Comics: A hobby, a career

[eochoa92]

While many of us here create comics, it's got me wondering on how serious of a venture it is to different people.

I can remember being in elementary school and with a couple of other friends, we'd make our own little comics from folded pieces of paper. From then on, I've done other similar projects, but nothing that I have published until recently.

One thing that hasn't changed in that time is my desire to be able to say that I get paid for writing comics.

Now I know for a while, the medium has taken a dip and isn't as grandiose as it was before, but it's still appealing to me.

So, how many people on here (content creators) are actually gunning for a slot in a publishing company? Is what you do here simply for fun? And/or have you gotten called up by a company to do work for them in the past?

[Zugaikotsu]

Hmmm... I consider myself a general storyteller more than a comic writer/ artist, but this is the media where my story started to work really well (including getting some good dosh) and I love comics, both as a reader and artist, even if is so demmanding. Although, my vision of being professional not necessarily means to have a publisher. There are independent artists who makes more money than the ones under a contract. Unless you do reaaaaally well or is lucky enough to find an amazing publisher, you ll be mostly giving work force to big fishes.

[mybe1oved]

Well, I technically didn't have any intentions years ago to make a comic. I am looking at my comic as a journey in illustration. If people like it, great! I'll make some more. I definitely don't want to leave it on a cliff hanger at least until there is a happy ending even if people don't like the comic. I just want people to buy my art so I can stop working at the job I'm not interested in. I want to prove to my family I made it and you don't have to be in this crappy rat race of finding employment and the goal is to keep it. Make your own magic!

[lartianmartian1]

I have no prior professional experience, and I don't have high hopes of making a living off of my current comic (it's not even online yet!), but I do plan on taking it as seriously as if it were my paid job. Because, well, I love this crazy little world I'm concocting. Simple as that. I'll likely change my tune when the actual comic gets going, but for now it'll just be a passionate hobby of mine. And maybe I can set up a Ko-Fi account or whatever while I'm at it.

[Shanny8]

I used to do the same thing in my youth- create little comic books on notebook paper and staple them together...only most of my friends stopped drawing eventually, while I kept going.

I want to create comics professionally(part time), but I dont care to get with a publishing company. Now if one wanted to pick up my book and sell it, then as long as the monies are good and I retain my creator/publishing rights(once I part ways with said company)- I'd be good with that...but I'm not chasing down companies to get published.

[Klaustasya]

I'm aiming to become a professional comic artist and be under an official publisher someday!
(Though, publishers in my country are pretty strict with selections and my stuff is too "international" to for my country's audience.) YET, i really want to do comic as my job in the future, since i love drawing my characters so much and any other job to me is just a pain.

[charliesackett]

I like to think my end goal is comics as a dayjob, but I think that needs a much bigger audience than I seem capable of luring in in order to happen.
I mostly just use it as something to focus on to help with my anxiety and depression.

[seru]

I started making comics for fun...and didn't know how much money could be gained with the right work and audience.

It's different for everyone. The type of work I do is "very commercial" and I love doing it. I still have my day job even though making comics is pretty much earning more than my profession.

The comic industry is changing, be it international or in the US. If you want it as a career, know your audience and study the market. At the end of the day, it's all a business.

[shazzbaa]

I also have no desire to work with a publisher!

I do get paid for my comics. I self-publish, send my files to a professional book printer, and haul my books to conventions, or sell them online. I have a patreon, where folks more-or-less subscribe to get some monthly behind-the-scenes content from my comic. It's not enough money to be a living as of yet, and tbh I wouldn't be upset if it remains a part-time job forever, but it's definitely not a hobby. I'm a professional creator!

Honestly, the threshold of "hobbyist" to "professional" is easier to cross than it ever has been before!!

[hjfsdh2222]

Hobby only. I’m not in it for the money. I wouldn’t want to be subject to the influence of a publisher.

Also, not much cash in comics anyhow. I need veeeery stable income. (Plus I’m already pretty smart at math so my career prospects are looking good)

[Cavechan]

I definitely would like to be a professional creator, but I also don't have any interest in having a publisher. I wouldn't completely rule it out though if the right opportunity came along.

I don't know if I'll ever be able to do it full time, especially since I have a very, very small fanbase currently and the quality of art/story I don't think is there yet. But if I could at least make some extra money on the side that would be nice. Would also be nice to make enough extra that I could make my current career part time and at least have a bit more time to work on comics.

[erma]

That's a good question!

