How do comic creators like Jhonen Vasquez and Frank Miller make a living on comics?

Question

Before you ask, I'm an aspiring comic book artist considering work with Dark Horse comics. I have to ask, how do you make a living in comics?

Answer 1

Frank Miller got his start when Marvel was paying page rates for art, and he was good enough to get work and fast enough to do sufficient work to make a living. Once he became a Big Name, he started commanding better rates, kept ownership of his creations, was able to cut lucrative merchandising deals, etc.

Jhonen probably had to eke by on a second job at first, since he broke in as an indy with no guaranteed work, etc. But he also managed to become big enough to go the merchandising route. Just the Zim stuff sold in Hot Topic probably pays him more in residuals than he lived on when first drawing JtHM.

The common thread, though, is being willing to live on very little for a long time, and hope you get lucky and your talent meets up with public tastes during your lifetime.

Answer 2

If you REALLY want to make a living, stop thinking about yourself as an "aspiring comic book artist" and think of yourself as an "aspiring illustrator". Most of the cartoonists I know have multiple accounts, not all of which are comics. Over the years I've seen several Big Name Cartoonists on the New York Times Op-Ed page. Back at the height of his success Kaluta had an illustration or two in their book review section.

If you have one of those "free" newspapers in the area where you live, schlepp a portfolio down there to get some illustration work. You have friends with publications (church or whatever?) take advantage of them. Even if you have a contract with Dark Horse right now, then of course you will find the experience will help make your jobs for them easier. Any job will help you learn things about using reference and what lines reproduce well. If you've just put in your portfolio, or are going to, then you will find that this sort of thing on your resume helps a lot.

Making a living in the arts is very hard. Never let anyone tell you differently. You exactly do have to go out and sell sell sell yourself everywhere. By doing good drawing and doing good selling, you may be able to make a living, but the best advice I can think of is that even deciding you are a "comic book artist" is painting yourself into a corner.

Answer 3

What do you mean how do they make their money?Are you asking how they get published or what?The way you make a living in comic writing is find an original idea.Then find a company that is looking for new comics to publish which is not hard I would gladly help with finding comic publishers.Set up a meeting with them and then show them your work.If they love your work they will draw up a contract for you to write comics on a weekly basis.You are aware though making comics does mean you are going to live and breath your comic.You are going to have to come up with ideas of your comics and have at least 2 of them ready a week.If you wish your comics to come out every week that is.If you want them to come out every month that is a different story.All you have to do is find a small business like go around your neighborhood comic stores and ask them if they will put your comic on their shelves.They will ask for a certain amount of the revenue for putting it in their shop that is if they like it and you get the rest of the money,It will be hard until you get your name out there and some bigger company gets ahold of you but if it is your passion I say go for it with all your heart and you will succeed.

Answer 4

There are some who can 'write their own ticket' in the comics world - from what I've noticed over the years, do something you like, do it well, do it consistently well and things will work out.

Answer 5

you get it turned into a million dollar movie