So you've got your comic up on the duck, you're building an empire…
How far are you going to take it? Websites, Tshirts, Games, Pixar productions?
What's the plan?

I'm just curious is all. I'm pretty new, but my sights are ludicrous.
Just wondering where our respective motivations lie.
And when we do all get there, where do we go next? Thoughts anyone?

I'll stop when I'm a household name. I am the future King of ALL Multimedia. I'd license my characters to femine hygine products, awful tasting candy, but importantly underwear. I'd let my characters be used for pornographic films for the right amount of money and creative control as well. I want printed comics for everyone, even Tranny.

It won't stop. I want everything with my penis all over it.

My goal with Crimson Shifters is to have enough of a fanbase to warrant attending a convention, and meeting people who enjoyed it.

I'm not hard to please, really. I would just love the satisfaction of knowing that people around the world have read and enjoyed my work.

All the way to the top! :D For now the two things I'm taking seriously is my writing and the comic. I wrote four novels and some 40 short stories, got some significant recognition on a literary forum where I posted my stuff, including Story of the Month five times - and I have zillions of ideas buzzing in my head, waiting to be released. That alone will keep me busy for another 40 years. Still trying to get published - so while I'm at it, I decided to try something new. Hence the comic. I want to start a weekly strip, too, to keep people coming more often. And I won't stop at that. What else is there? I have a rough draft for a tv mini script - and I basically imagine my novels as movies even as I write them. So who knows? A tv series? A movie? Animation production? The possibilities are endless (or so we like to think) - and I'm stubborn/crazy enough to try. Ten years ago, I wouldn't even dream of having my writings or comics read by more than two dozen people. Today, there is actually a person out there in New York, wearing a t-shirt with the two guys from my comic.

(doesn't matter that it was custom made just for her :P )

So, just in case, remember the name and the logo with a spiffy red fullstop. One day you might be able to say: hey, I knew that guy back in the day you didn't have to wait two months to talk to him for two minutes lol!

Hmmm. Well, as I'm new to this myself, I have really appreciated building up a fan base. Especially because in my official big book of words, fan base is just a not so fancy way of saying - CULT FOLLOWING!

I guess I'm after that insane personal pleasure that comes from displaying your work with kudos all over the world. But I am not adverse to a little fortune and glory along the way. Full time comic writing would be great - and comic conventions would then be a tax expense.

But maybe you all have interesting jobs like butterfly wranglers or something which is cooler than working in the call center that is my working week…

I like the idea of total world domination, so I'm going to pencil that one in too…

Wow, good question.

The real reason why I created this comic and put it on Drunk Duck is because I'm practicing to get better.

But if I get a strong fanbase (ever), I might sell merchandise, and even might get it published (if possible).

Of course, since my comic actually has a storyline, I'm thinking of ending it when my main characters graduate high school. If if grows really popular, I might even extend it to collage. I'm not sure.

I haven't really thought about it. But I'll try to keep drawing this comic as long as I can :)

my goal is to crack up me and my friends. if other people read it and get cracked up too then YAY for me. and if it makes me rich and famous the mega YAY for me. right now i'm just happy i can create something that people enjoy.

It is tough man, I have had an epic 300 page graphic novel published, and that is just the easy part, marketing sucks, and promotion sucks. And I am posting my new work here so people can see it. Because publishing is just too crazy and unpredictable.

I have had visions of movies, and animated series, and action figures. But the realist in me smiles, points and laughs at me.

I guess for me it all boils down to people understanding my work. Which has not really happened. Most of the reviews of my book were not 100% positive, and the royalty checks have stopped showing up a long time ago. My dream is to just have people connect with my stories.

That probably sounds boring.



http://www.drunkduck.com/The_Nonstandard_Assembly/


http://www.jonnyaxx.com/

jmt
It is tough man, I have had an epic 300 page graphic novel published, and that is just the easy part, marketing sucks, and promotion sucks. And I am posting my new work here so people can see it. Because publishing is just too crazy and unpredictable.

