Cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar talk about making comics! In a previous episode, both artists came out against re-working old comics… until one of Dave’s “ Drive ” readers pointed out that he had done it himself before the first “Drive” book was released! THEN a listener asks how to ensure that every page ends on a story beat. NEXT, we talk about the positive effect that Patreon has had in establishing close-knit communities. If Patreon changes, will this disappear? THIRDLY, a reader is...
Jul 19, 2018•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 29
Webcomic veterans Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar talk about the contentious controversies caused in creating comics! For example, a discussion about using an exclamation point in a sound effect leads to a deep dive into the psychology of lettering! THEN, Brad thinks we need to encourage more collaboration. And FINALLY, Dave asks how to overcome a writing challenge — when you know the overall story, but you just can't write the next step! BUT FIRST: After a former co-worked found a Disney animation...
Jul 12, 2018•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 28
Webcomic veterans Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar welcome webcomics star Zach Weinersmith of SMBC , cerator of BAHfest, and author of several books including Soonish . They discuss how to know when a comic is "done" — and when it it overworked. Zach talks about having a font designed to mimic his hand-lettering — and why it was worth the expense. Then, the folks discuss when it's time to quit one's day job to do cartooning full time — and that there's no shame in having one in the first p...
Jul 05, 2018•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 27
Webcomic veterans Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar tackle another collection of questions about the care and feeding of cartoonists. FIRST, Danielle Corsetto's GWS collection leads to a discussion of "complete" collections and hardcover books in general. NEXT, Creation vs Learning — which is more important? THEN, it's the perennial question – How do I get more Patreon backers? FOURTH, should experienced webcartoonists be more open to offering critiques when asked? And FINALLY, Dave challen...
Jun 29, 2018•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 26
Dave and Brad are thrilled to welcome our longtime friend and Webcomics Weekly co-host Scott Kurtz to the show. Ten years after collaborating on the How To Make Webcomics book (along with Kris Straub), we sit down and open up about the greatest goals we've yet to accomplish. BUT FIRST... in true Webcomics Weekly fashion, we spend the first part of the show catching up for lost time. Show notes 21:00 — Brad's unaccomplished goal 31:43 — Dave's unaccomplished goal 43:39 — Scott's unaccomplished go...
Jun 21, 2018•53 min•Ep. 25
Webcomic veterans Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar tackle another bushel of questions from creative professionals! FIRST, they share advice for people who are starting their first steps into cartooning later in life. How do you do comics with a spouse, kids, a mortgage and, well… a life? NEXT, what’s the best way to support a comics creator? THEN, if you came of age in a Web 2.0 environment of message boards and forums, how can you hope to build community these days? PLUS, the prevailing advice is t...
Jun 14, 2018•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 24
This week on the show we're thrilled to welcome the creative powerhouse Gloria Calderón Kellett . Well-known for the critically acclaimed relaunch of "One Day At A Time," she is a show-runner, writer, actor and all-around force-to-be-reckoned-with. She talks with Dave and Brad about her writing process, finding new ideas, sitcom writing, writing as a collaboration, editing for humor, and much, much more. Gloria and Dave have been married for a number of years. (Which number is anybody'...
Jun 07, 2018•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 23
Great news! We have a DISCOUNT CODE for Bonjoro — exclusively for our $5+ Patreon backers! NEXT: Dave and Brad drill deep on the ubiquitous DRM-free PDF. We discuss what it is, why we use it, and how to best implement it. THEN: We grapple with one of the great mysteries of life — If we could time-travel back to talk to ourselves in our 20s, what advice would we give? FINALLY: If you're doing a comic strip that incorporates a storyline, you should be doing a longform comic instead. BUT FIRST... A...
May 30, 2018•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 22
Today on ComicLab, Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar take a full one-eighty on Bonjoro . After trashing it last episode, they're ready to sing its praises as a game-changer in crowdfunding and web publishing. Find out what caused this massive reconsideration. THEN the guys take an audio question from a Patreon backer who wants to know how to address concerns from readers who find a story hard to follow. And FINALLY, another backer asks how much effort should be put into making sure your idea hasn't b...
May 24, 2018•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 21
Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar are thrilled to welcome Erika Moen, creator of OhJoySexToy. They talk about her currently running Kickstarter to launch a collection of sex-education cartoons . She has a decidedly different approach to the "soft launch" for Patreon backers discussed on an earlier ComicLab podcast — and her strategy is worth strong consideration. Then, the gang tackles some great topics like the uncomfortable relationship we artists have with photo reference. Why is there a stigma ar...
