Arts
**Comic Lab**

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)

Latest Episodes:

Special Guest Dylan Meconis — How to Color Comics with Physical Media Feb 26, 2026

Show notes

This week, we welcome the brilliant Dylan Meconis, creator of Queen of the Sea and Bite Me.

Here’s what we cover:

How most colorists actually break in (hint: it’s not by “murdering another colorist in single combat” — though that was discussed)
What “flatting” is — and why it’s often your first step into paid coloring work
Why networking is really just “being friends with cartoonists”
Portfolio strategy: Why saying “I do everything” is less effective than saying “I do this brilliantly”
Analog coloring techniques — watercolor paper, oil-based pencils, and why certain materials go extinct at the worst possible moment
The realities of scanning physical art (and why scanners are basically cameras on an arm)
How to handle black plates, rich black, and avoiding fuzzy type in print
If you’ve ever wondered whether coloring could be an income stream for you — or how to level up your current process — this episode is a masterclass.

Products and Programs mentioned on the show

Note: Some of the links are affiliate links

WildCraft Studio is in Portland, Oregon.
PITT monochrome oil pencils by Faber-Castell
Watercolor paints, Daniel Smith brand
Watercolor paper (cold press) by Arches
White watercolor paper, Dick Blick house brand
Epson scanner, Perfection series
Epson scanner, Workforce series
Colored pencils, Caran d'Ache

Summary

In this engaging conversation, the hosts welcome cartoonist Dylan Meconis to explore various topics including coloring techniques, the integration of digital and traditional media, and the importance of choosing the right materials for comic creation. Dylan shares insights into her unique artistic process, the challenges of color printing, and the significance of lettering in comics. The discussion also highlights the value of collaboration and the joy of discovering new art supplies.

Takeaways

Dylan Meconis emphasizes the importance of using various mediums in art.
The process of creating 'Queen of the Sea' involved unique coloring techniques.
Dylan's artistic process includes both traditional and digital methods.
Choosing the right materials can significantly impact the final artwork.
Scanners play a crucial role in capturing traditional art for digital use.
Lettering is an essential aspect of comic creation that requires careful consideration.
Collaboration with other artists can enhance the creative process.
Experimenting with different art supplies can lead to unexpected discoveries.
Understanding color printing challenges is vital for comic artists.
Dylan's approach to art is influenced by her background and experiences.

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.

Comics Will Break Your Heart (And So Will Dating) Feb 19, 2026

Show notes

A listener writes in after a breakup, worried they’ve lost their creative spark for good. Brad and Dave unpack the emotional toll of heartbreak, why creative paralysis is normal, and how time, grief, and self-reflection can ultimately deepen your storytelling. Also: Dave is quitting Amazon Advantage, and he shares why he made that startling decision.

Today's Show

Comics Will Break Your Heart (and so will dating)
Dave Kellett's "Double Dog Dare" book
Amazon Advantage
Imposter Syndrome and mental health

Takeaways

It's normal to feel creatively blocked after a heartbreak.
Finding joy in solitude can help with creativity.
Time is essential for healing after a breakup.
Navigating international shipping can be complex and frustrating.
Mental health is crucial for creative individuals.
Imposter syndrome can hinder the creative process.
Seeking professional help is important for mental health issues.
Weather can significantly affect mood and creativity.
Sharing experiences can help others feel less alone.
Listener feedback can provide valuable insights for improvement.

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!

Nothing to Fear but Fear Itself. And Kickstarter Scams Feb 12, 2026

Show notes

The Mel Brooks documentary, "The 99-Year-Old Man!" holds a lot of wisdom for cartoonists. Speaking of wisdom, it doesn't take much to avoid these common Kickstarter scams.

Today's Show

What can cartoonists learn from Mel Brooks?
Kickstarter

Summary

In this episode of ComicLab, cartoonists Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett discuss the challenges and joys of creativity, drawing inspiration from Mel Brooks' documentary. They explore themes of fear, kindness, and the importance of perseverance in artistic careers. The conversation also touches on the realities of navigating Kickstarter campaigns, including the rise of scams targeting creators. Throughout, the hosts emphasize the power of laughter and the need for support in the creative community.

