Inspired Ink - The Comix Wellspring Podcast

Today on the show we have creator Max Flowers of Rat Brain Zine joining us today! We have an amazing craft talk about the importance of printing from page quality to formatting your book, comic book storytelling from physical to digital, and panels, panels, panels, how they affect your story! All this and so much more on today’s Inspired Ink! TIMESTAMPS01:00 Process Zines04:50 Self-creation10:00 Changes in a year16:00 Paper choices27:00 Digital comics & Unique formatting34:00 Making comics special42:00 Paneling in comics53:30 2024 OutlookFind Max Online:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maxflowershttps://www.instagram.com/ratbrainzineCheck out Max’s websites:https://www.artofmf.comhttps://www.ratbrainzine.bigcartel.comSubscribe to our Newsletter:https://comixwellspring.us12.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=e258b072e5a0a7421989f7f42&id=1aa9c3bacd&f_id=00b2e5e0f0Find Comix Wellspring Online:https://linktr.ee/comixwellspringInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/comixwellspring/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/comixwellspringTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/ComixWellSpringCheck out the Comix Wellspring Website:https://www.comixwellspring.com/Comix Wellspring Global Comix:https://globalcomix.com/a/comix-wellspring-2Check out our Blue Lined Paper!https://www.comixwellspring.com/cws-blue-lined-paper/Use our prepress templates:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QxSC4XkpjDFD_dOmWOW9Xu8nG5FoNUZhFor any print questions, reach out tosales@comixwellspring.comBrandon Bloxdorf is the creator of the publishing imprint and podcast Apollo City Comics and an indie comic book creator of titles including Teenage Babylon, Fake Your Death, various anthologies and more! Find Brandon online:https://linktr.ee/apollocitycomics

We have creator Jeff DeMars joining us! We talk about the craft of inking comics, what it truly means to be a strong inker, and how you can support creators in even the smallest of ways. All this and so much more on today’s Inspired Ink!TIMESTAMPS01:00 Setting up a Kickstarter09:30 Support in indie comics13:50 Inking talk25:45 Inspirations32:40 Tools for inking41:00 Traditional vs digital work47:40 Stages of making a book58:00 2024 OutlookFind Jeff online:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jad_inks/Check out Jeff’s website:https://bio.site/JADArtSubscribe to our Newsletter:https://comixwellspring.us12.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=e258b072e5a0a7421989f7f42&id=1aa9c3bacd&f_id=00b2e5e0f0Find Comix Wellspring Online:https://linktr.ee/comixwellspringInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/comixwellspring/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/comixwellspringTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/ComixWellSpringCheck out the Comix Wellspring Website:https://www.comixwellspring.com/Comix Wellspring Global Comix:https://globalcomix.com/a/comix-wellspring-2Check out our Blue Lined Paper!https://www.comixwellspring.com/cws-blue-lined-paper/Use our prepress templates:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QxSC4XkpjDFD_dOmWOW9Xu8nG5FoNUZhFor any print questions, reach out tosales@comixwellspring.comBrandon Bloxdorf is the creator of the publishing imprint and podcast Apollo City Comics and an indie comic book creator of titles including Teenage Babylon, Fake Your Death, various anthologies and more! Find Brandon online:https://linktr.ee/apollocitycomics

TIMESTAMPS01:00 Being satisfied with a crowdfunding campaign04:00 Things to implement in future campaigns13:00 Learning from others and applying that advice16:30 Making a father & son comic24:45 Looking to future projects28:00 Reading comics31:30 Inspirations37:20 Translating action to the page45:00 Coloring process50:00 The importance of continuing55:40 2024 OutlookFind Reece online:Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/RealReece1123Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realreece1123/Subscribe to our Newsletter:https://comixwellspring.us12.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=e258b072e5a0a7421989f7f42&id=1aa9c3bacd&f_id=00b2e5e0f0Find Comix Wellspring Online:https://linktr.ee/comixwellspringInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/comixwellspring/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/comixwellspringTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/ComixWellSpringCheck out the Comix Wellspring Website:https://www.comixwellspring.com/Comix Wellspring Global Comix:https://globalcomix.com/a/comix-wellspring-2Check out our Blue Lined Paper!https://www.comixwellspring.com/cws-blue-lined-paper/Use our prepress templates:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QxSC4XkpjDFD_dOmWOW9Xu8nG5FoNUZhFor any print questions, reach out tosales@comixwellspring.comBrandon Bloxdorf is the creator of the publishing imprint and podcast Apollo City Comics and an indie comic book creator of titles including Teenage Babylon, Fake Your Death, various anthologies and more! Find Brandon online:https://linktr.ee/apollocitycomics

