ComixStreet Recap #6
Item 1 – Creator Spotlight: Dawn Griffin on the Release of Her 1st Webcomic Collection
In this week’s Creator Spotlight, I had a chance to talk with webcartoonist Dawn Griffin, creator of Zorphbert + Fred.
1.) Dawn, big congrats on the upcoming release of Zorphbert + Fred Volume 1: Prepare to be Analyzed, the first print collection of Z+F. What can you tell us about the book?
Thank you Tyler! I am very excited about this book. There’s few things more exciting to a cartoonist than holding your first comic strip collection in your hands, and thinking “Damn, I drew a whole lot of comics, didn’t I?” This book contains my first 200 comics, and in about a year the second book can be released! I really wanted to make this book worthwhile to spend your hard-earned spare cash on in this economy. So, there’s a slew of bonus material to thumb through, and every single strip comes with an “artist retrospective” comment or two. It’s amazing how your view on each strip changes over time.. some become funnier, others you kind of regret. Some conjure up a funny story, or really show where your technique changed. In an industry where the consumers are paying for a product they could essentially get for free online, we have to give them a little something extra to make it desireable, and I believe I did that.
2.) Designing that first print collection is always a learning experience. Any tips or things you’ve learned in the process of putting together this collection that other creator’s thinking about going to print should be aware of?
I have to say the process went pretty smoothly. I shopped around for a while, narrowing down the printers… it came down to Createspace or Lulu. I had already dealt with Creatspace a little, as I illustrate a kids’ book series “Abby’s Adventures”, and that was printed through Creatspace, so I had an idea of the quality. What sold me was the price point per book for me, Lulu was much more expensive. Createspace was very user-friendly, and gave me no issues for the most part. The best advice I could give overall is to learn Adobe InDesign if you don’t already, as well as Acrobat. That was probably my biggest hurdle- making the PDF small enough, yet high quality enough, to upload. (Createspace allows up to 100mb). Also, saving your comics as you make them in a format that InDesign can easily handle makes your life easier when creating your book. Also.. not that I am a procrastinator in any way, but if you have a con coming up, do leave PLENTY of time to make your book, upload it, wait for the mailed proof, approve the proof, and order your books! This is quite a lengthy process, time-wise.
3.) Last year, you attended the Baltimore Comic Con as a fan and to network with other creators. (That’s where we met!) Now that you have a book, what cons can readers expect to see you at so they can pick up a copy?
Funny you should ask. (April 16th-19th to be exact) I joined Byron Wilkins of 1977 fame, exhibiting at Chicago’s C2E2, which now even has a “webcomics pavilion” section! Many of the webcomic “big guns” were there, and it’s probably the biggest con I’ve been to. After C2E2, I am looking into Philly’s Wizard World (right in my neighborhood!) in June, and the Baltimore Comic Con again in late August. I would love to attend the New England Webcomics Weekend again, it was a blast last year, but it just happens to be on my wedding date- Nov. 6th 2010! Some things take priority, even over comics!
4.) Now that the book is done, what’s up next for you?
That would be SELLING the books! More cons, more P.R. work, more marketing. I have spent 3 years now working hard at making a decent webcomic, I feel it is time to take to the next level, now that I have an extensive archive and solidified characters. Not that my site will take a break, I’ll still be updating twice a week, plus blog posts and extra goodies. I would love to go three times a week with the comic, but with the side project of the kids’ book series, it eats up that time for a third update. Speaking of, I am working on the third Abby’s Adventures book, “Earth Day and the Recycling Fashionista“, and it should be released in a couple months. The publisher, writer and I hope to get some sponsors for this book, as the environment is a hot subject right now, especially in schools… it could be our breakout title! And beyond that, just.. oh.. getting married this fall! My fiance, Rick, must be wondering who will be walking down the aisle– me or one of my characters!
Item 2- Mark Millar: Kicking ASS and Nemesis
Mark Millar has had a big couple of months, now, hasn’t he? Kick Ass is currently the #1 movie in America, and last month’s hot new book was his Nemesis. I’m a big fan of Millar’s work. I think he’s the best “high concept” guy in comics right now. He’s also probably the best marketer of his own product out there. Which just goes to show indy guys, even when you “make it,” even when you’re considered one of the top writers in the comics game- NO ONE IS GOING TO CARE MORE ABOUT YOUR WORK THAN YOU. No publisher, no marketing staff, no business people, no retailers…no one. So it’s YOUR job (and will always be YOUR job) to market your books to the best of your ability.
