Summary
Highlights
Webcomics have evolved from self-published works to platforms like Webtoon and Tapas dominating the American scene, particularly with the rise of vertical-scrolling webtoons optimized for smartphones. The creator began their webcomic, 'Covenant', in 2019, noting the shift in art styles and production teams over time. Webtoon features an 'Originals' section for contracted, paid artists and 'Canvas' for self-published comics, often acting as an audition platform for Originals.
Covenant's unique art style, blending Eastern and Western aesthetics with a focus on lighting and rendering, helped it stand out. Initially, the creator's inexperience inadvertently led to a high-effort, detailed style. The comic's genre, a supernatural action story with queer romance subplots, appealed to an underserved audience. This combination created a loyal fanbase seeking a specific type of narrative.
Covenant was picked up quickly, but digital publishing doesn't guarantee financial success. The creator was paid $800 per episode, taking two weeks to complete one due to the detailed art style. This resulted in a monthly income of $1,600 (or $2,400 in a good month), often requiring 80-hour workweeks and causing injuries. Publishers also often fail to promote works, leaving the burden on creators.
Webtoon did not promote 'Covenant', leading to declining readership. The creator took it upon themselves to market the series through social media, especially TikTok. By creating fan-centric content and memes, they gained millions of views and 500,000 new subscribers, significantly boosting their income and allowing for breaks. This experience highlighted the necessity for creators to become their own marketing teams.
Due to high demand for physical copies, the creator secured a print publishing deal with Oni Press, which actively promoted the books. This also introduced 'Covenant' to a new audience who prefer physical comics. However, Webtoon prohibited the creator from advertising the print version to their readers and removed promotional content from episodes, creating a conflict. This led to the creator deciding to stop publishing on Webtoon in 2024.
The creator emphasizes that success largely depends on creators taking initiative and actively promoting their work. They believe that digital publishers are becoming less necessary due to predatory contracts and the ability of creators to build their own audience. The advice is to host comics on personal websites and actively market them, treating marketing as a learnable skill akin to drawing and writing. The creator is confident in pursuing an independent path for future projects.