The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing Comics

Take Control of Your Comics-Making Destiny

Creating your own comic is easier than ever before. With advances in technology, the increased connectivity of social media, and the ever-increasing popularity of the comics medium, successful
DIY comics publishing is within your reach. With The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing Comics, creators/instructors Comfort Love and Adam Withers provide a step-by-step breakdown of the comics-making process, perfect for any aspiring comics creator. This unprecedented, in-depth coverage gives you expert analysis on each step—writing, drawing, coloring, lettering, publishing,
and marketing. Along the way, luminaries in the fields of comics, manga, and webcomics—like
Mark Waid, Adam Warren, Scott Kurtz, and Jill Thompson—lend a hand, providing “Pro Tips” on essential topics for achieving your comics-making dreams. With the insights and expertise contained within these pages, you’ll have everything you need and no excuses left: It’s time to make your comics!

COMFORT LOVE and ADAM WITHERS are the six-time, Harvey Award–nominated husband-and-wife co-creators of the self-published comics The Uniques, Uniques Tales, and Rainbow in the Dark. The pair have nearly a decade of experience as freelance illustrators and graphic designers, and have served as instructors at Kendall College of Art and Design. They started self-publishing comics in 2008, and by 2009, it was their full-time job. They live together with their small army of cats in Michigan, and can be found across America at more than a dozen comic and anime conventions each year. Visit their website at comfortandadam.com.

1. Concept 5
What Are You Making and Why? 6
Research 10
Designing Characters 13
Designing Your Setting 21
2. Writing 27
Anatomy of a Comics Script 28
The Writing Process 31
The Writer’s Trinity: Plot, Story, and Character 36
How to Write Dialogue 46
Life as a Writer 49
3. Drawing 57
Anatomy of a Comics Page 58
The Drawing Process 62
Creating Interesting Pages 66
Bringing Characters to Life 76
Life as an Artist 82
4. Coloring 89
Introduction to Color Theory 90
Getting Comfortable with Photoshop 95
Coloring the Page 101
Special Effects 113
Life as a Colorist 125
5. Lettering 131
Understanding Lettering 132
Getting Comfortable with Illustrator 136
How to Letter a Page 141
Sound Effects 155
Life as a Letterer 167
6. Publishing 171
The Modern World of Publishing 172
Print Publishing 178
Digital Publishing 188
Distribution 194
7. Marketing 199
You Are Your Product 200
Targeting Your Audience 203
Mastering Your Web Presence 207
Conventioneering 214
Afterword 225
Thanks and Gratitude 227
The Adventure Continues Online 229
Index 230

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The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing Comics

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials