Sure, making comics is fun, but do we ever do serious work, like painting, sculpting, or other classical art forms?

Gannett has selected 34 syndicated comics for its newspapers to choose from. Any comic that didn't make the list has been shut out of roughly 20% of the existing market.

We're thrilled to welcome Jamar Nicholas, creator of Leon The Extraordinary, to talk shop with us!

Dave and Brad return from the National Cartoonist Society Reuben Awards with stories, anecdotes, and reflections.

New Yorker cartoonist Jason Chatfield and "Sarah's Scribbles" cartoonist Sarah Andersen join Brad and Dave at the Farewell Brunch, closing out the National Cartoonist Society's Reuben Awards events.

Is comics a young person's game? Pull up a (rocking) chair, and let's talk about it!

Which is more important for a cartoonist to learn — writing or drawing?

Thanos snaps his fingers and erases Brad and Dave's careers. They have all their current knowledge, talents, and skills. But they don't have their titles, audiences, or archives. What, where, and how do they RESTART?

There's a definite benefit to making mistakes early in your career. They have a much lower impact than the ones that come later.

Has manga overtaken American-style comics in the hearts and imaginations of readers?

Dave and Brad return from Comic-Con International in San Diego, and they have much to discuss!

This week a ComicLab listener writes to thank us for talking him out of a mistake — and to say he'd like to get back to making it as soon as possible.

You should build a following on social media. You should launch a website. You should focus on the quality of your comic. How do you manage all of these "SHOULDs?!"

Social media giant Meta launched Threads and acquired over 40,000 users within the first 24 hours. Will this be the death knell for Twitter? And if it is, will that be good news for comic creators?

With Marvel, Netflix, Sony, HBO, and Universal pulling out of Hall H, what will San Diego Comic-Con be like? Some say that removing the Hollywood sightings and signings will allow the attendees to return their focus to the comics creators the show was initially founded to celebrate. Others fear a floor full of angry fans who spent hundreds on a show that isn't there.

Phil Foglio joins us to discuss his long and storied career as an independent cartoonist! Best known for co-creating "Girl Genius" with his wife Kaja, Phil talks about his breakout hit, "What's New with Phil and Dixie," his milestone NSFW series, "XXXenophile," developing the Gaslamp Fantasy genre, and the philosophies that have helped him navigate several decades as an independent comics creator. Fun Fact! Phil, Dave, and Brad are all nominated for the National Cartoonist Society Silver...

Patreon's WordPress plug-in enables you to host Patreon-exclusive content on your website. We'll talk about how you can use this to grow your membership. Also, we'll talk about #comicsbrokeme

What are some good ways to learn to do better storytelling? Archetypes? Formulas? Trial and error?

We heard from a listener who took our advice and launched their own website. And now they have only one question: "What the heck am I supposed to DO with it??" Today's show is sponsored by Dreamhost! If you want to own and control your own work, Dreamhost can help you get started.

It's bad enough if a reader makes an unkind comment toward you, but what do you do when readers attack each other? When it results in some of those readers leaving your community, it's a problem that demands attention! Also: Patreon is offering a new feature: Free Trials! And Brad and Dave disagree on whether you should implement it!

It happens at the beginning of every month — you lose a few Patreon backers. It can be demoralizing, so let's discuss ways to survive the churn! Also, how do you restart comics after a long hiatus?

Our listeners often ask, "How can I increase my audience?" Well, in this episode, we've got you covered! We'll give you some great tips on how to grow your readership. Plus, we'll be discussing some fundamental rules of typography.

A listener asks if OnlyFans could be a Patreon alternative. Also, how do you know it's the right time to launch a Kickstarter?

A listener is planning to exhibit at a comic con — and their five-year-old wants to sell their own comic there, too! Should children be encouraged to sell their crayon-crafted cartoon books at conventions? Also, we discuss the difference between thumbnailing and penciling. Sponsored by Dreamhost!

A ComicLab listener asks for advice on publishing two versions of the same book — one rated PG-13, and another rated R. Sounds an awful lot like what Brad does. So why is he so against it?!