Tips for Indie comic success!

Over the past 25 years, I've drawn or created over 50 comic books for either myself as an indie or for Marvel comics. I didn't stay in comic books though, I moved on to work in video games. Here are many of the things that I learned that you can use to launch your own indie comic in 2018.

Things I've worked on:
Overwatch (PC, PS4)
League of Legends (PC)
Diablo 3 (PC,PS4)
Hearthstone (Mobile, PC)
Burning Crusade (PC)
Wrath of the Lich King (PC)
Final Fight Streetwise (PS2)
He Man (GBA)
Terminator 3 (GBA)
CannonBallers (Mobile)
CreeD
Twilight Monk
Ikeda
Nova Colony
Galaxy's Edge
SodaPopSoldier
Millenium Actress
Goblins and Gnomes

[coldseid]

Lost my job yesterday and I’ve always wanted to take a decent punt at making comics. This means so much to me while I go through this recovery. Thanks man.

[BurmaBuzz]

I’m really addicted to listening to this channel during this lockdown period

[stevendoty]

just found this! makes much sense! I myself have been drawing comics for several yrs, and while I do have around 30 odd books out, it has been so sporatic! being 60, having a 50 hr a week job makes it difficult, yet I do not do it for fame or money but for love of the artform. my advice from the start in this adventure has been to tell all, its best to have at least 3-6 issues done BEFORE you even mention the launch. that way you have a cushion in which to work from. but always be consistant! if you launch, be sure you keep producing work. it does not matter if its monthly, every 2 weeks, every 2 months, whatever! just keep it regular! love the post!

[jayowulf]

As in indie artist, taking the craft serious I’m super glad i found your page. Art has saved my life, and your videos are extremely motivating and informative. Thank you 🙏🏾

[liesinred]

This really hit home for me Trent.
Last year I launched a webcomic on webtoons. I thought I had a decent amount of pages stocked up. I was going to post an episode once a week. Well, because I wasn't familiar enough with the format. My first few issues we're short. Once I finally got dialed in I realized that I burned through all of my back stock. -still having to stick to a weekly update, I was quite now drawing 5 pages in one day. Colors and letters on another. All while working a 40 hr week with. Two kids and a wife. My art and writing both suffered.
At least I'll be more prepared next time.

[Dash]

This was the freshest piece of content from this channel in a while. It’s so valuable to talk about the realistic side of pursuing any endeavour, but especially an artistic one. A lot of us artists hiss and shy away at business and reality due to its harshness and detachment from creativity, but as you mention, they are so vital to doing something on your own like a comic or a indie video game. Thanks for talking about it, money and marketing don’t have to be a bad thing with the right intentions and the hard work to back it up.

[extendedlimits]

You've got a lot of good advice Trent! creating some buffer pages is SUPER important. Keeps the comic flowing, and the author from needing to take a bunch of hiatus. Though I would say you don't need to make 5 pages a week. Many of my favorite webcomics on Tapastic and Webtoons upload 1 to 2 pages a week and still have a pretty big following. I would say it also has to do with what you were saying about social media, where they'll post random doodles and illistrations they make to Instagram or Twitter to keep interacting with the fans without needing to create so many pages a week. It's also a form of advertising in and of itself! One of the most effective form of advertising I've seen for webcomics is when a comic artist gets a shout out by a bigger comic artist, because they did some amazing fan art or became friends with them through social media. I don't think you need to put your life on hold to make a comic, I would look at it more as a hobby at first, and transition into it as a job when you've gained enough of a following(or at least when there's enough interest to start selling your book through kickstarter or you own website). Though this is just coming from an avid webcomic reader who has endured the rise and fall of webcomics for the last 6 years :P

[BxBL]

Yeah successful comics usually have the same three factors in common:

1: Well known Protagonists.
2: Renowned Writer/Creator.
3: Large funding.

Art style will pretty much cause zero impact, consumers want to understand the narrative through visuals, but that isn't the focus, it's just a vehicle to deliver the real product: the tale.

One willing to publish comics need decents funds or eventually it's inevitable call it quit and go back to work on something else, bills to pay.

If main characters are unknown, money must be spent to make them known; Batman sells because he is Batman and he's Batman because he sells...

If nobody knows writer/creator, well that's a decade of personal marketing quest right there, better start now. Consumers don't like stories from unknown writers, but art is passable just have to be good enough. For example majority of Manga creators live below poverty line for an average 12 years before their book finally hit big, launch toys and anime series so then they can finally be rich and retired. The key is: these creators never quit, ever.

And the funding for the facts mentioned above... If you don't own any source of passive income, before diving into full time comics, you will quit because you'll have to.

[zestybomb]

Speaking about "Stream of content" I like the idea of including concept sketches or extra pieces like character bios n' stuff within the books. The sip of soda to your popcorn as it were.

[TheRealAlpha]

As a person also trying to climb back into comics I agree with a lot of this. You have to build up a backlog of content, you need to push to get people to see your stuff. Youtube, Twitch and other media platforms are important to use for leverage (as a fan of Creed as a kid it's, cool to suddenly find out "Oh hey, Trent has a youtube channel, Lemme follow it!"), so study how to use them effectively. It does help to have a job, but you'll end up tired and unable to keep up your art schedule (even if it's an art industry job) unless you're really laid back about it, but that generally means you take forever to get the product out and you lose motivation, so it's a tough balance. An important thing to remember is to keep at it, unless you're actually harming yourself by dong it, because it's never an overnight thing.

[pengukim]

Legit just took a bunch of notes on this video. You're really giving me a nice push for the series I want to work on. I'll definitely keep in mind what you said about us showing our comics and you checking it out (that really radical of you to do that tbh).
Maybe you'll see me back here one day :)

[arabidopsisThaliana]

I've already worked like 2 years on my web manga and never had thought about anything you just said in this vid. tbh this is probably something I could have needed at the start. thanks <3

[sketchtherapy]

It’s not just Creed. Uncle E said you were a good person that treats people with respect. Everything he said about you was positive and he told it to people rejected and blocked by their favorite artists and writers.

[Mekts]

You do Creed! Here I just randomly had this pop up in my feed since I look up alot of things about making comics! I loved Creed back in the day! Subscribed!

[alphadogstudios]

Twilight Monk is awesome. Everyone should pick up that book. I love Creed too.

[markmolino]

I'm a new subscriber and watching your video gave me the push to continue in comics bro, I'm working on my first indie comic and it's not easy as you said in the video and I appreciate your advice bro, thanks bro.

[motionwindart]

Dudeee, I enjoy Ethan's content so much, that name drop was such an awesome surprise. Yup I was expecting most of what you said :D still going for it hahahahaha

[warpath]

Thank you Trent!.. i listen to you everyday while i do my artwork, .. you inspire and motivate me.. your advice's keep me in line with my goals! thank you so much for making all these videos. God Bless you and your family!

[KoffeeKiwi]

It's been so long without your timelaps videos please continue with them and more comic knowledge, thank you

[JohnPeterPressonProtopsaltis]

I am happy am not the only one resurrecting characters and stories from my childhood. This is great