Shows / Comic Lab
Comic Lab
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 Lab
Publishing two versions of the same book?
A ComicLab listener asks for advice on publishing two versions of the same book — one rated PG-13, and another rated R. Sounds an awful lot like what Brad…
- Comic Lab
Let's talk "comics" — literally
Let's talk "comics" — literally. A comic could be a single piece or an entire book. It could be a single panel or a series of panels. And although the word…
- Comic Lab
The novelty of Artificial Intelligence
Today's episode is sponsored by DreamHost — your first step in owning and controlling your own work! Artificial Intelligence continues to loom large in the…
- Comic Lab
Losing confidence ... and leveling up
Writer's Block often boils down to a crisis of confidence. How do you conquer that? Also, a listener asks for advice on a hybrid comic — half sequential art…
- Comic Lab
Special guests Elizabeth Pich & Jonathan Kunz ("War and Peas")
This week, we're joined by Elizabeth Pich & Jonathan Kunz ("War and Peas") to talk about their unique collaboration. Also, will a wordy title hurt your comic's…
- Comic Lab
Practicing to be a pro... or a pro practicing?
A listener asks about doing a practice project — and Kickstarting it later. Also — more than one hundred years of comics history tell everything we need to…
- Comic Lab
Special guest Karl Kerschl ("The Abominable Charles Christopher")
We're talking comics with our special guest Karl Kerschl, who talks about working in both corporate and independent comics, and prepping the Kickstarter…
- Comic Lab
Special guest Lar deSouza ("Least I Could Do" and "Looking for Group")
This week, we're talking comics with Special guest Lar deSouza, the artist of "Least I Could Do" and "Looking for Group". Also: is it time to hire a marketing…
- Comic Lab
Special guest Caitlin McGurk (The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum)
This week, we're talking comics with Caitlin McGurk! She's the curator of comics and cartoon art at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum, and she's got…
- Comic Lab
Nobody does thumbnails
Thumbnailing is one of the most often-repeated pieces of comics advice — and yet almost everyone skips this step. We're gonna talk about it anyway. Also — is…
- Comic Lab
Should I be embarrassed about my floppy?
Should an independent comics artist publish "floppies" — those 20-30 page stapled comics similar to those that Marvel and DC publish monthly? Also — will the…
- Comic Lab
Special Guest Scott Kurtz ("PvP")
Our special guest Scott Kurtz (PvP, Table Titans, Mort) joins us to answer questions from the ComicLab community! ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW... Studio layout How to…
- Comic Lab
Enshittification
Cory Doctorow's theory of enshittification describes how platforms die: "First, they are good to their users; then they abuse their users to make things better…
- Comic Lab
Special Guest Kevin McShane ("Kevin Comics")
This week's show is sponsored by Dreamhost. Everything you need to launch a website... and own and control your own work. Transparent pricing and a 100% uptime…
- Comic Lab
Special guest David Betancourt, comics-culture reporter with The Washington Post
This week's show is sponsored by Dreamhost. Everything you need to launch a website... and own and control your own work. Transparent pricing and a 100% uptime…
- Comic Lab
Special Guest Ellen Woodbury of "Pizza Cake Comics"
This week's show is sponsored by Dreamhost. Everything you need to launch a website. Transparent pricing and a 100% uptime guarantee. Everyone seems to be…
- Comic Lab
How to turn OFF creativity
This week's show is sponsored by Dreamhost. Everything you need to launch a website. Transparent pricing and a 100% uptime guarantee. It's often hard to get…
- Comic Lab
Special Guest: Dr. Joe Sutliff Sanders
Today's show is sponsored by the Lucy Cavendish College, the fastest growing constituent college of the University of Cambridge. We'll be talking to Dr. Joe…
Comic LabLIVE at the Charles M. Schulz Museum
To celebrate what would have been the legendary cartoonist's 100th birthday, the Charles M. Schulz Museum invited Dave and Brad to come to Santa Rosa…
- Comic Lab
Predictions for 2023
It's the first show of our SIXTH YEAR of podcasts! As we head into 2023, we're going to make some bold predictions of what the next 365 days have in store. ON…
- Comic Lab
2022 - Nailed it or Failed it?
At the beginning of the year, Dave and Brad made some bold predictions — involving Kickstarter, Substack, NFTs, blockchain, and more! As they bid a fond…
- Comic Lab
What if I succeed...?
Today's show is being brought to you by Comicraft. Mark your calendars — their New Year's Day Sale is right around the corner. Each font will be priced to ring…
- Comic Lab
Webcomics nostalgia
Today's show is being brought to you by Comicraft. Mark your calendars — their New Year's Day Sale is right around the corner. Each font will be priced to ring…
- Comic Lab
Special Guest Bill Barnes talks about A.I. comics
This week's show is sponsored by Dreamhost. If the implosion of Twitter has you wondering if you should finally build your own website, Dreamhost is there for…
- Comic Lab
Does this joke have the legs to become a running gag?
This week's show is sponsored by Dreamhost. If the implosion of Twitter has you wondering if you should finally build your own website, Dreamhost is there for…
- Comic Lab
Print on Demand
This week's show is sponsored by Dreamhost. If the implosion of Twitter has you wondering if you should finally build your own website, Dreamhost is there for…
- Comic Lab
The Social Contract between Comics Creators and Readers
This week's show is sponsored by Dreamhost. Everything you need to launch a website. Transparent pricing and a 100% uptime guarantee. Cartoonists Dave Kellett…
- Comic Lab
Twitter comes Tumblr-ing Down
Cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar discuss the impending demise of Twitter — and how comics creators can prepare for the changes this will bring. ON THIS…
- Comic Lab
Stop me before I post again!
Cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar try to help a ten-year dopamine addict stop themself from posting his comics before they're ready! ON THIS WEEK'S…
- Comic Lab
Battling Impostor Syndrome
Cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar discuss Impostor Syndrome and how to fight it. But first, Dave needs recommendations on building a D&D starter kit for…
- Comic Lab
BeReal... will it change social media?
Cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar discuss the new social-media app BeReal. Will it have any usefulness for cartoonists? ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW... BeReal…
- Comic Lab
Everything old is new again
Cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar discuss how websites and email newsletters have made a remarkable comeback in the past few years — and how you should…
- Comic Lab
Looking forward to flashbacks
The cartoonist uncles have a disagreement! Dave Kellett hates flashbacks, and Brad Guigar can't get enough! They'll talk about the right way to handle a…
- Comic Lab
Feeling a little Ziggy
Being lonely in a large city has a listener feeling a little Ziggy — and cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar have some advice. ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW…
- Comic Lab
Has Publishing Become Vanity Press?
A recent statistic about the print publishing industry have cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar thankful they self-publish. Also... the NFT comics company…
- Comic Lab
The Butso Method of writing
Cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar discuss the fabulously underrated Butso Method for writing. ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW... The Butso Method When should you…
- Comic Lab
Marketing with feeling
People make decisions based on emotions first, and then they back it up with logic afterwards. So cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar discuss effectively…
- Comic Lab
Have we become the people we fought?
Cartoonists Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett start a discussion about trying to avoid becoming the people they used to fight, only to slowly realize... it had…
- Comic Lab
When a Passive Revenue Stream is "Set it and regret it"
Cartoonists Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett get a case of déjà vu when a new crowdfunding service reminds them of an old scheme that crashed and burned. Then, a…
- Comic Lab
"I made a plagiarism — but I LIKE it... can I KEEP it??"
Cartoonists Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett give advice to a comics artist who realizes that they'd accidentally plagiarized a character from someone else... but…
- Comic Lab
San Diego Comic Con review
Cartoonist Dave Kellett has returned from Comic-Con International in San Diego, and talks about his first convention since the pandemic began. ON THIS WEEK'S…
- Comic Lab
"My friends won't buy my comics!"
Cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar give some advice to a cartoonist whose friends want his comics for free. Is this an entitlement issue? It is... but…
- Comic Lab
The Decoy Effect
Cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar discuss the Decoy Effect and wonder how this economic phenomenon could be applied to crowdfunding. ON THIS WEEK'S…
- Comic Lab
What if practice DOESN'T make progress?
Cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar field a question from a listener who is worried that they'll lose readers as they improve their skills! ON THIS WEEK'S…
- Comic Lab
We need to talk about Webtoons
Cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar field a question from a listener who is worried that they'll lose readers as they improve their skills! ON THIS WEEK'S…
- Comic Lab
Word balloon aesthetics
Cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar discuss word balloons! How do you find the look that suits your comic best? ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW... Word balloon…
- Comic Lab
"Why won't the world let me be awesome?"
Cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar discuss the importance of mindset in building a career. If you search for excuses, you'll find excuses. If you search…
- Comic Lab
NFTs ... They keep stepping on the same landmine!
Toronto Comics Arts Festival has become the latest comics organization to step on the NFT landmine! When will they learn?! Also, how do you rebuild after a…
- Comic Lab
Hostage-holding for fun and profit
Dave accidentally held his website hostage for 7 days... and gained 30 new Patreon backers! Also, we'll discuss landing-page strategies and much more ON THIS…
- Comic Lab
Ending a comic after 25 years
Cartoonist Dave Kellett asks if it's time to end his comic after 25 years. ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW... Ending a comic after 25 years Writing dialogue Today is a…
- Comic Lab
"Help! I used a digital brush and now I'm not an artist anymore!"
Cartoonists Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett share a little Truth about digital art. ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW... "Help! I used a digital brush and now I'm not an artist…
- Comic Lab
Haunted by Impostor Syndrome
Cartoonists Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett talk about what to do when you just can't avoid Impostor Syndrome. ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW... Impostor Syndrome…
- Comic Lab
"I can't make time for Patreon rewards!"
Cartoonists Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett talk about what to do when you just can't make time to create Patreon rewards. ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW... Can't make time…
- Comic Lab
"Do I really need fans?"
Cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar discuss the importance of audience building before a crowdfunding. ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW... Do I really need a fan base…
- Comic Lab
Our Biggest Mistakes
Cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar devote the entire show to discuss the biggest mistakes they made in their career. Also: Brad is launching a six-week…
- Comic Lab
Balancing storytelling and personal taste
Cartoonists Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett talk about how to balance good storytelling with your own personal taste. Questions asked and topics covered…
- Comic Lab
Livestreaming
Cartoonists Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett discuss the pros and cons of livestreaming your comics-creating process. Questions asked and topics covered…
- Comic Lab
Nine Patreon Mistakes that are Costing You Money
Cartoonists Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett discuss mistakes that comic creators are making on Patron that are costing them money. Today's show is brought to you…
- Comic Lab
"I've tried nothing, and it isn't working!"
Cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar talk about how understanding self-publishing can make or break your career in comics. Today's show is brought to you…
- Comic Lab
Exclusive is not forever
Cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar talk about using exclusive Patreon rewards as merchandise. Today's show is brought to you by Wacom, the maker of the…