It’s September, and the kids are returning to school. This is great if you’re a webcartoonist because that means they’re returning to reading webcomics from school.
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Today’s show is brought to you by Dreamhost! It’s the first step in owning and controlling your own work. Check out the special offers at dreamhost.com/comiclab. Once again, Dave Kellett returns from Comic-Con International with a full report featuring actual numbers from his time spent exhibiting at his booth. He’ll share what worked, what didn’t, and what he has planned for next year. Next, it’s the COMICLAB SOCIAL MEDIA CHALLENGE! After Brad challenges Dave to remove the social-media apps from his phone and charge the phone on the other side of the room at bedtime, the guys decide to make this a group experiment. Do YOU accept the challenge?
Dave reflects on the success of his booths, strategies for engaging with fans, and the importance of presentation. The conversation shifts to a new social media challenge, where they explore the impact of social media on productivity and creativity. They encourage listeners to join them in reducing social media usage and share their experiences. The episode concludes with a focus on future plans and the importance of community engagement.
Before you launch your Kickstarter — whether it’s your first one or your tenth one — there’s a few things you should make sure you take a few things into consideration…
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Webcartoonists have discovered Substack, and they’re flocking to the platform. After all, it’s one of the very few platforms where users are reporting measurable results. But setting up a Substack account is easy. Figuring out what to publish there… isn’t.
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A while ago, a comics artist decided to remove the paywall for their Patreon campaign, asking instead that people view the previously exclusive content and support the artist if they like what they see. Predictably, this had disastrous results.
The content you are trying to access is only available to members.This episode is sponsored by Dreamhost — your first step in owning and controlling your own work! Visit them at https://www.dreamhost.com/comiclab
This week, Brad and Dave are joined by Greg and Karen Evans, who are celebrating the 40th anniversary of their syndicated comic strip, Luann. Karen — then, a toddler — was the inspiration for the strip when Greg launched it in 1985. Twenty-seven years later, Karen joined her father to co-write the comic. They’ll discuss that journey, their collaborative process, the significance of reader interaction, and more.
I started teaching at the university level in 2014, and I’ve noticed something alarming. We’ve been giving young people the wrong idea about education — worse yet, it’s something I’d been doing with my own children!
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Finding an artist to collaborate with can be challenging, but there are several ways to go about it strategically.
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This post originally appeared in the Uncensored Artists newsletter.
“Shadowbanning” is one of those terms that gets thrown around a lot, especially in adult-content spaces, but it’s often misunderstood. It can feel like a catch-all explanation for when your social media reach tanks or your posts stop getting likes. But to tackle the issue effectively, we need to separate the myth from the reality.
Shadowbanning is when a platform limits the visibility of your content without notifying you directly. Your account isn’t banned in the traditional sense — you can still post, comment, and interact — but fewer people see your content, especially new followers or those outside your immediate circle. In most cases, it’s a form of content suppression triggered by algorithmic moderation, keyword filters, or manual reports.
Before assuming the worst, it’s important to consider other factors that affect engagement:
To investigate a shadow ban, try these steps:
Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube often flag content that includes nudity, “suggestive” poses, or even certain words (like “OnlyFans,” “kink,” or “Patreon”). You don’t need to post explicit content to be caught in the dragnet — being tangentially associated with adult spaces can be enough.
Also worth noting: platforms aren’t interested in transparency, especially when adult content is involved. Their moderation tools often err on the side of restriction to avoid backlash from advertisers or scrutiny from payment processors.
Unfortunately, there’s no silver bullet — but there are strategies that help:
Shadowbanning is real, but it’s also a murky, inconsistent process that’s often invisible. Instead of obsessing over algorithms, focus on what you can control: diversify, decentralize, and own your connection to your audience.
Today, YOU are the star of the show. We asked ComicLab listeners to help us celebrate our 400th episode by calling in with favorite memories from our seven years of podcasting. And — WOW! — did you ever deliver! Today’s show will put a smile on your face for the rest of the day.
ComicLab has been cranking out episodes about making comics — and making a living from comics — every week since January 2018. (Twice a week, if you count the Patreon-exclusive Pro Tips episodes!) A show that set out to share shop talk, advice, and friendship has become a weekly favorite of cartoonists, comic creators, and people who simply enjoy hearing people share their passion for comics.
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