May 17, 2018•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 20
We recorded Drunk ComicLab Saturday, and boy are our livers tired. Brad and Dave talk about the fun they had recording this upcoming Patreon-exclusive show — and the horrors they faced the morning after.Then a listener asks: "How to you stay motivated to comics year after year?" The guys go on to discuss the Toronto Comic Arts Festival (May 12-13), handling an underperforming Patreon tier, working on a new comic at the same time you're working on an existing one, and the mixed blessing...
May 10, 2018•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 19
The Eisner Award nominations were announced, and there's a lot to talk about! Then it's on to questions from our Patreon backers. In a social-media landscape that favors branding the creators themselves over their creations, it it OK to have a pen name? And what's the best approach to warm-up sketches? BUT FIRST... Brad hit a monster pothole on a winding Philadelphia thoroughfare, rupturing the tire, forcing him to pull over on a road with no shoulder and wait for AAA Roadside Assistance for ove...
May 03, 2018•55 min•Ep. 18
Dave and Brad field some tough questions about the best ways to handle negative comments and clingy fans. They also discuss using Instagram stories for comics promotion and strategies for writing longform comics But first, following up on last week's fascination with the "B.C." comic strip, Brad tells Dave about how the Flintstones used to do in-show smoking commercials . Show notes 3:24 — "The Flintstones" did smoking commercials 6:19 — Brad gets a bicycle, and that touches ...
Apr 26, 2018•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 17
Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar answer a wide variety of questions submitted by Patreon backers, such as: Are gag comics sustainable on the Web? We'll ask Dave, who has been doing a gag comic for 20 years. Also... How can I use hashtags more effectively? How many updates do I need to build a readership? How can I keep up my energy at conventions? And... Doctor, does this Winkerbean look Funky to you? But first, Dave has moved into his new house, and his high-speed internet connection... isn't. Show...
Apr 19, 2018•59 min•Ep. 16
Brad and Dave tackle listener questions! First, a high-school art teacher asks why they can't seem to finish a project once it's started. And then, the guys list some Dos and Don'ts for people who are planning to launch their first Patreon campaign. BUT FIRST... When Brad makes a post on Facebook, and the responses drive him up the wall, Dave realizes that he's dealing with a split personality. Great rewards when you support ComicLab $2 support the show $5 submit a question for possible use on t...
Apr 12, 2018•55 min•Ep. 15
Dave and Brad welcome Ryan North , two-time Eisner Award winner, creator of Dinosaur Comics and writer for Marvel Comics' Squirrel Girl . We discuss his upcoming book, How to Invent Everything and his successful Shakespearean choose-your-own-adventure To Be or Not To Be . Along the way, we go deep on several topics involving writing — getting ideas, subconscious plagiarism, self-plagiarism, rejecting unoriginal ideas, creativity as a compulsion, juggling multiple projects, exorcising ideas, and ...
Apr 05, 2018•51 min•Ep. 14
We're joined by webcomics OG Danielle Corsetto . She shares her unique perspective on Patreon, and she has some advice for last week's question about choosing the best comic convention — TCAF! Her strategy to implement Kickstarter in the process is one you'll want to hear. Plus, Dave Kellett asks if he should delete his Facebook account. And, finally both Danielle and Brad Guigar discuss ending a long-running webcomic. BUT FIRST... Dave and his wife book a hotel room for an anniversary celebrati...
Mar 29, 2018•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 13
Whew! We covered a LOT of ground with this episode. First, one of our $10 backers sent in a fantastic audio question about longform comics and the continuous scroll presentation on the Web. Is it better than conventional previous-next navigation-button presentation? And that touches off a whirlwind of topics, including, but not limited to... Kickstarter — Dave's tips REALLY WORK WELL! Backerkit — Brad tries to get Dave on the pro-Backerkit team, but he's not having it Dave's hair Calls to action...
Mar 23, 2018•58 min•Ep. 12
Brad Guigar went to the Patreon On Tour / NYC conference, and he brought back tons of useful advice from the crowdfunding giant. Learn how to get more backers and make more money. Then, he and co-host Dave Kellett move on to tackle writer's block! What can you do to kickstart creativity? They share some useable strategies that apply to several situations. Finally — which awards are most valuable for the average webcartoonist? Is it the Eisners? The Harveys? The NCS Division Awards? The Ignatz? B...
