As a kid in the 1960s, Halloween was all about the Don Post costumes. Seeing your favorite character hanging in the store, ready to wear, was what every kid wanted for Halloween. Not some homemade thing your mother threw together, a sheet with holes cut in it, or a hand-me-down bum costume. No way! Not when you could be Frankenstein, Spider-Man, The Thing, or any of the other cool, popular store-bought costumes available that year.

My dream costume that year was the new, updated Green Lantern. The Gil Kane-drawn Hal Jordan was hip and so much cooler than the Golden Age Green Lantern. After much begging and pleading, my parents finally bought me the costume.

I wore it for days before showing it off at the big Halloween costume parade at school. Then I paraded around the neighborhood trick-or-treating, convinced I was the envy of every kid I came into contact with.

I wore that costume until the elastic band on the mask broke, the costume ripped, and the mask split in several places. I kept wearing it until it was completely unwearable, and maybe even a little longer. That’s how much I loved that costume.

As I enjoy the current Halloween season, I fondly remember what made Halloween so special back then, and the spirit of the season. Sometimes, all it took was a Don Post costume to make a kid feel like a superhero.

The Last Comic Con of 2026

It’s a ritual for me to wrap up the convention season on my home turf here in upstate New York at the fall Albany Comic Con. Not only is it a 20-minute drive from my house, but there’s always a ton of friends and comic pros tabling at this one-day show.

This year, I got to catch up with Joe Staton, Janice Chiang, Ron Marz, Richard Clark, Kevin Conrad, Mark Sinnott, Steve Andreski, Myron Lauzon, Mark Brandow, Nikkol Jelenic, John Hebert, Charles Santino, Keith Haugen, and a host of other friends I’ve made at this show over the years.

A special shout-out to John Belskis, who always goes above and beyond to put on a great show.

It’s a great way to cap off a successful con season and get ready for the winter art season. Time to hunker down in the studio and get back to work!

Happy Halloween, Keep Creating!

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There are only 48 hours remaining to support Margo Intergalactic Trash Collector: Apocalypse in Pink on Kickstarter.

We’re in the final stretch, and I could really use your help getting this project over the finish line. If you’ve been thinking about backing the book, now is the time!

Every pledge helps, and if you can’t back the campaign, sharing the Kickstarter with a friend or fellow comic fan is a huge help.

BACK MARGO BEFORE TIME RUNS OUT!

Apocalypse in Pink

Thank you to everyone who has already backed, shared, and supported Apocalypse in Pink. I couldn’t do this without you!

Keep Creating!

Every Kickstarter campaign has one. The dreaded Dead Zone! That stretch during weeks two and three when things slow to a crawl, new backers seem to vanish into thin air, and this indie creator’s spirits take a serious beating.

I’ve certainly experienced the dismay of checking the campaign hourly, hoping for a little action, only to see absolutely nothing happening while other campaigns are blasting off into six-figure territory.

It’s enough to make you want to crawl into a hole and pull the lid shut!

But this time around, we had a little surprise. Heading into week three, we got a much-needed bump, hit our funding goal, and celebrated!

And then... right back into the dreaded Dead Zone.

Coming out of the Dead Zone is always a relief. Now, as we enter the final week, it’s time for that final push to the finish line!

But just because things have slowed down during the Dead Zone doesn’t mean I’ve been sitting around twiddling my thumbs.

I’ve been keeping busy:

• Doing podcasts and appearing on shows to talk about Margo.

• Posting on social media and spreading the word.

• Tweaking the campaign and adding new rewards.

• Beating the promotional drum as loudly as I can!

And now, as we head wind down week three, I’ve added some NEW STRETCH GOALS and a Special MILESTONE REWARD for all backers!

That’s right! There’s still more to unlock, more rewards to reveal, and more cosmic chaos to come.

We’re are about to enter the home stretch, folks, and I could use your help getting Margo across the finish line!

THE FINAL COUNTDOWN IS ON!

Keep Creating!

A recent Interview over at DNA with Andy Smith about Margo and the book.