Takeaways

Fear is a recurring theme in creativity.
The fear of not trying is greater than the fear of failure.
Kindness can have a profound impact on artists.
Perseverance doesn't mean sticking to what's not working.
You can reinvent yourself as an artist at any stage.
Kickstarter scams are on the rise; be cautious.
Laughter is a powerful tool for change.
Support from friends is crucial in creative journeys.
It's important to recognize the struggles behind success.
Creativity often requires stepping out of comfort zones.

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!

The Readership of Theseus Feb 05, 2026

Show notes

Cartoonists Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett dig into the many ways we react to humor — from full-on belly laughs to the silent internal “that was good” response. After that the way, they tackle some big (and surprisingly relatable) topics:

Are they actually going to use Patreon Quips?
Dave’s Bad 2025 — what went wrong, what he learned, and why it matters
Why you never stop building an audience, even when things feel “established”
And yes… being scared of Reddit comments is universal!

Summary

In this episode of Comic Lab, hosts Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar dive into the nature of humor in comics, prompted by a listener's question about whether funny comics truly elicit laughter or if they are simply enjoyable. Brad and Dave explore the subjective nature of humor, sharing their own experiences with laughter and recognition of craft in comedy. Next, they delve into the ongoing journey of building and maintaining an audience in the ever-evolving landscape of comics. They emphasize that there is no such thing as a 'built audience.' Audience engagement is a continuous process that requires constant effort and adaptation. Drawing on the metaphor of the Ship of Theseus, they discuss how creators must regularly replace and update their strategies to keep their audience engaged, acknowledging that audience members may leave for various reasons, including life changes or simply forgetting about the content.

The conversation also touches on the emotional toll of negative feedback, particularly on platforms like Reddit, where creators often face harsh criticism. Brad and Dave share personal anecdotes about dealing with trolls and the importance of focusing on the positive aspects of audience engagement. They conclude by reinforcing the idea that the creative journey is ongoing, and that every creator must continually learn and adapt to thrive in the industry.

Takeaways

"Not every year is going to be gangbusters."
There's no such thing as a built audience; you're always in building mode.
Audience engagement is like the Ship of Theseus; it's constantly changing.
You should aim to gain 2-6% new audience every month to replace those who leave.
Negative comments often come from unhappy individuals; don't take them personally.
Every creator must continually learn and adapt to thrive in the industry.

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!

Five Lessons from a Publisher in Crisis Jan 29, 2026

Show notes

An online publisher has become the center of some genuinely alarming stories. Brad and Dave break down five hard lessons comic creators can learn when a publisher shows signs of instability, mismanagement, or collapse.

Today's Show

Five Lessons from a Publisher in Crisis
Submitting your work for awards

Summary

Cartoonists Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett explore the importance of owning and controlling one's career in the comic industry. They discuss the need for business acumen among cartoonists and the risks of signing contracts. The conversation emphasizes the value of learning from mistakes in self-publishing, the power of transparency among creators, and the benefits of submitting work for awards. Ultimately, they stress that the goal is not independence at all costs, but informed consent in business relationships.

Takeaways

There is a percentage of humans who can close their nostrils underwater.
Cartoonists must be prepared to be business people.
Your best defense is often not signing a contract.
Mistakes in self-publishing are manageable and teach valuable lessons.
Transparency among creators is crucial for success.
Experience changes the power dynamic in negotiations.
Submitting for awards can provide valuable insights into your work.
Reviewing your work helps improve your editorial and aesthetic eye.
Self-publishing allows for greater control over your career.
Imposter syndrome should not prevent you from submitting your 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. Plus $2-tier rewards.

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

Should you judge a book by its cover? Jan 22, 2026

Show notes

A listener asks: "Should you judge a book by its cover?" Cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar say... YES! Next, a cartoonist who is too embarrassed to promote his own work gets some encouragement and words of advice from the veteran comic creators.