JMT speaks the truth man. Sadly.

For me it was originally just holding my book in my hands. And getting to smile about it. And I did that. I'll never forget the day or how I felt. But now that that is over and done with I've had to realign my goals a little.

I want to reprint in color. My book was gray. I'd like to go back and see it in color then push it through to the shelves, having NOT rushed and having done it right. And I'd like to get my series there - all of it, in print and finished. That, for me, would be the greatest accomplishment out of all the trials.

Sure, I'd like a movie with my crazy folks throwing lightning at each other and blowing up helicopters, but I like to dream realistically. If that happens, rock. If it doesn't, I won't die heartbroken.

umm.. to actually have people read my work and like it. so i can feel like i have done something right for once. after that… hell to run my own Comic/Manga company. then a shop.

other than that I guess its.
Universal domination, and the control of all reality's.
the destruction of all humanoid life.
and the utter extermination of Life itself.

My first goal (to be able to hold a print version of my stuff in my hands) has already been accomplished. At this point my goal is just to keep getting bigger and bigger. I've been in a newspaper and an anthology book, so the next step is my own book. And merchandising (I find coming up with merchandise ideas to be a ridiculous amount of fun).

Well, I'm hoping to do a print version of my book, as well as the one after it, and do a convention run next summer. Although I have the comic on Myspace and Comicspace, as well as its own site, I hadn't really thought about putting it up in the form of a webcomic until recently. Now I'm sort of getting into it, though.

well, unfortunately, I'm the last of a dying breed of aspiring traditional syndicated cartoonists. My comic is constructed on the idea that it will be a newspaper comic strip. I suppose comic book collections aren't out of the question, but usually for us “strippers” (heh, heh.. heh), that comes after you have a newspaper fan base. Usually.

But now I've discovered webcomics, and along with that discovery came other opportunities I never knew existed. Now, my only plan of action doesn't have to consist of sending in submissions to syndicates like King Features and collecting rejection letters. I could get a contract online, I could have a book published via a publisher like Platinum Studios… there way more open to me than I thought.

As usual, I may acheive my goal, just not quite the way I thought I would.

I wish everyone else the best of luck- this is quite the tough field!

Marketing is totally the hard part. I mean you exhaust yourself just to create to the damn book/strip/whatever…now you gotta not only TELL everyone about it, you gotta convince them all why they should buy your stuff.

Yeah my goal goes beyond that of just my comics (oh don't worry I will rule an empire) I'm working to help web comics as a whole be acknowledged as “real” comics and hopefully that will in turn make everyone's career goals a bit easier. (shouldn't i get my own theme music for that?)

^_^

ha ha ha DGriff13 said she's a “stripper” w00t!

I want to get big enough to receive a cease and desist from Jack Thompson. That, or have a hell of an excuse for a gaming convention. ;D

-W

Once I have enough readers, Bulletproof will begin containing subliminal messages hypnotizing its readership into forming an army for me which will conquer the world. You will then bow before me, you will offer up your daughters to me, and you will bake tasty cupcakes for me.

Vanilla flavored cupcakes.

Hmm, cupcakes.

*wanders off*

carly_mizzou
ha ha ha DGriff13 said she's a “stripper” w00t!

hells yeah! I have my own pole and everything right next to my drawing table!


or…. not at all.


Yes, you should get a theme song. “Na na na na na … Carlyyyyyy!”

carly_mizzou
Marketing is totally the hard part. I mean you exhaust yourself just to create to the damn book/strip/whatever…now you gotta not only TELL everyone about it, you gotta convince them all why they should buy your stuff.

