Being a comic book writer or artist would be an amazing job, but ...

thisfreespirit Level 1

November 3, 2017, 11:03 am

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Being a comic book writer or artist would be an amazing job, but ...

My husband is a rather big comic book fan and as such we attend Comic Cons whenever we can in different locations. We've been the big San Diego Comic Con a few times. Whenever we went, we always made a point to check out the independent comic book creators. We would find all kinds of great new stories and characters. More than once I even found some great comic books that I could add to my classroom library (for elementary school students). I think Comic Con used to be a great place for new comic creators to have a chance to be noticed and break into the business. In fact, there were always several panels to teach people how to do just that. Unfortunately, with SD Comic Con becoming much more of a media/pop culture con, the independent comic artists weren't only not getting noticed, but they were going bankrupt in an attempt to just be there and try to sell some of their own comics. It was becoming rather sad to see. Eventually, I think these last couple years, pretty much no one independent goes anymore. We've also stopped attending the San Diego Comic Con. Being a comic book writer or artist would be an amazing job, but I think it's rather hard to get started in.

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DarthHazard

DarthHazard

I think almost everyone has a job that they would love to do but there are some circumstances that just don't allow them to do it. Like you said, being a comic book writer or an artist would be a great job but unfortunately it's one of those things that are extremely hard to do especially if you have to depend on a good paying job to support your family. It's just too hard to get into and it will take a long time and a lot of effort to get to the top.

7 years ago

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DenisP

DenisP

Very true. I think this would apply to pretty much all forms of art. There is a reason why the term "struggling artist" has been so popularized. Getting into any field involving the arts and expecting to make a living wage out of it has always been exceptionally risky.

This rings particularly true for independent artists looking to make a name for themselves, as opposed to those willing to join a company as a worker. However most artists tend to be stubborn, understandably so, and aren't willing to give up their creative freedom for financial stability.

7 years ago

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nnacrter

nnacrter

Artist turns imagination into reality.

7 years ago

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Martinsx1

Martinsx1

I completely agree with, when I was growing up all I ever wanted to become was a lawyer but it never materialized and I never died because I didn't realize my deal. I had to pick up from the opportunity at my disposal and became what I'm today, although I haven't given up on reading law as a second degree.

7 years ago

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JoeMilford

JoeMilford

It is so unfortunate that the independents have to have such a tough time competing. I guess most of them have retreated to doing online comics and trying to sell and network there, right? I have a friend who has been doing one for years, and he has amassed a pretty good following, but I remember all of his frustrations in the beginning and how it drove him a bit nuts. I also always dreamed of being a comic book creator, in the artistic and writing sense, but it is definitely uber-competitive and terribly rough to break into with any lasting success.

7 years ago

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Judas2018

Judas2018

Yeah the market now for physical copies of comics or graphic novels is quite poultry. You need to focus on digital comics that people can download to a device, and enjoy from there. You can still offer physical copies for those old school collectors. Just create a pay window so they can purchase one of those if they want to. But gone are the days where comic book creators can make a killing at comic con. Unless you're an established company like Marvel or DC.

7 years ago

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JoeMilford

JoeMilford

Judas,
I tend to agree with you here. I have a friend who did an online comic for years, as I mentioned above. Now he is refining it and editing it to make it into a print-based graphic novel to sell. Since he already has an audience, I am thinking that he will be able to sell some hard copy, but he established this over a few years of posting the comic online on a regular basis. I think companies, such as Vertigo or Dark Horse, can somewhat compete with the bigger guys with their target audiences and more "daring" subject matter, at times, but I see your point here, and it is unfortunate that it is like this for the up and coming young writers and artists.

7 years ago

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Judas2018

Judas2018

Everything is always in flux though. As the world progresses, it was only a matter of time before it touched written works. Many people prefer digital reads or literary items for their Kindle device. But comics I think still have an audience that loves a physical copy. Not as big as it used to be, but they still exist. Because comics are different from regular books in that they contain intense visuals and are drawn in a way where readers become fans of the artists style.

Ultimately though. It's easier to sell your comic books as a digital download now rather than a physical copy. For artists trying to just make a few sales, they really have no other option but to heed to the market. Not just because of the times, but also because people in general are trying to cut back on clutter and usage of paper. The environmental movement to save the environment and reduce clutter via cutting back on paper in general, has a lot to do with why things have changed in the literary space also.

7 years ago

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Tronia

Tronia

I still remember how much I loved to read the comics as a child. I still do from time to time because I have them all stored in my drawer.But I do agree with you. Being a comic author is not an easy job due to how the market is working right now and that is why I believe that the best comics are still the old ones.
Also, I wish your friend the best of luck!

7 years ago

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JoeMilford

JoeMilford

Being a comic book artist or writer is highly competitive, and I could see how it would be really hard to "break into" this business. Also, these days, being a comic book COLLECTOR isn't easy either. There is so much good stuff out there, and it is all so much more expensive than it used to be! I remember when they were like sixty cents, but I know that definitely tells my age. I wonder if there is any correlation with how expensive they are now and how much the artists and writers get paid these days?

7 years ago

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Kakashi2020

Kakashi2020

Me too, I love comic books and there was even a time when I dreamt of becoming a comic book writer and artist but I decided not to pursue it because I really can't draw, but I can write. It's quite hard to produce your own comic book nowadays because of all the competition around.

6 years ago

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Baburra

Baburra

I think the benefits of both being independent and working for a big company probably evens out a bit when you look at the big picture. I don't have personal experience, but I have heard of many stories about many artists and writers not being able to do what they want because they had to follow company orders and guidelines and some of them are not being paid well at all as well from what I heard. If you are independent and doing things online you at least have complete freedom and can reap all the profits.

7 years ago

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JoeMilford

JoeMilford

I think this is the case with all business, right? When you are your own boss, you have total freedom. i do think that this is particularly tough when it comes to the arts, however, because artistic expression is much tougher, in some ways, to commodify than other products, and many artists DO want to be able to stay true to their visions and to do things their own way. I have learned, over the years, that, with writing, I have had to compromise my "art" in order to get a paycheck. I know certain projects could've been better if I had total freedom in their production, but without bending to the publishers, I would never have gotten the work out there in the first place, so there is always a bit of a compromise.

7 years ago

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Martinsx1

Martinsx1

Depending on how big the company is and it's painting work policy is what would determine how an artist would perform. If it's a company that put in lots of restrictions that would hunger the artist painting prowess, such person would have job dissatisfaction.

7 years ago

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Martinsx1

Martinsx1

I actually know a few artist who are successful in their field. It all depends on the quality of your work, if they are exceptional there is absolutely nothing that would stand in its way of making a good sale. There is this particular guy I knew from Twitter, his works are 100% top notch and he makes great sales whenever he goes for auction. There was a piece he sold for whopping $300.

7 years ago

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DenisP

DenisP

"…but it is definitely uber-competitive and terribly rough to break into with any lasting success."

While this is very true, what field isn't uber-competitive and rough to break into these days? Just about every creative--and even many non-creative--fields are overly saturated these days, so it is incredibly difficult for budding artists to find success. The advent of the internet and online tutorials has led many to pursue forms of art that you'd normally have to go to school for in order to gain a basic understanding of. Tools like Photoshop and drawing tablets are easily acquirable, and there are many online platforms which let you distribute your content. It used to be that you needed loads of expensive equipment and a publishers in order to put yourself out there, and now anyone can do it.

7 years ago

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vinaya

vinaya

Comic Cons? What are they exactly? I have never been a fan of comics. When I was a child, my father did not allow to read comics. He brought us storybooks, but never bought us any comics. My friends used to read comics, and I sometimes exchanged comic books with my story books. I did enjoy comic books but was afraid to read openly. I don't know why father hated comics. One he found that I was reading comic book. He did not say anything but next day he bought me a picture book. It contained story from Grimm Brothers' tale in pictures.
In my opinion, getting started with the work you actually want is not very difficult. If you want to become a comic book writer or artist, you can easily start. What is difficult is to become successful in your career.

7 years ago

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Judas2018

Judas2018

A Comic Con is shorthand for a Comic Book Convention. It's a place where comic book aficionados, creators and lovers of comic books or comic book fans from all around the world - all gather together for a weekend of events, premieres, debuts, giveaways, meetings, and just overall fandom. The biggest one is still held in San Diego California every July. Lately though, it's become so commercialized that it has lost most of its charm and become very corporate and anti indie artists.

