Inkthinker
08-17-2007, 11:53 AM
From this week's PD:
It's kind of fun to get the reaction when I mention art fees like $375 for penciled and inked comics pages, which is hardly out of line for work-for-hire (though DC-Marvel-Dark Horse level, but why shouldn't they be?); the double takes are usually so violent I'm surprised no one's sued me yet for whiplash... Everyone seems to think comics can be put together for a couple hundred bucks, tops. Which they can be, if you ignore publishing, marketing and editorial costs and want a book to read and look like it was put together for a couple hundred bucks.
You might add to that the shock and/or disbelief when informed that it takes about a day to draw a page.
The animation studio I work with had considered doing some comics work, and when I informed the studio director that it would take about 4 weeks to do 22-26 pages, I was told that was "ridiculous" and that "we could do 2-3 pages a day". This was one of the few times where I stood up and said "no, comics are a full-time 8-10 hour-a-day job. And if you don't believe me ask [comics artist X, Y, or Z that we affiliate with] and see what they tell you".
Haven't heard much anymore about doing comics with studio properties, at least not internally. Real shame, too, 'cause I would have enjoyed the opportunity, but if it can't be done in 2 weeks for a couple hundred bucks, then I guess it's just not viable.
It's kind of fun to get the reaction when I mention art fees like $375 for penciled and inked comics pages, which is hardly out of line for work-for-hire (though DC-Marvel-Dark Horse level, but why shouldn't they be?); the double takes are usually so violent I'm surprised no one's sued me yet for whiplash... Everyone seems to think comics can be put together for a couple hundred bucks, tops. Which they can be, if you ignore publishing, marketing and editorial costs and want a book to read and look like it was put together for a couple hundred bucks.
You might add to that the shock and/or disbelief when informed that it takes about a day to draw a page.
The animation studio I work with had considered doing some comics work, and when I informed the studio director that it would take about 4 weeks to do 22-26 pages, I was told that was "ridiculous" and that "we could do 2-3 pages a day". This was one of the few times where I stood up and said "no, comics are a full-time 8-10 hour-a-day job. And if you don't believe me ask [comics artist X, Y, or Z that we affiliate with] and see what they tell you".
Haven't heard much anymore about doing comics with studio properties, at least not internally. Real shame, too, 'cause I would have enjoyed the opportunity, but if it can't be done in 2 weeks for a couple hundred bucks, then I guess it's just not viable.