TODAY'S SHOW

Should you judge a book by its cover?
Too embarrassed to promote

Takeaways

A book's cover plays a significant role in its marketability.
It's important to design a cover that reflects the content of the comic.
Promoting comics can be challenging, especially in unexpected social situations.
Introverts can find it difficult to promote their work in person.
Having a decoy website can help ease the promotion process.
It's okay to feel uncomfortable discussing your work with strangers.
Using humor can help deflect awkward conversations about your work.
Online promotion can be more effective than in-person promotion.

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 Start a Webcomic in 2026 Jan 15, 2026

Show notes

Starting a webcomic in 2026 isn’t about chasing algorithms or copying what’s popular — it’s about building something sustainable, creative, and yours. In this episode, Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett break down what new cartoonists actually need to focus on in their first years: writing first, consistency over hype, owning your work, and building an audience the right way.

You’ll learn why you don’t need Webtoon or Tapas, why monetizing too early can derail your career, how social media really fits into comics growth today, and why a website and mailing list are non-negotiable. This is a marathon mindset episode for creators who want to do comics for the long haul — and do them for love.

Getting off on the Right Foot

Don’t try to “game” your readership. Write about what YOU like. Readers are drawn to a creator’s passion. It doesn’t work the other way around.
Building readership takes time and consistency. Creating for love is essential in the early years.
Focus on writing as the core of comic creation. They’re called comics readers, not comics lookers. It’s all about the writing.
Focus on creating comics for the love of the craft. The first comics may only be seen by you; embrace the process.
Mistakes in the early stages are recoverable. Stop fretting over them.
Common copyright fears and how to approach them
Own and control your work

Building an audience

You do NOT need to be on Webtoon/Tapas. Look at the comics on the front pages of those sites? Does your comic look like those? Is your content similar? If not, you’re not going to fare well there. It’s pretty obvious.
Social media presence is still important for comic creators. Today, we recommend Bluesky and Reddit. ComicLab has Collections that provide solid social-media strategies. They’re free to members and available at a one-time fee for others.
Be active on social media to build your audience. Follow the Four Cs — Creation, Curation, Commercial, and Kindness
How many updates? FCS — Frequent / Consistent / Significant — there are no magic numbers.
Start building your mailing list NOW with a newsletter. This will be increasingly important when you turn to monetization in a few years. You should send every comic out in a newsletter post and you should also post a weekly newsletter of no longer than 500 words per update with BTS content (to the extent you’re comfortable sharing).
You need a website. This is not old or outdated — it’s incredibly powerful, and you need to start planning for one now… even if it’s a very bare-bones site. This is a non-negotiable.
Consider The 2-2-1 Rule: Two social media platforms, two newsletters (including a free-membership tier on Patreon), one website. Then, use these together to funnel traffic inward towards the website. Later, when you’ve launched monetization, the funnel will direct towards that.
Don't listen to your reader; listen to your readers
Don’t mistake social media followers for income.

Monetization

DON’T START MONETIZING IN YOUR FIRST YEAR. Maybe not even the second. Everything you need to know about crowdfunding is in the name. First comes the crowd, THEN comes the funding. In the first few years, you need to focus on building that crowd. The only thing worse than having no Patreon backers is having ONE Patreon backer. Hundreds of new comic creators have become derailed by focusing on monetization too soon.
Comic Cons: We don’t recommend them. They don’t build audience. They don’t have great sales unless you have a lot of merch that *does well as in-person merch* (there’s a difference!). And it’s very hard to make profit unless you can religiously control costs. If you’re making merch to go to the show, you’re doing this all wrong. Psychologically, a lot of folks like to “play” professional cartoonist by exhitibiting.
Accepted into show start making stuff to sell.
Start planning now for print — hi-res (400+ dpi), bigger than final size, cmyk, maintain layers, etc. Save in the native software.

Marathon thinking

Persistence is key; it's a marathon, not a sprint. If you need a schedule to post regularly, set a schedule and stick to it.
Develop your aesthetic by studying good comics.
Seek honest feedback to improve your work.
Reach out to other comics creators who are doing stuff that’s similar to yours and build networks.

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!

