an artistic work based on sales of the work.

Royalties are not what they used to be in the 90s. Comic books sell far less than they did and yet, the break even point is the same.

A writer, self-publisher or small indy publisher can pay a hired artist with an advance against royalties to get a chance to recoup their out of pocket money.

If the comic sells enough and there are royalties, then the advance is subtracted from that.

If the book doesn't sell, then artist keeps the fee as payment  for services rendered.

Concerning a back-end deal; in reality the back-end rarely happens. A small press, self-published or independently published comic book is not likely to make a profit, so there will be no royalties. Better to do a graphic novel that you can keep in print for a chance at profit.

Another reality check, if you're collaborating with an artist who has no investment (co-creator) in the comic, then as soon as a paying job comes along the artist will disappear and the writer is going to be left high and dry.

Check the various forums of writers saying the artist left them hanging. Take an informal poll and I'm sure you'll find the artist wasn't being paid more often then not. In other cases, it's a novice who got in over their head and just can't produce and reality set in on them. And then again, there really are flaky artists out there.

to be continued…

read next - Comic Book Cog in the Wheel
previous - What are the Page Rates to do Comic Books?

Keep reading and follow me. If you have found this helpful, please let me know and share with other creators. Are the explanations clear and complete? Feel free to ask me questions.

Remember… Just Create!

If you are interested in further expanding your knowledge, then I recommend these books.

You can support this blog when you purchase a book by clicking the link below, I get a piece of the action and helps me to continue doing this blog. Support an artist today.

copyright 2014 H. Simpson

What are the Page Rates to do Comic Books?

Page Rates for Comic Book Talent

I’ve covered the various scenarios talent can find themselves positioned in the comic book industry and the page rates. That is corporate, small press. self-publisher and independent publisher.

So let’s review before we go further into the business of comic books and graphic novels.

Based on a 22 page comic book.
Minimum rates per page:
writing - $13
pencils - $58
inks - $29
colors - $11 to $29
letters - $3

Starting rates per page (these can go higher):
writing - $35
pencils - $125
inks - $90
colors - $50
letters - $20

Pro rates per page (these can go higher):
writing - $75 to $100
pencils - $155 to $200
inks - $100 to $175
colors - $75 to $100
letters - $35 to 50

Everyone deserves to make at least minimum wage for their services; writer, artist, colorist, letterer and any other job in America. Not only deserves, it's the law. Regardless of skill level.

to be continued…

read next - Royalties and Profits in Comic Books and Graphic Novels - The Back End Deal
previous - Do You Really Want to Create Your Own Work and Self-Publish?

Keep reading and follow me. If you have found this helpful, please let me know and share with other creators. Are the explanations clear and complete? Feel free to ask me questions.

Remember… Just Create!

If you are interested in further expanding your knowledge, then I recommend these books.

You can support this blog when you purchase a book by clicking the link below, I get a piece of the action and helps me to continue doing this blog. Support an artist today.

copyright 2014 H. Simpson

Do You Really Want to Create Your Own Work and Self-Publish?

So You Want to Self-Publish Your Comic Book or Graphic Novel

If you are serious about self-publishing, then you are going to put together a business plan. If you don’t, you’re most likely doomed to waste money and set yourself up for failure.

Discounts aside, printers, ad rates and shipping all have set fees. It doesn't matter if you are a day laborer or a CEO. The fees are the fees. When ANYONE in ANY industry opens/starts up a business, they know there are set fees they have to deal with, one of which is minimum wage for the workers, employees and contractors. Why should having a good business plan change because it's comics?

Why would anyone in their right mind put together a business and budget for printing, shipping and advertising costs, yet not have a budget for talent? An investor looking at such a plan would laugh at you or show you the door.

As a self-publisher, small press or independent publisher, you shouldn’t be in business if you only offer the talent back-end deals, yet you have the money to pay for printing, shipping and advertising. It seems like this is a situation to take advantage of the talent.

In ANY field or industry a person deserves to be paid at least minimum wage. Creatives were taken advantage of in the Golden Age of comics and paid low rates, which was something it took decades to overcome.

