So, You wanna make comics?

I’ve been accused in the past of being cynical and on more than one occasion was told I come off as pragmatically abrasive. I like to imagine that the people who see that in me are also unable to understand exactly why I am the way I am.

When I got into the comic industry, I didn’t come in with the intention of “making friends”, that’s not to say I haven’t met some extraordinary people and some lifelong friendships have blossomed from that. I just find it silly to assume that because I make comics, I must have come in with that mentality, the reality is more logical… I came into comics, to make comics.

So, Over the last several years, I’ve learned a lot. I am the first to pick the brain of any vet who walks in the room. My ability to learn new things quickly has helped me become a bit of a journeyman in the industry.
I don’t say that to brag, but I am proud of my knowledge.

So, this leads to the reason I decided to start #IMakeComics into more than a hashtag, It’s the reason I decided to start www.IMakeComics.info.

I plan to dive deeper than anyone has into that well of knowledge and try to divulge some information that may be helpful to anyone interested in this insane world we call “Comic Creation”!Today I’ll just cover a brief introduction into somethings.

You want to start your own comic? That’s a great thing, I admire anyone who has the drive and creativity to attempt to do something so challenging. However, before you dive into the deep end, let’s make sure you avoid some serious pratfalls that even established folks like me have made in the past.

When you look at comic creators you can generally divide them up into 3 categories. You have the hobbyist, the professional, and the pretenders. I don’t feel like today is the day to dive into that whole topic just yet, but keep note. I’ll bring it up eventually. It’s something that most people won’t tell you, as discouragement isn’t the best way to motivate an artist, however making comics a full-time job is the biggest challenge of all. It is tempting to think that you can make enough money from your work to pay your rent. The path to fame via comics, though… Well, it’s a bit of a long shot. It takes some creators several years to reach the level at which they can go with no outside income, and the comic industry is only getting more competitive.

Always remember to be patient. Don’t ever expect your project to skyrocket right out of the launch. It is highly unlikely that your first project will be paying for itself or for you… The reality is that it can take several years for a brand to gain recognition. It’s averaged to be between 3-5 years before the market and consumer trust you enough to accept you. There are a lot of people that assume they can build enough of a following within a year, quit the day job, they can pay their bills, and all with comic money. The way things are these days, Comics are more competitive than ever. Talented, young people are coming directly from colleges and into intern programs, and some bypassing that all together and using the webcomic model to post directly to the net. If you’re going to make it happen, you have to be persistent, punctual, and be good.