Christopher Baldwin, Webcomic Creator
I am fated by the Norns to publish Vikings versus Samurai.
But I have not written or produced a single issue of a comic book. The challenge humbles me, but I’m also a product of the punk rock “do it yourself“ ethos. I rolled my sleeves up and am getting up to speed as quickly as possible. Whenever I can, I talk with experts in the field. A few weeks ago, I spent a Sunday afternoon with Christopher Baldwin.
Christopher is involved with many creative projects, such as The Dire Days of Willowweep Manor, Little Dee and the Penguin, and Glens Falls. I know him through his delightful sci-fi webcomic, Spacetrawler, which I’ve been reading for many years. Christopher has put in the hours and the labor.
Here’s what we learned from his hard-earned wisdom.
Patreon
- There are lots of different ways to encourage people to support, such as posting your cartoon on Patreon a day earlier for supporters than official release
- Morris Publishing
- Economical black & white and color short runs
Recommends
Tools
- Adobe Photoshop
- Save Photoshop files at 600 DPI and at a slightly larger size
- Keep remote backup copy
- Font based on his handwriting for lettering
- TextEdit
- Wacom Cintiq
Lessons Learned
- Know why you’re in it
- Don’t expect money in the first year
- A lot of cartoonists might be hesitant to link to you because of the churn
