How to Self-Publish Your Own Comic Book (Paperback)

~ Tony Caputo (Author) "In any situation, if you're genuinely dedicated to your goals, you have a better chance at attaining them..." (more)
Key Phrases: direct market distributors, newsstand market, comic book creation, Speed Racer, United States, Marc Hansen (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The fiercely competitive and hugely profitable business of self-publishing comic books is fully outlined in this book written to guide entrepreneurial artists and writers. Tony Caputo has published hundreds of comic books, including such famous titles as The Twilight Zone, The Real Ghostbusters, and Married with Children. 52 illustrations, 8 in color.

About the Author

Tony C. Caputo is the publisher of hundreds of comic books, including such well-known titles as Speed Racer™, Astro Boy™, The Terminator™, The Real Ghostbusters™, Vespers™, and The Green Hornet™. From 1989 to 1994, he served on the board of directors of the Comics Magazine Association of America (CMAA). and has worked as a publishing consultant for a variety of companies, including Disney Publications and Walter Joseph Communications. He has also produced over 20 volumes of Speed Racer home videos and gift sets, and has collaborated with such legendary industry talents as Harlan Ellison, Neal Abrams, Jim Steranko, Mike Baron, and Jeff Butler.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Watson-Guptill (March 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823024555
• ISBN-13: 978-0823024551
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 6.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #297,973 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommended, August 19, 2005

By	S. Mayfield - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

First and foremost, this book is not for artists who are only considering self-publishing their work - it's for people who are willing to put in the time and effort it takes to successfully self-publish or launch their own self-publishing company. Even Jeff Smith (yes, he's a self-publisher) has used this book and commented that it is "full of very real commercial information." This book goes into all the information a self-publisher needs to ease through the necessary legal processes involved in self-publishing and starting a publishing company, and teaches us what the author himself took many years to figure out.

The book contains the following chapters:

1. GETTING STARTED
Contains the following sections: THE COMIC BOOK INDUSTRY, INDUSTRY OUTLOOK, ONLINE COMIC BOOKS, YOUR BASE OF OPERATIONS, OFFICE FURNATURE AND EQUIPMENT, COMPANY STTRUCTURE (sole proprietorship vs. partnership vs. C corporation vs. sub-chapter S corporation), COMPANY IDENTITY

2. TRADEMARKS, COPYRIGHTS, AND LICENSES
TRADEMARKS AND COPYRIGHTS, THE INDICIA, COPYRIGHTS AND FREELANCE EMPLOYEES, LICENSING ARRANGEMENTS

3. COMIC BOOK CREATION
AN OVERVIEW OF COMIC BOOK PRODUCTION, WRITING, PENCILING: THE ART OF STORYTELLING, PENCILING QUALITY, LETTERING, INKING, HAND COLORING, COMPUTER COLORING, FREELANCERS AND CO-CREATORS, SCOUTING FOR TALENT

4. PRINTERS AND COLOR SEPARATORS
THE PRINTING PROCESS, FINDING A PRINTER, COLOR SEPARATORS, LINESCREENS AND COLOR COMPOSITION, PRODUCCING A DIRT CHEAP COLOR COVER

5. CONTRACTS
LETTER OF INTENT, ARTIST CONTRACT, PAYMENT VOUCHER, SECURITY AGREEMENT, CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT, includes samples of each

6. COMIC BOOK DISTRIBUTION AND SALES
THE DIRECT MARKET, NEWSSTAND DISTRIBUTION, CMAA, UPC BAR CODE, BOOKSTORE DISTRIBUTION, DISCOUNT DISTRIBUTION, SUBSCRIPTIONS, THE FOREIGN MARKET, COLLECTORS AND BANK ISSUES, PAID ADVERTISING, SELLING DIRECT

7. SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGIES
THE KEY ELEMENTS OF MARKETING SUCCESS, DIRECT MARKETING SALES AND STRATEGIES (these I found particularly useful), DEVELOPING LICENSING AND MERCHANDISING OPPORTUNITIES, ESTABLISHING FOREIGN PUBLISHING RELATIONSHIPS, AQUIRING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, USING NATIONAL PUBLICITY TO INCREASE SALES, SURVIVING THE GLUT, NEWSSTANDS AND BOOKSTORES: THE MASS MARKET, INCREASING NEWSSTAND SALES THROUGH INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUES, THINGS TO AVOID

