Most aspects of normal life have been disrupted by the novel coronavirus, including the comic book industry. Social distancing has canceled conventions, crippled comic shop income and created confusion across the board.
But for some independent publishers, the pandemic can be a period of progress.
Publishing comics is more than attending shows and trying to sell books. It requires a significant commitment of time and effort before and after the comic is created. Our current period of social distancing can provide an opportunity to devote time to your comic that you might not have in normal life.
Depending on your personal circumstances and the stage of your book’s development, the following suggestions from my upcoming book might be helpful to you. They demand time and attention, but they don’t require money or direct interaction with other people. Since you might be stuck in your house anyway, consider the following developmental aspects to your comic publishing.
1. The Foundation
a. Stop and reflect on why you want to make comics in the first place (See What Are You Trying to Do?)
b. Identify your ultimate goal in comics
2. Intellectual Property Management
a. Make sure you have the right to make your comic (ownership, licensing or public domain)
b. Develop your synopsis, pitch, hook, setting, and characters
3. Investment
a. Develop a budget for your comic
b. Figure out where the money will come from to develop your comic before it’s made
i. Your money
ii. OPM (other people’s money)
4. Business Management
a. Decide whether you want to form a company for your comic (See The Benefits of Forming an LLC)
b. Search for professionals (accountant, attorney, editor) who can help protect your idea, your investment and you.
5. Talent Management
a. Decide who you are going to need to publish your comic (See You Need Two Teams)
b. Decide if you are going to use collaborators (See Collaboration Agreement) or Work For Hire (See WFH Agreement)
c. Search for possible candidates
6. Marketing*
a. Identify your ideal reader (See Who Is Your Ideal Reader?)
b. Identify your competition (See Who Is Your Competition?)
c. Build a relationship with your target market (See Building a Relationship with Your Reader)
7. Distribution
a. Research the requirements for each distribution channel
b. Decide how readers will get your comic
8. Production
a. Improve your creative skills
b. Research the impact of each comic form on your market
c. Develop a production schedule
d. Develop communication methods and contingencies
e. Research different digital asset management options
9. Advertising
a. Develop advertising sell sheet
b. Leverage endorsements and reviews
c. Research the comic book press
d. Explore paid advertising options
e. Understand advertising timing
10. Sales
a. Understand profit, loss, and breakeven for your comic
b. Decide how you will generate money with your comic
i. Monetization
ii. Crowdfunding
iii. Sales
11. Revenue
a. Understand all your revenue sources based on your distribution and sales
b. Understand all your payment liabilities based on profit splits, royalties, and outstanding payments
12. Growth
a. Consider what you will do after your comic is published
b. Consider changes in the market (See Are Comics Worth Publishing If Marvel Stops?)
c. Consider what happens to your comic after you are gone
In his book Unnatural Talent, comic creator Jason Brubaker said that the best way to publish a comic is to do one thing every day to move the process forward. In this period of uncertainty, there are more important things in life than comics. But if you’re safe, healthy and find yourself wondering how to spend some of the days and weeks of this crisis, spending time developing the business of your comic can put you in a better position when the world emerges from its forced isolation.
Stay safe and have fun with your comic.
Gamal
* If you want even more information on comic book marketing, you can get a PDF of my free guide here.
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