Flashback Series Of Interviews: From Print To The Web With Phil Foglio Of Girl Genius
In the second of our continuing series with creators and publishers who have moved from self-publishing their comics for the direct market to serializing their work almost exclusively for the web (you can read the first interview with Batton Lash and Jackie Estrada here), we have Phil Foglio who along with wife, Kaja, produce the web comic GIRL GENIUS.
GIRL GENIUS originally began as a periodical comic book but moved to the web after issue 13 of the comic series. The Foglios still publish GIRL GENIUS as a series of books collecting the web comic serial beginning with the original comic book series. There are four volumes in this series so far with another due out this July 2006. Find out why the Foglios moved GIRL GENIUS to the web, what their advice to would-be self-publishers is, and what the advantages are of doing a web comic.
What led you to move from printing GIRL GENIUS to running it on the web? Was it purely a matter of economics?
No, not purely, though I’d be lying if I said that wasn’t a factor. Mostly it was an acknowledgment of a change that had been going on for some time. Fewer and fewer people are reading “comic books”. The reasons are numerous, and range from economic (they’re damn expensive) to the lack of a diversified set of genres.
However more and more people are becoming computer literate, combined with the trend that people expect their entertainment to be free.
For the last few years, I had been recommending to young artists just starting out that they should forget about doing periodical comics and just go straight to web comics and collections. Eventually, this all became so obvious to us, that we decided we had to put our money where our mouth was.
What has been the reaction from both fans of the book and retailers who carried your comics?
Some of the fans grumbled a bit at first, but one of them summed it up very nicely (I shall paraphrase;) “Today the Foglios posted what would have been the last page of Girl Genius issue #14. It suddenly hit me that instead of having to wait three months for the next issue, I was going to get more Girl Genius the day after tomorrow! Webcomics RULE!!”
As for the retailers, I can certainly say that my orders from Diamond Distribution have shot up, and these days, when I go to conventions, I get a LOT more retailers coming up to me and telling me how well Girl Genius is doing for them.
Since your move to the web, how have the numbers compared in relation to the average number of comics you would have ordered for distribution compared to the average number of hits a new page of your comic receives when posted?
I will say that tracking readers is an inexact science, but by the most commonly acceptable method, I can say that we have multiplied our readership by eight.
Do you plan on placing your older printed material online as well?
Yes indeed. We’re planning on posting Buck Godot-Zap Gun For Hire sometime in the next few months. Thanks for asking.
Considering your stature in the independent comics market, your move away from the status quo made some people realize that perhaps self-publishing comics, as far as floppies are concerned, is not a feasible option in the current market. Would this assumption be right? If it is, what do you think needs to happen in order for it to change?
Well, obviously I don’t think it’s still feasible, or else I wouldn’t have switched. I would actually change the nature of the question: Why would you WANT to still publish floppies? They cost money (we’re saving over $20,000 a year by not publishing them). They’re printed on lousy paper, so they’ll degrade relatively quickly unless you compulsively stash them away. You have to do all the layout and production work twice, as well as lay out covers and filler material, they have a limited shelf life, are only purchased by a rapidly dwindling sub-segment of the population, and most book stores won’t carry them.
What would need to change for it to revert? Simple. A massive solar flare would have to knock out the internet and so ionize the atmosphere that broadcast TV and radio would no longer function. Of course, such a flare would also kill most of the population of the planet, which would undoubtedly cut into sales. It’s the 21st century. Give it up already.
For someone who is considering self-publishing, what advice would you give them?
The First Rule is- Don’t Suck. You would be amazed how many people violate the first rule.
The Second Rule- Be Patient And Believe In Your Work. Everybody hears about people who are instant successes. Don’t bet on it. Be prepared to work for years before you get the wealth, power and adulation that you know is rightfully yours. This is very hard, especially if you ignore the First Rule.
Third Rule- Write and Draw what you’d want to buy. Don’t try to second guess the market. Remember Biker Mice From Mars? Me neither.
Fourth Rule- Be Polite To Everybody.The Talentless Wannabe you crush today will be the embittered Art Director you’re trying to sell to tomorrow. Count on it.
Fifth Rule- Be Nice to Retailers. They decide where or even if your book get racked in their store.
What has been some of the advantages and disadvantages pertaining to moving your work online?
Advantages? Already covered most of them…better sales, less outlay, more readers, kill fewer trees. I honestly haven’t found a disadvantage yet.
How has using the model of printing your comic online then collecting it in a printed format been working for you?
Great. Sales have never been better.
Do you see a time in the near future where the independent market as it is today almost ceases to exist due to more new and established self-publishers and indy-oriented publishers move their books to the web?
Eventually. There’ll be people who desperately cling to floppies with a white knuckled fury. Pity them.
You can check our GIRL GENIUS online at http://www.girlgeniusonline.com along with purchasing collected editions of GIRL GENIUS at the web site’s store.
