Breaking Into Comics?
Breaking into comics can feel overwhelming, but if you love the medium and have a story burning inside you, it’s worth every late night and long weekend. Most indie creators aren’t in it for the money, and that’s okay. Honestly, if you want to “break into comics” just create a comic. It really comes down to what you define as “breaking in”. Here are three paths you can take, with what to expect on each one.
1. Self-publishing with crowdfunding, print services, or Amazon print-on-demand
Crowdfunding on Kickstarter
See if people care before you print a single page. You set your funding goal, and backers pledge to support you up front.
Offer fun rewards, like sketch cards or variant covers, which help bring in supporters. You can even include digital extras or behind-the-scenes PDFs for higher pledge levels.
Watch your deadlines and your budget. Kickstarter takes fees, and shipping costs add up quickly, so build in a cushion.
Printing through Ka-Blam or Comix Well Spring
Run small print batches. You can order as few as 25 or 100 copies, so you don’t sit on hundreds of books that may never sell.
You own everything. Your characters, your art, your story, and your schedule are all under your control.
Plan for up front costs. You’ll pay for printing and shipping yourself, and either handle fulfillment or pay a service to ship your orders.
Amazon print-on-demand (KDP Print)
No inventory required. Amazon prints each copy on demand, so you never pay for or store stock.
Built-in distribution. Your book is available in the Amazon store worldwide, and you can add it to other online retailers via expanded distribution.
Lower per-unit revenue. Print-on-demand costs are higher per book, and Amazon takes a cut, so your profit margin is slimmer.
Formatting limits. KDP is optimized for text-heavy books, so layouts with unconventional sizes or heavy artwork may require extra work to meet their specifications.
Online web comics
Publish chapter by chapter on platforms like Webtoon, Tapas, or your own site. You can build an audience one episode at a time, get instant reader feedback, and experiment with pacing.
Monetization options. Use ad revenue sharing, tipping features, merchandising, or Patreon to earn money as your readership grows.
Low barrier to entry. No printing or shipping costs, and you control update schedules and episode length.
Discoverability challenges. These platforms are crowded, so you’ll need a regular update schedule, social media promotion, and possibly paid boosts to stand out.
Why self-publish?
When you self-publish, your style won’t be edited into something else, and your characters belong to you forever. That freedom is exactly what lets a comic evolve into a movie deal or an animated series down the road.
2. Partnering with a small-press publisher
Why go small press
Small presses are a halfway house between self-publishing and the big two. Most cover printing cost but you won’t see any money until that has been covered through sales (if it ever gets covered). Some will let you know upfront if your book orders don’t meet the minimum sales to cover that cost and it’s on you to cover the gap if you want to proceed with printing. They will also be able to get your comic into comic book stores and you will usually get comp copies of your book to sell at conventions.
What you need to pitch
You don’t have to write or draw ten issues before you reach out. But having Issue 1 completely finished—script, pencils, inks, colors and letters—will show you’re serious.
A clear submission package. Include a short cover letter, a one-page synopsis, character sketches, the first 8–10 finished pages, and a realistic production timeline.
Finding the right home for your comic
Do your homework, read the small presses’ catalogs, and follow their submission guidelines exactly. Some take portfolios by email, others only pick up submissions at specific conventions. Some publishers lets creators keep their rights to the creations while others take up to 100% of the rights. Read your contracts!
3. Trying out for Marvel or DC
Formal talent programs
Both Marvel and DC host fellowship or talent development programs once a year. You usually submit writing samples, art pages or a mix of both.
The odds you’ll get in
Expect acceptance rates of around 0.5 percent to 1 percent. If Marvel sees a thousand submissions and picks five creators, that’s a 0.5 percent chance. DC’s numbers are in the same ballpark.
What you gain and what you give up
Big exposure and better pay. You’ll work with pro editors, reach millions of readers, and earn rates you won’t find in indie publishing.
No ownership of characters or stories. Everything you do belongs to the house, and you’ll need to stick to established continuity and style guidelines.
Which path fits you best
If creative freedom and ownership are what drive you, self-publishing or a small-press partnership is the way to go. You’ll build your own world, set your own rules and keep all the rights.
If your main goal is wider exposure and higher pay, aim for Marvel or DC, but know the competition is fierce. Building a strong indie portfolio first will improve your chances.
I’m sure I probably missed some stuff, but this is the high-level of breaking into comics. No matter which route you choose, keep telling your story, stay curious, keep learning and build connections at cons and online. Comics are a marathon, not a sprint, and passion will carry you farther than anything else.