Createspace: Their ISBN vs. Your ISBN

[cutiebiscuit]

Alrighty, so I'm very strongly considering printing through createspace (and of course publishing comics through tapas ). What i would like to know is that if I did createspace's free ISBN, do I still get to call myself the author and putting it on the cover (including the fact of me copyrighting my book)? Also, if I choose the free ISBN, where does Createspace's company name show up? Isn't it on the actual ISBN number thing?
Finally, if the free ISBN isn't the way to go, I'm also considering buy a pack of ten ISBN numbers (I plan on publishing at least eight graphic novels.) The problem is that it's just so expensive and I hardly earn enough money as it is.
Thanks for reading and answering.

EDIT: I realized I explained this poorly. What I'm asking is that if I go with CS's free ISBN number where they would put it. I also want to know if I did go with their ISBN, can I still copyright the book as my own? Finally, I want to know if I do go with their ISBN, can I still put my name on the book as the author?

[thoughtfulboxful]

No matter what isbn you use, you keep all your rights. A createspace assigned isbn identifies createspace as your publisher; if you buy an isbn, you'll have to figure out a name for your publisher.

As far as selling, a createspace isbn limits your availability at big name stores like target or barnes and noble, but you'd have no problem selling copies yourself or trying out consignment deals with independent bookstores. For the most part, you'd be selling online. If you buy an isbn, you'll have to register your "publishing company" through your state (or wherever you may live) and possible pay taxes for it.

If your publishing for the first time, I'd recommend using the free isbn; you could alway republish it as time progresses! Don't make such a huge investment until you've really gotten the hang of self-publishing and you can afford it.

(I've heard sometime people have trouble connecting their purchased isbns to their createspace accounts, so keep that in mind as well)

[Strontium]

I'd read everything twice I guess, but my ISBN cost over 100 dollars, so getting one for free sounds like a steal! ISBNs are not cheap to anyone planning on self-publishing a book for retail.

[PotooGryphon]

ISSNs are free and work for comic series. ISSNs work just the same as ISBNs however ISSNs are made for serial with consistent titles that don't change throughout the run, for example mine is Oops Comic Adventure and each new book is OCA issue 1, OCA issue 2, OCA Graphic Novel vol 1, OCA Graphic Novel vol 2, and so on. With ISSNs you just need one and your good for your whole run, you won't need a new number for each book.

To the OP, a free ISBN does sound like a good deal, however also look into ISSNs. You may find that it'll work better for you in the long run when you have many printed issues. My friend @sarrowsmith10 got me to look into ISSNs in another thread topic and I'm super thankful for that advice.

Publishing/Publishers/Self-Publishing Q&A's

ISBN IS NOT FOR COMICS. I don't think I can scream this loud enough. Let me say it again. ANY SERIAL INCLUDING COMICS DO NOT USE ISBNs! So please for the love of God don't pay for one. It must be a real problem because on the front page of the US Library of Congress Web page where you register books, it has this written in bold. I actually called them to ask about it when we first started publishing. There are some exceptions to this rule (graphic novels over so many pages that are hard bound stand alone issues without serials being published online or in print, yada yada). But seriously.

Comics use ISSNs. And they are free to register. Don't make Library of Congress people agitated. Register the right way!

[thoughtfulboxful]

ISSNs are free and work for comic series. ISSNs work just the same as ISBNs however ISSNs are made for serial with consistent titles that don't change throughout the run, for example mine is Oops Comic Adventure and each new book is OCA issue 1, OCA issue 2, OCA Graphic Novel vol 1, OCA Graphic Novel vol 2, and so on. With ISSNs you just need one and your good for your whole run, you won't need a new number for each book.

^Oh man... I wasn't aware of any of this (@PotooGryphon I love Oops, BTW!! )

But I would like to further bring to the attention of the OP that Createspace will not accept ISSNs, only ISBNs, so you may need to look into another print on demand service (or even a small publishing house specializing in comics... but that may take more time), or as I suggested before, go with what's available until you can do otherwise. You can always reprint!

Check this out:
https://forums.createspace.com/en/community/message/26227

Edit: Since you plan on publishing graphic novels, those are considered books anyway so an ISBN should be fine any way you slice it!

[tsukiko]

Hmmm, I'm having a hard time deciding this one too so I've also done my share of lurking. I think these threads might help, it's pretty informative. They are talking about novels though but I think it still applies to comics.

If I get a free ISBN through Amazon's CreateSpace now, will that impact any decisions about getting my own ISBN later?

and this
https://forums.createspace.com/en/community/message/231322

hope that helps. Oh, and I'm still undecided as well T-T)

[cutiebiscuit]

Thank you very much for your help!

[cutiebiscuit]

Thank you very much for showing me that. I hope you can figure it out too!

[cutiebiscuit]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate the help!!

[cutiebiscuit]

Thanks so much again!