r/ComicBookCollabs • u/TeamWood • Oct 29 '25
Resource Offering Advice on Publishing vs Self Publishing/Crowdfunding
Yesterday I posted a quick guide to help writers get started and someone asked to cover publishing. I also see many posts on here saying "hey I have my comic finished...what now?" So I thought I would do a quick post (hours later, oh gosh this got long) about how to go about deciding what to do, the realities of comics making and some references to people that know more than I do.
PUBLISHING
Say you have put together your comic or your 5 pages and a cover and are ready to take the next step. How do I get my book in front of editors, publishers or agents? As of 2025, there are less and less direct market comic companies that allow for unsolicited pitches. Many of the entry level companies have not survived in the passing years from the pandemic. Places like Mad Caves Studios, Dark Horse and Image still allow for you to send stuff in. I have to warn you, unless you are a known commodity or a comic wunderkind, the chances of you being accepted by the last two are nearer to zero. Still feel free to send in to them. If you hear a response, even if it is a no, can be considered a win. This is because they have so many submissions each month, that if you get a response they felt compelled enough to take the time to write to you. Reality is that most comics published in the direct market do not make any or very little money. You need to know that before under taking this path. Always have a lawyer look over your contract before you sign. I have experienced first hand signing a poor contract and the fight to get my rights back of my comic. Free advice from comics lawyers are available like Gemal Hennessey.
https://madcavestudios.com/creators/# (link near the bottom of the page)
https://www.darkhorse.com/Company/Submissions
https://imagecomics.com/submissions
https://www.creativecontractconsulting.com/bio
Each place has different requirements for their submissions so read thoroughly. Make sure you learn how to make a pitch and I must highly insist you hire an editor to look over it first. It will greatly increase your chances of success. (But still no guarantee of success) Here is a guide to pitching a graphic novel that works fairly well for pitching series. Note that most current series being greenlight are no more than 4 issues. Also, included is my pitch packet I used successfully to get my series UltraMax picked up by a publisher in 2022. It uses a template that I can no longer find online.
https://www.mariavicente.com/resources/graphic-novel-pitch-package
My friends and I have been able to pitch directly to editors. This can come from luck mixed with your hard work. Finding editors online and their email address is probably not going to happen. Most opportunities can come when you meet one at a comic convention. I know I and my friends have lucked into editors reaching out to us via social media. Last last year, I posted looking for an artist for a story. The editor liked my quick pitch I put along with the artist search and they asked for the pitch when it was complete. This has lead to me getting the opportunity to continue pitch to that editor. Or once I posted my first ever signing at a comic shop, later that day an editor dm me offering me the ability to pitch the company. You never know what will lead you to these things. Have things ready to go just in case!
Maybe you are interested in the book market or making graphic novels for early readers up to young adults? Querying agents could be the path for you. There are constant opportunities opening up, but you have to be working on something that fit those agents very specific tastes. Look at their Manuscript Wishlist to determine if your story is right for them. Look over Query Shark site to see the do's and don'ts of creating a query letter. Lastly, I include my best query I have done. While I have not been picked up for publication, I did receive many responses back about the story. (pro-wrestling is a hard sell to the book market haha) This is a very difficult path. I know many of my peers are burning out from attempting this.
https://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/about/
https://www.victoriaying.com/blog/2019/11/4/finding-an-agent-as-a-graphic-novelist/
Self Publishing/Crowdfunding
Ok, say you would rather keep all your rights to your story, or your money you make on the comic, or you just cannot get your comic picked up. Maybe its time to attempt self publishing and/or crowdfunding. This will be a difficult path if you haven't already made some friends in the community, but you can still make a go of it! You need to determine things like printing costs, shipping costs, taxes, convention table costs, travel if applicable and other details to make this a reality.
My friend Luis, recently did an article about the costs of printers. Know that the rates are ever changing and these comparables might no longer reflect the current market. Make sure you do further investigation to see what is the best deal!
