YOU DON'T NEED A BAT SIGNAL TO GET YOUR COMICS NOTICED ONLINE

Are you a superhero in search of an airtight secret identity? No need to take an entry-level photographer job at the city paper or start your own multi billion dollar company. Just hide out in the last place anyone would look: the world of online comic book creation! All you need is a really good idea and a passion for comics. You might also want to invest in a good pair of bifocals so your enemies can’t find you.





Whether you’re an experienced comic writer or just someone interested in sharing some funny sketches of your weird family, the Internet has made it extremely easy to put your art out into the world. But getting people to notice often requires a superhuman understanding of the industry and the community. Luckily, by answering the following questions, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a comic-writing legend.

Why do you want to share your work?

Before you even think about sharing your work online, you need to be honest about why you’re doing it. Do you simply want to show off your amazing skills? Are you looking for constructive feedback? Do you want to be rich and famous? These are all valid reasons, but if you go into the online comic game with a clear goal, you’re more likely to find the resources to help you succeed. Start by thinking about the comics you love to read and why you love them. You need to bring that same passion to your own work.

Who is your audience?

Are you writing dark, hard-edged sci-fi comics where the fate of humanity constantly hangs in the balance? Or do you draw humorous, insightful single-pane comics that examine the struggles of day-to-day life? Both of these have their place in the world of online comics, but it’s important to know what kind of person is going to dig your work. The online comic book community is huge, so you need to find that perfect corner of potential readers who will find your work appealing. Comic Book Resources and Reddit both have specific forums for budding comic artists and writers. These are fantastic places to post an idea and get immediate feedback. Remember, your audience contains both your biggest fans and your harshest critics, and you’ll need both if you’re going to grow your brand and make a name for yourself.

Where will you post your work?

Free services like Tumblr can be a great way to get started but can have limited features that aren’t necessarily geared toward visual media. If you’re serious about posting your work online, you should consider creating your own website. Not only will you own your own domain, you’ll be able to present your work in a feature rich environment that is specifically tuned for viewing comic books. You’ll also be able to track views and get a sense of how people are reaching your site. You can even incorporate your own forum and start to build a community around your work.

What will it cost you?

Website builder services keep getting cheaper and cheaper and most offer deals for first-time subscribers. Best10websitebuilders.com is a great place to compare costs and find the service that fits your needs. You will likely find that services like GoDaddy have a lower price, but up-and-comers like Squarespace will offer more features with scalable designs so that your comics look just as good on an iPhone as they do on a computer screen. Paying a little extra might help you avoid the hassle of setting up a website so that you can get down to the business of making and sharing comics.

How can you make money?

When you’re getting started, focus on improving your skills and finding an audience that likes what you do. It’s all about slow, steady growth. If you're patient the day may come when you’re ready to turn your passion for comics into an actual job. You have a lot of options. Image Comics has a great submission tool for anyone hoping to break into the world of print comics. Comixology is a digital store where you can upload and sell your comics for free, but they take 50 percent of your profits. If you’ve built your own website, you can always start monetizing your site with ads or by selling your comic directly to fans. The more work you do yourself, the less you'll have to share the benefits.

When can you start?

This one’s easy. You can start right now. Though try not to forget about your actual job defending the good people of Earth. We're counting on you.