If you’re trying to figure out the right gift for the comic creator in your life (even if that creator is you), please allow me to offer the following suggestions.

I referred to all of these titles in my book, The Business of Independent Comic Book Publishing, but each one deserves to be read on their own.  

Art:

Images are a fundamental aspect of the medium, so artist on every level can benefit from these classic guides:

 

• The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing Comics by Comfort Love and Adam Withers

• Creating Comics from Start to Finish by Buddy Scalera and Chris Eliopoulos

• The DC Guide to Creating Comics

• How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way by Stan Lee and John Buscema

• The Insider’s Guide to Creating Comics and Graphic Novels by Andy Schmidt

• Making Comics by Scott McCloud

I also want to give a special mention to the Strip Panel Naked YouTube Channel and their monthly magazine Panel X Panel.

 

Comic Book Industry History and Trends

If you don’t know where the industry has been, what’s happening now, or where it’s going it will be harder to succeed.

• Comic-Con and the Business of Pop Culture by Rob Salkowitz

• Demanding Respect by David Lopes

• Pros and Comic Cons by Hope Nicolson

Contract Negotiation

Contracts are fundamental to comics, whether you’re doing your own book or working for someone else.

• Getting Past No by William Ury

• Getting to Yes by William Ury

• The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene

Crowdfunding

Kickstarter is generating millions of dollars per year for comics, but only if you do it right

• Crowdstart by Ariel Hyatt

Distribution

Your books have to find their way into the hands of your readers somehow. 

• Comic Shop by Dan Gearino

• How to Self-Publish Comics by Josh Blaylock

• Your First 1,000 Copies by Tim Grahl

Economics

The comic book industry is a business. Understanding the numbers will give you a better understanding of the business.

• The Economics of Digital Comic Book Publishing by Tim Allen

• The Long Tail by Chris Anderson

Law

Several different aspects of law impact every comic, but these books focus on the most important element; intellectual property,

• Comic Book Start-Up 101 by Dirk Vanover

• The Pocket Guide for Comic Creators by Thomas Crowell

• The Law for Comic Book Creators by Joe Sergi

Marketing

Finding the right people to read your comic can be the difference between financial success and frustrating failure. 

• Book Yourself Solid by Michael Port

• Comic Book Marketing 101 by Mat Nastos

• Is $.99 the New Free? Steve Scott

• Laws of Human Nature by Robert Greene

• The Art of Seduction by Robert Greene

• This is Marketing by Seth Godin

Project Management

Publishing a comic involves a lot of moving parts. Making all those pieces fit together takes more skill than luck.

• Unnatural Talent by Jason Brubaker

• Write or Wrong by Dirk Manning

• Write, Publish, Repeat by Sean Platt

Writing

Comics are a narrative art form, so the story might be the most important element. While there are good books on the specific discipline of comic writing, there are also lessons to be learned from both outside the industry, including:

• Dialogue by Robert McKee

• Elements of Fiction Writing: Conflict and Suspense by James Scott Bell

• Making a Scene by Jordan Rosenfeld

• On Writing by Stephen King

• Story by Robert McKee

• Twenty Master Plots and How to Build Them by Ronald Tobais

• Words for Pictures by Brian Michael Bendis

• World-Building by Stephen Gillett and Ben Bova

• Writing for Comics by Alan Moore and Jacen Burrows

• Writing for Emotional Impact by Karl Ignlesias

• Writing Subtext: What Lies Beneath by Linda Seger

So which are your favorites? Are there any books I left out? Share your opinion in the comment and help grow the comic creator library.

Have fun with your comic.

Gamal

If you have questions about the business or legal aspects of your comic book publishing and you'd like a free consultation, please contact me and we can set something up that fits in with your schedule.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS BLOG POST IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR LEGAL ADVICE. IF YOU HAVE AN ISSUE WITH YOUR COMIC PROPERTY, DISCUSS IT WITH A QUALIFIED CONTRACT ATTORNEY OR CONTACT C3 FOR A FREE CONSULTATION