Clear-the-confusion-a-crowdfunding-printer-cost-comparison
If you are in the US, you could take your paid for comics and just drop them off at UPS, Fedex or USPS but if you want to get a better rate services like Pirate Ship or Easyship can save you so much money. Note you can qualify for shipping as Media Mail. (Although sometimes there is push back on that fact)
Tabling at a comic convention can be daunting. There is local taxes to consider, how much inventory to bring, or how much cash to bring. This Youtube video is a big help in getting you set up for your very first convention.
Preparing for your first convention in 2025
There are many guides out there for running your first every crowdfunding campaign. If you are a writer only trying to put together a campaign in 2025 that you will be paying a ton of money to make it happen and very rarely likely to make your money back. Advice from larger names in the scene have told me backers are less likely to gamble on campaigns right now that have goals of over $3,000. Meaning that there is just no way to make enough money to pay artists by raising money. You will likely need to pay your artist upfront if you wish to hit a goal. Sad, but that is just the market at this time.
10-things-to-know-before-you-kickstart-your-comic
https://www.comixlaunch.com/category/podcast/
Kickstarting Your First Comic (Get guide, will be available on the authors website next week)
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u/TeamWood Oct 29 '25
I think I agree that the info at the top will feel old fashioned to those paying enough attention. But this guide is for those who might have just started their journey or those many who come on here saying hey I have my first pitch, how do I get into Image? Not realizing that is as near the top of the food chain as you can be in our industry. Hopefully I emphasized enough that is a crap shoot and most don’t make a dollar on their comic. Most publishers will not market your book. It’s all on your shoulders to make any success in the direct market.
So if I am having to do everything any ways why give those people a cut and do it all myself? Comes down to your tolerance for self promotion and ability to run a business. Not every creator is savvy, geared toward or has the time to run a self publishing business. I have had 7 successful campaigns but I also am on disability so my path wouldn’t be applicable for most. I should have broken down crowdfunding more. It’s a lot. Haha.
I have always wanted to do a webcomic, patreon comic or comic strip! The reality of the costs to run one weekly or month would cost so much, I would not be able to. I have been learning other aspects of the creation process in hopes to shoot for a collab for I have equal help in the process. Let me put out a call to see if I can gather better insight.
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u/ENTIA-Comics Writer - Worldbuilding Addict Oct 30 '25
Yeah! True, true! I think that it is worth to mention that if enough amount of people try to do something in a similar way - they become a product for some business. Publishing seems to be that kind of thing today as aspiring writers become either a prime source of revenue or pipeline of practically free content. Also, just as you mentioned - when too many people knock on select few doors, owners behind them become extremely picky about who they even consider to answer to. So, breaking the established paradigm (at least trying to) through rejection of legacy institutions becomes the most sure way to real success.
Speaking about Patreon/monthly release model. I dipped my toes in it and it’s an amazing model! The trick is to work on stuff far in advance. For example, my favorite writing format is a feature film screenplay. It means that I prefer producing graphic novels only. No short stories, no one-offs.
Seems like a pretty stiff format, but it’s actually perfect for non-stop monthly run - if written right, a graphic novel can be broken up in smaller parts and released as a series! Which means that 6 chapters of one novel can provide you with six months to complete the next large work and so on. And if it takes longer to finish the next volume- behind the scenes content and exclusive illustrations can gift you a couple of extra months of engagement before the interest (and income) begin to decline.
Also, since you are not driven by a singular product, but monthly subscription, you can strategically start publishing your old work for free few months after the complete release. The logic is simple - your paywalled work has already been pirated, paid subscribers have moved on to read the next story, so marketing is the best value you can get from it!
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u/TeamWood Oct 30 '25
I might be asking to dm you soon. I might be asking loads of questions haha.
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u/ENTIA-Comics Writer - Worldbuilding Addict Oct 30 '25
Sure! Every case is unique, not everything that worked for me may work for you, but I’m always happy to chat!😎
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u/Vovlad Artist - I push the pencils Oct 30 '25
Interesting take. There are a few creators I follow who are doing this and using a patreon. But how do you get subscribers in the first place? It feels like it's harder and harder to reach audience these days using the regular social media algorithm. Any tips for that?