For now, I don't have intentions of being a professional comic artist. I used to do the same thing in elementary school with friends, and it was so much fun!! I started the current comic I'm working on just for fun, and I'm not yet in a place where I feel ready to do art as a full time job - there's still a lot I want to improve on. Once this comic has ended and I'm done with college, I have plans to start another series while working a day job. I don't think I'd work with a publisher, but I do want to try starting a Patreon in a couple of years! Next comic I'll have better planning though, oh man

[eochoa92]

I've been seeing you around the forums and if I'm not mistaken, you're Italian, yes?

I was at a gathering a couple weeks ago - it's a monthly gathering with artists and writers to chat and work on projects - anyways, we had a surprise guest who was a French artist in town for San Diego Comic Con.

He talked about the strict comic industry in his country, especially since his niche was superhero comics and there's not really a market for that. I have been seeing though that companies like Marvel and DC are getting talent from places besides the US.

Currently, the artist for my ongoing series is Italian and I have had another guy from Italy also illustrate another story for me. How's the talent over there if you don't mind me asking?

[eochoa92]

This is what I want to work towards

[eochoa92]

I remember some years ago at a convention, I was talking to the creator of a series called The Bigger Bang (IDW Comics) and I asked if he was a full-time creator to which he said, he wasn't. He had a dayjob and did the comic on the side. I've also sort of become friends with a creator whom I met through Twitter and then through conventions - I make sure to stop by his booth and chat for a bit. But he, too has a day job on top of his comic project.
I think now, that's the norm. Unless you're a superstar like a Scott Snyder or Jim Lee. Thus the beauty of self-publishing, I think.

Also, not sure if DC, Marvel, Image, etc fall under the umbrella of publishers. That's what I was referring to when I put that in. Though, I'm sure if one pitches a story idea to either one, even the indie publishers, there is room for some manipulation by those you're negotiating with.

I'm loving the replies so far. Keep them coming

[FedoraSpooky]

I could see myself eventually making part of my income on my comic, but for the most part I think I will always have to have some sort of day job to keep myself afloat. I'm not really the best salesperson in the world, so realistically I know I may never be one of the lucky few who could become a big name in my own right.

That said, I'm making this comic mainly because I want to. It's something that makes me feel happy and accomplished no matter what dead-end job I get stuck with in the meantime. In some ideal world I would want nothing more than to make it my full time job, to be able to focus all the time and energy I can into it, but yeah...

Part-time's gonna be the best case scenario unless I happen to get really lucky.

[Klaustasya]

It depends what do you mean with talent i guess xD
Italian comic artists tend to be very serious about their art, MORE than thei stories. I joined so many webcomics groups on Facebook with italian aspiring comic artists and pro's who are already under a publisher too, and most of them tend to give so much attention to backgrounds, perfect anatomy, heavy plots and stuff. I don't think Italy has many talented comic artist (besides Angela Vianello, her works are AMAZING with stunning art and original plot and Mirka Andolfo, but she's already pretty famous in the U.S so i bet you know her somehow) sometimes it happens to see someone witha distorted art style and cheesy manga plot being under a publisher like wtf?! In italy manga are becoming a thing now and EVERYONE rely on the most annoying manga-tropes and actually find work xD this country is not for my career at all.

[Kura]

It is my career.

At the moment I don't work through a publisher, and I honestly like it better that way. (there were times before now where I did and I do not miss it)

Self publishing insures that I can tell my story the way that I want it. (Though I still would love to have assistants or publicists because I hate social media and getting told by a reader that I wrote something wrong or a drawing looks a little off is many a frustration)

Right now comics is my source of income. I make a decent amount, at the moment I'm once again struggling to hit the cost of living bar, but I'm still doing ok for someone in my living situation and health complications. I used to be able to cover the cost of living, but a lot of changes have been made to my income sources that have made it so longer make enough, things such as hosts that used to pay me going down, the removal of the support system, patreon supporters leaving because of changes patreon is making, and ad-rev being worth a LOT less than it did when it was first added.

[Jenny-Toons]

My passion is comic-making. But my career is Electrical Engineering.

I'm not planning on publishing my comic works; I might think to set up a Patreon, a Ko-Fi, or a Paypal just in case I need money here and there, but I won't make it my career.

I really just do comics for the story-telling.

I grew up in a household where story-telling was encouraged. My father would sit me down whenever he cooked up a good story, and he'd have me by the edge of my seat. I loved his story-telling. And he'd always go the same for me, always excited. Even now, I can still talk to him about the comics I write because he just gets it.

]I just want to share that passion to others. I wanna get them excited to tell stories and read stories and spread stories as it's bee done since forever.

Above all, I want to be able to finish a story so I can go back and read it and be giddy knowing I made it.

[monotone_ink]

Currently a hobby and would like it to stay on the web - here in Kangaroo land, no one cares about comics; it wouldn't be worth working with a publisher.

I'd rather share my art to the people, rather than restrict it even further with publishers in what is already a niche medium.