In this engaging conversation, Cathy Guisewite, the creator of the iconic syndicated comic strip 'Cathy', shares her journey through the world of cartooning, the challenges she faced as a female cartoonist, and the cultural impact of her work. From her early days of struggling with drawing to her experiences on The Tonight Show, Cathy reflects on her evolution as an artist and the significance of her comic strip in addressing women's issues. She discusses the release of her 50th Anniversary Coll...
Oct 30, 2025•56 min•Ep. 411
Brad thinks Kickstarter is the right place to go for a Brazilian cartoonist who wants to have his work re-published in English, but Dave thinks his co-host is Lost in Translation. Then, the dynamic duo gives some advice to a pro-am cartoonist who just lost their day job and is considering making the move to full-time cartooning. But first, Brad and Dave share some comic convention horror stories. Summary In this episode of ComicLab, hosts Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett discuss the chaotic experien...
Oct 23, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 410
While you're stuck trying to find the RIGHT way to start your comic, someone else is starting a comic THEIR way. That's because the only RIGHT way to start a comic is the WRONG way. Confused? We'll explain. Also—storytelling without conflict? Kishōtenketsu is a story structure that highlights contrast rather than conflict. But first, Dave's Los Angeles may have the most "perfect days" in the United States, but Brad argues that Philadelphians truly appreciate their sunny weather more when it occu...
Oct 16, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 409
Chuck Dillon joins us this week to talk about his work for Highlights magazine, designing the Costco Monopoly board, and his delightful children's books like The Bravest Booger and The Most Serious Fart . Summary In this engaging conversation, Chuck Dillon, a talented cartoonist and illustrator, shares his journey from early inspirations to his successful career in children's book illustration. He discusses the challenges of client feedback, the importance of teaching in his artistic growth, and...
Oct 09, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 408
A listener asks if there are any comics that the comics dads think are essential reading for being a comic creator. They sure do... and it's not what you'd expect! Today's show Romance novels "Must-Read" Comics List Summary Cartoonists Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett explore the value of romance novels in storytelling, contrasting their narrative preferences. Brad advocates for the insights gained from romance, while Dave expresses a preference for macro stories over micro narratives. Next, a liste...
Oct 02, 2025•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 407
As he prepares to launch his new Kickstarter at newevilbook.com, Brad Guigar tells co-host Dave Kellett that he's decided to eliminate all international shipping except for Canada! Between VAT taxes, new regulations, tariffs, and other uncertainties, he's decided it's just too risky. But first, a listener wrestles with his new role as a comics publisher. Is he helping out some friends, or is he a greedy capitalist? Today's show Becoming a comics publisher Is it important to have an art style? Ov...
Sep 25, 2025•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 406
Many singers do a key change in the middle of a song to indicate drama. Dave Kellett is so good, he does it right in the middle of a word! Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett learn too much about each other while sharing a hotel room with his friend at the National Cartoonists Society Conference and Reuben Awards. Dave and Brad return from Boston brimming with stories from a week of cartooning camaraderie and community. Here's how to join the NCS . If you're under the age of 27, your membership is only...
Sep 18, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 405
Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar hosted a live performance of ComicLab at the 79th annual National Cartoonists Society Conference and Reuben Awards . Joining them onstage to talk about the business of comics were three marvelous cartoonists: Jason Chatfield , a remarkably talented cartoonist who is as comfortable doing stand-up comedy as he is sitting down to create cartoons for The New Yorker . His new book, “You’re Not a Real Dog Owner Until…” , is a danged delight, and belongs on your shelf. Sean...
Sep 11, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 404
After discussing the best lettering techniques for shouts and whispers, Brad and Dave talk about plateaus. Is it possible to plateau for too long? Can they actually be beneficial? PLUS... Dave shares his experience after the first week of taking the ComicLab Social Media Challenge. This may be the best time-management tool yet! Today's Show The best lettering techniques for shouts and whispers Susan MacTaggart's Personal Affirmation Are plateaus... good? Is it possible to plateau for too long? T...
Sep 04, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 403
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 f...
Aug 28, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 402
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 collabor...
Aug 21, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 401
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 ...
