By Gamal Hennessy

This is a modified excerpt from a book I’m working on called The Business of Freelance Comic Book Publishing. It explores the different types of publishers you can work for as a freelancer. While this can’t be taken as legal advice, it can help you understand your options for finding work.

The comic book industry is not a single monolithic entity. Different publishers produce different types of comics with different goals in different production cycles. Understanding the differences between each general type of publisher can help you determine which publishers you want to work with and how to work with them effectively.

• Conglomerate comics are published as part of a wider integrated media and merchandising plan. These publishers control IP that can be found in movies, on television, in video games, and in every type of consumer product. These comics function more as marketing and research and development for the more profitable business lines, so the consistent visibility of the characters is often more important than any single story. Publishers like DC and Marvel are examples of comic book conglomerates.

• Creator-Driven comics are published as individual creative ventures. The IP for these comics is shared between the publisher and the creators (often the writer) and depending on the nature of that relationship, there may be opportunities for media crossovers or profits based purely on publishing. These comics often serve as proof of concept for the writer to show the potential of their story. Millarworld, Penguin Random House, Skybound are examples of creator-driven comic publishers.

• Emerging comics are published as an entry into the industry, the development stage in a longer comic book career, or as a boutique publishing venture. The publisher often controls all of the rights to the IP for these stories and are often running their business without the assistance of any third party. Because of the limited time and investment money available to this class of publishers, production can be sporadic and variable. Crowdfunded comics and Webtoon comics are often emerging comics.

• Independent comics are also published as individual creative ventures, but the rights are held almost exclusively by the publisher and not shared with the creator like in the creator-driven deals. If there is a spectrum between the emerging publisher and the conglomerate, then independents can be seen as between these two because they have a larger catalog and more consistent publishing schedules than an emerging publisher, and they may have some media deals outside of comics, but they may not have the corporate oversight of a Disney or a Warner Brothers. Companies like A Wave Blue World, Coffin Comics and Mad Cave Studios are examples of independent comic book publishers.

Have fun with your comic.

Gamal

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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