Comments on: Diamond Age

By: Webcomics’ Identity Crisis, Part V: The Survivor’s Guide on How to Turn a Comic Book into a Webcomic – MorganWick.com

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 02:25:23 +0000

[...] numerous commentators, from Steven Grant to Christopher Butcher to Elin Winkler to Brian Clevinger, the latest changes are the last straw: it’s time for everyone else to bail out of the direct [...]

By: bclevinger

bclevinger — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:58:58 +0000

Oh, at least. I hate to see fewer shops around, but I suspect 2009 will cull a lot of shops that are run like shit as well as some really great ones.

By: Scott_W

Scott_W — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:32:15 +0000

I often wonder and worry about comic book retailers. I know several and I am lucky in that the 5 different shops are all run very well and in a manner that is supportive of small press and inviting to new customers.

But in general, for ever awesome LCS there are ten run by complete idiots who don't know the first thing about retail.

By: bclevinger

bclevinger — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 22:23:28 +0000

That's a good point. But, I mean, ostensibly those are comics they'd have been getting through Diamond anyway, right? So these are probably books the retailer figures will sell. In the end, I don't know that they'd care if the books are coming from Diamond or anyone else as long as there's a sale to be had.

Granted, shipping from a smaller, newer company will undoubtedly cost more than the same material would have cost to ship through Diamond. But what's a shop gonna do? Make a little less on a sale or not make the sale at all? The latter just doesn't seem like good business sense. I've heard dozens of stories from people meeting resistance about getting Robo from their local shops . In every case it's a new customer that we handed that shop, and in every case the customer got sick of it and went somewhere else.

By: Torsten Adair

Torsten Adair — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 17:46:25 +0000

Here's what it boils down to: The economy is causing Diamond to look for savings. Diamond is applying a formula that will cover costs and (hopefully) make a profit. Diamond says they will work with publishers, that the new rules are not set in stone.

For publishers, every one of you has to bring your best stuff to your table. I HATE walking through Artists Alley and seeing so much crap. It hurts because I know someone cared enough to publish something, but I see the same mistakes over and over, to the point it's become a style.

Publishers, do not depend on Diamond to sell your comic. I'm a dedicated fan (although I do not buy many periodical comics anymore), and I have a hard time slogging through Previews. Instead, create your website as soon as you have art to scan. Hype it up. Send out press releases. Tell your friends and have them hype it. Visit high school art classes.

And the most important thing to remember…. this is a BUSINESS. The Small Business Administration (sba.gov) has got all sorts of stuff to help you succeed. Your local university or community college probably offers night courses on how to run a business. (Educational expenses are TAX DEDUCTIBLE, as are many business expenses.) Go to your local library (free books!) and ask the librarians for help in selecting the right books. Sit down and write a business plan. Hire a good accountant. If you create full time, you should probably incorporate, to protect your personal life and to reduce your tax burden.

It worked for Jeff Smith, it can work for you.

(And one other comment… don't worry about genre or what's selling. Do stuff you enjoy (because you're going to be spending days creating it), that you think others will enjoy. Do it well, do it consistently, and listen to every opinion. Look at Mystery Science Theater 3000… it can get esoteric, but they enjoy it, and some people get the jokes. If you're lucky, you become a cult classic. Like Monty Python.)