Why don't you do MORE?!? Jan 08, 2026

Show notes

What does it really mean when someone looks at your career and says, “You should be doing more”?

In this episode of ComicLab, Brad and Dave respond to a pointed listener question that cuts straight to the bone: If they have the skills, the experience, and the ideas — why haven’t they launched even more projects? The answer isn’t defensive or dismissive. Instead, it becomes a clear-eyed breakdown of creative bandwidth, sustainability, work-life balance, and the invisible labor that propels up a long-term comics career. From Patreon and newsletters to storefronts, commissions, podcasts, and family responsibilities, they unpack why “doing enough” is often misunderstood from the outside — and why restraint can be a strategic choice, not a lack of ambition.

The conversation then pivots to one of the trickiest problems any humor writer faces: How to judge your own work when readers don’t get the joke. How many confused comments are just statistical noise—and when do they signal a real problem in execution? Brad and Dave dig into the uncomfortable middle ground between ego and humility, exploring how to listen to feedback without letting it derail your voice, and how to improve clarity without sanding off what makes your work distinctive. It’s a nuanced, experience-earned discussion about ramps, chasms, audience expectations, and why “it happens to everyone” is not an excuse — but also not a death sentence.

If you’ve ever felt pressure to produce more, or struggled to decide whether reader confusion is a warning sign or just the cost of taking creative risks, this episode offers hard-earned perspective from two cartoonists who’ve been navigating those exact questions for decades.

Takeaways

Creative projects often take a backseat due to time constraints.
Cartoonists manage a heavy workload that includes multiple projects.
Balancing creativity with administrative tasks is crucial for success.
Feedback from readers can help improve comic writing.
Self-editing is a continuous process for comic creators.
Reader confusion can indicate a need for better communication in comics.
Communication is key in the artistic process.

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!

Predictions and Goals for 2026 Jan 01, 2026

Show notes

Cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar make their predictions for 2026 and share their goals for the new year. Also — they offer their annual reminder to shop the Comicraft New Year's Day sale on January 1st.

Brad's Predictions

Syndicated comics reach the tipping point
Creator identity becomes prominent
Substack pulls through
Webtoon bubble bursts
Patreon expands “community” and “discovery” tools.
AI gains acceptance

Dave's predictions

If you want a stable career in comics, produce Dog Man.
NCS will continue to grow its membership to numbers it hasn’t seen in decades.
If Funko Pop indeed goes bankrupt — and that’s still a big if — there might be SDCC space available for the first time in years.
I’m predicting a good-sized market correction in the second part of the year.

Brad's Goals

Shifting from survive to thrive.
This will be a two-Kickstarter year.
Spice Rack was a moderate success. Uncensored Artists is the next step
Repackaging, re-releasing, and rebranding my archives for a new and evolving audience.
20% email list growth on the Evil Inc Substack and the free-membership tier on Patreon.
Start doing monthly assessments so I can improve my annual assessments.

Dave's Goals

Kickstart one new book, “Double Dog Dare”
Exhibit at WorldCon in LA for the first time in a decade.
Successfully navigate the first of the last four years of DRIVE.
Get more “Tales of the Drive” in the works.

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!

2025 in Review — Predictions and Goals Dec 25, 2025

Show notes

At the beginning of the year, cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar made their predictions for the coming year — and set goals for themselves. Now, as the year comes to a close, it's the brutally honest follow-up episode where they grade themselves — and sometimes discover that Past-Brad and Past-Dave were wildly optimistic. Or deluded. Or both.

