Comics Are Hard

[doronjosama]

I have an enormous amount of respect for Dan Vado, the prez of Slave Labor Graphics. His most recent interview just increases my respect for him, because he speaks the truth. Go, look, this should be required reading for anyone wanting to work in comics in any capacity.

I fear most people won't pay attention to what Dan is saying in his interview, though he's dead on about everything. Far too many people are only interested in getting into the comics industry because they (mistakenly) believe it's some kind of fast-track to fame and fortune and lucrative movie, cartoon and toy option license deals. It is most definitely NOT. Make the comics because you love them and are compelled to tell your stories. Anything that comes of that is purely a bonus.

Speaking of comics, I need to get back to work. Two books to go in on Monday morning, first thing in the A.M. What is this "weekend" you people speak of?

Comments

[neodragonstar.livejournal.com]

Without clicking the link I agree. superhappy once said that you should only try to make a living drawing comics if you have an insane compulsion to do so, and I wholeheartedly agree.

This of course makes earning my bachelor's degree a real pain, because it prevents me from satisfying my insane compulsions. O_o

[newwavezombie.livejournal.com]

People think I'm crazy when I tell them that the first five times. You *have* to love doing it. The sad part is when you realize you really MUST be brain damaged for choosing it as a career, but you go on doing it anyway.

[matthigh.livejournal.com]

I am keeping a very close eye on how Slave Labor's downloadable comics experiment is going -- it looks like it could work. While downloadable comics will never replace physical comic books, they can add a nice little bit of extra money for virtually zero additional work. I like how Slave Labor is pricing their downloads stupid-cheap (like 69 cents for a comic, two bucks for a graphic novel), and blasting out a huge chunk of their back catalog this way. I'm keenly interested in copying this idea, and really running with it full bore.

Also, Slave Labor has always been cast under the shadow of Johnny the Homicidal Maniac. Sure, Johnny and Lenore represent something like 90%-or-so of their revenue, but there's still plenty of lesser-known SLG books worth checking out. I absolutely adore Serenity Rose, and wish there were more. I'm also warming up to the manga-styled Next Exit, and the action-librarian Rex Libris. Also, I think Sonny Liew (on Wonderland, and the aborted Malinky Robot) is an underappreciated artist.

[beelzebozo.livejournal.com]

Weekend? Oh, that's when my wife is in the store to help :P

[dhstein.livejournal.com]

interesting article. thanks for pointing it out. Thinking of you recently - art wise....

[crowhen.livejournal.com]

Ahhhh... Slave Labor. I was so hoping they would have a table at SPX. I was going to get up my nerve to approach them. But, they weren't there "officially," and I couldn't tell who was who. My many years of stalking and coveting, and my first opportunity to ply them with my wares comes to naught. Le sigh.

I never expected to get rich in comics. It'd be nice if I could make a living, though.

[lothos.livejournal.com]

Amen.

Yeah, I need to get back to work myself... try to get something done before the Nashville show tomorrow.

[the-mouthpiece.livejournal.com]

I am so happy than I am not the only person in the world with that very same opinion of "Viral Marketing"

[theuberbob.livejournal.com]

Dan's a great guy. I've been talking to him at cons for nearly 20 years now and even though he probably doesn't know my name he knows me enough to say hey whenever we cross paths. Many years ago I smuggled a six pack of Shiner Bock bottles onto a flight to San Diego, got it into the con and presented it to Dan at the Slave Labor booth (which he evidently still remembers). This is how I justify taking such advantage of the open bar he usually sponsors at trade shows.

-Bob-