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Is Substack Good for Web Comics?
It's complicated
By Charlie Sorrel Charlie Sorrel Senior Tech Reporter Charlie Sorrel has been writing about technology, and its effects on society and the planet, for 13 years. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on August 16, 2021 11:32AM EDT Fact checked by Rich Scherr Fact checked by Rich Scherr University of Maryland Baltimore County Rich Scherr is a seasoned technology and financial journalist who spent nearly two decades as the editor of Potomac and Bay Area Tech Wire. lifewire's fact checking process Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Software & Apps Mobile Phones Internet & Security Computers & Tablets Smart Life Home Theater & Entertainment Software & Apps Social Media Streaming Gaming Key Takeaways
Substack is getting into web comics publishing.Comics already enjoy a thriving indie-publishing scene.One stop-shops for ‘content’ are convenient, but worrying. Joe Ciciarelli / Unsplash Newsletter publisher Substack is getting into comics. It seems like a perfect fit. Substack has signed several indie comic creators to publish on the newsletter platform. New comics will arrive via email, and readers can pay the artists directly. Substack already has gotten several big names on board, including Batman head writer James Tynion IV. Substack has lured these creators with up-front payments so they can take their time establishing an audience at their new home. "I'm not surprised to see the expansion as it's pretty logical, and I'm always happy to see more writers, artists, and illustrators move to being independent and supported directly by their fans," Ryan Singel, founder of Outpost, a service that lets independent creators build their own small media empire, told Lifewire in an email. Comics and Substack
At first glance, web comics are just another creative medium, like special-interest blogs, or single-author newsletters. But webcomics are different in a few ways. One is they often have a loyal and fanatical (in a good way) fanbase. And another is that some of them have been making money for quite a while, selling merchandise, ads, and subscriptions. And this makes sense. Few people would buy a t-shirt of their favorite financial analyst newsletter, but a favorite web comic? Totally. And web comics also are way ahead on the newsletter format. Many of them already arrive in your email inbox when a new issue is available. So why bother with Substack? I'm not surprised to see the expansion as it's pretty logical. Substack is now almost synonymous with subscription-based email newsletters. It takes a large chunk of creators’ revenue in exchange for web hosting, and—probably more important—to give potential readers a single destination. Us users tend to prefer one-stop shops on the web. We like to know the sites we visit contain all possible options, and Amazon, YouTube, and so on are happy to oblige. This is the appeal of something like Substack. It makes it easy for creators to charge money, and for fans to pay. There’s no getting redirected to a third-party payment site, or having to manage multiple subscription plans. Once a reader is using Substack, signing up to more newsletters (and now comics and podcasts) is trivial. Chunk of Change
It’s not all good news, though. Substack might be hot right now, but it takes a big cut, in return for not much. Essentially, creators are paying Substack to host their media and to handle payments. "I'm of the belief that real independence for creators isn't the Patreon/Substack/Pico/Memberful model, where creators are tenant farming for companies with gobs of venture capital," says Singel. "Like farming landlords of yore, these companies take a percentage of all earnings (5% to 12%)." Martijn Baudoin / Unsplash Singel’s Outpost, which does something similar on top of the Ghost blogging platform, takes a flat fee, charged per-member. For readers, none of this matters—at least not until their favorite comic goes under. But for creators, it’s a big deal. "Creators who haven't yet figured out their ‘big idea’ character or story will have to rely on the strength of their subscription base for financial support. For those creators, the 10% fee could be a pain point unless they have supplemental income through a day job or family," Gabe Hernandez, founder and publisher of comic review site Comical Opinions, told Lifewire via email. Endgame
It’s easy to spot Substack’s endgame here. It started with newsletters, and now offers podcasts and comics. Substack could easily become a media empire that helps indie publishers get paid for their work, like Patreon or Ko-Fi. But where Patreon is more of a blog that links out to the artists’ creations on YouTube, or their podcast, and so on, Substack is more focused. "Where Substack has a slight leg up over its competitors is through its strong focus on publishing content," says Hernandez. "The Substack interface is geared for creating articles and newsletters with writers in mind, whereas Patreon and Ko-Fi are less about writing content and more about supporting the creator as a patron." I'm of the belief that real independence for creators isn't the Patreon/Substack/Pico/Memberful model... Substack—and its alternatives—is a real boon for creators and their audiences. It’s never been easier to pay people for their creations. But do we risk ending up with yet another monolith like YouTube? "Taken a few steps further (assuming this move is successful), Substack could be the default digital publishing subscription platform for every newsletter and magazine you find on the newsstand or in bookstores," says Hernandez. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire TikTok vs. YouTube: Which One Is Right for You? The Best Mac Desktop Publishing Software of 2022 The 10 Best Ways to Watch Movies With Friends Online How to Start Vlogging on YouTube How to Watch the Spider-Man Movies in Order How Do I Design a Good Newsletter? Tips and Hints How to Get Free Photo Books and More From Shutterfly Newsletter Design Software for Windows Unsubscribe From a Newsletter or Mailing List in Gmail Spotify Podcasts: How to Subscribe, Download, and Listen What Is an RSS Feed? (And Where to Get It) 7 Ways to Make Money Streaming Video Games on Twitch What Happened to Bitstrips? The 8 Coolest Apps You've Never Heard Of How to Watch Boxing Live Streams For Free Top Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies