Mailbag: Illustration board and templates

Q.: I am currently developing my first webcomic but I am unsure about the paper size I need to purchase for a four panel strip. I would like to alternate between a four panel and three panel strip. Also I was wondering if you hand draw every panel that you do or did you create a template for your panels?

A.: There are as many ways to do this as there are artists. But let's talk about a few options.

First of all, there's no such thing as a standard size for comic strips any more -- unless you have a credible shot of getting printed in newspapers. That being said, I think the aspect ratio of the standard newspaper comic strip is awfully pleasing and darned flexible, so I've stuck with it. Plus, it makes things simple when newspapers do want to run my strips...

Open Call: Hitch it or Ditch it Hot Seat

The Hitch It / Ditch It Hot Seat was one of the most popular critique sessions we've had here. The concept is simple. I look at your webcomic and point out one thing that I think you're doing very well. And then I point out something I think needs improvement. As always, the discussion is then opened up to the members at large.

Best of Webcomics.com, May 2013

If you're not a member of Webcomics.com, here's what you missed last month. Become a member and stop missing out.

Site Posts

We concluded a Hot Seat critique series on Character Design and launched a new one on Banner Advertising

Self-Employed Mortgage Loan This is a must-read for the quit-your-day-job cartoonist

Digital Comics: Pay What You Want; Using a "Pay What You Want" (or "Pay A Fair Price") system to sell your digital comics. We tell you if it works, and how to set it up.

Penny Arcade's Kickstarter: Content is Not Free

In-Text Advertising: It's better-paying than banner ads, but is there a catch?

How To Create a Great Banner Ad: Strategies and tips for making a banner ad that will get clicks.

Ingram's "Spark" -- Book distribution for POD books

Kobo and the Rise of the Independent Bookstore: How the independent cartoonist can benefit from the wave of indie popularity.

Don't Look Into the Camera: It's a visual crutch, and you need to stop making your characters do it.

Character Design Reference: This is a tremendous resource for character design, environment design, animals, poses, and much more.

Private Forum

Fear of the credit-card chargeback

Need help merging layers in Photoshop

Using RSS and e-mail subscriptions to promote

UK enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act

Internet Sales Tax: Threat or menace?

A new take on micropayments

Pen names?

Adobe goes subscription-only. What are your plans?

Question about Facebook's Edgerank system

Forums: Wasted Time?

Selling books at a comic convention

Selling digital download at a comic convention

When to start monetizing?

Keeb

Pushy readers

Newbie tablet guides

What's your "One Piece of Advice?"

Microsoft Surface Pro review

Digital... commissions?

ComiXology SUBMIT

StoreEnvy and Digital Downloads

Scrollon

Release schedule

June To-Do List

It's June. Comic Con International is only weeks away. Many of your readers will soon be out of school and enjoying summer. And maybe your own kids are, too. There's a lot to get to, so let's get cracking.

Saturday Deep Dive: "Enjoy Obscurity"

Today's dive into the deeper archive of Webcomics.com takes us to June 1, 2011 when I shared a personal story about learning to heed good advice.

The year was 1997, and I was working a deadline shift in the graphics department of the Akron Beacon Journal. My nighttime co-worker Dennis, an old-school comics guy with significant connections to comic-book, comic-strip and political-cartoon creators, was looking at some prototype strips for something that would one day become "Greystone Inn."

He didn't like the main character, a gargoyle. He didn't like the character; didn't think it looked like a gargoyle; didn't think people would relate to a gargoyle. He, very gently, asked me: "This gargoyle... are you sure...?"

My response could be best described as indignant. After all, wasn't the comics page crammed with enough talking cats and talking dogs?! A gargoyle is different! What if Berke Breathed had shied away from using a penguin due to this same logic? And of course it looked like a gargoyle. And besides, I'd refer to him as such and people would just understand that that is what a gargoyle looked like in my universe. And of course they would relate to him. How could they not?! He's a classic archetype. What's not to love about this goddammed gargoyle?!?

And besides... the common rules didn't apply to me. Heck, I broke the rules... on purpose! I was a visionary... a renegade! Goddammit, I was special. My mother even said so!

My diatribe lasted for a good twenty minutes.

I addressed his advice from every angle but one -- what if he was right?

He smiled. He was a father of three. This was a well-practiced smile:

"Enjoy obscurity."

Read the entire post and comment there.