Is the comic strip dead?

Alaska Comics Camp 2026

Today’s show is sponsored by Huion, makers of the Huion Kamvas 22 (Gen 3) — a 21.5" pen display with a gorgeous 2.5K screen and really smooth performance. Bottom line: it feels great to draw on — and it punches way above its price. • Check it out at https://comiclabshop.com [https://comiclabshop.com/] • Use code COMICLAB5 for an exclusive 5% discount! (Valid through June 14th) This week, Dave returns from Alaska Comics Camp — https://minicon.alaskarobotics.com/comics-camp/ — with a glowing review of what he calls one of the most meaningful experiences of his professional life. He explains how the camp blends education, community, mentorship, and artistic growth in a remote setting that forces attendees to disconnect from technology and reconnect with one another. Along the way, Brad and Dave discuss what makes the camp special, the value of peer-to-peer learning, the recent panic over Kickstarter's updated NSFW guidelines, Eisner nominations, and the realities of pursuing recognition in comics. Alaska Comics Camp * Alaska Robotics Comics Camp is a four-night creative retreat in the southeast Alaska rainforest for comics pros, visual storytellers, and adjacent creators — writers, game devs, filmmakers, journalists, musicians, and more. * You have to apply to attend. It’s not a standard “buy a badge and show up” event; accepted campers attend after the Alaska Robotics Mini-Con in Juneau.  * Cost: Camp is listed at $800, which includes four nights of lodging, meals, and transportation to/from downtown Juneau. Financial aid is available, and asking for aid does not affect application review.  * What to expect: workshops, presentations, peer conversations, campfires, board games, hanging out, and wandering through the woods and nearby ocean beach — basically “a professional development conference for people who don’t like conference rooms.”  * Comfort level: rustic but not brutal — heated cabins, bunk beds with mattresses, flushing toilets, hot showers, power outlets, meals, snacks, coffee/tea, towels, and comfort items are provided. There’s no regular Wi-Fi or cell service at camp, though service is reachable by hike or ride.  * How to participate next year: watch the Alaska Robotics Mini-Con / Comics Camp site and their social channels for the next application window. Recent camps have used an application process with deadlines months ahead of the event, so don’t wait until spring to start looking. * https://minicon.alaskarobotics.com/comics-camp/ Topics Covered * A complete tour of Alaska Comics Camp and how it evolved from a small Juneau event into an international gathering of cartoonists * School visits, library presentations, the Alaska Robotics Mini-Con, and the camp experience itself * Why the lack of cell service is one of the camp's greatest strengths * Classes taught by attendees on topics including storytelling, lettering, humor writing, character development, publishing, and business * An NSFW-comics discussion that impressed Brad with the camp's openness and professionalism * The importance of "Comics Rules" (similar to Chatham House Rules) in creating a safe environment for sharing industry information * Real-world discussions of publishing contracts, agents, income, and career sustainability * The anonymous income survey that helps attendees understand the wide range of successful cartooning careers * Why Alaska Comics Camp has become one of Dave's favorite events in all of comics * Stories from ComicLab listeners who attended camp after hearing about it on the podcast * Dave's observations about Alaska's landscape, culture, and strong sense of community * The tale of a failed camp water pump and Pat Race's MacGyver-level solution involving a distillery, a fire department, and a garden hose * The viral misinformation claiming Kickstarter had banned pornography * What Kickstarter's updated NSFW guidelines actually said * Why Stripe — not Kickstarter — is the real concern for adult-content creators * Brad's emergency solo Pro Tips episode explaining the new guidelines * How creators can avoid overreacting to social-media panic cycles * Listener feedback about what Brad and Dave's voices sound like to non-Americans * Congratulations to friends of the show, including Ryan North, Glenn Fleishman, Tony Cliff, and Steve Lieber, on their Eisner nominations * A discussion about award submissions, advocacy, and why creators must nominate themselves * The realities of comics awards, including Eisners, Ringo Awards, Hugos, Reubens, and Ignatz Awards * Whether award nominations come from changing your work — or simply years of steady improvement and persistence You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon [http://patreon.com/comiclab] * $2 — Early access to episodes * $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards. If you'd like a one-on-one consultation about your comic, book it now [https://bradguigar.substack.com/p/comics-consultations]! Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc [https://evil-inc.com/] and the author of The Webcomics Handbook [https://bradguigar.substack.com/]. He is available for personal consultations [https://www.paypal.com/instantcommerce/checkout/6Z22DBP7JQMJ8]. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon [https://sheldoncomics.com/] and Drive [https://drivecomic.com/]. He is the co-director of the comics documentary, Stripped [https://stripped.vhx.tv/].