2025 PREDICTIONS

DAVE: Business planning for cartoonists is gonna be filled with a lot of anxiety. Trump will be a chaos agent.
BRAD: the “winners” of 2025 will be the cartoonists and businesses that help people *deal* with anxiety.
DAVE: Bluesky will be at 50M users by the end of the year (we were at 23M when he made that prediction)
BRAD: Substack: will gain in prominence. They’re going to have a user base in the same league as Patreon, Kickstarter, or Twitter.
DAVE: “We will all be playing reactionary, whack-a-mole with our life decisions in the first two years of the Trump administration.”
BRAD: AI will start to gain a foothold among writers and artists, as an assistant to their writing or their process or their brainstorming. Dave concurred.
DAVE: Pickstarter and Patreon will continue as market leaders in the next 12 months. (Brad: I concur, provided Patreon doesn’t issue their IPO).
BRAD: You’re gonna see publishing take a huge contraction. From Random House to the Guigar House, you’ll see it all shrink, due to tariffs. (Note: We didn’t know about the tariff exception to printed matter.) Dave: Agree! My hidden hope is for incompetence.
DAVE: YA and kids books will continue to dominate cartoonists who have *gone to publishers*.
DAVE: Webtoons *might* begin to fall apart in the US market. This was more of a “curious” prediction than an “I feel strongly about this” prediction.
DAVE: I’m gonna have to raise prices or lower features in my books.

2025 GOALS

BRAD: My big goal is to “just survive” in 2025. It would almost be counterproductive for me to make goals. It’s like writing my goals in the sand at the shoreline.
DAVE: I also wrote down “survive”!
DAVE: run ANATOMY OF DOGS Kickstarter.
BRAD: Kickstarter in the first part of the year…but "I don’t know what it’s gonna be”. Worried about the risk of a NSFW book under Project 2025
DAVE: gonna triple-down on Bluesky for the next 1-3 years. Gonna focus on it and build it out. Brad co-signs.
BRAD: will use and pay for Buffer.com
DAVE: wrongwayshow.com will launch as a project, after a year of planning. It launching is the goal. We did it!
BRAD: build Spice Rack into an example of what loose collectives can do, and what they can bring to our businesses.
DAVE: If I get burned on this first book KS in 2025, I will switch to smaller Quickstarters that are more nimble and more financially manageable.
BRAD: Dave says he’s pulling back from KDP. Brad will lean in on KDP.
DAVE: second half of 2025: launch on Substack?
DAVE: focus on the things that I can control in 2025. Focus on my health, my family, my creativity…and not let them steal my joy, and outlive the fuckers.
BRAD: show up every week and record ComicLab.

HUION

Our multi-week partnership with Huion is nearing the finish line. Huge thanks to them for supporting the show. If you’ve been thinking about upgrading your tablet or dipping your toes into digital art hardware, now’s a great time to check out their lineup.

Huion is sponsoring today's show, and they're offering additional discounts on the following products when you use the discount code: COMICLAB

Kamvas 22 Plus — A luxurious large-screen, high-resolution digital pen display with an etched glass surface that simulates the texture of paper while it protects your eyes from harmful glare.

Kamvas 13 (Gen 3) — With a large 13.3-inch screen and an FHD (1920X1080) resolution, this model ensuring seamless collaboration with your laptop. The durable back cover also offers superior protection while ensuring interface stability.

Huion Note — You found your new on-the-go brainstorming tool. With writing synchronizing, offline storage, document management, one-click PDF sharing, and portable A5 size, Huion Note will redefine what a new generation of notebooks can do.

TAKEAWAYS

The hosts reflect on their goals for 2025 and the importance of survival in the creative industry.
Anxiety has been a significant factor in business planning for cartoonists this year.
Dog humor has provided a universal joy amidst the chaos of the world.
AI tools are becoming more accepted in creative processes, even if not openly discussed.
Substack is rapidly growing and may surpass Patreon in user numbers.
Competition among platforms like Substack and Patreon is beneficial for creators.
The publishing industry may have experienced a contraction, but anecdotal evidence suggests a strong demand for printing services. Tariffs impacted smaller publishers more than larger ones.
Young adult graphic novels are a strong market for cartoonists.
Webtoons' business model may face challenges in the US market.
Creators should prioritize owning their careers for long-term success.
Sponsorships can provide valuable tools for creators.
Setting realistic goals can lead to unexpected successes.
Social media scheduling tools can enhance productivity.
Collaborative projects can be rewarding but require careful planning.
Evaluating different publishing platforms is crucial for profitability.
Moral dilemmas in business are complex and often unavoidable.

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