I disagree. Strongly. Marketing is easy. Its just finding a demographic, marketing to them as well as to a general audience. It involves knowledge of public speaking, and its about charisma. If you're a memorable person, people will want to see what all the fuss is about. If you're hated, loved, feared, respected, or any of the above - Your book will sell. I am legend. My books will sell. See what I did there? Positive attitude, positive re-enforcement. I may do whats been labeled as “low brow” and “simplistic art”, but ya know what? How well written are Sunday newspaper strips? Have you read Garfield? Its him sitting a box for four panels, then he says he hates mondays. Same picture cut and pasted (like a certain webcomic) and its not even a joke or entertaining, but its in print and you've probably got or seen someone who has a Garfield plush doll stuck in their car. Why is that? Is it because Garfields an iconic character? Is it because it was given an advertising budget? What was it that made that idea gold? I want everybody to succeed around here, but the bottom line is that some stuff only sells to a certain audience. I'd be willing to bet with just a LITTLE support from Platinum Studios, my work would become a world wide best seller.

I occasionally go to comic forums or flash cartoon websites, the ads that they feature are lame, almost tacky. You've gotta be interesting and different. Take a look at my forum signature. It stands out from other peoples, don't it? It takes research to figure out what works. You've gotta get into the trenches, get dirty, get muffy. In todays society it takes viral marketing. If anybody knows how to do that, its me. I just don't have the time or resources to do it on a full scale.

carly
Yeah my goal goes beyond that of just my comics (oh don't worry I will rule an empire) I'm working to help web comics as a whole be acknowledged as “real” comics and hopefully that will in turn make everyone's career goals a bit easier. (shouldn't i get my own theme music for that?)

Working Class Hero = Carly's Theme Song

I want everyone to be successes around here, but its difficult ya know? Only so many people want to read an angel-demon-supernatural style comic. Only so many people want a superhero book. Only certain people want a superheroes fighting nazis, some want gigantic robots or lizard alien villains. If you'll all take a look at penis, it features enough stuff to where anyone could pick it up and like SOMETHING in it. Just, its not a book. Its free on the internet.

I've been told by a publisher that my work was “unpublishable” and that a movie I pitched was “no good, get the F* out of my office” and thats life. You're going to get told no a lot. But you've gotta keep your spirits up. If any of us has taken a beating over the years critically, its me. Nobody likes my comics, but everyone reads them. When I ask people one on one or do my own market research surveys with my audidence via e-mail, private quack, aim, or anything else, I always ask specific questions, I always keep the variables at a minium, and I always try and do it in such a way as that no one would feel invaded by my research or bothered by it. Sometimes I fail at that, other times people tell me exactly who their favorite character is, what they think of scatalogical humor, or any number of other stock questions I have to ask people. The consensus is always the same though - I started reading your comics and its hilarious stuff! I love it!

So why am I still on the drunk duck forums with everyone else? I don't know either. I know I want plush dolls of my characters in everyones car. I want bumper stickers with catch phrases from my cartoons on them. I want my TV show to be #1. I want my movie to be #1 (even direct to dvd/video we'd make a killing). I want to be #1. Its tough. I've been at this webcomics buissness for almost six years. If anybody paid they're dues and deserves to be a thousandaire, its me. I don't want millions. I'd be happy with enough money to live like I do now, and I live rather poorly at the moment.

So now you can all start sending your donations to keep penis around through paypal.

Just kidding, I wouldn't ask for money like that. It seems dirty to buy advertising or to sell it…

For now. I keep thinking, “well maybe I should. Other people are getting internet money, why not me?” and I keep saying “No. Integrity is whats important to a man. You've lived on pride for years, you can keep doing that.” So I keep living. And I ain't dying a never was. I want to at least be a footnote in an issue of Wizard. I want a statue of me somewhere. I want to run for political office. I'm going to have a great television show, movie, series of novels, and everything else that I do is going to be great, because I'm great. And I make a great comic. I'm just eating as cheaply as possible and working on my site as often as I can as much as I can. Its not just a comic over on my page, its a great lot of content.

