This was a genuinely excellent explanation of variants! Also thank you for sharing my article, and calling me hunky, which unfortunately made my wife laugh when I read it to her.
Honestly I just use one that came with the program, which I slightly customized until it felt right. A standard inking brush! The only time I've used anything different was on my Daredevil short because I wanted something a little rougher
It’s been a challenge to get used to. I’m starting to get the hang of it, but all the tools and resources I have access to are so daunting. It definitely feels like I’m learning how to draw all over again, but I’m not doing it right. I’m trying to feel out coloring some, and that has been an ordeal itself
This is really interesting! You say that some comic shops might not be able to survive without the incentive variants — so they do actually come out on top with these things? I always wondered if the money lost on ordering more comics than they need was typically balanced out by the incentive variant sales.
I mean, if they weren't they wouldn't be ordering them! I'm sure it doesn't always work out financially, but I think it makes up enough of their income that getting rid of them would harm the businesses greatly
That’s really interesting. I always felt like someone was getting ripped off with these incentive variants but I guess if the people buying them are happy to subsidize the printed comic industry then… win win? I guess?
Kind of? I mean, it shifts the focus of comic companies toward variants and ordering stunts to keep the lights on. But growing readership feels more paramount to me! There's no easy answer, especially now that we NEED these stunts and speculators to keep shops/companies going
Really interesting, I was always just against the whole variant thing for the reasons you say - once the content is secondary to the perceived value, we're in the exact same kind of speculative house of cards as the '90s boom. But if they're literally keeping the lights on at comic shops, it gets more complicated. And makes the inevitable collapse all the more unfortunate :-(
I guess where I'm confused is that I don't hear much about people collecting these variants purely as an asset with appreciating value. In the '90s you heard all the time about how much these comics would be worth in the future, and how you could pay for your kids' college fund with the foil holographic variant for Extreme Killer Krew #1. Maybe I'm just not in those circles, but are people buying the super-rare incentive variants with the idea that they'll be able to sell them for a higher price later?
I mean, it's like any market. People are selling to each other. Some make money, some lose. Maybe a creator gets hot, maybe a character becomes a TV/movie thing, there are all sorts of reasons for increase in the price of a variant or NON variant for that matter
Little off topic, was going back and rereading some of ur older/recent stories, and I often forget how great your JL Last Ride story was. I think what impressed me the most was how u wrote Hal. He’s not the lantern most writers prefer to go to when doing GL stories these days, so I was pleasantly surprised with how big a role he played here. Makes me wish u could write more of him and GL in the future hopefully.
This was a genuinely excellent explanation of variants! Also thank you for sharing my article, and calling me hunky, which unfortunately made my wife laugh when I read it to her.
oh no
Oh YES!
dear chip,
this is great.
if this comment gets 5,000 likes, i'll leave another one.
(also might do that anyway.)
love,
myq
PS have you thought about doing variant artwork for your newsletter banner?
1 down, Myq.
thank you for your service, brian!
I love seeing people come together for a common cause
Casey and Sarah killed it!!! Oh god they killed it, I just witnessed a murder! (Great guest comic!!!)
Hey chip, what brushes do you use on Clip Studio?
Honestly I just use one that came with the program, which I slightly customized until it felt right. A standard inking brush! The only time I've used anything different was on my Daredevil short because I wanted something a little rougher
Thanks so much! I really appreciate it. I just got Clip Studio and am finding my way around it
I love it, but I do NOT find it instinctual!
Also, I’m glad you enjoyed my doodle of you as the Maker
It’s been a challenge to get used to. I’m starting to get the hang of it, but all the tools and resources I have access to are so daunting. It definitely feels like I’m learning how to draw all over again, but I’m not doing it right. I’m trying to feel out coloring some, and that has been an ordeal itself
I love Kaptara and thank you for your writing
aw! that's sweet! Thanks Greg! KAGAN IS SO DAMNED GOOD
“Kaptara Funnies.” Jesus.
TBH I did laugh, tho.
This is really interesting! You say that some comic shops might not be able to survive without the incentive variants — so they do actually come out on top with these things? I always wondered if the money lost on ordering more comics than they need was typically balanced out by the incentive variant sales.
Now I’m off to read David’s article!
I mean, if they weren't they wouldn't be ordering them! I'm sure it doesn't always work out financially, but I think it makes up enough of their income that getting rid of them would harm the businesses greatly
That’s really interesting. I always felt like someone was getting ripped off with these incentive variants but I guess if the people buying them are happy to subsidize the printed comic industry then… win win? I guess?
Kind of? I mean, it shifts the focus of comic companies toward variants and ordering stunts to keep the lights on. But growing readership feels more paramount to me! There's no easy answer, especially now that we NEED these stunts and speculators to keep shops/companies going
Really interesting, I was always just against the whole variant thing for the reasons you say - once the content is secondary to the perceived value, we're in the exact same kind of speculative house of cards as the '90s boom. But if they're literally keeping the lights on at comic shops, it gets more complicated. And makes the inevitable collapse all the more unfortunate :-(
I guess where I'm confused is that I don't hear much about people collecting these variants purely as an asset with appreciating value. In the '90s you heard all the time about how much these comics would be worth in the future, and how you could pay for your kids' college fund with the foil holographic variant for Extreme Killer Krew #1. Maybe I'm just not in those circles, but are people buying the super-rare incentive variants with the idea that they'll be able to sell them for a higher price later?
I mean, it's like any market. People are selling to each other. Some make money, some lose. Maybe a creator gets hot, maybe a character becomes a TV/movie thing, there are all sorts of reasons for increase in the price of a variant or NON variant for that matter
Thanks Chip! Interesting stuff!
Great explanation of how variants work. I didn't know the required number copies could go so high.
I think it doesn't happen that often!
Lol, great post, as always.
Little off topic, was going back and rereading some of ur older/recent stories, and I often forget how great your JL Last Ride story was. I think what impressed me the most was how u wrote Hal. He’s not the lantern most writers prefer to go to when doing GL stories these days, so I was pleasantly surprised with how big a role he played here. Makes me wish u could write more of him and GL in the future hopefully.