Your script is ready…or is it?
Before you pull the trigger and take your comic into full production, put an experienced creator in your corner.
Comics can cost a lot of money to produce. Artwork, colours, lettering and printing all add up, and if you have never produced a complete comic before, there are plenty of costly mistakes that can affect your budget, schedule and finished book.
For one payment of £185, you will have me in your corner for up to six months, helping you navigate the production of one comic issue or one shot of up to 24 interior pages.
Before your artist begins, I will give your completed script a full editorial review. Once production begins, I will help you review every stage of the process, from layouts and completed artwork through to colours, lettering, cover design and the final print ready PDF.
The aim is simple: to help you spot problems before they become expensive and give you the confidence to make informed decisions throughout production.
What is included
Your one time payment includes:
• Support for one comic issue or one shot of up to 24 interior pages
• A full editorial review of your completed script before it goes to the artist
• Up to six months of production guidance
• One private Zoom call each month during the support period
• A dedicated production budgeting session to help you understand costs and create a realistic budget
• Advice on planning your production schedule and working with your creative team
• Thumbnail and page layout feedback
• Completed artwork feedback
• Colour or black and white tone feedback
• Lettering feedback
• Feedback on one cover
• One final print ready PDF check
• Written notes, annotated pages or recorded feedback where appropriate
• Reasonable clarification questions about the feedback provided
• A dedicated crowdfunding strategy session, should crowdfunding be your desired route for launching the finished comic
There is no subscription and no additional monthly payment.
How it works
We will begin with a private Zoom call to discuss your comic, creative team, schedule and what you want to achieve.
You will also receive a dedicated production budgeting session. Together, we will look at the likely costs of producing your comic and create a realistic budget covering artwork, colours, lettering, cover design, printing and other potential production expenses.
I can help you identify costs you may not have considered and plan when different payments are likely to be required throughout production. This is practical budgeting guidance rather than financial advice, and you remain responsible for all payments and final decisions.
I will then review your completed script before it is sent to your artist, acting as your official editor. My job is not to rewrite your script, but to make sure it is in the best possible shape before you invest your production budget. I will identify unclear instructions, missing information and anything else that could create avoidable problems for your artist or prevent the finished comic from being as strong as it could be.
As your comic moves through production, you can submit work at the appropriate stages for review. I can help you assess:
• Thumbnails and layouts
• Page flow and visual storytelling
• Completed pencils, inks or black and white artwork
• Colours, lighting and visual consistency
• Lettering, balloon placement and reading order
• Cover composition and production requirements
• The final print ready PDF
Your monthly private Zoom calls can be used to discuss progress, review feedback, solve production problems, monitor your budget and help you decide what to do next.
If crowdfunding is your desired route, you will also receive a dedicated strategy session to help you plan how to launch your finished comic. We can discuss your campaign structure, funding goal, rewards, pricing, preparation and promotional approach.
Who is this for?
This service is suitable for comic creators who:
• Have completed a comic script
• Are preparing to produce one issue or one shot
• Are working with an artist or preparing to appoint their creative team
• Want an experienced editor to review their script before production begins
• Want help understanding costs and creating a realistic production budget
• Want experienced guidance throughout production
• Would benefit from having someone help them assess the work they receive
• Are considering crowdfunding as a route to publishing their comic
• Want to reduce the risk of expensive and avoidable mistakes
You do not need to be a member of the Making Your First Comic Monthly Mentorship to purchase this service.
What is not included
This service does not include rewriting your script, creating the artwork, colouring, lettering, paying or managing collaborators, negotiating contracts, legal or financial advice, printing costs, building or managing your crowdfunding campaign or unlimited revisions.
You and your creative team remain responsible for all final creative, financial and production decisions.
Your comic remains yours
You retain complete ownership of your comic, characters, script and intellectual property.
Your unpublished work will be treated as private and will never be shared publicly or used for promotional purposes without your permission.
About me
I’m Matt Garvey, a UK based comic writer and letterer with more than 15 years of experience creating and publishing independent comics.
I have created more than 30 comics and graphic novels, successfully funded 18 Kickstarter campaigns and worked with artists, colourists and letterers around the world.
I have made plenty of mistakes during that time, and I have learned how easily a small problem at the beginning of production can become an expensive one later.
My role is to give you the practical, honest guidance I wish I had when I produced my first comic.
£185 one time payment
For one payment, you will have me in your corner for up to six months, helping you guide your comic from completed script to finished pages and, if crowdfunding is your chosen route, preparing it for launch.
Places are limited because every project receives personal attention.
Give your comic the support it deserves.