Comic Lab

Latest Episodes:

The menace of Arrival Fallacy Jun 27, 2019

Show notes

Webcomics pros Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are talking comics! In this episode, they talk about Arrival Fallacy, and how it lures creators into a treadmill of despair! THEN a Patreon backer asks how Brad "NSFW" Guigar could possibly be disturbed by Public Displays of Affection! FINALLY, they discuss the Shonen Jump approach — could it work for webcomics?

BUT FIRST, Brad's son points out that two of his father's popular aphorisms are in direct conflict with one another!

SHOW NOTES

"You can't choose what you're good at" vs "No such thing as talent"
Arrival Fallacy
Public displays of affection
Shonen Jump

Great rewards when you support ComicLab

$2 — Support the show
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$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.

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.

Choosing a title for your comic Jun 20, 2019

Show notes

What's in a name? A lot -- as Dave can tell you. He shares the troubles he experienced by naming his strip after a character who has since faded into the background. Also in today's show...

Ziggy
Zippy
Should you re-draw old comics?
How should you introduce a new style to your readership?
Do splash pages work on the Web?
The guilt of not creating

Great rewards when you support ComicLab

$2 — support the show
$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.

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!

LIVE! from NCSFest Jun 13, 2019

Show notes

LIVE! (on tape) from Huntington Beach, it's a special episode of ComicLab recorded during NCSFest. Brad and Dave talk about webcomics publishing becoming more centralized — and much more!

04:55 — Webcomics publishing started as centralized, become de-centralized, and is getting centralized again
08:13 — "Vanity Press is the new Publishing, and Publishing is the new Vanity Press" — Jake Parker
20:00 — Optimism over the future of comics
30:47 — Working with assistants
34:50 — Getting the vapors
36:30 — Dave loves to draw backgrounds (Brad doesn't)
41:00 — When you forget how to draw
44:40 — Question from the audience: Do we consider our non-cartoonist listeners?
49:11 — Working in Dave's studio
54:19 — Question from the audience: Do we plan for continuing education to expand our knowledge?

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!

Live from Dave's living room Jun 06, 2019

Show notes

With Brad visiting Dave in Los Angeles to attend NCSFest, the guys take the opportunity to record a rare show originating from the same ZIP code. The guys talk about how webcomics — which started in centralized cells like Keenspot — has come full circle, and is becoming more centralized again. Next, Dave talks about what her learned from his recent Kickstarter campaign. Finally, the guys take from questions from $5 Patreon backers including:
Should a first-time Kickstarter campaign focus only on hardcover books?
Should you make decisions based on practicality — or on joy?
How far ahead do you plot your stories?
Patreon backers can see video of the recording session here!

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 David Malki shares his writing process May 30, 2019

Show notes

David Malki, of Wondermark fame, joins us for an in-depth discussion of writing and all things 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. Plus $2-tier rewards.

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

Would you still do a comic — even if nobody ever read it? May 22, 2019

Show notes

This week on ComicLab, Brad and Dave discuss...

When doing a Kickstarter for a product that hasn't been started yet, what should the visuals be?
Would you still do a comic — even if nobody was reading it?
Longform story advice
The best posting schedule
Leveraging readers from your old project to your new one.
But first, Dave discover's Brad's first comic strip. "Googar."

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!

Dave Kellett's review of Alaska Robotics' Comics Camp May 15, 2019

Show notes

Dave Kellett attended Comics Camp, an event hosted by Alaska Robotics, and he's back — filled to the brim with joy and enthusiasm — from this annual retreat/comic convention. You can get on an e-mailing list for [next year's event here](http://). He shares stories from the week, including:

Ursaphobic Stan Lee
Classes taught by fellow cartoonists
The importance of play in revitalizing an adult's creativity
Anonymously sharing income sources
Dissatisfaction and Imposter Syndrome occur at all levels of success
Dave Malki, Scott C., and Dave Kellett... out-of-sync snoring
"You're kinda like a Comics Dad!"
Re-evaluating happiness after bring offline for four days.
New projects launched that weekend.

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 Chris Hallbeck talks Instagram May 08, 2019

Show notes

This week, Chris Hallbeck joins us to talk Instagram strategy. He was one of the first cartoonists to see the potential in the social media platform, and his comics Maximumble and Pepple & Wren are pure delights.

BUT FIRST, Brad shares the story of how much it hurt when he fell out of heaven.

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 Jake Parker talks publishing contracts and comic cons May 01, 2019

Show notes

Cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are talking shop! The guys welcome Mr. Inktober himself — Jake Parker. Jake talks about why he recently turned down a publishing contract... at the considerable risk of being labeled an "artisanal success." THEN, they go into publishing with a company verse self publishing. NEXT the guys share their thoughts on going to conventions. AFTER THAT, Jake Parker shares his plans for Patreon.

BUT FIRST, Brad becomes angered over his son's forgetfulness, only to find the shoe's on the other foot.

Or, rather, it isn't.

Join us for sophomoric fun!

Show notes
• 00:00 — One cleat and one dress shoe
• 07:39 — Jake Parker - Art Drop Club
• 16:58 — Jake Parker - Publishing
• 45:16 — Jake Parker - Con going
• 58:34 — Jake Parker - Patreon

Support ComicLab at patreon.com/comiclab

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!

Designing an effective cover Apr 24, 2019

Show notes

Cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are talking shop! Dave talks about his new Kickstarter for Sheldon!

We hear about need-to-know features when it comes to the cover design of your graphic novel. FOLLOWING this, Brad and Dave go into their thoughts about buying ads as a way to boost interest in your work.

BUT FIRST, the guys bust their guts over birds, squirrels, and Brad’s Honeymoon.

Show notes