Nobody Has Ever Made a Living in Comics

This episode examines a Bluesky thread where cartoonists self-reported their financial realities. While the original question was thoughtful — seeking insight into full-time and part-time comic careers — the resulting discussion revealed a common problem: an echo chamber of discouragement.

Brad and Dave emphasize that these threads often skew negative due to self-selection bias. Many successful creators don’t participate—either because they’re busy, uncomfortable sharing income, or wary of backlash. The result? A distorted picture where it appears that no one is succeeding, even though many are.

TODAY'S SHOW

• Nobody makes a living in comics
• ComicLab LIVE at the NCS Conference and Reuben Awards, Aug. 6-8, Columbus, Ohio — nationalcartoonists.com
• Tattoos
• Baby Blues and Zits announce retirement
• Death of syndication

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Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. He is available for personal consultations. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive. He is the co-director of the comics documentary, Stripped.