The future of comics and graphic novels... and my utopian hopes.
I was checking one of my favorite sites, Mangablog, and from there I was led to a link of a recent blog post by Becky Cloonan about floppies vs. graphic novels and how the whole Original Graphic Novel thing can't keep on the way it is. Too demanding, not enough pay, and individual volumes tend to disapear on the shelves with the rest of the masses
( Read more... )
I think once companies get their head around the fact that serial anthologies aren't supposed to 'make money', but to 'keep readers interested' in an imprint [a line of GN releases--the ones serialized in the anthy]; then you'll likely find more anthologies springing up--but in the case of RUSH, the actual format [a non-magazine style] is just catering to the 'collector mindset' that many BL fans have. It's a niche market that's being heavily catered to [I don't consider BL manga a ‘niche genre’ anymore--there's too many hands in licensing pie now, and the genre is FULL of titles], but the market is still minor compared to mainstream. I think mainstream readers would read a magazine-style monthly [don't know about a mook-or phonebook format], but I'm anxious to see what Yen Press has in store. ^_-
From a writers POV: As for creating on a bi-monthly schedule, it’s not that much easier for writers than going the GN route. Our completed outlines and/or scripts must have editorial approval before being turned over to the artist for installment-size illustrating, and so as writers, we often have to have our series' complete with a start, middle, and finish-before pencils are started. What's great about serial work is, once you ‘sell’ the series to your publisher, then you’re free to get input from your artist [collaborator at this point] and tweak the series as time goes on, under the eyes of your editor…but beforehand-almost as much writing has to be done for serial work, as is for GN work…just pointing that out. ^^' So yes, the great thing about serial work is, the freedom you have to take your time and look over the series you’ve sold, and iron out any fuglies found by fans and critics; and of course, the joy of watching the story grow with the artist you’re collaborating with.
On being open about pay rates: IMHO, pay rates should not be discussed openly, especially when it comes to the world of serial work. 0_o. In one of those perfect Walgreens worlds, all creators working on the same imprint, with stories running in the same anthology, would all make the same salary-but we don’t live in a Walgreen’s world. Some creators bring fanbases to the table, some creators have experience and published titles under their belt, some creators have an art style that’s going to be fandom gold [based on market trends]…and so not everyone commands the same pay rate. Start pointing out who makes more, and you’re going to have some very disgruntled creative groups. 0_0.
-Tina Anderson
Reply
I see what you're saying about discussing pay rates openly - and you're right. So much of it has to do with an individual's experience or mainstream appeal. Still, it seems really difficult to gauge even a basic "average" for what you can expect to get paid in this line of work. It's all so secretive and it can be really frustrating to determine what you feel your worth is, versus what an employer says it is, and find a happy medium between the two. Of course, most of us won't be the next Jim Lee, but to even have a glimpse of the overall pay scale would be so helpful...
Reply
Now with Shogun (and presumably with any other upcoming anthology), they're paying a decent amount for prepublication, so you can produce the work. But this is also considered the advance for the paperback (the actual prepublication fee is just a small token amount).
Reply
I think it’s frustrating for creators stateside. The GN market right now is growing fast, because of the GN's selling in bookstores [most of which are in the manga format], and let’s face it, this boom is fueled by established foreign titles-licenses for which, are growing more expensive by the year. So now pubs are turning toward 'global' or domestic creators, but at this point in time, there's little room for a cash-healthy prepublication budget, [this is alsdo hampered by some publishers insisting on long-term 3-volume release submissions up front, from unsigned creators. Yet I think, in the long run, anthologies will help this. They were allow pubs to set fair page rates and pay creators on a smaller scale, and on a regular schedule, thus allowing them the flexibility to create a more in-depth multi-volume series, build themselves a fan base, and thus, make their GN releases profitable enough, to out weigh a publishers loss on producing the anthology.
Some companies are comfortable with "we pay in royalties, so you keep your rights, and get a modest advance against the royalties upon delivery of art" while other pubs do the "healthy page rate upon delivery, plus royalties" BUT they insist on a shared copyright, [which isn't always as shared as it seems].
^_-
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment