Diving into the world of webcomics, podcasts became a convenient and valuable resource to understand the changes in landscape since Jackwraith and I had managed the 5th Panel Comics website 25 years ago. Back then, the small press world was akin to the wild west, and everybody was making it up as they went along.
At the time, I was using Microsoft Front Page to build the website. Things were fairly straight forward… Secure the URL, find a host, build the site, create a store set up the payment methods, and go! The creating, marketing, and monetizing of our comics was hit or miss, and the strategy in approaching these initiatives was shared through conversations with others doing the same, most often during weekend conventions.
Back to today – there are several resources that were helpful as I navigated the webcomics landscape. Groups had done the hard work and were more than happy to pay forward what they had learned. Each of these can be found by searching the streaming platform of your choice – I consume these through the apple podcast app.
- Screen Tones – Podcast: A rotating cast of webcomic creators cover every aspect of starting, hosting, managing, promoting, and finishing webcomics. Updates regularly and is both informative and entertaining
- Lean into Art – Podcast and YouTube: Jerry Drozd and Rob Stenzinger explore design, creative communication, comics, and more. As I was becoming familiar with Clip Studio Paint, this was an excellent reference. The podcast has been discontinued, but the library of material remains a valuable resource.
- ComicLab – Podcast: Brad Guigar & Dave Kellet host an active and entertaining podcast for the creator. Two veterans of comics and webcomics cover every aspect of creating, marketing, and monetizing webcomics. The library of “how to” material is extensive. Beyond comics, they share personal experiences with Kickstarter, web hosts, Substack, and Patreon.
- Making Comics – Podcast: This weekly “slice of life” podcast features indie comics creators Scott Lost and Keith Foster who cover the ins and outs of comic creation. Topics include creative process for writers & artists, working with other creatives, and navigating the convention scene.
A free weekly webcomic with updates each Monday, Dystopia offers unique takes on storytelling through genre-spanning arcs set in a richly imagined, multi-layered world. Across its towering levels and shadowed undercity, you’ll encounter cyberpunk conspiracies, gangland rivalries, corporate cults, digital ghosts, and the quiet struggles of those trying to survive between the cracks. With each story, Dystopia invites you deeper—into a world that feels both impossible and eerily familiar. The world expands as you read, revealing patterns, echoes, and secrets hiding just beneath the surface. It’s an evolving experience that rewards curiosity.