8. PROMOTIONS, ADVERTISING, AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
NEWS RELEASES (and how to write them, includes samples), THE NEWS MEDIA, PUBLIC RELATIONS FIRMS, TRADE SHOW AND CONVENTION PROMOTIONS, PRINT ADVERTISING, THE INTERNET

9. BUDGETS AND BOOKKEEPING
INVOICES AND SHIPPING MANIFESTS, KEEPING AND MONITORING YOUR FINANCIAL RECORDS, INCOME STATEMENTS, SPREADSHEETS, CASH FLOW

10. CAPITAL AND INVESTORS
RAISING CAPITAL, A START-UP BUSINESS PLAN, AQUISITION AND EXPANSION, SELLING YOUR COMPANY, INVESTORS, LOVE MONEY: BORROWING FROM FAMILY OR FRIENDS, LAWYERS

11. SECONDARY RIGHTS
SUCCESS WITH LICENSED PROPERTIES AND SECONDARY RIGHTS, THE PRESENTATION PACKAGE, SELLING AN OPTION,

APPENDIX
Contains a listing of about 300 comic trade shows and conventions, trademark and copyright agencies, licensing resources, printers, color separators, computer colorists, distributor and trade publications, different types of distributors, foreign publishers, foreign agents, foreign sales representatives, foreign and domestic comic specialty shops, lawyers, investor services, internet service providers and browsers, and national and midwest news wires, all with attourney names and contact information.


All in all, this is a very detailed and well-written book. If you are serious about starting a publishing company but are unsure about some of the legal processes (or clueless where to begin), then I cannot think of a better book for you.


T. Fischer
Killer T-Rex Comics

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A VERY GOOD BOOK!, November 1, 2004

By	D. Dabel - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Since I was 12 years old, I wanted to break into the comic book industry. It was my goal in life, and by the time that I was 18 years old, I started attending Comic book Conventions. That's when I realized that breaking in would not be a walk in the park. After 2 years of trying, I finally gave up on breaking in and I gave up on comics. Something happened that changed my life and impacted me in a lot of ways. Coming home one day from work my brother and I went to pick up some music cds, I really can't remember from where, but something I will never forget that day was seeing a book on the shelf titled "How to Self -Publish your own Comic Book " by Tony C. Caputo. My brother and I looked at each other and smiled, we then without hesitation combined our money and paid $19.95 and picked up the book.



Four years later, I now own my own comic book publishing company working with the likes of Image Comics, Dreamwave Productions, New York Times Best selling Authors; Robert Jordan, Raymond E. Feist, George R.R. Martin, Robert Silverberg and much much more. With blessings from God and "How to Self -Publish your own Comic Book " by Tony C. Caputo, I was able to take my dead dream, revive it and turn it into my lively hood. I have since then been in touch with Mr. Caputo and we are very good friends, I still seek his advice from time to time. Thank you for putting out this book Mr. Caputo.





Les Dabel

V.P. Dabel Brother Production LLC.

22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How to Self-Publish Your Own Comic Book:, February 17, 2003

By	Austin Osueke (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews

I am an indy comic book publisher at eigoMANGA.com, and I used this book for the last 3 years to get my company started from the very bottom.

This book is my bible in terms of building my company at eigoMANGA.com. I have it secretly stashed in my desk and let people believe that I'm a comic book genius.

The blueprints are spelled out in this book so you can't go wrong. Yeah, it can be alittle intimidating sometimes so read the parts that are relevant to your needs at that time. When I started out in my dining room several years ago, I didn't need to know about worldwide distribution, now I do.

This industry is a real rat-race, with very few big time people wanting to help you. Mr. Caputo and this book is a blessing!

With a little bit of desire, work ethic, and Mr. Caputo's book, you are destined to go far in this industry. TRUST ME!