x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Comic Lab

Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett

The podcast about making comics — and making a living from comics! It"s half shop talk, half how-to, and half friendship. WE SQUEEZED IN THREE HALVES. It"s tips and tricks and all the joys of cartooning as a pro. So pull up your drawing chair, put on some headphones, and join us while you draw! And if you like what you hear, join our community at patreon.com/comiclab (For sponsorship inquiries: comiclabpodcast@gmail.com)

arts visual arts

All Episodes

01:03:34

How to build an audience on Substack

Comic Lab ·

2024/06/27

Substack is one of the few social-media newcomers that actually produces visible results. It delivers audience-building, reader retention, advanced messaging, intelligent analytics, savvy promotion, and discovery. Better yet, it has a user interface that's a joy to use. So why are so many cartoonists perplexed by it? Brad and Dave do a deep dive into this new platform and offer strategies for using it effectively.ON TODAY'S SHOWSubstack user guideHow much worldbuilding should you do when you

en

01:01:56

Are dad jokes ~bad~ jokes?

Comic Lab ·

2024/06/20

A new father asks if his baby will change how he writes. "Hey, Comics Dads, I'm worried," he says. "Hey, Worried, we're Comics Dads," we reply. And then Dave invites Brad to pull his finger. After they discuss the effects of parenthood on creativity, a friendly zinester writes in to take Brad to task over his dismissal of zines as "nutty."ON TODAY'S SHOWHow does fatherhood affect writing?UPDATE: Google's AI meltdownUPDATE: Zines are not "nutty"UPDATE: Dave may have been wrong about Patreon's free

en

00:59:46

It's Friday — am I famous yet?

Comic Lab ·

2024/06/13

After six weeks of working on their comic, a listener asks how soon they can expect to make a living doing this — and gets an earful from Brad and Dave. Plus, Brad and Dave share more of their picks for Reuben Award nominees.In this episode, Brad and Dave discuss the importance of having realistic expectations and enjoying the creative process when making comics. They share their own experiences of how long it took them to see financial success and build an audience. They caution against starting a

en

01:09:57

They can't all be winners

Comic Lab ·

2024/06/06

How much of your work would you consider "top tier?" Fifty percent? Twenty percent? And speaking of the top tier, Brad and Dave share a partial list of people they think should be nominated for a Reuben Award this year.In this episode, Brad and Dave discuss the ratio of their work that they consider to be top-tier. They also talk about the benefits of posting comics panel by panel. Next, they share their lists of cartoonists who should be considered for the golden Reuben Award. They also touch on

en

01:02:23

Survivorship Bias

Comic Lab ·

2024/05/30

We've all heard successful creators complain that younger hopefuls "just don't want to do the hard work." They disregard the complicated nature of achieving their status and dismiss aspiring novices on the basis of one single factor. Survivorship bias is undoubtedly a result of flawed reasoning. ...But is it bad advice?Brad and Dave discuss survivorship bias in the creative community and its impact on success. They acknowledge that survivorship bias exists but argue that it is not the sole

en

01:01:16

Are we 'there' yet?

Comic Lab ·

2024/05/23

How did Brad and Dave know when they'd "made it"? ALSO: Now that you have a website with a blog... what do you write??Brad shares a heartwarming story about his dad's induction into the Michigan High School Bowling Hall of Fame. They discuss the concept of 'making it' as a cartoonist and the different definitions of success. They also address the challenges of rating one's comic in terms of age appropriateness and content warnings. In this part of the conversation, the hosts discuss how to handle

en

01:14:37

How much story is too much story?

Comic Lab ·

2024/05/16

How do you know when you're giving your readers too many details? — or not enough? Where's the sweet spot between action and exposition? We're going deep on storycraft this week! PLUS: Zines, gutters, and distribution!THIS WEEK'S SHOWHow much story to writeShould you be doing a zine?GuttersBordersDistributionYou get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon$2 —Early access to episodes$5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus

en

01:10:12

Social media is dead... now what?

Comic Lab ·

2024/05/09

Having completed their Kickstarters, Dave and Brad review the promotional outreach that delivered the biggest results and make a shocking discovery. Traditionally, social media platforms were the biggest drivers of Kickstarter pledges. But in 2024 they barely made the top ten. That raises an important question: If we can't rely on social media to deliver a Kickstarter pledge — and if it's increasingly difficult to build an audience there — why are we using it?ON TODAY'S SHOWKickstarter post

en

01:12:16

Building traffic vs building audience

Comic Lab ·

2024/05/02

Is it possible to build traffic for your comic without building an audience? Also, an anonymous post on Reddit accuses Webtoons of using a predatory contract. ON TODAY'S SHOWBuilding traffic vs. building an audienceUPDATE: SDCC PanelsUPDATE: Dave's 500 for 50Is the Webtoons contract "predatory?"You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon$2 —Early access to episodes$5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier

en

01:14:09

Special guest Dave Blazek

Comic Lab ·

2024/04/25

This week, we're talking to Dave Blazek, creator of "Loose Parts," a single-panel comic syndicated to more than 120 newspapers worldwide. Blazek is a three-time NCS Silver Reuben award winner and a danged delight. We'll discuss how he became an "accidental cartoonist" and his unique approach to writing humor. You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon$2 —Early access to episodes$5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus

