Comic Lab

Latest Episodes:

What's in a name? Dec 24, 2020

Show notes

Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the incredible Wacom One! This week, Brad and Dave talk about crafting names for the characters, places and objects in your comic.

Questions asked and topics covered...

Naming things
"Do you ever get the urge to draw something else?"
Squarespace adds an exclusive-content tier
The difficulties in writing stories from personal experience
Sci-fi writer Samuel Delany's advice on re-doing old work

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
$10 — Record an audio question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast
$50 — Sponsor the show! We’ll read a brief promo for your comic/product and read it twice during the show AND you get the exclusive ProTips podcast

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the editor of Webcomics.com Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Listen to ComicLab on...

ComicLab is hosted on Simplecast, helping podcasters since 2013. with industry-leading publishing, distribution, and sharing tools.

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.

If you'd like a one-on-one consultation about your comic, book it now!

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. He is available for personal consultations. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive. He is the co-director of the comics documentary, Stripped.

Beginner's Guide: How to Start Your Own Webcomic Dec 17, 2020

Show notes

Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the incredible Wacom One! This week, Brad and Dave devote the entire show to one topic — Getting started. They have ten suggestions for anyone who wants to start publishing their own comic on the Web.

Getting Started...

Starting with the Right Attitude
Don't Wait for the Right Time
Update schedule: Consistent, Frequent, Significant
Using Social Media Wisely
Advertising
Merchandising
Prepare for Success
Stop Obsessing over Your Stats
Learn Lettering
Love It

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
$10 — Record an audio question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast
$50 — Sponsor the show! We’ll read a brief promo for your comic/product and read it twice during the show AND you get the exclusive ProTips podcast

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the editor of Webcomics.com Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Listen to ComicLab on...

ComicLab is hosted on Simplecast, helping podcasters since 2013. with industry-leading publishing, distribution, and sharing tools.

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.

If you'd like a one-on-one consultation about your comic, book it now!

And That's Why I Self-Publish Dec 10, 2020

Show notes

Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the incredible Wacom One! This week, Brad inaugurates a new segment called "And That's Why I Self-Publish!" Next: A site that scraped exclusive Patreon content bites the dust, and we learn from the experience.

Questions asked and topics covered...

And That's Why I Self-Publish
Patreon content-scraper folds
When to make s Patreon post public
Repetitive tasks

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
$10 — Record an audio question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast
$50 — Sponsor the show! We’ll read a brief promo for your comic/product and read it twice during the show AND you get the exclusive ProTips podcast

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the editor of Webcomics.com Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Listen to ComicLab on...

ComicLab is hosted on Simplecast, helping podcasters since 2013. with industry-leading publishing, distribution, and sharing tools.

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.

If you'd like a one-on-one consultation about your comic, book it now!

Blessings in disguise Dec 03, 2020

Show notes

Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the incredible Wacom One! This week, the guys talk about blessings in disguise — moments when they didn't achieve a goal they greatly desired... and later found out that succeeding would have made their lives worse.

Questions asked and topics covered...

What thing did you really really want for your career, that didn’t happen...that only NOW do you see is a godsend that it didn’t happen?
Stuck on the first C of social media — Content
Backgrounds — when to draw 'em. when to drop 'em, and how much detail to put into 'em
"My humor-based, storyline-driven comic is getting too serious! Help!"

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
$10 — Record an audio question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast
$50 — Sponsor the show! We’ll read a brief promo for your comic/product and read it twice during the show AND you get the exclusive ProTips podcast

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the editor of Webcomics.com Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Listen to ComicLab on...

ComicLab is hosted on Simplecast, helping podcasters since 2013. with industry-leading publishing, distribution, and sharing tools.

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.

If you'd like a one-on-one consultation about your comic, book it now!

Writing Comedy: Do You Choose the Dark Side or the Light Side? Nov 26, 2020

Show notes

Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the incredible Wacom One! This week, a ComicLab listener asks if it's better to write from anger or from love. Also: Is January a bad time to launch a new webcomic?

Questions asked and topics covered...

Which do you find more effective as a writer — comedy born from anger at something or comedy born from affection?
Is January a bad time to launch a new webcomic?
Finding a running gag
Coping with "bad hands"
Beginners should place less focus on social media
Brexit will drastically change how you do international shipping starting January 1.

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
$10 — Record an audio question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast
$50 — Sponsor the show! We’ll read a brief promo for your comic/product and read it twice during the show AND you get the exclusive ProTips podcast

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the editor of Webcomics.com Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Listen to ComicLab on...

