Comic Lab

Latest Episodes:

How do you do an empathy? Aug 06, 2020

Show notes

Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the incredible Wacom One! Brad and Dave talk about writing characters from outside your own personal experience. Empathy as a writing tool! Then, a listener says they're losing interest in their comic — can Dave and Brad help?

Questions asked and topics covered...

How do you write characters different from yourself?
Losing interest in your comic
Zines vs formatted-for-phone comics
Releasing the comic as an eBook before it appears on your site
Storytelling structure

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.

The 8-Pages Rule Jul 30, 2020

Show notes

Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the incredible Wacom One! This week, Brad and Dave recall a guideline for reader retention from the early days of webcomics that's a relevant today as it was then — the 8-Pages Rule.

Questions asked and topics covered...

The return (?) of Gary Larson
The 8-Pages Rule
How many panels should an average page have?
Removing the obstacles from drawing
Saving for retirement

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!

Creating your own Writers' Room Jul 23, 2020

Show notes

Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the incredible Wacom One! This week, a Patreon backer asks how they can build their own Writers' Room.

Questions asked and topics covered...

Building you own Writers' Room
Falling asleep at the drawing desk
The importance of writing
Calling it quits after ten years
Paypal micropayments

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 Terry Blas Jul 16, 2020

Show notes

Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the incredible Wacom One! This week, Dave and Brad welcome the incredible Terry Blas to the show!

Questions asked . . .

Do you two old guys EVER meet anyone NEW?

What is the best size for a webcomic?

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's in a name? Cartoonist, creator, comics artist...? Jul 09, 2020

Show notes

Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the incredible Wacom One! This week, Dave and Brad discuss what we should call ourselves — cartoonist, creator, comics artist, or what?

Questions asked and topics covered...

What do you call yourself?
How to write humor
How much transparency do you owe your readers?
How do you define success?

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 Gloria Calderón Kellett Jul 02, 2020

Show notes

Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the incredible Wacom One! This week, we're joined by writer/actor Gloria Calderón Kellett, co-showrunner of the critically-acclaimed "One Day at a Time." As the coronavirus crisis looms over TV and movie production, Brad thinks this is a great time to pitch your comic as an animated project. Gloria jumps in to talk about the process from her first-hand experience.

Special Offer

Join us at the $5 tier by July 4! When you do, you (along with all of the other $5 backers) will get an exclusive invite to the Cocktails with ComicLab Zoom meet-up! Plus... FOUR eBooks from the co-hosts...

How to Make Webcomics
The Webcomics Handbook
Evil Inc: Under New Management
Drive Act One

Questions asked and topics covered...

2020 Goals revisited
Why weren't there more "neo-comics" like Homestruck?
The importance of gutters

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!

2020 Goals Revisited Jun 25, 2020

Show notes

Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the incredible Wacom One! At the beginning of the year, Dave and Brad shared their goals for the year. But that was before the world was turned upside-down by the coronavirus pandemic. The guys discuss what has changed over six months.

Special Offer

How to Make Webcomics
The Webcomics Handbook
Evil Inc: Under New Management
Drive Act One

Questions asked and topics covered...

2020 Goals revisited
Why weren't there more "neo-comics" like Homestruck?
The importance of gutters

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 Scott Kurtz Jun 18, 2020

Show notes

Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the incredible Wacom One! This week, Dave and Brad welcome Scott Kurtz for a mini-reunion of Webcomics Weekly! Scott discusses his decision to reboot his comic PvP for the third time!

Special Offer

How to Make Webcomics
The Webcomics Handbook
Evil Inc: Under New Management
Drive Act One

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 Karla Pacheco Jun 11, 2020

Show notes

Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the incredible Wacom One! This week, Dave and Brad welcome the delightful Karla Pacheco, writer of Spider-Woman, Bettie Page and, of course, Inspector Pancakes.

Special Offer

How to Make Webcomics

The Webcomics Handbook

Evil Inc: Under New Management

Drive Act One

Questions asked and topics covered...

It's always the crowdfunding backers who pledge the least who complain the most

Weaponizing "Midwest Nice"

Handling negativity 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!

Is Art School Worth It? Jun 04, 2020

Show notes

Today's show is brought to you by Wacom — makers of the incredible Wacom One! This week, Dave and Brad ask — as art schools move towards virtual learning — is it worth the money?

Special Offer

Join us at the $5 tier by July 4! When you do, you (along with all of the other $5 backers) will get an exclusive invite to the Cocktails with ComicLab Zoom meet-up! Plus... FOUR eBooks from the co-hosts...

How to Make Webcomics
The Webcomics Handbook
Evil Inc: Under New Management
Drive Act One

Questions asked and topics covered...

As colleges and universities make the move to virtual learning, is art school worth the money?
Do originals with hand-lettering sell better?
How do you disconnect from technology?
Kind Words — How one member navigated a contract negotiation using ComicLab advice.

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