The Business of Independent Comic Book Publishing offers education, strategies, and tactics for anyone interested in publishing their own comics. Each of the twelve parts walks the reader through the process of publishing from the initial inspiration to exit strategy.

At the end of reading the book, the reader can have a unique business plan tailored for the comic they want to make.

The book is structured in a question and answer format. I raise relevant questions in each chapter and then offer relevant ideas and options for the reader to consider. The book doesn’t attempt to be a one size fits all solution. Because every publisher is different, I try to offer alternatives and the rationale behind each one.

This preview of the table of contents shows what you can expect to learn:

• Introduction

• Stage 1: Pre-Production

  • Part 1: Foundation

    • Chapter 1: What Are Comics?

    • Chapter 2: Why Do You Want to Publish Comics?

    • Chapter 3: Can Publishing Comics Fit into Your Life?

  • Part 2: Idea Management

    • Chapter 4: How Do You Manage the Ideas for Your Comic?

    • Chapter 5: How Can You Express Your Comic Ideas?

    • Chapter 6: What is Intellectual Property?

    • Chapter 7: Can You Turn Your Idea into Intellectual Property?

    • Chapter 8: How Do Register You Intellectual Property?

    • Chapter 9: Can You Make Comics from IP You Don’t Own?

  • Part 3: Investment

    • Chapter 10: What Is the Financial Investment in Your Comic?

    • Chapter 11: How Much Money Do You Need?

    • Chapter 12: How Can You Invest in Your Comic?

    • Chapter 13: How Can Others Invest in Your Comic?

  • Part 4: Business Management

    • Chapter 14: What is Business Management?

    • Chapter 15: Do You Need to Hire Professionals?

    • Chapter 16: Do You Need to Form a Company?

  • Part 5: Talent Management

    • Chapter 17: What is Talent Management?

    • Chapter 18: How Do You Distribute the Tasks for Your Comic?

    • Chapter 19: How Do You Find Talent for Your Comic?

    • Chapter 20: How Do Negotiate with Your Talent?

    • Chapter 21: Why Do You Need Contracts?

    • Chapter 22: What is a Collaboration Agreement?

    • Chapter 23: What Is a Work-for-Hire Contract?

    • Chapter 24: How Do You Manage Compensation?

    • Chapter 25: How Do You End a Deal with Your Talent?

  • Part 6: Marketing

    • Chapter 26: What is Marketing?

    • Chapter 27: Who is Not in Your Target Market?

    • Chapter 28: Who is Your Ideal Reader?

    • Chapter 29: What is the Competition for Your Target Market?

    • Chapter 30: What is the Size of Your Target Market?

    • Chapter 31: How Can You Expand Your Target Market?

    • Chapter 32: How Do You Build a Relationship with Your Market?

    • Chapter 33: How Can a Website Help Your Marketing?

    • Chapter 34: How Can Social Media Help Your Marketing?

    • Chapter 35: How Can a Mailing List Help Your Marketing?

    • Chapter 36: What Are Your Marketing Goals Offline?

    • Chapter 37: How Can Comic Shops Help Your Marketing?

    • Chapter 38: How Can Conventions Help Your Marketing?

    • Chapter 39: What Are the Other Marketing Opportunities?

  • Part 7: Distribution

    • Chapter 40: What Are the Major Distribution Channels?

    • Chapter 41: How Can You Use Web Comics?

    • Chapter 42: How Can You Use Comixology?

    • Chapter 43: How Can You Use Emerging Technology?

    • Chapter 44: How Can You Use Comic Shops?

    • Chapter 45: How Can You Use Bookstores?

    • Chapter 46: How Can You Use Libraries?

    • Chapter 47: How Can You Use Conventions?

    • Chapter 48: How Do You Select a Printer for Your Book?

• Stage 2: Production

  • Part 8: Production

    • Chapter 49: Where Do You Learn the Skills to Create Comics?

    • Chapter 50: How Do You Select the Form of Your Comics?

    • Chapter 51: How Can You Sequence the Different Formats?

    • Chapter 52: How Long Do You Want Your Story to Continue?

    • Chapter 53: How Do You Create a Production Schedule?

    • Chapter 54: How Do You Manage the Timing of Your Comic?

    • Chapter 55: How Do You Manage Team Communication?

    • Chapter 56: How Do You Develop the Script for Your Comic?

    • Chapter 57: How Do You Manage the Assets for Your Comic?

• Stage 3: Post-Production

  • Part 9: Advertising

    • Chapter 58: Why Is Comic Book Advertising Necessary?

    • Chapter 59: What Elements Do You Need to Advertise?

    • Chapter 60: What Are Your Options for Online Advertising?

    • Chapter 61: How Can You Use Endorsements?

    • Chapter 62: How Can You Use Sponsorships?

    • Chapter 63: How Can You Use the Comic Book Press?

    • Chapter 64: How Can You Use Print Advertising?

    • Chapter 65: When Should You Advertise Your Comic?

  • Part 10: Sales

    • Chapter 66: How Can You Measure the Financial Success?

    • Chapter 67: How Can You Make Money Without Selling Comics?

    • Chapter 68: How Can You Make Money Crowdfunding?

    • Chapter 69: How Can You Make Money Selling Your Comic?

    • Chapter 70: What is the Right Price for Your Comic?

  • Part 11: Revenue

    • Chapter 71: How Do You Collect the Money for Your Comic?

    • Chapter 72: How Do You Pay the Outstanding Costs?

  • Part 12: Growth

    • Chapter 73: Do You Need to Publish More than One Comic?

    • Chapter 74: What is the Next Step in Your Publishing Career?

    • Chapter 75: How Do You Adapt to a Changing Industry?

    • Chapter 76: What Happens to Your Comics After You?

    • Chapter 77: What Did You Learn in this Book?

Stay tuned for more information about The Business of Independent Comic Book Publishing.

Have fun.

Gamal