Comic Lab

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Episodes

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Comic Lab

Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett•patreon.com

The podcast about making comics — and making a living from comics! It's half shop talk, half how-to, and half friendship. WE SQUEEZED IN THREE HALVES. 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, join our community at patreon.com/comiclab (For sponsorship inquiries: comiclabpodcast@gmail.com)

Episodes

Comic Con Strategy: Commissions, Merchandise, and Publishing

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•Transcript available on Metacast

Rethinking longform comics

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•Transcript available on Metacast

How to Handle Patreon-Exclusive Content

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•Transcript available on Metacast

Growing your Readership (feat. Dylan Meconis)

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•Transcript available on Metacast

Better Writing Through Editing, and Collaborator Contracts

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•Transcript available on Metacast

Darkest Career Fears (feat. Jake parker)

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•Transcript available on Metacast

Best Cartooning Advice Ever

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•Transcript available on Metacast

Why Transparency Matters (feat. Lucy Bellwood)

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•Transcript available on Metacast

Why Comics?

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•Transcript available on Metacast

Resolutions for 2018

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•Transcript available on Metacast