Here are a few things Millar did that I liked:
- Once again, he did a viral campaign where he agreed to post the name of comic shops who put up self printed Nemesis posters in their shops and took a picture of it. You scratch his back, he’ll scratch yours. Always a good move.
- He auctioned off the names of his two lead characters to raise money for charity. This A.) is a newsworthy story, which gives free publicity to the title, and B.) raises money for a good cause. Bravo.
- The high concept of Nemesis is so simple that it’s easy to talk about and easy to spread, and Millar’s done a great job spreading it’s message in a few words. “The world’s only super-villain vs. America’s smartest cop.” “What if Batman and The Joker were the same person?” “Crime is Awesome and So Am I!” These are all short and compelling sentences that, paired with killer art, entice readers to check it out.
Question: Can you think of three pithy log-lines for your comic that are this good? If not, you have some work to do.
- Even his throwaway tweet about Nemesis being on a Time Square billboard got the book some extra coverage near launch day. (Just a Photoshop job, guys.)
Here’s one promotional miss from Millar in my book, though. Issue #1 of Nemesis contained the tagline, “Makes Kick Ass Look Like #$%!” Don’t get it. Not sure putting down your work that is currently flying off the shelves and about to be in theaters to sell a new book is a good method. Furthermore, the biggest difference between Kick Ass and Nemesis is that Steve McNiven is doing the art as opposed to John Romita, Jr. JR, JR. could easily take umbrage with this assessment (were he not counting his big bags of Kick Ass money right now.) Add to this the fact that without inker Dexter Vines finishing McNiven’s usually immaculate linework, Nemesis looks a little less polished and unfinished compared to what we’re used to from Steve.
And the fact that issue #2 has been delayed, something that plagued Kick Ass and many of Millar’s other projects, is a mis-step as well. But regardless, Millar is certainly having himself a nice spring.
Item 3- FREE COMIC BOOK DAY – May 1
FBCD 2010 is almost here.
Click here for a preview of the books available.
I’ll be doing my first Free Comic Book Day event, giving out free sketchcards at Larry’s Comics in Lowell, MA. I’ll also have copies of Tears of the Dragon on hand, and more of my “Spidey @ Fenway” print that went over so well at the Boston Comic Con.
Item 4- Upgrade to ComicPress 2.9
Using ComicPress to run your webcomics? Then if you haven’t upgraded to ComicsPress 2.9, I really suggest you do it. There are a number of sleek new features and enhanced widget options that definitely make it worth your while. I recently upgraded Tears of the Dragon and Over and am very happy with the new content management system upgrade. Definitely put it on your to-do list.
Item 5- SketchCards
With con season in now in full swing, I’ve got to tell you…I can’t sing the praises of sketchcards enough. (Considering I’ve set the goal of doing 100 free sketch cards this year, and will likely hit that number by the end of next month, I must be a fan.)
If you’re looking to get into the sketch card game, here are a few resources:
For some premade, professional sketchcards, check out Versicolor Productions. They have some affordable, high quality options.
While I’ve used some of the purchased, pre-made sketch cards before, I found myself really wanting to brand my sketchcards with my website. I was going to just make up a sketchcard template, when, through the magic of Twitter, artist Ralph Contreras posted this 8-in-one sketch card template sheet on his website.
I downloaded the template, edited the template in PS to include my branding, and then printed those cards out on some bristol board and SHAZAM! (Ralph uses that word all the time) I’ve got personalized sketcards for FAR cheaper than the standard going rate.
Don’t sleep on the sketchcards…they don’t take up a lot of time to create and don’t take up a lot of space on your table at cons, but they give you a great way to engage comics fans.
Previous Columns
ComixStreet Recap #1: Welcome to ComixStreet…Lee Nordling’s ComicsProPrep…DC’s Earth One…JAVILAND Podcast…Indy Comic Book Week
ComixStreet Special Comment: Webcomics.com Becomes a Subscription Service
Filed Under: ComixTribe
Right on dude! Glad you liked the sketch card template. I had fun creating it! I agree that sketch cards are a great way to get your art out there, and they’re fun to draw on too. I think your branding looks great on the cards by the way. I’ve been enjoying your “100 Sketch Cards in 2010″! Keep up the great work! – Shazam!