Comic Lab

Concept vs. Conceit — Why Some Comic Ideas Take Off (and Others Stall)

Listen Later

What’s the difference between a concept and a conceit — and why does confusing the two quietly sabotage so many comics?

In this episode, Brad and Dave break down one of the most important (and misunderstood) distinctions in storytelling. A concept is the engine that drives your story forward. A conceit is a clever wrapper that might look great… but doesn’t go anywhere.

If you’ve ever launched a comic that felt strong at first but ran out of momentum, this conversation will hit home.

We talk about:

  • Why constraints actually fuel creativity
  • How to test whether your idea has real staying power
  • The danger of building a comic around a gimmick
  • And how to strengthen your story before you spend months drawing it

    • Today's show:

    • A comic without recurring characters
    • UPDATE: ComicLab accent challenge
    • UPDATE: Amazon Advantage
    • UPDATE: DoubleDogBook.com
    • How to do a sarcastic word balloon

      • Takeaways

      • Character design plays a crucial role in storytelling.
      • Comics can thrive without a central protagonist.
      • Idea-driven comics have historical precedence.
      • Naming a comic can be a challenging but essential task.
      • Feedback is vital in the creative process.
      • Constraints can enhance creativity and focus.
      • Monosyllabic titles are often more memorable.
      • A good title can significantly impact a comic's success.
      • The creative journey involves trial and error. Sharing ideas at smaller levels can reveal what resonates.
      • Avoiding sunk cost fallacy is crucial in decision-making.
      • Amazon Advantage can lead to unexpected losses.
      • Understanding the costs of shipping is essential for profitability.
      • Sarcasm in comics requires careful visual and textual cues.
      • Bold lettering can enhance the impact of sarcasm.
      • Walt Kelly's techniques in lettering were innovative but sometimes excessive.
      • Comic creators should consider the visual presentation of dialogue.
      • A well-crafted word balloon can convey emotion effectively.
      • The legacy of past cartoonists informs current practices.

        • You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

        • $2 — Early access to episodes
        • $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

        If you'd like a one-on-one consultation about your comic, book it now!

        Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. He is available for personal consultations. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive. He is the co-director of the comics documentary, Stripped.

        ...more
        View all episodesView all episodes
        Download on the App Store
        Comic LabBy Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett
        • 4.9
        • 4.9
        • 4.9
        • 4.9
        • 4.9

        4.9

        310 ratings

        More shows like Comic Lab

        View all
        WTF with Marc Maron Podcast by Marc Maron

        WTF with Marc Maron Podcast

        28,974 Listeners

        Judge John Hodgman by John Hodgman and Maximum Fun

        Judge John Hodgman

        7,714 Listeners

        Filmspotting by Filmspotting

        Filmspotting

        3,957 Listeners

        Scriptnotes Podcast by John August and Craig Mazin

        Scriptnotes Podcast

        2,435 Listeners

        The Weekly Planet by Planet Broadcasting

        The Weekly Planet

        8,732 Listeners

        Off Panel: A Comics Interview Podcast by SKTCHD

        Off Panel: A Comics Interview Podcast

        318 Listeners

        ComixLaunch: Crowdfunding for Writers, Artists & Self-Publishers on Kickstarter... and Beyond! by Tyler James

        ComixLaunch: Crowdfunding for Writers, Artists & Self-Publishers on Kickstarter... and Beyond!

        98 Listeners

        The Daily by The New York Times

        The Daily

        113,121 Listeners

        Good One by Vulture

        Good One

        1,483 Listeners

        3 Point Perspective: The Illustration Podcast by SVSlearn.com

        3 Point Perspective: The Illustration Podcast

        730 Listeners

        Dungeons and Daddies by Dungeons and Daddies

        Dungeons and Daddies

        10,250 Listeners

        Colors of the Dark by FANGORIA Podcast Network

        Colors of the Dark

        484 Listeners

        Robservations with Rob Liefeld by Robservations with Rob Liefeld

        Robservations with Rob Liefeld

        766 Listeners

        Making Comics by Keith Foster and Scott Lost

        Making Comics

        35 Listeners

        Screen Tones: A Webcomic Podcast by Screen Tones Cast

        Screen Tones: A Webcomic Podcast

        8 Listeners