7 years ago

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vinaya

vinaya

That's for explaining me about Comic Cons. I did not grow up reading comic books. However, I watched cartoons based on comics since I was a child. The first comic character that I can remember is He Man and then later Batman, Superman, Spiderman. Hulk and Iron Man are some of the comic characters that I did not know until I was in the late teens.

7 years ago

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Judas2018

Judas2018

I like comic book Batman and film verse Batman. Comic book Iron Man is a lot better than film verse Iron Man imo. Same with The Hulk. But mostly because I hate movie verse Hulk being CGI. I was never a fan of Superman. I don't hate him though just, not really invested in reading any lone Superman comics or watching any lone Superman movies. Spiderman is awesome in comic book form. Movie Spiderman I only liked in the first Spiderman film (starring Tobey Maguire). I liked Andrew Garfield as Spiderman/Peter Parker in The Amazing Spiderman and The Amazing Spiderman 2. The new Spiderman - Spiderman: Homecoming was not too shabby.

7 years ago

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vinaya

vinaya

Well, I don't call myself a fan of movies based on comic characters, however, I enjoy watching such movies because of CGI. In these movies, there is nothing more than CGI. When the first movie for a certain character comes out, there is a lot emphasis on character development, however, the sequels have nothing but VFX. These days so many comic characters are coming to the screen that I seem to have lost interest.

7 years ago

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Judas2018

Judas2018

Yeah the market is getting a bit over saturated. But that's because these films keep smashing the box office. So people are going to continue to buy up all of the comic book properties they can - and turn them into movies. Just the way the business is.

7 years ago

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mdbree17

mdbree17

The competition is surreal. If your work is no longer appreciated then I guess it's no longer worthwhile.

7 years ago

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DarthHazard

DarthHazard

Not always. Your work may not be appreciated for the moment but if you can work hard and do well then at some point in the future your work may be appreciated. The problem with a lot of industries like this one is that the people that have just started will struggle because they just aren't appreciated enough. But you just got to have the determination to work hard and not give up.

7 years ago

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Steve5

Steve5

It's hard for artists to keep making stuff when they're easily neglected. But I guess that's where the underground fan base comes from. It always starts off with a select group of people coming to appreciate your work.

7 years ago

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kammy143

kammy143

It is true. The world of making comics is a bit task consuming. It needs a lot of dedication and time in order to finish. It is also hard to penetrate into the world of comic writing because of the competitions which are very talented and technically advanced. The great thing about it is that when you produce something that the market truly engages in, it will struck like a gold mine.

7 years ago

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mildredtabitha

mildredtabitha

I agree with you. But the high competition should not discourage people from venturing into comic business. Taking advice and guidance from the successful comic writers will help newbies have a strong foundation in their journey to comic writing.

7 years ago

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Adesuwa08

Adesuwa08

I read other commentors but yours caught my attention, because you were brief and simple at answering, I have a whole lots of questions to ask you to start with. I am not a comic writer but I do have great love for comics, I love marvel comics more than DC - just giving you a little info about me on what I like.

I understand advice to start with, but what you don't know that she is trying to say is the fact that the competiton is too high, most people get soled out to the companies that are reigning the comicsphere. I know the advice of never loose hope and go what you love doing and you will get there kind of talks, but in reality comic writers are not appreciated anymore except when they have to sell their characters, I am not saying that you are wrong, but how are you going to tell someone to push ahead even with the high competiton. My brother was a comic writer and I gave him all the advice anyone might need including the ones you commented, but still it didn't work out and at last, he shushed me about the issue anytime I try to bring it up.

7 years ago

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mildredtabitha

mildredtabitha

Okay. The advice is not meant to guarantee success in comic industry, it is meant to encourage someone to give it a chance if they really want it. If you feel comic writers are no longer appreciated, then it is better to completely forget about it and do something else. Everything happens for a reason.

7 years ago

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treecko142

treecko142

The competition in the comic book industry is really intense and the usual path is getting into one of the bigger comic book companies before being able to launch your own independent line of comics. It is even more difficult when you live in a country where comic book writing is not appreciated or even looked down as "not a real job" by people.

7 years ago

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