The amount earned by a self-employed, comic book artist per year varies according to a number of factors. Earnings are affected by whether the artist works with mainstream or independent publishers, or is a self-publisher. Other important factors in earnings are the reputation of the artist and the speed with which they work.
Mainstream Publishers
Comic book artists work with mainstream publishing companies such as Marvel, DC and Darkhorse on a contract basis. The artists draw characters such as Spiderman or Batman that are owned by the publisher. The self-employed artists are paid a page rate by the mainstream publishers, which is negotiable. Page rates for pencil art run from $100 to 250, according to the Graphic Artists Guild. A comic artist drawing one page of comics for 250 days a year makes from $25,000 to $62,500 per year.
Independent Publishers
Comic artists work with independent publishers such as Drawn & Quarterly and Fantagraphics on a contract basis. Many of these artists write their own material and retain ownership of their work. Independent publishers pay comic artists a percentage of the cover price of each book sold, typically from 8 to 10 percent of the cover price. For example, an artist creates a 150-page book in a year that sells for $15.00. With sales of 1000, the artist earns $15,000, or with sales of 2000, the artist earns $30,000.
Self-Publishers
Self-published comic artists take risks, but if their work sells, they reap excellent rewards. These self-employed artists sell comic books to Diamond Comic Distributors for 40 percent of the cover price of the book. They contract with printers to manufacture their books, keeping costs as low as possible. Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird self-published "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" beginning in 1984. Each comic magazine sold about 60,000 copies, earning the creators about $18,000 per issue. Four to six issues were published each year.
Speed and Reputation
Comic artists earn higher rates if they draw fast and have an established reputation. The mainstream comic artist Jack Kirby, creator of the Fantastic Four, drew three pages a day throughout his career. Self employed artists with strong reputations can negotiate better page rates with the mainstream publishers, and sell well with independent publishers or as self-publishers.