The lowest page rate for pencil art today should be $58 a page. How did I arrive at that? The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. An artist should take 8 hours to draw one page. 8 x $7.25 works out to $58 for a page. This a baseline that everyone can follow. Minimum wage is not a living wage. This would barely pay rent and utilities, if at all. Well forget about food, hence the term "starving artist". As long as we have a place to draw, we can do without food. (just joking)

A good writer can do one 22 to 24 page comic in a 40 hours. A good inker should be able to do 2 pages in 8 hours. A good colorist can do 2 to 5 pages in 8 hours. A good letterer can do one 22 to 24 page comic in 8 hours, so the per page rates should be adjusted accordingly based on $7.25 an hour.

to be continued…

read next - What are the Page Rates to do Comic Books?
previous - Back-end Deal, My Ass!

Keep reading and follow me. If you have found this helpful, please let me know and share with other creators. Are the explanations clear and complete? Feel free to ask me questions.

Remember… Just Create!

Copyright 2016 H. Simpson

If you are interested in further expanding your knowledge, then I recommend these books.

When you purchase a book by clicking the link below, I get a piece of the action and helps me to continue doing this blog. Support an artist today.

Back-end Deal, My Ass!

There are no guarantees with back-end deals. It is a hollow promise.

No one can predict what's going to be the next Nightly News or Invincible. Just as no one can predict what's going to be (insert low selling comic title here).

There's no way to predict who's going to be a hot artist. José Luis García-López should be one of the hottest comic book artists out there and yet he doesn't get the kind of love Jim Lee gets from the fans.

There is no average return to expect to get. That's why anyone who offers no pay to you, "But I'll split the back end with you" are full of it. (Full of dreams that is; dreams.) It's an empty promise. I can't wipe my own back end with that kind of promise.

I'm working on my own graphic novel and have been for a couple years now for that reason (no guarantees). I continue to do paying gigs and do my own stuff in-between.

If I'm going to sacrifice my time and talent, why not do it for myself, not somebody else? Even though, I have run across one first-time comic book writer I made an exception for, because (a) I was approached in a professional manner (not with all these delusions of grandeur and empty promises) and (b) the story really knocked me out. There have been other stories that have tempted me, but I'm drawing the line there.

I'm not counting on the back end of my graphic novel to pay my bills. If it hits, then fine. If not, at a least I told my story and I haven't damaged my life in the process.

There are only two ways to make a living doing comics.

1. Work for a company that pays pro rates and be on time with delivery of your work. Working fast can help.

I spoke to a hot super talented artist (that everyone knows) and he was bemoaning how everyone thought he was making all this money, but  it took him too long to get a comic book done, so he was struggling for the past year. I realized I made more money then he did, because I produced a comic book every month (at that time I was on a regular comic book) even though I'm sure his page rate was much higher than mine.

2. Your creation that you sacrificed and gambled on becomes a success and you're making TMNT and Spawn type money or at the very least Invincible money. The Walking Dead type money is for the very few. You have to be willing to pour your blood sweat and tears into it no matter what the pay off will be. You have to be willing to invest in yourself. Invest in your comic book, comic strip or graphic novel.

to be continued…

read next - Do You Really Want to Create Your Own Work and Self-Publish?
previous - Pay the Talent!

Keep reading and follow me. If you have found this helpful, please let me know and share with other creators. Are the explanations clear and complete? Feel free to ask me questions.

Remember… Just Create!

If you are interested in further expanding your knowledge, then I recommend these books.

You can support this blog when you purchase a book by clicking the link below, I get a piece of the action and helps me to continue doing this blog. Support an artist today.

copyright 2013 H. Simpson

Pay the Talent!

Don't expect free work on your comic book idea.

We have to recognize that there are more writers looking for artists, than artists looking for writers.

Before I go further, let's take a pause and look at  these links below from various writer's points of view.

"Let's pause here for a quick Reality Check. There is no such thing as an idea so fabulous that, based on it alone, anyone could reasonably predict a smash hit. Not even Peanuts was that incredible an idea, in and of itself. The genius of Charles M. Schulz in executing that idea probably had a little something to do with its success."

- Mark Evanier

Unfinanced Entrepreneurs
 Part 1

"Quality artists charge for their work. This insures that they only deal with writers who are “serious”. If you're serious as a writer, you should be willing to pay your artist collaborators, even those you share the IP with, especially your first few times out. (you may be able to find speculative collaborators later). Word to the wise? Try to find an artist who does finished art – pencils, inks and colors together – so that you keep your costs down and learn to work with one collaborator before you try to shepherd a team. What can you expect to pay if you're a writer? Minimum wage for a pencilist, for example, figures out to about $60 a page. If you're looking for an artist to work for hire, that's your starting point. Artists may be willing to adjust that rate dependent upon the percentage of the intellectual property the writer is willing to share with them."

- Mike Luoma

Shut Up And Put Out Yer Comic Book!

Harlan Ellison -- Pay the Writer

Here's a piece written by James Rainey of the LA Times and a writer's view of freelance getting a little too free in his industry.

"Other publishers pitch the grand opportunities they provide to "extend your personal brand" or to "showcase your work, influence others." That means working for nothing, just like the sailing magazine that offers its next editor-writer not a single doubloon but, instead, the opportunity to "participate in regattas all over the country."

What's sailing away, a decade into the 21st century, is the common conception that writing is a profession -- or at least a skilled craft that should come not only with psychic rewards but with something resembling a living wage."

- James Rainey

LA Times

to be continued…

read next - Back-end Deal, My Ass!
previous - Words and Art - Comic Book Readers and Creators

Keep reading and follow me. If you have found this helpful, please let me know and share with other creators. Are the explanations clear and complete? Feel free to ask me questions.

Remember… Just Create!

If you are interested in further expanding your knowledge, then I recommend these books.

You can support this blog when you purchase a book by clicking the link below, I get a piece of the action and helps me to continue doing this blog. Support an artist today.

copyright 2013 H. Simpson

Words and Art - Comic Book Readers and Creators

In Comics: Words and Art are Important

I believe that if you want to collaborate on a new comic book, comic strip or graphic novel, it should be clear that art and words go together. That is the very essence of comics.

Neither is more important than the other. You need both to pitch your idea successfully in MOST cases. "MOST" being that you're an unknown talent.

Writers shouldn't feel that artists consider themselves more important. Shame on the artist that acts that way.

There are certain realities that have to be acknowledged in the marketplace.

On a level playing field with no recommendations;  a new unknown book with unknown writer and unknown artist; then one thing happens in a comic book store every day. The potential reader can't read the whole book there (usually).This person makes a decision based  on the art to buy the book (usually).

Once the comic is read at home then one of four things is going to happen.
1. The reader never buys the comic again for whatever reason.
2. The reader likes the story and art and continues to buy the comic.
3. The reader likes the story, but thinks the art is so-so and continues to buy the comic.
4. The reader likes the art, but thinks the story is so-so and continues to buy the comic.

Like it or not this is visual storytelling medium. It's a symbiotic relationship, because it's a visual story with words. Visuals with text, not a series of pin-ups. Visuals and stories both are important.

I feel this is very important to understand. Writers and artists are equally important to the long term success of the comic.

to be continued…

read next - Pay the Talent!
previous - So You Want to Collaborate on a Comic Book or Graphic Novel?

Keep reading and follow me. If you have found this helpful, please let me know and share with other creators. Are the explanations clear and complete? Feel free to ask me questions.

Remember… Just Create!

If you are interested in further expanding your knowledge, then I recommend these books.

You can support this blog when you purchase a book by clicking the link below, I get a piece of the action and helps me to continue doing this blog. Support an artist today.

copyright 2013 H. Simpson

So You Want to Collaborate on a Comic Book or Graphic Novel?

The easiest way to find a collaborator may be between two people who have known each other for a while. 

Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster

As a collaborator, each should share in the risk, ownership, copyright and royalties and whatever else they agree upon. If any money changes hands, however little; that amount is between them as creative partners in a speculative venture. 

So you didn’t grow up knowing an artist or writer, then how do you find someone to collaborate on a comic book, comic strip or graphics novel? You have your choice of social media to find talent to collaborate with on the comic. It’s always best to become part of the community and get involved. Let people get to know you. Your first post shouldn’t be “I’m looking for a (fill in talent here) to collaborate with on a comic book.” That always leaves a bad taste and tends to be ignored, except by the bottom feeders.

As you make yourself known and get to know people it’s easier to approach someone about working together. The two of you can throw some ideas back and forth and create something together. If you two decide to submit to companies, then follow the guidelines on the company web site. Maybe you two want to go the crowd funding route? In any case, it’s best to have your whole book done. Maybe you both chip in to self-publish a print comic or graphic novel. Or you can skip any costs by just creating a web comic.

I feel forums are a great way to find a collaborator and other talent. Here are some you may want to try.

Penciljack Forum 

Digital Webbing Forums 

Gutter Zombie 

If it’s not a money free collaboration, then it’s going to be a paid collaboration or just hiring someone to fulfill your vision. Everyone deserves to get paid a fair rate. A fair rate is not what you can afford to pay. Everyone should be paid - at the very least -  for their time.

Even though I wrote ‘fill in talent here’ let’s face it, it’s usually writers looking for artists. 

So next, let’s look at the ins-and-outs, do’s and don'ts of hiring talent.

read next - Words and Art - Comic Book Readers and Creators
previous - Top Ten Artistic Talent Scale

Keep reading and follow me. If you have found this helpful, please let me know and share with other creators. Are the explanations clear and complete? Feel free to ask me questions.

Remember… Just Create!

copyright 2013 H. Simpson

Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster with their creation Superman
art copyright Neal Adams

If you are interested in further expanding your knowledge, then I recommend these books.

When you purchase a book by clicking the link below, I get a piece of the action and helps me to continue doing this blog. Support an artist today.

How much do you get paid?

The most asked question is "How much do you get paid?"

The answer is you're not going to get what I make, because I've been drawing comics for awhile. You're going to get a starting rate from the Big Two comic book companies.

Here's what you need to be able to do before you can think about the rate.  If you can't produce comic books pages at this speed, you are not going to be able to make a living at this.

Writer -  4 books a month

Penciler -  1 page in 8 hours 

Inker - 2 pages in 8 hours 

Colorist -  2 to 5 pages a day average

Letterer - 1  to 2 days to do a full comic book

Here are the average starting rates per page:

writing - $35 

pencils - $125

inks - $90

colors - $50

letters - $20

These are pro rates from Marvel and DC and can go higher;

writing - $75 to $100

pencils - $155 to $200

inks - $100 to $175

colors - $75 to $100

letters - $35 to 50

read next - Top Ten Artistic Talent Scale
previous - Do You Want to Sell Merchandise With Celebrity Images?

Keep reading and follow me. If you have found this helpful, please let me know and share with other creators. Are the explanations clear and complete? Feel free to ask me questions.

Remember… Just Create!

If you are interested in further expanding your knowledge, then I recommend these books.

You can support this blog when you purchase a book by clicking the link below, I get a piece of the action and helps me to continue doing this blog. Support an artist today.

copyright 2013 H. Simpson

Getting Down to Business

Believe it or not, it's not all about the art.

Art done for client web-site

The recent move has thrown my schedule out of whack. Plus the time I would normally spend on the blog was taken up redoing my web-site http://abbadabba.com. Check it out and let me know what you think. it’s still in progress, so you run across some of the previous site in places. All should be in place by year’s end.

I’ve been covering the creative side so far and planned to get to the business of things when I was done with that information. I have been getting quite a few questions about that, so I will take a small dip into the business side of things this week. Next week will be Inspiration Week, which has proven to very very popular and then back our regular program.

I do respond to requests and questions, so don’t be shy about asking.

Remember... Just Create!