Who says webcomics don't make a profit?

[The Donmeister]

I remember reading a thread a while ago about whether or not webcomic artists can make decent money off their strips, and I thought this might be interesting.

http://pholph.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=345202#345202

The idea was auctioning off a series of pictures depicting your fursona having a date with whomever you bid on. I found it pretty impressive that they made $2200 off 5 characters, even though only one of them is a main character in the strip! Granted they seem to have a fairly large fanbase, and the money was all used to keep the site running, but still, it shows you there's potential to make money if you've got a good idea.

[Steve the Pocket]

even though only one of them is a main character in the strip

I'll say. I cannot, off the top of my head, recall who the other four even are. And too lazy to reread the entire archives to find out.

[Tabris_The_17th]

So does this means there's hope that one day I can quit my day job and just draw little characters talking to eachother all day?.............SCORE!!!

That does seem like an interesting auction though. Amazing to see the lengths people went.

[Khaz]

You think this is expensive, how about the Adam Wan comission that sold for $2001 (I think)? That's for ONE PICTURE.

[Luke B.]

Heck, at last years Childs Play charity dinner, Penny Arcade auctioned off an appearance in their comic for something close to $20,000.

[ShadOtterdan]

Wouldn't that not count as a profit? Seeing as how it's going to charity?

[Luke B.]

Yeah, but if it hadn't been, they could probably have pulled in the same amount.

But yeah, the PA guys each of their families from Penny Arcade stuff, and I know they have at least 5 or 6 employes.

Futhermore, comics like Megatokyo, PVP, Something Positive, Errant Story, and dozens, probably hundreds or more others I'm forgetting are made as the creators full-time jobs.

Tons of people make money from their webcomics - it all comes down to how good the comic is, and how well the creators create marketable opportunities.

[Rooster]

I don't like the way Hopkins does that sort of stuff. All power to him, it's his site and creation...I just don't like being begged for money from people. I mean, I have no money, and I draw an online comic...

How is it that so many other cartoonists are like "gimme some money and I'll draw"...I just want people to read it, sod the money. Money sucks, and corrupts.

He who chases the money bill, it illudes him...he who eludes the money bill, it chases him.

[Luke B.]

I don't like the way Hopkins does that sort of stuff. All power to him, it's his site and creation...I just don't like being begged for money from people. I mean, I have no money, and I draw an online comic...

Huh? I've never seen any of the PA guys ask for money, outside of three months in 1999/maybe2000 when the site needed money or it would cease to exist.

Right now I think reports are each of the two guy running Penny Arcade make something like half a million a year each, just from selling shirts, ad-space, etc. Basic stuff, but people want it.

Besides, if I want to give my favorite cartoonist something in return for all they've given for free, it makes me feel good to do so.

[Rooster]

I meant the dude that draws Jack actually, Dave Hopkins.

[Richard K Niner]

Huh? I've never seen any of the PA guys ask for money, outside of three months in 1999/maybe2000 when the site needed money or it would cease to exist.

Hopkins, not Holkins...

[Muninn]

So does this means there's hope that one day I can quit my day job and just draw little characters talking to eachother all day?.............SCORE!!!

I'm fairly sure you have to have a very very succesful comic to be able to live off it.

[Dragon-Dancer]

True, or at least a solid following and stuff you can sell.

Jay Naylor - http://www.jaynaylor.com/ also earns a living from his work but then again he does have a for profit business side to his free work.

I really don't have a problem with artists wanting to get paid for their work, I don't like the whole 'pay me and I'll draw' model though. As a web comic it makes more sense to offer your readers something for free alongside what you might offer for a small fee and it should help get people familiar with your work as well.

Of course this is the same argument I have when it comes to music and the apparent greed of music companies.

[Rooster]

Jay Naylor's artwork is pretty damned good....I just get annoyed by the conservative undertones in most of his stuff.

[Tom Flapwell]

Naylor has the marketing advantage of dirtiness.