I draw my comic to share with my friends and family. It gives me an outlet for storytelling. It's online because my brother suggested it. I enjoy having more of an audience, and it makes me smile to see a comment or two each day. Plus, the audience inspires/encourages me to improve and do MUCH better drawing than I was doing on my own before DD, so that's fun. I'd like to finish it someday or at least get done cleaning up and uploading the 550-some pages I've drawn so far (still haven't stopped yet, though) – and I'd like everyone who might enjoy my story to have a chance to see it.

I don't have any ambition beyond that, since it's just a stress relief and hobby for me. (I seek work as a field biologist or museum curator… I have no artistic delusions. )

I want my comic to be popular like CAD and/or VGcats. Thats all really.

If the unlikely should occur and I make a modest living off doing comics, I wouldnt ask for more.

I have no illusions that I can make money off my work. I can generate giggles, though.

My goal is to have my work come full circle. Eventually I want to catch somebody at work viewing my comic, without having told anyone I was making one. I can then claim credit and win the ultimate round of “You're a lying scumbag!” (A game we play at work a lot were somebody makes a grandiose claim and everybody bets on whether he's lying).

Well, even though not all the outlooks are sunny and cher, it's certainly nice to see that regardless of the motivation and resolution we can pretty much all agree that it's doing these comics that keeps us sane and keeps us happy. As such, I salute you all.

Well done little kittens, and take comfort in the fact that we represent the future of comics - as cruel and unusual as that may be. Keep doing what you love, and keep loving what you're doing. Etc…

Thanks also for covering such a broad range of responses.
Australia, as you may be aware, is not the comic capital of the world.
Especially where I am. I don't actually know any comic artists other than me, so it's been great to see that I'm not in the wrong business; I'm just in the wrong town!

Well, to begin with I didn't have much more of an ambition than to make people smile, and raise morale in my fellow troops out here in Iraq… But I recently got an offer to have my comic printed in our battalion's monthly magazine, So yeah, I'm ecstatic about the Idea!

Id say if I want to go any further than that, I would LOVE to publish my work when I get to the 500 page area. Right now I'm at a measly 10 pages uploaded, and some 10 more in reserve, but I'm really liking the result. I'm a comment whore, so every positive comment and/or crit I get makes my day.

I'd just like to say thank you to all of you wonderful people who have taken interest in my simple little comic. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart, you make a soldiers life SO much easier!

~Notlikelytocare

I am just doing my thing.

For the immediate future…check out
www.shaneronzio.net
I Have some new bad guys and good guys that I show a sneek peek coming to the CROSS WORLDS NEXXUS real soon.

I just plan to make people giggle and be entertained >.> It's a hobby.

Really we created Voodoo Walrus just as a way to air out all the insane ideas we come up with on a constant basis and maybe entertain some folks along the way. Outside of that there is no real goal save using it as a testing ground for practice in all things from art to writing and all things in between.

But for now will just stick with our plan to vent all our aimless insanity into one focused beam of webcomicy bizarreness.

Runosonta

Exzachly
If the unlikely should occur and I make a modest living off doing comics, I wouldnt ask for more.

In Finland that's impossible…
I draw a 115mmx172mm full colour comic to a large-ish magazine, and get 50 euros per picture. You would have to be NUTS to draw enough comics to make a living (say one needs 1500e/month –> 30 individual illustrations). Where do you find the magazines for that?
Also, it's hard enough to make a living as an artist or a writer… but as a comic artist?
HAHAHA! And that was a bitter laugh -_-;

In print comics here in the states, the IP for the comics is owned by syndicates who sell the same comic to multiple periodicals, and the artist gets a modest amount based on contract. As for webcomics, the biggest ones are able to live off of merch money and donation drives alone. So, it's not impossible, just nigh-impossible. ;P

Meh. I just make comics. Realize that's the best thing to do and let whoever reads it guide it and you in the next directions. Keep your dayjob and be optimistic.

If people want to throw money at me for merch for whatever ungodly reason, that's a perk, but not a driving force.