We have Eli Schwab of Cosmic Lion joining us today! We talk about the journey and history of the Cosmic Lion, what it’s like being a creator and balancing publishing, and the heartfelt moments that keep us creating. All this and so much more on today’s Inspired Ink!TIMESTAMPS01:00 Comics community in LA02:30 Origins of Cosmic Lion07:50 Interest in indie comics14:00 Balance of publishing and personal creativity20:00 Differences in formatting24:00 Tabling with other creators27:00 Convention focus34:00 Becoming a publisher45:00 Continuing to promote50:00 Pushing through the trials58:00 2024 OutlookFind Eli online:Linktree: linktr.ee/CosmicLionCheck out the Cosmic Lion website:https://cosmiclionproductions.com/Subscribe to our Newsletter:https://comixwellspring.us12.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=e258b072e5a0a7421989f7f42&id=1aa9c3bacd&f_id=00b2e5e0f0Find Comix Wellspring Online:https://linktr.ee/comixwellspringInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/comixwellspring/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/comixwellspringTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/ComixWellSpringCheck out the Comix Wellspring Website:https://www.comixwellspring.com/Comix Wellspring Global Comix:https://globalcomix.com/a/comix-wellspring-2Check out our Blue Lined Paper!https://www.comixwellspring.com/cws-blue-lined-paper/Use our prepress templates:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QxSC4XkpjDFD_dOmWOW9Xu8nG5FoNUZhFor any print questions, reach out tosales@comixwellspring.comBrandon Bloxdorf is the creator of the publishing imprint and podcast Apollo City Comics and an indie comic book creator of titles including Teenage Babylon, Fake Your Death, various anthologies and more! Find Brandon online:https://linktr.ee/apollocitycomics

We have artist and creator Tanta Dorph-Mankey joining us today! We talk about what it means to have a day job as a creative person, managing expectations as you work towards a creative degree, and how finding your community can help provide you with confidence in your projects! All this and so much more on today’s Inspired Ink! TIMESTAMPS01:00 Managing jobs versus creativity14:00 Introduction to comics19:20 Wrestling talk24:20 Family influences26:15 Schooling experience32:18 Artistic goals and finding community39:30 Stories as escapism44:45 The other end of tough trials50:00 Make what you like53:40 2024 OutlookFind Tanya online:Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/minacoletaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/minacoleta/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/minacoleta.bsky.socialCheck out Tanya’s websites:https://www.tdorphmankey.weebly.comhttps://www.minacoleta.storenvy.comSubscribe to our Newsletter:https://comixwellspring.us12.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=e258b072e5a0a7421989f7f42&id=1aa9c3bacd&f_id=00b2e5e0f0Find Comix Wellspring Online:https://linktr.ee/comixwellspringInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/comixwellspring/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/comixwellspringTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/ComixWellSpringCheck out the Comix Wellspring Website:https://www.comixwellspring.com/Comix Wellspring Global Comix:https://globalcomix.com/a/comix-wellspring-2Check out our Blue Lined Paper!https://www.comixwellspring.com/cws-blue-lined-paper/Use our prepress templates:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QxSC4XkpjDFD_dOmWOW9Xu8nG5FoNUZhFor any print questions, reach out tosales@comixwellspring.comBrandon Bloxdorf is the creator of the publishing imprint and podcast Apollo City Comics and an indie comic book creator of titles including Teenage Babylon, Fake Your Death, various anthologies and more! Find Brandon online:https://linktr.ee/apollocitycomics

We have writer and creator Hunter Reese joining us! We talk about how all of us in the creative world live a double life like many of our favorite heroes, how we all draw inspiration from our earliest influences and why capturing an audience is the best way to success. All this and so much more on today’s Inspired Ink! TIMESTAMPS01:00 Intro to making comics07:45 Primary inspirations11:45 Stories as emotional support14:35 Trials of making comics18:00 Finding an audience23:00 New series31:20 Scripting practices34:15 Interest in working in other mediums39:44 Independent versus crowdfunding41:50 2024 OutlookFind Hunter online:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thawrite_one1/Twitter: https://twitter.com/ReeseWorld44Follow Comix Well Spring online:X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/ComixWellSpringInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/comixwellspring/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/comixwellspringWhen you’re ready to print, hit CWS up!👉 https://www.grekoprinting-comixwellspring.com🦎For any print questions, reach out to💬sales@grekoprinting.com🦎Brandon Bloxdorf is the creator of the publishing imprint and podcast Apollo City Comics and an indie comic book creator of titles including Teenage Babylon, Fake Your Death, various anthologies and more! Find Brandon online:https://linktr.ee/apollocitycomicsEpisode edited by Alex Batts, chief operations officer and co-host of the publishing imprint and podcast Apollo City Comics.Find Alex online:X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/apbattmanInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/apbattman/Subscribe to our Newsletter:https://comixwellspring.us12.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=e258b072e5a0a7421989f7f42&id=1aa9c3bacd&f_id=00b2e5e0f0Find Comix Wellspring Online:https://linktr.ee/comixwellspringInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/comixwellspring/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/comixwellspringTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/ComixWellSpringCheck out the Comix Wellspring Website:https://www.comixwellspring.com/Comix Wellspring Global Comix:https://globalcomix.com/a/comix-wellspring-2Check out our Blue Lined Paper!https://www.comixwellspring.com/cws-blue-lined-paper/Use our prepress templates:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QxSC4XkpjDFD_dOmWOW9Xu8nG5FoNUZhFor any print questions, reach out tosales@comixwellspring.comBrandon Bloxdorf is the creator of the publishing imprint and podcast Apollo City Comics and an indie comic book creator of titles including Teenage Babylon, Fake Your Death, various anthologies and more! Find Brandon online:https://linktr.ee/apollocitycomics

Inspired Ink Ep 27 - Matthew Sardo - Indie Creator Con & The Future Of IndieThis week we have the founder of Indie Creator Con (ICC) joining us. We talk about how Indie Creator Con came to exist, what it means to find your purpose and a calling in life as a creator, and how you can build upon your past and create a bigger and exciting future. TIMESTAMPS01:00 Making an indie creator con18:00 Finding an audience21:00 IMAX Sting27:30 Start of comics journey37:00 Variety in comics43:00 Other indie conventions46:30 Personal stories to tell51:20 Energy in the indie scene55:40 2024 OutlookFind Matthew online:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/indiecomicscreatorcon/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IndieComicsCreatorConTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/matthewsardoThreads: https://www.threads.net/@indiecomicscreatorconCheck out Matthew’s website:http://indiecomicscreatorcon.com/Subscribe to our Newsletter:https://comixwellspring.us12.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=e258b072e5a0a7421989f7f42&id=1aa9c3bacd&f_id=00b2e5e0f0Find Comix Wellspring Online:https://linktr.ee/comixwellspringInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/comixwellspring/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/comixwellspringTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/ComixWellSpringCheck out the Comix Wellspring Website:https://www.comixwellspring.com/Comix Wellspring Global Comix:https://globalcomix.com/a/comix-wellspring-2Check out our Blue Lined Paper!https://www.comixwellspring.com/cws-blue-lined-paper/Use our prepress templates:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QxSC4XkpjDFD_dOmWOW9Xu8nG5FoNUZhFor any print questions, reach out tosales@comixwellspring.comBrandon Bloxdorf is the creator of the publishing imprint and podcast Apollo City Comics and an indie comic book creator of titles including Teenage Babylon, Fake Your Death, various anthologies and more! Find Brandon online:https://linktr.ee/apollocitycomics

This week we have creator Evan Maguire joining us! We talk about freelancing as an artist and the avenues that can open up, finding an audience that fits a niche you love to create, and why to always remember why you make art to keep yourself driven. All that and so much more on today’s Inspired Ink!TIMESTAMPS01:00 Finding freelance work04:00 Types of projects08:00 Making work enjoyable11:40 Tips for making art a business15:00 Approach to Patreon20:10 Digital art process26:00 Being a full-time artist28:50 Reason to keep going35:00 Centering yourself38:30 2024 outlookFind Evan online:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evanmaguireart?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==X/Twitter: https://x.com/evanmaguireart?s=20Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/EvanMaguireArtCheck out Evan’s website:https://evanmaguire.artFollow Comix Well Spring online:X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/ComixWellSpringInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/comixwellspring/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/comixwellspringWhen you’re ready to print, hit CWS up!👉 https://www.grekoprinting-comixwellspring.com🦎For any print questions, reach out to💬sales@grekoprinting.com🦎Brandon Bloxdorf is the creator of the publishing imprint and podcast Apollo City Comics and an indie comic book creator of titles including Teenage Babylon, Fake Your Death, various anthologies and more! Find Brandon online:https://linktr.ee/apollocitycomicsEpisode edited by Alex Batts, chief operations officer and co-host of the publishing imprint and podcast Apollo City Comics.Find Alex online:X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/apbattmanInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/apbattman/Subscribe to our Newsletter:https://comixwellspring.us12.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=e258b072e5a0a7421989f7f42&id=1aa9c3bacd&f_id=00b2e5e0f0Find Comix Wellspring Online:https://linktr.ee/comixwellspringInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/comixwellspring/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/comixwellspringTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/ComixWellSpringCheck out the Comix Wellspring Website:https://www.comixwellspring.com/Comix Wellspring Global Comix:https://globalcomix.com/a/comix-wellspring-2Check out our Blue Lined Paper!https://www.comixwellspring.com/cws-blue-lined-paper/Use our prepress templates:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QxSC4XkpjDFD_dOmWOW9Xu8nG5FoNUZhFor any print questions, reach out tosales@comixwellspring.comBrandon Bloxdorf is the creator of the publishing imprint and podcast Apollo City Comics and an indie comic book creator of titles including Teenage Babylon, Fake Your Death, various anthologies and more! Find Brandon online:https://linktr.ee/apollocitycomics

