With a Foreword by HEAVY METAL executive editor Joseph P Illidge
The success of indie comics like THE WALKING DEAD, SPAWN, and TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES have inspired writers, artists and would-be publishers to try to break into the comic book industry, only to discover that the business of comics is chaotic and complex. Enter comic book attorney Gamal Hennessy and his new book, THE BUSINESS OF INDEPENDENT COMIC BOOK PUBLISHING. This comprehensive and easy-to-understand overview of the business of comic book publishing will be an invaluable resource for anyone interested in becoming a successful comic book professional, whether you’re making the comics or publishing them. Hennessy is currently running a Kickstarter campaign to fund THE BUSINESS OF INDEPENDENT COMIC BOOK PUBLISHING, which will run for 30 days.
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Featuring a foreword from writer and HEAVY METAL executive editor Joseph P Illidge and edited by Aftershock editor-in chief Mike Marts, THE BUSINESS OF INDEPENDENT COMIC BOOK PUBLISHING is a book by pros, for pros and aspiring creators alike. Hennessy taps into more than 2 decades of experience as an entertainment contracts attorney to break down the complex comics business into layman’s terms. The book addresses questions like:- How much money do I need to publish my comic?
- How much money should I charge for my comic?
- Does social media matter?
- How can I work with comic shops to market the comics?
- How do I select a printer for my books?
THE BUSINESS OF INDEPENDENT COMIC BOOK PUBLISHING is organized into three easy-to-read parts (pre-production; production; and post-production), with chapters devoted to topics including intellectual property management; production; distribution; sales and advertising; marketing; and everything in between.
“Do you want to create comic books and graphic novels? Do you want to publish and own the next generation of iconic comic characters?” asks Hennessy. “THE BUSINESS OF INDEPENDENT COMIC BOOK PUBLISHING explains the business and legal concepts of the comics industry so you can maximize and protect your creativity. By minimizing doubt and frustration around the business end of things, you can get back to the thing you love: publishing and creating comics!”
When he’s not practicing law, Hennessy writes novels and THE BUSINESS OF INDEPENDENT COMIC BOOK PUBLISHING provides both practical business advice and inspiration, from one creator to another. The book provides a comprehensive guide to making comics and bringing them to market, including:
- Turning your creative ideas into published comics
- Developing intellectual property that you own and control
- Creating a business plan tailored for your specific publishing goals
- Finding and hiring a professional team to create your book and support your business
- Understanding the distribution process
- Creating comics—that you can be proud of—on time and under budget
- Using your comics to generate multiple streams of revenue
- Building a long-term relationship with your readers
As acclaimed writer and editor Joseph P Illidge writes in the introduction to THE BUSINESS OF INDEPENDENT COMIC BOOK PUBLISHING:
“We are living in the time of a global paradigm shift, from a business culture that wanted to marginalize, trivialize, and ignore the stories and lives of people from diverse communities, lifestyles, life conditions, and gender identifications, to a global corporate complex that invites new stories, diverse narratives, and creators of different cultures.
The business relationships of the future will be determined by an understanding of mutual value between the creator and the publisher, making it more important than ever that both sides are armed with the knowledge to protect their intellectual properties.
THE BUSINESS OF INDEPENDENT COMIC BOOK PUBLISHING is the roadmap to a secure creative future, a journey that begins with personal and tough questions. Questions requiring the aspiring entrepreneur to be self-aware and honest….
The comic book industry, and business of intellectual properties based on characters and worlds, can be both exciting and perilous. A journey of great importance and substantial reward is best undertaken with the aid of a guide, and the dawning clarity of a clear path.
You have found your guide, and the means through which to illuminate your path.”
If funded through Kickstarter, pledges will be delivered to backers this October. THE BUSINESS OF INDEPENDENT COMIC BOOK PUBLISHING Kickstarter campaign is live as of Monday, August 17th and runs for 30 days, here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1089121379/the-business-of-independent-comic-book-publishing
For updates, follow @bizofcomics and @gamalhennessy or subscribe to Gamal Hennesey’s Professional Comics Creator newsletter.