Written by: Rob Wrecks
There's a ton of Small Press companies out there with tons of fantastic material to check out. And while everything may seem fine and dandy on the outside, on the inside things may not be so fine and dandy. Especially if you're only source of income is the comic you just made or the conventions you go too and set up shop at as a means of supporting yourself that likely includes the selling of that comic you've made. Heck, say you're in a whole other country entirely and that's a new set of problems right there! El Torres is one such individual from Spain who runs the excellent Amigo Comics, which has produced the likes of The Westwood Witches, Rogues!, Ghost Wolf, Straitjacket, Nancy In Hell, Roman Ritual, Arcane Secrets, Beast Commandos, and Lunita! Here's an answer he provided on the kind of struggle he and Amigo Comics has to deal with when it comes to living in another country.
“In my case, logistics. I live on the other side of the world, and logistics is a nightmare for us. Shipping overseas, having the printers in another country, try to convince taxes you're not a multinational corporation, just a guy sending comics...”
He even adds that things like that can cause delays and there fore causing them to be behind schedule. One case even included those shipping the titles to wind up losing them. Which certainly would keep you from doing further business with a company who lost some valuable cargo that took months to put together. But despite all that, El and the rest of the Amigo gang keep on going despite their set backs which is quite encouraging when one thinks about it and goes to show on why you should never give up!
Kevin LaPorte of Inverse Press LLC also has an answer regarding the struggle of a Small Press company, a company that has the likes of Roadkill DuJour, Flesh of White, Moon In The Trees, Ancients and Warriors – The Sketch Art Of Gavin Michelli, Clown Town, Eye Of The Hurricane, Last Ride For Horseman, The Absentee, The Blind Eye: Hindsight, and The Book in its selection of offerings for readers.
“It's distribution, no question. Getting books in front of potential buyers.”
Buyers who may only be looking for something super heroic rather than checking out something entirely different. Something Kevin also weighed in on as well,
“That, and it's just time-consuming and overtakes the actual creative side of things.”
And with what is likely very specific standards from Diamond as well is also another factor in why its a bit more difficult then what it should be for folks like El and Kevin to get their books out to interested readers even with various digital means. As there may be that one reader that prefers the age old go too of the printed form.
Dan Nokes of 21st Century Sandshark Studios, which has brought us the likes of Adam and Eve: Bizarre Love Triangle In The Zombie Apocalypse, The Pistoleers, and the Paranormals also weighed in with his struggles when it comes to the life of Small Press as his main form of income is the comics he makes and the conventions he goes too and sells comics, prints, and commisions. He's also pretty much everywhere in his state when it comes to cons too!
“For me personally. Its maintaining the bills and upkeep so I can keep going to shows and conventions, make more books etc. That is closely followed by convincing people to buy and pick up an unknown indie book rather than spend their cash on some Funko Pop doll, or Marvel/DC related item.”
As its been mentioned previously, super heroics are a pretty big thing for most comic readers which may make it hard for an indie title that's not even about super heroics to get seen more. Not to mention if said reader is looking for something different than the usual but don't act on it for whatever reason. Something Dan also had some input on.
“Agreed sir! I dont hate super hero books. But lets be honest. To most folks comics and superheroes are so synonymous with one another that people are shocked when they are told that a comic book can encompass any genre out there.”
Which when you think about it, is a little ridiculous because not all movies, TV shows, video games, music albums, and books are the same genre. So why can't comics be a variety of genres as well instead of just super heroes?
“Its incredibly myopic and is one of the things that keeps comics from gaining the respect that film, novels, and television has.” Adds Dan.
And hopefully it won't take another 60 years for things to change for the better. Though Dan feels that perhaps what the world of comics needs is its own version of Citizen Kane. Something so well put together that it causes a universal recognition of comics as a viable medium. Here's to hoping that something like what Dan's describing will happen sooner rather than later.
Sarah Hollis of Master Plot Comics, which has Bullets and Angels, Sad Monster, 100 Tears, Cocaine Pet Shop, and The Offended also weighed in on with some input of her own about the struggles of Small Press.
“I think the biggest struggle we have is that Diamond has dominated the distribution market and made it difficult to distribute books without losing a lot of profit and say in how things get done. We are working on distributing our own books, and while it's difficult, we find that we have a lot more control over how, where, and when we are able to sell and distribute our books. While Diamond would be our preferred distributed, due to ease of order for stores as well as less hassle on our end, it's just something that is difficult to do at this time.”
As you can see, the issue of distribution is a common factor in all the answers provided when it comes to the biggest struggle an Independent Small Press company has to deal with. But the question is, what can be done to improve the situation so its not as bad? For El, moving to America would be the solution but would not be a cheap one for sure. Everard McBain of Ceflux comic fame and Sarah Hollis however feel that the solution could lie in a new form of distribution aimed solely at Independent titles. Its something that could work but would most likely require a good amount of money to get going. But ultimately it would be worth it as it would help Independent/Small Press creators in getting their books into shops.
