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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're thrilled to welcome Jamar Nicholas, creator of Leon The Extraordinary, to talk shop with us!

ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW...

• Jamar Nicholas
• UPDATE: NCS and Planks Principle
• UPDATE: Musk to take Twitter behind paywall?

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

• $2 — Early access to episodes
• $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

• $2 — Early access to episodes
• $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Dave and Brad return from the National Cartoonist Society Reuben Awards with stories, anecdotes, and  reflections.

ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW...

• What is the NCS?
• The Reuben Awards week
• Phil Foglio wins the award for Best Online Longform Comic
• Meeting Mike Peters ("Mother Goose & Grim")
• Brunch with the NCS — "Ya wanna hear about MY heart attack?"
• Outgoing NCS president Jason Chatfield
• NCS is reaching out to younger cartoonists
• Regional chapters of NCS
• Jamar Nicholas' "NCS  Studio Chats" series on YouTube
• The original art auction
• Publishing on Amazon / KDP: a phenomenal panel by Colin Shields, Vice President at Simon & Schuster, alongside Brent Bartram, Chief Strategy Officer of Andrews McMeel Syndication
• Eliminate "online" categories of the Reuben Awards?

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

• $2 — Early access to episodes
• $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

• $2 — Early access to episodes
• $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

New Yorker cartoonist Jason Chatfield and "Sarah's Scribbles" cartoonist Sarah Andersen join Brad and Dave at the Farewell Brunch, closing out the National Cartoonist Society's Reuben Awards events.

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

• $2 — Early access to episodes
• $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

• $2 — Early access to episodes
• $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Is comics a young person's game?  Pull up a (rocking) chair, and let's talk about it!

ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW...

• Are you too old to start in comics?
• Battling procrastination
• One-and-done publishing strategy?
• The TinyView app
• Eye problems due to comics

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

• $2 — Early access to episodes
• $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

• $2 — Early access to episodes
• $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Which is more important for a cartoonist to learn — writing or drawing?

ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW...

• Is it worth my time to learn how to draw AND how to write?
• UPDATE: Dropbox in decline
• UPDATE: Brad writes a "Tales from the Drive" story
• Using social media to direct traffic to website
• Working 7 days a week to achieve work-life balance

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

• $2 — Early access to episodes
• $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

• $2 — Early access to episodes
• $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Thanos snaps his fingers and erases Brad and Dave's careers. They have all their current knowledge, talents, and skills. But they don't have their titles, audiences, or archives. What, where, and how do they RESTART?

ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW...

• Celebrating 300 episodes of ComicLab and 300 episodes of Pro Tips.
• The Thanos snap

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

• $2 — Early access to episodes
• $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

• $2 — Early access to episodes
• $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

There's a  definite benefit to making mistakes early in your career. They have a much lower impact than the ones that come later.

ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW...

• Making small mistakes early so you can avoid big trauma later
• Re-releasing old merchandise
• Visual novels
• Luck in social media

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

• $2 — Early access to episodes
• $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

• $2 — Early access to episodes
• $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Has manga overtaken American-style comics in the hearts and imaginations of readers? 

ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW...

• Did manga win comics?
• UPDATE: Threads usage declines — is this the end of the Social Media Age?
• Kickstarter reaffirms commitment to AI technology

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

• $2 — Early access to episodes
• $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

• $2 — Early access to episodes
• $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Dave and Brad return from Comic-Con International in San Diego, and they have much to discuss!

ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW...

• San Diego Comic-Con recap
• UPDATE: Do we need to reintroduce "free?"
• UPDATE: Musk rebrands Twitter to "X."
• Sticking with a failing project too long
• Procreate for print

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

• $2 — Early access to episodes
• $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

• $2 — Early access to episodes
• $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

This week a ComicLab listener writes to thank us for talking him out of a mistake — and to say he'd like to get back to making it as soon as possible.

ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW...

• Going back to making the same mistake
• Patreon for a short-term comic
• UPDATE: Patreon Free Trial
• UPDATE: Jerry Garcia — "Not everybody likes licorice, but people who like licorice... REALLY like licorice!" That's sage advice for  niche publishing.
• Particular advice for small comic conventions
• Coming back after a break — restart the online comic or Kickstart a book with finished materials

DriveThruComics

Check out the redesigned DriveThruComics here! Their team is looking for feedback as they work on the new layout and features, so pass along your thoughts using this Google Form.

If you're interested in setting up a publisher account, here's some helpful information. They also have guides for creating and publishing digital and print-on-demand books!

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

• $2 — Early access to episodes
• $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

• $2 — Early access to episodes
• $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Today's show is sponsored by DriveThruComics.com! It's the first download comic shop — and we think it's the best!

You should build a following on social media. You should launch a website. You should focus on the quality of your comic. How do you manage all of these "SHOULDs?!" 

ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW...

