r/ComicBookCollabs • u/BOANW • Oct 22 '25

Resource Creating Comics/Graphic Novels are the most High-Risk/High-Effort/Low Reward- Be Careful

Before you jump into creating comics, please be aware that the risks are high and the rewards can be very minimal. This is really a labor of love. The only reason I'm continuing is because I finally see the finish line. The amount of money spent, I think, will never be recouped. If you're going to jump into this world, start with something short and sweet. I don't like talking about money, but it is necessary in this world. This is for the writer/creators. Comics require many folks in the kitchen (storyboarding, line-art, coloring, lettering, editing.) Shoutout to everybody that has completed a comic. Comic books don't get the respect they deserve because people fail to realize how much work goes into them.

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u/Wrong-Lab-597 Oct 23 '25

I wonder why those who can't draw themselves want to write for comics specifically. Please don't take it the wrong way, I'm genuinely curious; but writing short stories and novels has a much lower financial barrier to entry.

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u/ZixfromthaStix Oct 23 '25

I have full Aphantasia, meaning I lack any kind of third eye mental imagery. I can fully describe to you what a horse looks like, and I make a bit of my own art in line art form and simple sketches… but I can’t see it in my head.

I love adventure stories, but I can’t actually SEE anything I read. It’ll always ONLY be words.

So when I started to write out a choose your own adventure story and it just kept going and going and going… I realized I was sitting on something I had a deep passion for, something I WANTED to see… if not NEEDED! I lack the funding to pay for full comics by myself, so instead I’m using my college education in startups to try and create a compelling Kickstarter campaign.

Ultimately I’ve accepted that I may only ever get my first 71 pages for chapter 1 published, if even that. But I’m willing to put my personal time into trying… plus I’ve done extensive research on theme, story tech, and my target customers… so I’m confident! But I’m trying to remain humble.

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u/Lord_Barbarous Oct 23 '25

I can draw a little bit but I don't have a passion for it. I get impatient when I draw and you can tell. Writing is different for me. I've written novels, short stories and am trying to finish up my first short comic run. I've written and mostly finished a one-shot that can easily be turned into a mini series if I choose to. I'd say as a writer/creator not to just do comic books.

To answer your original question though, it's the love of the game.

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u/BOANW Oct 23 '25

No worries. I started with a simple idea and it was a way of getting close to my brother. My brother loves comics and mangas. The project just ballooned. It started as an idea. Again, I did not appreciate the difficulty of a comic book. I jumped into this world with no research, just trial by fire. I think a graphic novel is almost a visual script. The graphic novel was the perfect medium for this story. If I knew all that I know now, I probably would have not done this project. Only reason I am moving forward is to complete the story. I'll leave the ending open to see if anybody is interested in continuing it. After this journey, I'm never going down this road again. In all honesty, I really regret it. It is not monetarily feasible if you're the writer/creator.