So, I've had some folks asking how much does it cost to make a comic book. Typically, I'll answer this in a monetary amount, but lately I've been thinking of about it and felt the subject requires a bit of elaboration.
Sure there's the dollar amount that has to be forked over to pay for the artist, advertising, upgrading your computer so that it has what you need to do the work, office supplies, forming a company legally, paying a photographer and special fx team for the calendar project, feeding people on photoshoots, special fx supplies, etc. I think Sean and I have around seven grand into Mass Casualty thus far to get us where we're at right now. That, for those who don't know, is having one 24 page, full color book out with 200 copies printed thus far, the Barely Rotten Girls calendar with 250 copies printed. Some shirts, hats, posters and stickers. That's quite a bit of cash for us, and a deep hole that we had to dig for ourselves to make this happen. You need quite a few sales to make a dent in that, not to mention trying to fund it all over again for a second issue and another calendar. However, there is a lot more to the "price" of making it happen that just money.
Being a husband and father of two sons, I've had to sacrifice a lot of time away from my family to live this dream. I consider myself very fortunate to have a wife who is so freaking amazing that she supports all of this. She has always been there for me and allowed me to reach for the stars, whether it be my acting, writing, and/or my career in EMS. Not to mention the sacrifice she makes when I spend our "extra" money for the business instead of maybe buying a new couch, or something more practical. How many spouses do you know who would be cool when you say "hey honey, I'll be leaving he kids with you all day and not see you for 12 hours because I've gotta knock out this next Barely Rotten Girls shoot. Oh yeah, there'll be several smoking hot, half-naked zombie girls there and I'm taking $350 out of our bank account to pay for it." I doubt there are many, that's why I know mine is the best and why I love her. A lot of people see it as selfish, but she realizes why it is important and not only supports, but encourages me to follow through when I start to see it like most other people.
The other sacrifice you make is your mind. I've had to damn near welcome OCD into my mind along with the constant stress of juggling a hundred different things all at once. Why? Because when you put out something that is new and unknown, you are the promoter, the marking guy, the secretary, the accountant, and every other title that is required to make it happen. You can't trust to easily because there is no one out there who thinks what you're doing is as special as you do and no one who will be motivated enough to remember to send that e-mail, to call this store, to contact that magazine or website, as you will be. If the ball gets dropped, it's your ass on the line and your new, unknown property that suffers. Always remember this, in the beginning, you need them...they don't need you! To make it happen, you have to make your book and its success your number one priority because it takes a hell of a lot to get any amount of momentum and if you slip, that momentum may never get restarted again.
Good God, you say. Why the hell do you do it then? Is it really worth all of the hassle? Well, if you're asking those questions then my answer would probably be no, it is not worth it. But if you're saying, "I hear you man but I've gotta do it. I don't ever want to look back and wonder what could have been." Well, if that's the way you think then welcome to mostly heaven/sometimes hell that is being an independent comic book creator. Here's another secret, all of the above apply to anything you'll ever try and do creatively.
I do this because I have a story to tell and I'm realistic enough to know that to be successful in anything, it requires some degree of sacrifice. At 36 years old, I've learned that the path of least resistance doesn't reward you with much satisfaction and/or success. I have a theory that you can, at this very moment, decide to do anything you want to do. Pro football player, drummer in a band, build your own jet pack, or anything you want to. You can start out on your way to do this and you will do it, if you can withstand the tests. I think to succeed at anything, you will be tested in every possible way and if your resolve is strong enough to overcome the obstacles you'll face, then you will be successful at whatever it is you're trying to do. It's all about how bad you want it and how hard you are willing to work and the sacrifices you are willing to make.
What keeps me going with this and the other creative things in my life is the fact that my two boys will one day be able to look back and see that it is okay to follow those dreams. Whether it works out or not, there is a lot of value in doing something. Seeing something through from concept to completion, that sense of accomplishment, that is something that I don't feel has a monetary value. Nor does having someone read your work, or see your art and say that they enjoy it. To know that I am now a published author (regardless that I had to be a self-published author LOL) To have a copy of my work in the Library of Congress, to have a comic book fan, just like me, ask me to sign their book. To have someone say that the story that was once only alive inside your head, touched them in some way, either by making them laugh, or pissing them off, or motivating them to have to tell their story. That my friends, is what it's all about.
So how much does it cost to make a comic book? Well, it costs a hell of a lot. Is it worth it? You bet your ass it is!