• Too many "SHOULDs"
• UPDATE: ComicLab LIVE at NCS Reuben Awards Weekend: Sept. 8, 11 a.m. Special guest Sarah Andersen (Sarah's Scribbles)
• What cartooning advice would an 18-year-old actually listen to?
• Losing the passion for NSFW comics

DriveThruComics

Check out the redesigned DriveThruComics here! Their team is looking for feedback as they work on the new layout and features, so pass along your thoughts using this Google Form.

If you're interested in setting up a publisher account, here's some helpful information. They also have guides for creating and publishing digital and print-on-demand books!

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

• $2 — Early access to episodes
• $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

• $2 — Early access to episodes
• $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

As the bingo community continues to grow, this seems to be a good time to do a review of some common bingo lingo that is used in bingo halls. Technically, this is specific to Southern California, but can serve as insight of what to expect across the country.

Today's show is sponsored by DriveThruComics.com! It's the first download comic shop — and we think it's the best!

With Marvel, Netflix, Sony, HBO, and Universal pulling out of Hall H, what will San Diego Comic-Con be like? Some say that removing the Hollywood sightings and signings will allow the attendees to return their focus to the comics creators the show was initially founded to celebrate. Others fear a floor full of angry fans who spent hundreds on a show that isn't there.

ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW...

• With Marvel, Netflix, Sony, HBO and Universal pulling out of Hall H, what will SDCC be like?
• UPDATE: Mastodon still ain't it
• UPDATE: BlueSky
• UPDATE: Patreon video extended to Founder's level

DriveThruComics

Check out the redesigned DriveThruComics here! Their team is looking for feedback as they work on the new layout and features, so pass along your thoughts using this Google Form.

If you're interested in setting up a publisher account, here's some helpful information. They also have guides for creating and publishing digital and print-on-demand books!

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

• $2 — Early access to episodes
• $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

• $2 — Early access to episodes
• $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Today's show is sponsored by Dreamhost! If you want to own and control your own work with a website, Dreamhost can help you get started.

Phil Foglio joins us to discuss his long and storied career as an independent cartoonist! Best known for co-creating "Girl Genius"  with his wife Kaja, Phil talks about his breakout hit, "What's New with Phil and Dixie," his milestone NSFW series, "XXXenophile," developing the Gaslamp Fantasy genre, and the philosophies that have helped him navigate several decades as an independent comics creator.

Fun Fact! Phil, Dave, and Brad are all nominated for the National Cartoonist Society's Silver Reuben Award for Best Online Longform Comic!

ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW...

• Special Guest Phil Foglio
• ComicLab LIVE at San Diego Comic Con
• UPDATE: Google Domains

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

• $2 — Early access to episodes
• $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

• $2 — Early access to episodes
• $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Today's show is sponsored by Dreamhost! If you want to own and control your own work, Dreamhost can help you get started.

Patreon's WordPress plug-in enables you to host Patreon-exclusive content on your website. We'll talk about how you can use this to grow your membership. Also, we'll talk about #comicsbrokeme

ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW...

• Different ways to use the Patreon API
• #comicsbrokeme
• "My art style is "diverging!"

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

• $2 — Early access to episodes
• $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

• $2 — Early access to episodes
• $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Let's talk about storytelling. What are some good ways to learn to do better storytelling?

ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW...

• How to learn storytelling
• ComicLab LIVE at Comic Con International in San Diego (SATURDAY 8 p.m.)
• UPDATE: BlueSky
• Nothing's happening on Discord!

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

• $2 — Early access to episodes
• $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

• $2 — Early access to episodes
• $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Today's show is sponsored by Dreamhost! If you want to own and control your own work, Dreamhost can help you get started.

We hear from a listener who took our advice and launched their own website. And now they have only one question: "What the heck am I supposed to DO with it??"

ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW...

• Alaska Comics Camp
• I've got a website... now what do I DO with it??
• Photoshop AI
• Using 3D backgrounds in CSP

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

• $2 — Early access to episodes
• $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

• $2 — Early access to episodes
• $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Today's show is sponsored by Dreamhost! If you want to own and control your own work, Dreamhost can help you get started.

It's bad enough if a reader makes an unkind comment toward you, but what do you do when readers attack each other? When it results in some of those readers leaving your community, it's a problem that demands attention! Also: Patreon is offering a new feature: Free Trials! And Brad and Dave disagree on whether you should implement it!

ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW...

• When readers attack — each other
• What comes first — lettering or drawings?
• Patreon Free Trials
• Naming files for eComics

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

• $2 — Early access to episodes
• $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

• $2 — Early access to episodes
• $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

Today's show is sponsored by Dreamhost! If you want to own and control your own work, Dreamhost can help you get started.

It happens at the beginning of every month — you lose a few Patreon backers. It can be demoralizing, so let's discuss ways to survive the churn! Also, how do you restart comics after a long hiatus?

ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW...

• Surviving the churn
• Restarting after a long hiatus
• Learning to write

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

• $2 — Early access to episodes
• $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

• $2 — Early access to episodes
• $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.