ComicLab is hosted on Simplecast, helping podcasters since 2013. with industry-leading publishing, distribution, and sharing tools.

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.

If you'd like a one-on-one consultation about your comic, book it now!

What does it mean to be a "cartoonist" in today's world? Nov 19, 2020

Show notes

Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the incredible Wacom One! This week, a ComicLab listener writes in to inform Dave and Brad that neither of them "actually have a cartoonist's job." To put it lightly, the guys disagree.

But first, Brad creates a socially distant candy chute for Halloween --

Questions asked and topics covered...

Dave delivers a Zoom lecture to art students
What does it take to be considered a "cartoonist" in today's world?
Should the drawing match the writing?
A Clip Studio Paint boot camp in the ComicLab Discord sever
"I hate Kickstarter extras!"
Grad school or comics?
"I think I quit my day job too soon."

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
$10 — Record an audio question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast
$50 — Sponsor the show! We’ll read a brief promo for your comic/product and read it twice during the show AND you get the exclusive ProTips podcast

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the editor of Webcomics.com Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Listen to ComicLab on...

ComicLab is hosted on Simplecast, helping podcasters since 2013. with industry-leading publishing, distribution, and sharing tools.

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.

If you'd like a one-on-one consultation about your comic, book it now!

How to build an audience on social media Nov 12, 2020

Show notes

Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the incredible Wacom One! This week, a ComicLab listener who is just starting out in comics asks how they can build an audience on social media. Also: how do you cover the second print run after you sell out of the copies from the first run?

Questions asked and topics covered...

How can a beginner build a following on social media
Dave compliment's Brad on developing a secondary drawing style
Celebrity vs Fame — which is more likely for cartoonists?
Funding the second book run
Which mainstream comics do Dave and Brad read?

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
$10 — Record an audio question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast
$50 — Sponsor the show! We’ll read a brief promo for your comic/product and read it twice during the show AND you get the exclusive ProTips podcast

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the editor of Webcomics.com Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Listen to ComicLab on...

ComicLab is hosted on Simplecast, helping podcasters since 2013. with industry-leading publishing, distribution, and sharing tools.

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.

If you'd like a one-on-one consultation about your comic, book it now!

Is it OK to use photo reference? Nov 05, 2020

Show notes

Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the incredible Wacom One! This week, a ComicLab listener asks for the story behind Brad and Dave's friendship. Then the guys discuss whether it's OK to use photo reference.

Questions asked and topics covered...

What is the history of Brad and Dave's friendship?
Is photo reference cheating?
How do you manage multiple projects?
How should you acknowledge a "big-name" follow on social media?

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
$10 — Record an audio question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast
$50 — Sponsor the show! We’ll read a brief promo for your comic/product and read it twice during the show AND you get the exclusive ProTips podcast

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the editor of Webcomics.com Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Listen to ComicLab on...

ComicLab is hosted on Simplecast, helping podcasters since 2013. with industry-leading publishing, distribution, and sharing tools.

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.

If you'd like a one-on-one consultation about your comic, book it now!

How to be a good mentor Oct 29, 2020

Show notes

Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the incredible Wacom One! This week, a ComicLab listener asks Brad and Dave about their philosophies on mentoring and coaching other cartoonists. And another listener asks if Brad's advice makes it harder to succeed.

Questions asked and topics covered...

How to be a good mentor and coach
Does Brad's advice make it harder to succeed?
Is it possible to be TOO nice?
Should a beginner spend time on social media?

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
$10 — Record an audio question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast
$50 — Sponsor the show! We’ll read a brief promo for your comic/product and read it twice during the show AND you get the exclusive ProTips podcast

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the editor of Webcomics.com Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Listen to ComicLab on...

ComicLab is hosted on Simplecast, helping podcasters since 2013. with industry-leading publishing, distribution, and sharing tools.

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.

If you'd like a one-on-one consultation about your comic, book it now!

Special Guest Keith Knight Oct 22, 2020

Show notes

Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the incredible Wacom One! This week, we're thrilled to welcome our friend Keith Knight to the 'Lab. Keith's new TV series, based on his comics, is premiering on Hulu right now. We talk about "Woke," Keith's journey in comics, and the creative process of adapting comics for television.

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
$10 — Record an audio question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast
$50 — Sponsor the show! We’ll read a brief promo for your comic/product and read it twice during the show AND you get the exclusive ProTips podcast

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the editor of Webcomics.com Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Listen to ComicLab on...

ComicLab is hosted on Simplecast, helping podcasters since 2013. with industry-leading publishing, distribution, and sharing tools.

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon