Cartoonists Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett discuss the nuances of print-on-demand services. As Brad says, “It’s a good place to start, but a bad place to stay.” They delve into the importance of advanced planning for holiday sales. Finally, they share strategies for engaging audiences at comic conventions, covering pricing strategies and the psychology of sales, and emphasizing the importance of understanding costs and audience engagement.

Today’s Show

• Print on Demand
• How to “Let Time Be Your Editor”
• Convention Pricing

Huion

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

• Patience is key in daily struggles.
• Print on demand can be a good starting point but not a long-term solution.
• Planning for holiday sales should start well in advance.
• Engaging with audiences at conventions is crucial for building a network.
• Clear pricing and signage can significantly boost sales at conventions.
• Using loss leaders can attract customers but should be carefully calculated.
• Understanding your costs is essential for pricing strategies.
• Round numbers simplify transactions and reduce friction in sales.
• Time away from your work can provide valuable perspective for editing.
• Building a strong online presence is important for comic creators.

Beginning cartoonists often ask what size they should make their comic. Many are looking for “standard” sizes. The answer is a little more complicated than you’d expect — and it means focusing on what’s important about the comic you’re doing.

Syndicated cartoonists Jerry Scott and Rick Kirkman share their journey of collaboration that spans over 35 years, focusing on their iconic comic strip, “Baby Blues.” They discuss their initial meeting, the challenges of working together, the creative process behind their gags, and the evolution of their work. The dialogue highlights the joys and conflicts of collaboration, the importance of humor in parenting, and the unique dynamics of their partnership. They discuss their early encounters with legendary cartoonists, the challenges and joys of taking over legacy strips, the impact of awards on their careers, and the importance of authenticity in parenting comics.

You can read “Baby Blues” at Gocomics.com/babyblues

Huion

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.

B.F. Skinner’s research showed that rewards and punishments can alter a subject’s behavior. We can use those same simple techniques to change how our readers interact with us on social media.

Where should you post if you want to build an audience? Substack delivers unbeatable audience-building tools… but it has some drawbacks. Bluesky is active… but small. Webtoon is terrific… if you’re doing the style and content that their users prefer. Patreon has recently added features to promote discoverability and reader-retention. And the legacy social-media platforms — Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook — have been failing creators for years now. Brad and Dave share actionable advice to help you navigate it all.

Today’s Show

• What’s the best platform for audience building?
• How to launch a comic in 2026
• How important is “local”?

Huion

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

• Psychographics can create connections beyond demographics.
• Comics can resonate with audiences from different backgrounds.
• Humor-based storytelling appeals to a wide range of people.
• Unexpected fan interactions can reveal common interests.
• Shared love for specific genres can unite diverse individuals.
• The beauty of human connection lies in shared experiences.
• Comics can transcend geographical and demographic barriers.
• Character-based narratives foster deeper audience engagement.
• Understanding audience psychographics enhances storytelling.
• Diversity in readership enriches the comic experience.