Mar 15, 2018•59 min•Ep. 11
Dave returns from Emerald City Comicon with stories from the show. Was the show a success? What did he learn from tabling with Jake Parker? What did Jake learn from him? Will Dave go next year? And how does Jake keep his hair so lustrous and full of body? Then, it's on to questions from out Patreon backers: My graphic novel is based on an 1897 book, using the original, characterful old language exclusively for the text. I'm not adding or changing a single word in the story, but will need a gloss...
Mar 10, 2018•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 10
This week, as Dave Kellett preps for this weekend's Emerald City Comic Con, he asks co-host Brad Guigar if this should be the last time he exhibits at the show. Then, Dave and Brad discuss some new approaches to webcomic site design — particularly in regards to longform comics. BUT FIRST... What is "Drunk ComicLab" and how can you make it happen? If we get 100 ratings on iTunes, Dave and I will be cracking open bottles of Pino Noir and Laphroiag (respectively) and recording a special b...
Mar 01, 2018•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 9
Today on ComicLab, we're taking questions from our Patreon backers: What do you do when you're more invested than your collaborator? When starting a new comic online, is it even worth it to start a website anymore — or should everything just be posted to Patreon? Can you Kickstart a book containing content that was originally Patreon-exclusive? BUT FIRST... Dave grapples with his impending old-man-hood when a barber offers to shave his earlobe hair. Great rewards when you support ComicLab $2 — s...
Feb 21, 2018•59 min•Ep. 8
The wonderful Dylan Meconis joins Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett to take a question from a Patreon backer who wants advice on growing their readership. Another backer asks about finding balance between comics and "real life." BUT FIRST... they grapple with what "Love is..." This episode of ComicLab is sponsored by THE DAEMOS CHRONICLES: ADVENT LIGHT ! In a world where humans are endangered and live amongst mythological beasts, The Daemos Chronicles: Advent Light follows the sto...
Feb 15, 2018•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 7
Today on ComicLab, we're going deep on one of the most important (and least-talked-about) aspects of cartooning — Editing! We also take our first patron-submitted question, and it's all about contracts between collaborators. BUT FIRST... When Dave eats McDonald's and subsequently questions his life choices, it's Brad to the rescue with the healing humor of some carefully-executed impressions. Great rewards when you support ComicLab $2 support the show $5 submit a written question for possible us...
Feb 07, 2018•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 6
ComicLab co-hosts Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar welcome special guest Jake Parker — creator of Inktober and stand-out cartoonist/children's book illustrator — to talk shop. They discuss their deepest, darkest fears for their careers. And then they tackle how to recover from the completion of a monumental project. Jake shares his experiences from a recent Kickstarter, and they discuss the pros and cons of taking a creator-owned title to a publisher. But before any of that can happen, Jake has to e...
Feb 02, 2018•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 5
Dave and Brad discuss the Kellett family living in his studio while their house gets prepped for sale. And in anticipation of the Big Move, Dave makes a rather emotional decision — to pulp most of the unsold copies of one of his titles. Then, they each share the best cartooning advice they ever got. Interestingly enough, Brad's came from syndicated political cartoonist Bill Day and Dave received his from syndicated cartoonist Wiley Miller. And finally, a question from the Discord server — how do...
Jan 23, 2018•57 min•Ep. 4
This week, Brad and Dave welcome professional adventure cartoonist Lucy Bellwood. Lucy delivered a jaw-droppingly honest look at the life of a professional freelancer at the XOXO Festival last year, and it seemed only natural to discuss the importance of transparency in a profession so driven by social media. But first, Brad asks if they've ever performed a snow-day ritual. You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon $2 — Early access to episodes $5 — Submit a que...
Jan 17, 2018•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 3
Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar talk about what brought them to cartooning — and more importantly, why have they stuck with it for 20 years. It's a deceptively important question to ask yourself as a creator. And Dave and Brad dig deep into the reasons they do comics as opposed to another creative pursuit. You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon $2 — Early access to episodes $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast...
Jan 12, 2018•56 min•Ep. 2
Welcome to ComicLab: The podcast about making comics, and making a living from comics! If you loved Webcomics Weekly, you're gonna love this show: It's half shop-talk, half how-to, and half friendship. _ WE SQUEEZED IN THREE HALVES._ To start the year off right, episode one focuses on Cartooning Resolutions for 2018! It's tips and tricks and all the joys of cartooning as a pro. So pull up your drawing chair, put on some headphones, and join us while you draw! And if you like what you hear, kick ...
Jan 03, 2018•58 min•Ep. 1
