This weekend was a mess, so I didn't get a chance to do any work of substance on the comic, apologizes. However I mentioned a few posts ago, that I had a discussion with one of my associates, an Eisner winning retailer (the Eisners are like the Oscars/Emmies for comics if you're not aware), and thought the info may be good to share. It mainly relates to a post I did during the first month of the blog when I was figuring out the budget. My associated, whom we'll call 'A!' (unless he states it's okay to mention him by name), basically was doing the push for digital comics (which seems for odd for a guy that works for a retail store, but whatever), and did advise even on a great run for indie, you're only looking at a sale of about 800 units. Hrmm. This does go with the information I've gotten from other sources, publishers, who often also push for digital.
Here's the thing; I hate digital comics.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm almost certaily going to make a digital copy of the comic, possibly in color (the only reason I'm doing black and white for the physical is time and cost. I do feel color is a better product), but it opens up a whole can of worms. First off many digital comics aren't scanned at a high enough resolution, due to file size, and it can really kill the look of the art. Secondly I can not stand how the reader is constantly forced to 'move' the comic when reading it. It kills the natural flow of sequential art. I have not yet downloaded DC comic's new digital offerings; if they manage to make a 'workable' comic, I'll have to try to determine how they got there viewer to flow, and go from there.
Now this isn't to say if your thinking about self-publishing, you shouldn't go to digital. Quite frankly it's the next evolution, it just happens to be one I hate. Go digital makes sense. You can reap all of the benefits of getting your comic out there, at little to no cost, meaning a much wider profit margin. And as long as you can market your digital outputs, you can really bring people in; at no point in a day, is someone not goofing off on the internet.
So yes, I will be making the comic digitally available, but probably AFTER the brick and mortar comics are out first. I generally like putting the best foot forward after all, and feel the printed version is going to look far better than my digital.
As always all comments are appreciated.
More later.
-T
Trevor,
ReplyDeleteI have felt that same way -- and still believe that media should be created for the platform they will be viewed on, and you can't just switch. (For example: you shouldn't try to "watch" a radio program on TV. another: documents created in print layouts -- 8.5x11 portrait orientation with 10 pt type -- are not suitable for on-screen reading.)
HOWEVER
When a mutual friend of ours (Let's call him BM for short, even though that's going to bring up some juvenile jokes) showed me a standard format comic on his iPad, I was pretty impressed -- you could read a page at a time (not panel by panel) and it was almost not too small (speech bubbles could've been a bit bigger to be perfect for iPad, but still fine). plus, one-page splash pages worked great -- it's just the two-page splashes that didn't (again, easily avoided).
SO
I don't know anymore, man.
I've been fascinated with reading your blog, and I'm glad you brought this up!
ReplyDeleteI was juggling the dilemma of physical vs. digital indie publishing when considering to start my newest comic project. After my last project (making 3 complete issues of a comic that the writer flamed-out on and production became stuck in "submission hell"), I was wondering if I should try to make the new project a one-shot physical publication. I thought this would be just another portfolio-piece to get a foot in the door with a company.
But I had my thinking changed after meeting a popular (I dare say "successful") webcomic artist.
In my case, I wanted my story to exist in the known universe one way or another. Doing a weekly webcomic, then compiling pages for print or download, seemed like a reasonable tactic for working independently.
Releasing a page every week online seems counter-intuitive-- you're "giving away the milk for free". However, gaining popularity with a fan-base of webcomic lovers who are eager to interact with authors is an undeniable asset.
When a number of pages are done (12, 24, 36, for example), the pages can be bound together and published both physically (possibly on demand) or digitally as PDFs to download. There are resources and tutorials on how to publish comic on the Nook and Kindle, however PDFs are ubiquitous at the moment. And besides digital distributors like Comixology, there are smaller creator-controlled aggregators such as The Illustrated Section, which will allow you to upload digital comics in any format for a small fee. Creators can then charge what they want per download... or give away free previews. Free previews = more fans, according to some webcomic authors. This suggests the idea of a "long tail media projection", of having superfans at the begining of your career who stick with you and encourage your popularity and sales.
Going web-based-first is not for everyone, but it sounds like a great model for what I'm doing (since once again I am doing all the art... but now I am writing it as well). I can "trickle" pages out once a week, try and advertise/network with fans before the whole project is done, give away a preview/teaser after 6+ pages, self-publish on-demand or digital copies after 12 pages, and then consider publishing a "prestige format" when I have 36 pages finished-- which is what this particular story arc is currently plotted for.
I'm not trying to sway you to the idea! It's just that I've been doing research since last SD Comic Con and I'm very excited for it, hence the lengthy blabbering. I am a DIY-type, and since I worked so hard on the last title (but went NOwhere), I know that I can successfully make a comic. Getting the story out and getting readers is key, so I'll make this new tale happen by any means necessary. And the idea of reaching fans who appreciate "discovering" a new comic... imagine what it would have been like if Charles Shultz had been on the internet when "Peanuts" got started? Fans have a sense of ownership towards stories and creators; people like Neil Gaiman owe their success to giving fans what they want and interacting well with them. Webcomics, digital publishing, and social networks DO that for indie comics, so it seems.
Now, the question is to publish in Portrait or Landscape format, as suggested by Mark Waid on a certain episode of the ComiCenter...
Thanks for indulging my yammering Great Wall of Text. Food for thought?
Jonathan I'm highly impressed, and yes, definitely food for thought. I'll respond more in kind, when I'm not at work and getting yelled at. Thanks for the amazing input though!
ReplyDelete@Trevor: hey thank YOU; I thought I was being a blathering interloper. I've learned a lot so I tend to run on.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to see your comic do gangbusters... Zombies + Dinosaurs = solid gold!