I don’t begin to understand the ins and outs of comic publishers paying royalties, but Augie De Blieck Jr of Comic Book Resources’s Pipeline column has attempted to wrap it up in a neat package!
But the question is simple: In this new age of digital comics, how is creator compensation being dealt with? Is anyone being paid? Is it any of our business?
I suppose it isn’t. We should be happy with the comics we get to read, and that’s that. But in an internet age where everything is socially oriented and we’re concerned for our favorite creators and incensed by bad-acting companies, the reality is that there’s a natural curiosity that won’t be stopped by closed lips. So we investigate it to a certain point. Sure, we’d love the salacious details of exact sales figures and dollar amounts, but I think we know that’s asking a bit too much. It’s enough to know that our favorite creators – seriously, we’ve “favorited” them on social networks – are being treated well.
Its a good all-round read and worth a look at. Augie ends with this comment about competition between the two can only benefit the reader:
As a special bonus, Marvel and DC are going after digital distribution in slightly different ways. They’ll be constantly trying to one-up each other in the future now. The war is moving beyond words on Twitter and coming straight to the reader. Marvel announces a one-off Annual digitally at a higher price point than the dead wood version. DC returns the volley with a bi-weekly series with day-and-date distribution at the same price, with back issues being cheaper. With San Diego less than a month away, I can see both camps feverishly piling up the canons, ready to fire more shells back and forth. This can only help speed up the future.
Check out the whole thing here
