Comic Lab

This week on ComicLab, veteran comic artists Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett kick things off a discussion about something every cartoonist wrestles with: work-life balance. If you’re juggling a day job, relationships, and your creative ambitions, Brad and Dave break down practical strategies that actually work — including: • Why consistency beats intensity • How to build a repeatable creative schedule • The power of small, daily wins • And why your health and relationships are just as critical as your drawing skills They also tackle a big-picture career question: What happens when a long-running comic ends? Dave s...

In this episode of ComicLab, Brad and Dave tackle a surprisingly practical question: How do you start a web ring for comics creators? With social media platforms becoming less reliable for discovery, the classic web ring is making a comeback as a way for creators to promote each other directly. Along the way, the guys discuss audience targeting, technical setup, and why the success of a web ring depends more on community alignment than on code. Plus: tattoo debates, Tolkien romance arguments, and the eternal challenge of drawing the right amount of detail in your comics. <...

Making friends in the comics community can be... complicated. After all, we're kind of an introverted bunch. When it comes to social interaction, Brad and Dave have made all the mistakes, so you don't have to! They'll talk about trying too hard, encountering hostility, and trying to fit into a community that's just not right for you. Speaking of realizing a community isn't a good fit, Dave just found out he was kicked off Amazon. And that's perfectly OK with him. Today's Show UPDATE: Dave has been kicked off Amazon! UPDATE: Our listeners recommend eBay for...

What’s the difference between a concept and a conceit — and why does confusing the two quietly sabotage so many comics? In this episode, Brad and Dave break down one of the most important (and misunderstood) distinctions in storytelling. A concept is the engine that drives your story forward. A conceit is a clever wrapper that might look great… but doesn’t go anywhere. If you’ve ever launched a comic that felt strong at first but ran out of momentum, this conversation will hit home. We talk about: Why constraints actually fuel creat...

This week, we welcome the brilliant Dylan Meconis, creator of Queen of the Sea and Bite Me. Here’s what we cover: How most colorists actually break in (hint: it’s not by “murdering another colorist in single combat” — though that was discussed) What “flatting” is — and why it’s often your first step into paid coloring work Why networking is really just “being friends with cartoonists” Portfolio strategy: Why saying “I do everything” is less effective than saying “I do this brilliantly” Analog coloring techniques — watercolor paper, oil-based pencils, and why certain materials go extinct at the worst possible moment Th...

A listener writes in after a breakup, worried they’ve lost their creative spark for good. Brad and Dave unpack the emotional toll of heartbreak, why creative paralysis is normal, and how time, grief, and self-reflection can ultimately deepen your storytelling. Also: Dave is quitting Amazon Advantage, and he shares why he made that startling decision.Today's ShowComics Will Break Your Heart (and so will dating)Dave Kellett's "Double Dog Dare" bookAmazon AdvantageImposter Syndrome and mental healthTakeawaysIt's normal to feel creatively blocked after a heartbreak.Finding joy in solitude can help wi...

The Mel Brooks documentary, "The 99-Year-Old Man!" holds a lot of wisdom for cartoonists. Speaking of wisdom, it doesn't take much to avoid these common Kickstarter scams.Today's ShowWhat can cartoonists learn from Mel Brooks?KickstarterSummaryIn this episode of ComicLab, cartoonists Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett discuss the challenges and joys of creativity, drawing inspiration from Mel Brooks' documentary. They explore themes of fear, kindness, and the importance of perseverance in artistic careers. The conversation also touches on the realities of navigating Kickstarter campaigns, including the rise of scams targeting...

Cartoonists Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett dig into the many ways we react to humor — from full-on belly laughs to the silent internal “that was good” response. After that the way, they tackle some big (and surprisingly relatable) topics:Are they actually going to use Patreon Quips?Dave’s Bad 2025 — what went wrong, what he learned, and why it mattersWhy you never stop building an audience, even when things feel “established”And yes… being scared of Reddit comments is universal!SummaryIn this episode of Comic Lab, hosts Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar dive into the nature of hu...

An online publisher has become the center of some genuinely alarming stories. Brad and Dave break down five hard lessons comic creators can learn when a publisher shows signs of instability, mismanagement, or collapse.Today's ShowFive Lessons from a Publisher in CrisisSubmitting your work for awardsSummaryCartoonists Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett explore the importance of owning and controlling one's career in the comic industry. They discuss the need for business acumen among cartoonists and the risks of signing contracts. The conversation emphasizes the value of learning from mistakes in self-publishing...

A listener asks: "Should you judge a book by its cover?" Cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar say... YES! Next, a cartoonist who is too embarrassed to promote his own work gets some encouragement and words of advice from the veteran comic creators.TODAY'S SHOWShould you judge a book by its cover?Too embarrassed to promoteTakeawaysA book's cover plays a significant role in its marketability.It's important to design a cover that reflects the content of the comic.Promoting comics can be challenging, especially in unexpected social situations.Introverts can find...

Starting a webcomic in 2026 isn’t about chasing algorithms or copying what’s popular — it’s about building something sustainable, creative, and yours. In this episode, Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett break down what new cartoonists actually need to focus on in their first years: writing first, consistency over hype, owning your work, and building an audience the right way.You’ll learn why you don’t need Webtoon or Tapas, why monetizing too early can derail your career, how social media really fits into comics growth today, and why a website and mailing list are non-negotiable. This is a ma...

What does it really mean when someone looks at your career and says, “You should be doing more”?In this episode of ComicLab, Brad and Dave respond to a pointed listener question that cuts straight to the bone: If they have the skills, the experience, and the ideas — why haven’t they launched even more projects? The answer isn’t defensive or dismissive. Instead, it becomes a clear-eyed breakdown of creative bandwidth, sustainability, work-life balance, and the invisible labor that propels up a long-term comics career. From Patreon and newsletters to storefronts, commissions, podcasts, and family responsibilities, they unpac...

Cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar make their predictions for 2026 and share their goals for the new year. Also — they offer their annual reminder to shop the Comicraft New Year's Day sale on January 1st.Brad's PredictionsSyndicated comics reach the tipping pointCreator identity becomes prominentSubstack pulls throughWebtoon bubble burstsPatreon expands “community” and “discovery” tools.AI gains acceptanceDave's predictionsIf you want a stable career in comics, produce Dog Man.NCS will continue to grow its membership to numbers it hasn’t seen in decades.If Funko Pop indeed goes bankrupt — and that’s still a big if...

At the beginning of the year, cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar made their predictions for the coming year — and set goals for themselves. Now, as the year comes to a close, it's the brutally honest follow-up episode where they grade themselves — and sometimes discover that Past-Brad and Past-Dave were wildly optimistic. Or deluded. Or both.2025 PREDICTIONSDAVE: Business planning for cartoonists is gonna be filled with a lot of anxiety. Trump will be a chaos agent.BRAD: the “winners” of 2025 will be the cartoonists and businesses that help people *deal* with anxiety.DAVE: Bluesky will be at 50...

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 ShowPrint on DemandHow to "Let Time Be Your Editor"Convention PricingHuionHuion is sponsoring today's show, and they're offering additional discounts on the following...

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...

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 ShowWhat's the best platform for audience building?How to launch a comic in 2026How important is "loca...

Today's show is sponsored by Huion, makers of the Kamvas 22 Plus ! In today's show, Brad and Dave tackle an old question — does your comic HAVE to be in color? The answer is more nuanced than you might think! Also, the comics uncles will discuss the right ways — and the wrong way — to sign your books for fans.HuionHuion is sponsoring today's show, and they're offering additional discounts on the following products when you use the discount code: ComicLabKamvas 22 Plus — A luxurious large-screen, high-resolution digital pen display with an etched glass surface that simulate...

Cartoonist Brad Guigar talks about his love/hate relationship with Reddit — and the publishing strategy that's currently delivering Patreon backers that has him loving it again.Today's ShowBrad's Love/Hate Relationship with RedditThe ComicLab Accent ChallengeWorking on Comics at WorkNSFW comic artists on RedditBrad mentioned getting great advice from people doing NSFW comics on Reddit. Here are a few of them.u/GrimDarkDorku/DarlingSnarlu/LeFauxCreuxTakeawaysBoredom can spark creativity and lead to new ideas.Writing on paper during downtime at work is a safe way to cr...

We always advise having "many legs under your table." In other words, comic creators should have many sources of revenue. If one is threatened, the others can keep the business aloft. So it's important, from time to time, to check for wobbly legs! What are the sources of comics income that are currently vulnerable?Today's ShowVulnerable legsSusan MacTaggartDesign vs StyleSummaryIn this episode of ComicLab, hosts Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar explore various themes related creativity and the business of comics. The conversation begins with the importance of diversifying income streams...