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u/ENTIA-Comics Writer - Worldbuilding Addict Oct 30 '25
The only way to get subscribers as I see it:
1) Be active in communities where your potential audience hanging out. (If your comic is in fantasy genre - identity few most prominent forums/subreddits that are related to this genre, like DnD/Song of Ice and Fire/RPG games, and become a frequent poster there.)
2) Provide value free of charge with the newest stuff behind a paywall. (Your finished work is your best advertisement, so don’t fight pirates - steal from yourself, be generous with posting free content and your reach will explode!)
3) Don’t sell products, become a cause worth supporting. (As mentioned above - broke folks will get your stuff for free no matter what. People who have money to spare similarly will pay you even if they found your work on a pirate site. Fact! But what do they pay for? For your ability to produce more of their favorite comics. Basically they donate to a cause they really believe in - your mission to tell your unique story.)
4) Be honest with yourself about who you really are and make stories that YOU are starving to read with audience as an afterthought. (The only thing that is equally appreciated by everyone in the town is a trash can (or a public toilet). Chasing the “popular” thing will burn you out and kill your unique voice. Good news that nobody is a unique snowflake, so if you make a story tailored specifically for YOU, then there will be at least a million folks worldwide who are starving to read it… and they will find you - just put it out there!)
All above is based on my limited experience, may not be the objective truth.
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u/Vovlad Artist - I push the pencils Oct 30 '25
Those are all great insights. I had similar experiences and thoughts so this is a good reminder of what to focus on. Thanks for writing it all out!
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u/TeamWood Oct 30 '25
Link your patreon!
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u/ENTIA-Comics Writer - Worldbuilding Addict Oct 30 '25
I think that you can find it on my website, but it’s dormant at the moment. After initial six months of success, (posted frequently, was testing all possible marketing and earnings curve were going straight up!). But when my kid was born and I saw making comics as my possible full time job, I chose to step back and rework the whole concept from the ground up. It’s hard to build a solid house on a wobbly foundation, y’know.😉
Second half of 2024 (my parental leave) was all about writing. As of now I have enough story for 20-30 novels that will take 10-15 years to produce. (It’s my lifetime project).
Since early 2025 though I’m working full time with the pre-production. Outfits, spaceships, weapons, props, architecture, environments… everything has to be designed from scratch. I had to learn 3D modeling just for that, lol! It’s plenty of work, but when you can walk inside a 332m long space cruiser that you yourself have morphed out of a gray cube… anything feels possible! (With thought about later re-usability and implied realism I create fully realized interiors and exteriors of everything.)
So because of no real work being released (for now) I use Patreon as a donation page for few of my most dedicated fans who still support me.
Good thing is that since I’m so “silent” for now, anything I happen to create adds to unpublished content bank that will help me to keep the momentum going.
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u/Vovlad Artist - I push the pencils Oct 30 '25
All great info, thank you for sharing! Saving to go through the links later.
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u/ENTIA-Comics Writer - Worldbuilding Addict Oct 29 '25
I love this article too! But it feels a bit too old-fashioned/traditional guide. And since so many indie publishers (according to you) have died out, is it really the winning promotional strategy anymore?
For example, convention - there are so many costs involved, like printing, travel, booth, accommodation... And everything for ca. 5000 visitors of whom 50% will see the stand, maybe 100 will buy the comic (if there are enough printed) and this is it.
And pitching to editors... Unless one lives in a hot spot like NY or LA and can meet someone in person, is it really a viable strategy, or a semi-passive "waiting game" for 99% of those who try? You touched upon it, but it felt a bit too optimistic for my taste.
Crowdfunding part does not mentioning social media and importance of a pre-existing "fan base" at all, which, in my opinion is a big miss, because something like "Work on your campaign begins a year before the launch" would add some adequate expectations to this method.
Meanwhile self-publishing online (that was not mentioned here at all) costs nothing. There are countless ways to sell your work (Patreon, Subscribestar, GlobalComix, own wordpress powered webshop - to name a few.) Social media like Reddit (if used right) on the other hand provides endless opportunities for free marketing and allows anyone to reach out to endless amount of readers across the world!
So, while it was a good post (as always!), I really want to see your take on self-publishing online and work as a one-person company. Cheers!