en

01:18:28

Special Guest Jason Chatfield

Comic Lab ·

2024/04/18

New Yorker cartoonist Jason Chatfield joins us to talk about cartooning for the venerable mag, working with a writing partner, doing stand-up at Dangerfield's comedy club, helming the 104-year-old Ginger Meggs syndicated comic, and much, much more!ON TODAY'S SHOWJason Chatfield on SubstackChatfield on creative collaborationsDoing standup at Dangerfield'sChatfield on building subscriptions on SubstackIs There Something In This? podcastYou get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on

en

01:01:48

How to maximize creativity

Comic Lab ·

2024/04/11

We all have creative peaks and valleys. How can we maximize the good times and minimize the bad?ON TODAY'S SHOWCan you really maximize creativity?UPDATE: Dave's TikTok prediction may still come trueUPDATE: 3-part series on Kickstarter coming to Pro TipsFavorite comics from outside the USYou get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon$2 —Early access to episodes$5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.Brad

en

01:13:04

Rebranding

Comic Lab ·

2024/04/04

How important is rebranding after a series of unsuccessful ventures? Also, how does one get their comic translated into another language — and why?ON TODAY'S SHOWRebrandingTranslating a comicUPDATE: The importance of monthly Profit/Loss statementsUPDATE: Authors EquityPlanning for page turnsYou get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon$2 —Early access to episodes$5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier

en

01:06:05

How to find the perfect pen name

Comic Lab ·

2024/03/28

It's our most useful, actionable, practical show yet! Stufffed with handy tips and constructive advice for cartoonists and comic creators!ON TODAY'S SHOWPen namesUPDATE: Dave's Kickstarter at picklesbook.com UPDATE: Patreon Welcome surveysHonorifics, acronyms, and abbreviations in word balloons. You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon$2 —Early access to episodes$5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier

en

00:56:20

Stretching yourself thin

Comic Lab ·

2024/03/21

Dave has some thoughts on AI. And Brad hates to stretch. That's it. That's the show.ON TODAY'S SHOWArtificial Intelligence is going to force us to be more creativeHow important is it to rest?NOTE: The Kickstarter for Brad's new Evil Inc books ends this week! Time is running out!You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon$2 —Early access to episodes$5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.Brad Guigar is

en

00:59:46

Special Guest Scott Kurtz and "Tables Titans Club"

Comic Lab ·

2024/03/14

Scott Kurtz is on the show to talk about the release of his new book, "Table Titans Club." It's available at Target stores nationwide, along with Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and your local bookstore!ON TODAY'S SHOWReimagining the "Table Titans" webcomic as a middle-school graphic novelWorking with an editor for the first timePivoting from self-publishing to traditional publishingBook shows vs comic conventionsEarly accolades for the bookPersonal appearancesNOTE: The Kickstarter for Brad's new Evil Inc

en

01:00:52

Are you using the wrong tool for the job?

Comic Lab ·

2024/03/07

Kickstarter delivers on Discovery in a big way. So would it be wise to use it to replace our failing social media platforms?ON TODAY'S SHOWUsing Kickstarter as social media?UPDATE: NCS Reuben Awards 2024UPDATE: Dave has "Still Got it!"Posting a parody on Webtoon to gain notorietyNOTE: The Kickstarter campaign for Brad's new Evil Inc book is in full swing!You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon$2 —Early access to episodes$5 — Submit a question for possible use on the

en

01:09:16

Using animation to promote

Comic Lab ·

2024/02/29

TikTok and Instagram reels are moving to the forefront of social media. Is it time to learn video/animation so you can promote your webcomic?ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW...Using animation to promoteUPDATE: Short Story ChallengeUPDATE: Eisner deadlineUPDATE: AI ArtA digital-exclusive eComicYou get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon$2 —Early access to episodes$5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.Brad Guigar

en

00:55:41

Can you make a living in comics?

Comic Lab ·

2024/02/22

Every once in a while, someone asks if it's possible actually to make a living in comics. It's a fair question, and it deserves an honest answer.SPONSORED BY... ComicLab is brought to you this week by the book "How Comics Were Made, a Visual History from the Drawing Board to the Printed Page." Comics historian and ComicLab fan Glenn Fleishman has spent years researching the history of newspaper comic strip production and reproduction and is bringing his expertise to this printed work full of comics

en

01:07:04

Shopping for Success

Comic Lab ·

2024/02/15

A listener asks if they should write one big, successful comic or several mediocre ones. We have a bigger question: What makes you think you have a choice?! Also, it turns out the whole "Substack nazi" thing was yet another case of Platform Panic.SPONSORED BY... ComicLab is brought to you this week by the book "How Comics Were Made, a Visual History from the Drawing Board to the Printed Page." Comics historian and ComicLab fan Glenn Fleishman has spent years researching the history of newspaper

en

421 results

Similar Podcasts

Start The Breakthrough Full Audiobook Now, Thriller Fans!

thebookvoice.com

Get Hooked On The Life-Enhancing Full Audiobook Experience!

thebookvoice.com

西四五条

主播郑捕头

Podcast Patapoe

0d0a

On Mic Podcast

Jordan Rich