I started writing The Business of Freelance Comic Book Publishing over the weekend. It’s a follow-up to last year’s book, The Business of Independent Comic Book Publishing.

Check out the first draft of the introduction and let me know what you think.

Introduction

Contractor, day laborer, freelancer, gig worker, mercenary, ronin.

There have been many names for those who sell their services by the hour, day, or job rather than working on a regular salary on an exclusive basis for one employer. This unaffiliated type of worker has become more prevalent in the 21st century with the rise of the gig economy, but in the comic book industry, freelance talent has been the backbone of the business since the beginning.

The vast majority of modern comics book characters and stories are created, designed, or produced by freelance creators. Publishers often own the legal rights to the comics. Cartoonists can generate work without outside creative input. But very few comics being made today in North America that don’t have one or more hired guns working behind the scenes.

But how do these professionals enter this strange world? How do they acquire the skills needed to create comic art? How do they find work? What legal and business considerations do they have to manage in their careers? How do they get paid? Anyone interested in becoming a freelance comic creator or working with them should understand their answers to these questions and explore the commercial realities of the art form to maximize their chances of success.

The Business of Freelance Comic Book Publishing (of FCP for short) is designed to help you achieve those goals. This book can’t guarantee a lucrative, lifelong occupation in comics. I can’t promise that you’ll get to work on your favorite comic or create the next iconic character. Working in comics isn’t like becoming a doctor or a lawyer. There is no license you can obtain or a standard path for you to take to superstardom. Everyone who works in comics has a unique story on how they got to their position. Everyone in the industry used some combination of talent, perseverance, connections, and luck to succeed. 

But if your goal is to become a freelance creator, FCP will help you develop a business model for your services, leverage the assets your offer to the industry, and transform your skill, time, and creativity into financial gain.

If you want to hire and work with freelance creators, FCP will help you understand the motivations and stress that is inherent in being a modern-day artistic mercenary. Hopefully, this book can help improve the working conditions on both sides and improve the business of comics as a whole.

The book is scheduled for release in the fall of 2022. If you want to stay updated on this project, sign up for my free monthly newsletter.

Have fun with your comic.

Gamal