Studio rates for producing a graphic novel

[Inortix]

Hey everyone,

For a while now I've been planning a graphic novel; I have a pretty good idea for one, and have most of the story outlined. However before I commit to anything or start putting out offers for an artist I wanted to get an idea of the standard rate per page. Ideally I'd be looking to commision a studio to do it for me as I want to do this properly and in my experience studios tend to be a whole lot more reliable and less likely to have the whole deal fall through halfway through. The style I'd be looking for is semi-realistic, black and white pages maybe with some basic toning.

Anyway, any help or advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[MiniGoth]

Depends upon the artist's skills.

Pencil and inked pages for a pro start around $250. (We're not talking the superstars, who can command double that or more.)

If you want to find someone a bit less experienced, you can offer a bit less.
Be aware, the lower you go, the lower the level of artwork will be.

[Mirana]

Don't studios post the level of art vs what you pay right up front?

Also, I think it might be worth mentioning that when you submit this GN, publishers don't want the whole thing. They just want to see a few pages and the full story synopsis (one page). After that they'll want your scripts. Knowing that, you'd probably be better off spending the right amount of money on a fantastic artist/studio than stretching it thin over too many unnecessary pages.

[Inortix]

Don't studios post the level of art vs what you pay right up front?

Also, I think it might be worth mentioning that when you submit this GN, publishers don't want the whole thing. They just want to see a few pages and the full story synopsis (one page). After that they'll want your scripts. Knowing that, you'd probably be better off spending the right amount of money on a fantastic artist/studio than stretching it thin over too many unnecessary pages.

Thanks for the advice Mirana. I'm new to the whole comic industry and I'm more than willing to admit I have no idea how to go about getting a graphic novel published.

You mention that a few finished pages are submitted along with a synopsis. Just how many pages are appropriate; 5, 15, 30? And, if the publisher then does decide to sign a deal then is it the writer who continues to pay the studio for the rest of the pages or does the publisher do that?

Finally, do you (or anyone else) have any suggestions for good publishers?

[Mirana]

It depends on the publisher, but I believe the number is 5-10. If you take a look at submission pages on company websites many of them will give you their personal preference on what a submission packet should look like.

Deals also depend on the publisher. We had a discussion (http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=126559) a while back about rates on original titles. It was started by a writer...so that thread will be of really good use to you. In any case, unless you approach the publisher as writer-only (with just samples of what the book COULD be), you'll be responsible for finding and paying the artist (whether from your own pocket or any advance the publisher gives you).

On publishers...that largely depends on the type of story you are doing. You wouldn't submit the same story to DC that you would SLG. There is a list of publishers in that above thread, but it's not working for me right now. Here's another one (http://dir.yahoo.com/Business_and_Economy/Shopping_and_Services/Publishers/Comics/). Do some research and be aware of the market before you dive in.

[paramnesia]

Some of this advice has already been given in this thread and ones linked here, but this is what I’ve learned.


Research the publishers. Sending a superhero story to an label that doesn’t publish that genre is a great way to make a bad first impression.
Read the submission guidelines and follow them carefully. Not following directions is a quick path to the slush pile.
Don't take rejection personally. The majority of editors aren't out to crush your dreams. If they don't tell you why they rejected your story, it may be because they don't have time. If you get a form letter, it doesn't mean they hate you.
Don't resubmit a rejected story to the same publisher unless they expressed interest. The exception to this may be if there is a change of editors or you spoke to one at a convention and they wanted to take a look.
Be careful what you say about an editor in public. It's not unusual for editors from various publishers know each other.

A few things to keep in mind once you start looking for an artist:

You get what you pay for. If you want to show you’re serious about your idea, especially if you have plans for publishing it, consider paying whatever you can. If your agreement includes sharing royalties, the wage could be an advance on royalties, but be sure you tell your artist this.
Use contracts, even if you’re friends. This will protect all parties.
I see a lot of writers ask for samples of artwork, but the writer should be ready and willing to provide of their writing as well. Post links to your other work.
When looking for an artist, don’t skimp on information. I know there are concerns that if they post a short synopsis someone will steal it, but artists have to deal with this too. Give at least some basic information on your story and what your intentions are. There are people out there willing to work for the experience or back end payment or just because the writer really sold their idea well; just check out the “no payment” forums here.
Focus your time and money on quality over quantity. For example, rather than do a 200 page graphic novel, for example, work on a 20 page comic. Large projects, moreover, are harder to find a good artist willing to commit to such a long term story, especially if it’s low or back end pay, based on the plan that someone might pick it up. The amount of time involved is too big a risk.

I don’t mean to belittle writers, but the number of writers seeking artists significantly outnumber artists seeking writers on various forums and want ads. Good artists often have their own stories to tell.

[MiniGoth]

Each publisher will have slightly different requirements, and most of those looking for new works will have submission guidelines on a website page.