Hiring a Social Media Manager

Should cartoonists hire a social-media manager? Brad and Dave discuss the pros and cons of outsourcing social media and ultimately argue that most creators should handle it themselves. They explain why social media is an extension of a creator's voice, how direct engagement provides invaluable feedback about audience-building and marketing, and why improving your promotional skills makes you a better cartoonist overall. Along the way, they discuss shyness, self-promotion, audience growth, and the dangers of trying to be everywhere at once online. Topics Covered • The ComicLab newsletter and the “Five to Grow On” feature • Whether cartoonists should hire a social-media manager • Why social media is part of a creator’s artistic voice • The value of learning promotion instead of outsourcing it • Why creative people often resist marketing and business skills • How marketing skills can improve artistic skills • The dangers of trying to maintain every social-media platform at once • Brad’s “2-2-1” approach to social media • Platform-specific posting strategies and why one-size-fits-all promotion fails • Social-media feedback as a tool for improving your work • Shyness and discomfort with self-promotion • The “lipstick on a pig” problem: when promotion can’t compensate for weak work • Why making a great comic remains the most important marketing strategy • Dave’s upcoming Reddit AMA and his Hugo Award nomination • Using award nominations as promotional opportunities • Hugo Awards promotional support versus other industry awards • BlueSky starter packs and audience growth • Why cartoonists should do more cross-promotion • Whether creators should put award nominations on book covers • How long to keep promoting a completed comic project • Managing inventory and promoting older books • Long-tail sales and evergreen products • Using older books as bonuses, stretch goals, and loss leaders • When it makes sense to retire promotional efforts • Whether different creative projects need separate Patreons, newsletters, Substacks, and social-media accounts • The benefits and drawbacks of splitting projects into separate brands • Cognitive load, burnout, and managing multiple audiences • Using separate platforms to measure the success of different projects • When creators should keep projects under one roof and when they should branch out You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon [http://patreon.com/comiclab] * $2 — Early access to episodes * $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards. If you'd like a one-on-one consultation about your comic, book it now [https://bradguigar.substack.com/p/comics-consultations]! Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc [https://evil-inc.com/] and the author of The Webcomics Handbook [https://bradguigar.substack.com/]. He is available for personal consultations [https://www.paypal.com/instantcommerce/checkout/6Z22DBP7JQMJ8]. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon [https://sheldoncomics.com/] and Drive [https://drivecomic.com/]. He is the co-director of the comics documentary, Stripped [https://stripped.vhx.tv/].

Quiet on the set!

With both Brad and Dave nominated for awards this year, the guys spiral into a surprisingly deep conversation about awards, marketing, ego, and whether creators should plaster “award nominee” stickers all over their books. Later, they tackle a listener question about using 3D models, digital sets, and reference material in comics production — leading to a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at how both creators actually build comics pages in tools like Clip Studio Paint and Photoshop. Along the way, they discuss why imperfections matter in cartooning, how typography affects visual storytelling, and why “cheating” is often just another word for “working smarter.” Today's Show * Should you put an award nomination on a book cover? * UPDATE: Hugo Award voter packet "WSFS Membership" *  Using sets and other pre-made background materials *  UPDATE: Patreon Quips is now available on desktop You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon [http://patreon.com/comiclab] * $2 — Early access to episodes * $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards. If you'd like a one-on-one consultation about your comic, book it now [https://bradguigar.substack.com/p/comics-consultations]! Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc [https://evil-inc.com/] and the author of The Webcomics Handbook [https://bradguigar.substack.com/]. He is available for personal consultations [https://www.paypal.com/instantcommerce/checkout/6Z22DBP7JQMJ8]. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon [https://sheldoncomics.com/] and Drive [https://drivecomic.com/]. He is the co-director of the comics documentary, Stripped [https://stripped.vhx.tv/].

