“Against all odds, this model really does seem to be sustainable for us, Sebastian. Without getting into specifics, Marcos, Muntsa and I are making more than we would have with our Marvel or DC page rates, and we get to control every aspect of our story with zero editorial or corporate interference.”
In the letters column of the just released seventh issue of Brian K. Vaughan, Marcos Martin and Muntsa Vicente’s “The Private Eye” (have you bought it yet?), BKV responded to a question about the financial viability of the pay-what-you-like business model with the above quote, and what he shared was very interesting especially given our piece from Tuesday about the economic viability of creator-owned comics.
The fact that BKV, Martin and Vicente are all making higher rates than they would on a DC or Marvel project is both refreshing to hear and very exciting about the business model, although it is worth noting that this isn’t a solution for everyone. It’s easy to sell a comic when you’re Brian K. Vaughan and Marcos Martin, but for an unknown creator? Maybe not as easy.
In the rest of the answer, Vaughan elaborated on it a bit, sharing that they may have been able to make more on the project if they had released it through Image, but for this project, it made more sense to do it this way. All three creators wanted to ensure that the book could reach the widest audience possible, with making money a secondary goal for them. That they are still doing that even with many users getting the comic for free is a really excellent thing indeed.
He goes on to share that more creators and stories are coming to Panel Syndicate later this year, and that is where the true test will lie. If they are anywhere near as good as “The Private Eye”, I for one can wholeheartedly say I will be buying them, and I am sure many others will as well. Don’t just listen to me though – read the full quote in the back of “The Private Eye” #7, which is out now from Panel Syndicate.