What do you think would be a good way to improve the situation here? Would an Independent based Distribution system work or do you feel that Diamond would potentially absorb it? Let loose your thoughts in the comments below!
“In my case, logistics. I live on the other side of the world, and logistics is a nightmare for us. Shipping overseas, having the printers in another country, try to convince taxes you're not a multinational corporation, just a guy sending comics...”
He even adds that things like that can cause delays and there fore causing them to be behind schedule. One case even included those shipping the titles to wind up losing them. Which certainly would keep you from doing further business with a company who lost some valuable cargo that took months to put together. But despite all that, El and the rest of the Amigo gang keep on going despite their set backs which is quite encouraging when one thinks about it and goes to show on why you should never give up!
Kevin LaPorte of Inverse Press LLC also has an answer regarding the struggle of a Small Press company, a company that has the likes of Roadkill DuJour, Flesh of White, Moon In The Trees, Ancients and Warriors – The Sketch Art Of Gavin Michelli, Clown Town, Eye Of The Hurricane, Last Ride For Horseman, The Absentee, The Blind Eye: Hindsight, and The Book in its selection of offerings for readers.
“It's distribution, no question. Getting books in front of potential buyers.”
Buyers who may only be looking for something super heroic rather than checking out something entirely different. Something Kevin also weighed in on as well,
“That, and it's just time-consuming and overtakes the actual creative side of things.”
And with what is likely very specific standards from Diamond as well is also another factor in why its a bit more difficult then what it should be for folks like El and Kevin to get their books out to interested readers even with various digital means. As there may be that one reader that prefers the age old go too of the printed form.
Dan Nokes of 21st Century Sandshark Studios, which has brought us the likes of Adam and Eve: Bizarre Love Triangle In The Zombie Apocalypse, The Pistoleers, and the Paranormals also weighed in with his struggles when it comes to the life of Small Press as his main form of income is the comics he makes and the conventions he goes too and sells comics, prints, and commisions. He's also pretty much everywhere in his state when it comes to cons too!
“For me personally. Its maintaining the bills and upkeep so I can keep going to shows and conventions, make more books etc. That is closely followed by convincing people to buy and pick up an unknown indie book rather than spend their cash on some Funko Pop doll, or Marvel/DC related item.”
As its been mentioned previously, super heroics are a pretty big thing for most comic readers which may make it hard for an indie title that's not even about super heroics to get seen more. Not to mention if said reader is looking for something different than the usual but don't act on it for whatever reason. Something Dan also had some input on.
“Agreed sir! I dont hate super hero books. But lets be honest. To most folks comics and superheroes are so synonymous with one another that people are shocked when they are told that a comic book can encompass any genre out there.”
Which when you think about it, is a little ridiculous because not all movies, TV shows, video games, music albums, and books are the same genre. So why can't comics be a variety of genres as well instead of just super heroes?
“Its incredibly myopic and is one of the things that keeps comics from gaining the respect that film, novels, and television has.” Adds Dan.
And hopefully it won't take another 60 years for things to change for the better. Though Dan feels that perhaps what the world of comics needs is its own version of Citizen Kane. Something so well put together that it causes a universal recognition of comics as a viable medium. Here's to hoping that something like what Dan's describing will happen sooner rather than later.
Sarah Hollis of Master Plot Comics, which has Bullets and Angels, Sad Monster, 100 Tears, Cocaine Pet Shop, and The Offended also weighed in on with some input of her own about the struggles of Small Press.
“I think the biggest struggle we have is that Diamond has dominated the distribution market and made it difficult to distribute books without losing a lot of profit and say in how things get done. We are working on distributing our own books, and while it's difficult, we find that we have a lot more control over how, where, and when we are able to sell and distribute our books. While Diamond would be our preferred distributed, due to ease of order for stores as well as less hassle on our end, it's just something that is difficult to do at this time.”
As you can see, the issue of distribution is a common factor in all the answers provided when it comes to the biggest struggle an Independent Small Press company has to deal with. But the question is, what can be done to improve the situation so its not as bad? For El, moving to America would be the solution but would not be a cheap one for sure. Everard McBain of Ceflux comic fame and Sarah Hollis however feel that the solution could lie in a new form of distribution aimed solely at Independent titles. Its something that could work but would most likely require a good amount of money to get going. But ultimately it would be worth it as it would help Independent/Small Press creators in getting their books into shops.
What do you think would be a good way to improve the situation here? Would an Independent based Distribution system work or do you feel that Diamond would potentially absorb it? Let loose your thoughts in the comments below!