How Much Does it Cost to Self Publish a Comic?

Creating a comic book is a great way to tell a story and hone your art skills. If you’ve been a comics enthusiast for a while, you’ve probably spent plenty of time daydreaming about new plots and characters.

Going indie requires some careful planning and strategizing. Traditionally published books have access to mainstream distribution channels and major retailers, which give a huge boost in visibility.

However, there has been an increased number of successfully self-published comics in recent years, in large part thanks to the internet. Instead of just handing out copies to friends and family, you can sell to comics fans locally and around the world with budget-friendly printed comics.

Software and Drawing Basics

Your initial start-up costs will vary based on the methods you use for your comic. Traditional artists will need a high-quality scanner, Bristol board, erasers, pencils, pens and markers at a minimum. Although basic art supplies are inexpensive, Bristol board is as much as 50 cents per sheet, and a good scanner will cost at least $100.

Digital artists need a drawing tablet and software for editing and formatting the final comic. We recommend the Adobe Illustrator and InDesign subscription services for using our print formatting templates, but many artists use other software to do the initial coloring. A basic screenless tablet starts at around $80, but many artists invest in a tablet with a screen, which starts at around $300.

Fortunately, you may already have access to many of these supplies if you’re an avid artist. Although you may need to upgrade some of them to create professional-looking art, you will likely be able to make many of them work.

Printing Costs

Your printing costs will depend on binding options, book size, order quantity, and gloss and paper thickness.  Staple-bound comics are the least expensive binding option, and can be printed and bound on high-quality paper in full color for less than $3 each. Gloss and heavier cover paper will add to the cost, but you can still sell your final product for just a few dollars each.

Square bound books, which are better for longer graphic novels, start at around $6 each in full color and less than $4 each in black and white. However, the minimum page count for perfect bound books is 60 inside pages, higher than that of staple-bound.

Naturally, larger and longer books cost more to print. Manga size comics are slightly less expensive than  standard comic book size due to their shorter height, but having your book printed at this size could surprise readers who are used to larger comics. Book sales may be higher if you strike a balance of size and affordability, depending on what your readers want.

Keep in mind that some printers have a bulk discount that allows you to unlock additional savings. At Comix Well Spring, we have a bulk discount that starts on orders of 250 copies or more, and increases with even larger orders.

Marketing Costs

Marketing costs are highly variable, and some comic creators prefer not to spend any money at all on promotion. If you have a large enough fan base due to your existing works or blog posts, you may be able to rely on word of mouth. Other options, like paid advertising and physical review copies for well-known bloggers, can add up to hundreds of dollars if they are not carefully planned and managed.

One option for promoting your comic is to invest in inexpensive freebies like trading cards and bookmarks. Artists can use these as free extras to include with book pre-orders, or as a thank-you to dedicated fans who help promote the work. These only cost a few cents each when ordered in larger quantities.

Naturally, comic artists want to take advantage of free resources to spread the word about their work. Social media is perhaps the most powerful of the free resources available, as it is  a huge source of web traffic. If you haven’t already built up a significant following, doing so can help drive sales for free.

Using free marketing resources, social media, and word of mouth to promote your work allows you to invest more in physical goods. Make sure to connect with leading bloggers and influential fans and artists in your genre. By making smart connections and using the right free tools, you can stretch your budget and have more to spend on promotional goodies.

Navigating the Indie Comic Book Market

Breaking into the indie comics scene isn’t as easy as some artists make it look. Even if you have a really good story, it’s hard to be noticed without having an existing fan base. Less-popular genres and niche stories may struggle even more.

You can increase your chances of success by collaborating with the right printer to create the highest-quality final product possible. Comix Well Spring has the experience and technology needed to make your self-publishing dreams a reality, and our low 25-copy order minimum makes it easier for you to get started.

We have a huge range of flexible options for  printing your graphic novel, and you can reorder from us easily when you’re ready for more. Get started today. Call us at (734) 345-6954 if you have any questions.