Aug 14, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 400
This week's show is brought to you by Dreamhost — your first step in owning and controlling your own work. This week, the fellas wonder what it would be like to win the lottery. Then, Brad shares stories from the American Library Association conference in Philadelphia. Finally, Brad and Dave explain why placing white text on a black background can cause eye fatigue. Today's Show What if we won the lottery? No more Susan MacTaggart Dreamhost.com/ComicLab UPDATE: The American Library Association c...
Aug 07, 2025•58 min•Ep. 399
The episode is sponsored by Dreamhost —the first step in owning and controlling your own work! Today, a listener asks how he can develop an art style as quickly as possible! Your Humble Hosts have some very bad news for him. Next, a cartoonist asks whether it's a good idea to start a second social-media account to share personal views. Today's Show I need an art style — quick! Susan MacTaggart's Personal Affirmations Sponsor: Dreamhost.com/comiclab A second social-media account for posting perso...
Jul 31, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 398
How do you stop polishing and start publishing? Our strategies for overcoming perfectionism! Also — Dave has a little good news about the tariffs on imported books. Today's Show Dave Kellett at San Diego Comic-Con: Booth 1228 How to conquer perfectionism How to introduce a new dialogue font into your comic UPDATE: Tariffs on imported books Susan MacTaggart Decreasing image size without losing quality. Summary In this episode of ComicLab, hosts Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett share humorous anecdote...
Jul 24, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 397
The episode is sponsored by Dreamhost —the first step in owning and controlling your own work! Are you a shameless self-promoter? Brad thinks a little bit of shame might be a good thing. Also — how do you find good comics? Today's Show Whose house are you in? Susan MacTaggart's personal affirmation Dreamhost.com/comiclab Oval vs rounded corber word balloons Finding good comics. Summary In this episode of ComicLab, hosts Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett explore the nuances of self-promotion in the co...
Jul 17, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 396
What do you do when someone you looked up to turns out to be a jerk? Also, over a hundred years of comics history reveal a great deal about the importance of artists understanding business. Today's show I Met My Hero, and They're a Zero Susan MacTaggart's Personal Affirmation What 100 Years of Comics History Tells Us 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...
Jul 10, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 395
While Dave was at Alaska Comics Camp, he had the opportunity to talk with Ryan North Gillian Goerz! Ryan North is the creator and author of Dinosaur Comics , and has written for the comic series of Adventure Time and Marvel Comics ' The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl and Fantastic Four . His works have won multiple Eisner Awards and Harvey Awards and made New York Times Bestseller lists . Gillian Goerz (pronounced like “Jillian Gertz”) works in illustration, graphic recording, cartooning, writing and ...
Jul 03, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 394
While at Alaska Comic Camp, Dave Kellett had the opportunity to speak with cartoonist Lucy Knisley, a critically acclaimed and award-winning comic creator. She specializes in personal, confessional graphic novels and travelogues. LUCY'S BOOKS Lucy has published more than a dozen books, with several fantastic publishers. These have included: Simon & Schuster, First Second Books, Fantagraphics, Chronicle, Random House Graphics, Knopf and Rocky Pond. She has also contributed to many collections...
Jun 26, 2025•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 393
The episode is sponsored by Dreamhost —the first step in owning and controlling your own work! While Dave Kellett was at Alaska Comics Camp, he had the opportunity to speak with Jarad Greene, a cartoonist who works on staff at The Center for Cartoon Studies and has helped color many graphic novels for younger readers. He is the author and illustrator of the graphic novels A-Okay , A for Effort , and Scullion: A Dishwasher’s Guide to Mistaken Identity — available wherever books are sold and throu...
Jun 19, 2025•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 392
Dave Kellet returns from Alaska Comics Camp once more rejuvinated, recharged, and reinvigorated! He shares his joy-filled experiences from a week in Juno, Alaska, with about 60 other cartoonists sharing knowledge, friendship, and happiness. In the second half, a cartoonist shares her feelings of depression after losing a couple of cartooning contests. Today's Show Alaska Comics Camp Susan MacTaggart's personal affirmation ComicLab LIVE at the NCS conference , Aug.14-16 Rejection stories Summary ...
Jun 12, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 391
Today's episode is sponsored by Dreamhost . The first step in owning and controlling your own work is building a website, and Dreamhost is there to make that simple, painless, and inexpensive. Go to www.Dreamhost.com/ComicLab for details. The life of a comic artist is often a solitary one. Brad and Dave discuss ways of maintaining social connections for mental health and creativity. Later, they discuss the dangers of setting an artificially low Kickstarter goal. ON TODAY'S SHOW The lone life of ...
Jun 05, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 390
Now that comic creators are returning to websites, SEO (search engine optimization) is once again a hot topic. We'll talk about methods to help search engines index comics. Also, if Brad and Dave were to design a four-year degree for cartoonists, what classes would be on the curriculum? Today's show SEO for webcomics Should you use alt text on social media posts? Susan MacTaggart's personal affirmation UPDATE: Comiclab Live stage show at the NCS conference, Aug. 14-16 UPDATE: Apple loses its 30%...
May 29, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 389
Today's show is sponsored by Dreamhost. The first step in owning and controlling your own work is creating a website, and Brad and Dave have relied on Dreamhost for years. Check out Dreamhost.com/comiclab to find out how you can lock in a rate of $2.59/month for three years! Every beginning cartoonist agonizes over drawing eyes! Why is that — and while we're at it, what's the right way to do it? Next, we'll talk about why we hate anthologies, and answer a listener who suspects his webhost is thr...
May 22, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 388
Today's show is sponsored by Dreamhost. The first step in owning and controlling your own work is creating a website, and Brad and Dave have relied on Dreamhost for years. Check out Dreamhost.com/comiclab to find out how you can lock in a rate of $2.59/month for three years! Your social media profile needs to answer three questions clearly: Who are you? What do you do? And why should I care? If you're wasting time being cute, you're missing out of opportunities. Also, the NCS releases the nomine...
May 15, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 387
Cartoonist Scott C joins us to discuss his artistic journey. He discusses his beginnings, including art directing Psychonauts and Brutal Legend for Double Fine Productions , as well as his first webcomic, Double Fine Action Comics . He shares valuable insights on working with watercolors and creating graphic novels for younger readers. His paintings are currently on display at Spoke Art in New York. Scott C Website Preorder Scott's new book, Cabin Head and Tree Head ! Great Showdowns Double Fine...
May 08, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 386
Is it OK to change your comic after you've already sent it to your audience? The guys also tackle tariffs, ISBNs, bar codes, and offering comics to charity organizations. Today's show Making a change to a comic after it's "out there" Susan MacTaggart's personal affirmation UPDATE: Tariffs on books?? ISBNs and bar codes for self-published books Comics for Charity Summary In this conversation, Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar explore the nuances of humor writing, the importance of building an audience...
May 01, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 385
It's a jam-packed show this week! Brad and Dave argue over the better delivery for story exposition — dialogue or narration. Dave is discontinuing international shipping; Brad gets his Wikipedia updates; and the guys agree that Dee Fish does autobio comics right. Then Dave does another behind-the-scenes analysis of his recent Kickstarter, talking about his pricing strategy for stretch goals and how they processed hundreds of images for the campaign. Finally, with the SFWA opening their membershi...
Apr 24, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 384
In a recent interview for the National Cartoonists Society, Greg Evans (the creator of the newspaper comic strip "Luanne") spoke about painting a single wall in his studio red. Mel Lazarus, creator of the syndicated strips "Momma" and "Miss Peach," told him that the color red was proven to increase creative thoughts. This resulted in one burning question for the cartoonists assembled to watch the interview: "DID IT WORK!?" Today's Show Creativity Susan MacTaggart's Personal Affirmation Using cop...
Apr 17, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 383
Where's the line between an autobiographical comic and a semi-autobiographical one — between "based upon" and "inspired by"? And when does the whole thing veer directly into fiction?? Plus... Dave Kellett shares real numbers from his recent Kickstarter, and we arrive at a jaw-dropping conclusion: Bluesky is it. The Webcomics Handbook will publish a visual breakdown of Dave's analytics on April 14th. Today's show Where to draw the line on an autobio comic Malignant Procrastination Susan MacTaggar...
Apr 10, 2025•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 382