We have creator Dave Brown joining us today! We talk about why having a diverse selection can benefit you when tabling at conventions, the opportunities that arise at these shows to help you stay inspired, and why it’s so vital to finish your work and move on to the next. All this and so much more on today’s Inspired Ink! TIMESTAMPS01:00 Managing social media06:00 Sketch covers11:00 Meeting Batman (Kevin Conroy)15:00 Networking at conventions18:45 Batman’s influence21:15 Finding art direction25:00 Convention booth approach31:50 Deciding what to create37:50 Knowing when a piece is finished42:00 Importance of growth44:00 Creating from passion48:40 2024 outlookFind Dave online:X/Twitter: https://x.com/davesketches007?s=20Instagram: https://x.com/davesketches007?s=20Check out Dave’s website:https://davesketches007.wixsite.com/portfolioSubscribe to our Newsletter:https://comixwellspring.us12.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=e258b072e5a0a7421989f7f42&id=1aa9c3bacd&f_id=00b2e5e0f0Find Comix Wellspring Online:https://linktr.ee/comixwellspringInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/comixwellspring/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/comixwellspringTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/ComixWellSpringCheck out the Comix Wellspring Website:https://www.comixwellspring.com/Comix Wellspring Global Comix:https://globalcomix.com/a/comix-wellspring-2Check out our Blue Lined Paper!https://www.comixwellspring.com/cws-blue-lined-paper/Use our prepress templates:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QxSC4XkpjDFD_dOmWOW9Xu8nG5FoNUZhFor any print questions, reach out tosales@comixwellspring.comBrandon Bloxdorf is the creator of the publishing imprint and podcast Apollo City Comics and an indie comic book creator of titles including Teenage Babylon, Fake Your Death, various anthologies and more! Find Brandon online:https://linktr.ee/apollocitycomics

Today we have artist and creator David Lujan joining us! We talk about why laying the foundations of your book is vital just like building a house, developing a style and utilizing your tools as a digital creator, why crowdfunding is essential but to never lose focus on what’s coming next. All this and so much more on today’s Inspired Ink! TIMESTAMPS01:00 Working on vacation04:00 Working digitally07:50 Inking influences10:30 Evolving page layouts15:25 External factors while working17:00 Structured creating20:00 Anatomy influences28:00 Crowdfunding experiences31:00 Balancing projects40:15 Future challenges45:50 2024 outlookFind David online:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neridacomic?igsh=MXRndm15bjN1M2MyMA==X/Twitter: https://x.com/neridacomic?s=21&t=6FPBQh-87HRu1GHC_akk2ACheck out David’s website:https://www.neridacomic.comSubscribe to our Newsletter:https://comixwellspring.us12.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=e258b072e5a0a7421989f7f42&id=1aa9c3bacd&f_id=00b2e5e0f0Find Comix Wellspring Online:https://linktr.ee/comixwellspringInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/comixwellspring/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/comixwellspringTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/ComixWellSpringCheck out the Comix Wellspring Website:https://www.comixwellspring.com/Comix Wellspring Global Comix:https://globalcomix.com/a/comix-wellspring-2Check out our Blue Lined Paper!https://www.comixwellspring.com/cws-blue-lined-paper/Use our prepress templates:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QxSC4XkpjDFD_dOmWOW9Xu8nG5FoNUZhFor any print questions, reach out tosales@comixwellspring.comBrandon Bloxdorf is the creator of the publishing imprint and podcast Apollo City Comics and an indie comic book creator of titles including Teenage Babylon, Fake Your Death, various anthologies and more! Find Brandon online:https://linktr.ee/apollocitycomics