Is the comic strip dead?

The newspaper comic strip didn't go extinct — it evolved. But if your work doesn't keep up, your career may be fossilized! From Reddit-ready square comics to vertical-scroll storytelling, they explore how creators are adapting to phones, social media, and changing reading habits while keeping the heart of the comic strip alive. TOPICS COVERED * The evolution of newspaper comic strips * Why horizontal strips existed in the first place * How phones changed comics formatting * Square-format comics on Reddit and social media * Vertical-scroll storytelling * Why readers won’t rotate their phones * Charles Schulz and the flexible-format origins of Peanuts * Newspaper syndication vs. modern web distribution * YA graphic novels as the next evolution for newspaper strips * Lincoln Peirce and the success of Big Nate books * Why comic strips are still thriving online * Modular comic formatting for webcomics * The launch of The Comic Scout  [http://thecomicscout.com/] * Dave Kellett's Hugo Award nomination anticipation * Tips for maintaining visual consistency in comics * Workflow advice for newer cartoonists   You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon [http://patreon.com/comiclab] * $2 — Early access to episodes * $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards. If you'd like a one-on-one consultation about your comic, book it now [https://bradguigar.substack.com/p/comics-consultations]! Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc [https://evil-inc.com/] and the author of The Webcomics Handbook [https://bradguigar.substack.com/]. He is available for personal consultations [https://www.paypal.com/instantcommerce/checkout/6Z22DBP7JQMJ8]. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon [https://sheldoncomics.com/] and Drive [https://drivecomic.com/]. He is the co-director of the comics documentary, Stripped [https://stripped.vhx.tv/].

Keeping it Short — Making a Living 40 Pages at a Time

Today’s show is sponsored by Huion, makers of the Huion Kamvas 22 (Gen 3) — a 21.5" pen display with a gorgeous 2.5K screen and really smooth performance. Bottom line: it feels great to draw on — and it punches way above its price. • Check it out at https://comiclabshop.com [https://comiclabshop.com/] • Use code COMICLAB5 for an exclusive 5% discount! (Valid through June 14th) Brad and Dave tackle a listener question that gets to the heart of creative careers: Can you make a living telling shorter stories, or does success demand long-form work? As always, the answer is equal parts practical advice and creative philosophy — grounded in real-world experience and delivered with ComicLab’s signature mix of humor and honesty. TODAY'S SHOW • Can you build a career on individual short stories? • Market expectations around story length (comics, film, TV) and perceived value • Creative problem-solving as a business tool — making unconventional formats work • Strategies for packaging short stories (genre consistency, shared setting, through-lines) • Examples of experimental storytelling formats (anthologies, vignette structures) • PROMO: Huion Kamvas 22 (Gen 3) — features, workflow integration, and discount code ComicLab5 at https://comiclabshop.com [https://comiclabshop.com/] • Estate planning for cartoonists — what happens to your IP after death? • Debate: Should creative work become public domain sooner? • Should kids continue your comic… or make their own work? • The reality of legacy comics vs. modern independent publishing You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon [http://patreon.com/comiclab] * $2 — Early access to episodes * $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards. If you'd like a one-on-one consultation about your comic, book it now [https://bradguigar.substack.com/p/comics-consultations]! Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc [https://evil-inc.com/] and the author of The Webcomics Handbook [https://bradguigar.substack.com/]. He is available for personal consultations [https://www.paypal.com/instantcommerce/checkout/6Z22DBP7JQMJ8]. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon [https://sheldoncomics.com/] and Drive [https://drivecomic.com/]. He is the co-director of the comics documentary, Stripped [https://stripped.vhx.tv/].