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I‘m into week three of the Kickstarter, and I’ve hit what I like to call the Kickstarter slog.

The excitement of launch week has settled down, and now I need your help to get Margo Intergalactic Trash Collector: Apocalypse in Pink across the finish line.

If you’ve been thinking about backing the project, now is the time.

And if you’ve already backed it, thank you! One of the best things you can do is share the Kickstarter with a friend, post it on social media, or send someone the link.

Every backer and every share helps.

This book has been a labor of love, and I’d really like to see Apocalypse in Pink make it from my drawing table into your hands.

Help me get Margo funded!

Back the Kickstarter. Share it. Tell a friend.

Apocalypse in Pink

Let’s get this cosmic dumpster fire over the finish line!

Thanks for being part of the Margo-Verse.

Keep Creating,

A recent Interview over at The Comics Multiverse about Margo and the book.

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One of the more interesting hats an indie creator has to wear is Self-Marketer.

So, I’ve put on my PR hat and have been out pounding the pavement, talking about my new book, Margo: Intergalactic Trash Collector: Apocalypse in Pink, which is on Kickstarter now!

Getting the word out is a big part of running a Kickstarter campaign, so I’ve been reaching out to podcasts, YouTube shows, and other comic-related outlets to talk about Margo, the new book, and the campaign.

I’ve got a pretty good schedule lined up, and I’d love for you to follow along.

PODCAST & VIDEO APPEARANCES

Here are some of the shows I’ve already appeared on.

Check them out and give them a watch!

I hope you’ll support these creators and their channels. They are out there giving indie creators a voice and helping shine a light on the people who make independent comics.

That support means a lot to creators like me. It’s not easy getting the word out when you’re an indie creator, and these folks are taking the time to give us a place to talk about what we’re creating.

So, if you have a few minutes, check out the shows, subscribe, and support the people who are supporting indie comics.

Thanks for helping keep the indie comic universe alive!

USDN - United States Department of Nerds

USDN - United States Department of Nerds

Super Hero Speak

Watch Super Hero Speak

Words, Images & Worlds

Watch the interview

Keeping It Geekly

Watch Keeping It Geekly

UPCOMING SHOWS

The tour isn’t over yet!

9-14-26
The Comics Multiverse Com

9-14-26
Indie Comics Relay

9-16-26
DNA with Andy Smith

9-22-26
Comix 4 All

I’ll be adding more shows as the tour continues, so check back for updates.

Apocalypse in Pink is on Kickstarter Now!

Thanks for following along, watching, sharing, and supporting the campaign.

Keep Creating!

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A Big Thank YOU!

Thanks to everyone who came out to support the Margo: Intergalactic Trash Collector Kickstarter on day one!

And a special THANK YOU to everyone who helped make the Trash Can Edition a success. Your support means a lot, and I can’t wait to get this special edition into your hands.

I look forward to keeping you up to date over the next month as the campaign continues. There’s still plenty of cosmic trash to haul!

Thanks again for being part of the Margo-Verse.

24 Hours Left to Get the Trash Can Edition!

The countdown is on! There are only 24 hours left to get the Margo: Intergalactic Trash Collector Trash Can Edition through the Kickstarter campaign.

This all-new mini comic is a special edition you won’t want to miss. If you’ve been waiting to add it to your Margo collection, now’s the time!

Back the campaign before the 48-hour window closes!

And thank you to everyone who has already supported Apocalypse in Pink. Your enthusiasm is helping launch Margo into a whole new orbit!

Kickstarter

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And the clock is ticking...

The Trash-Can Edition Is Here!

For the first 48 hours, backers can get the all-new Margo Mini Comic: Trash-Can Edition.

That’s right, an all-new Margo adventure, available exclusively to early backers. Once the 48-hour window closes, this special edition will no longer be available as part of the early-backer offer.

Apocalypse in Pink is a 112-page collection of the complete Margo saga in graphic novel format.

All the cosmic chaos, questionable decisions, and intergalactic trash you’ve been waiting for, collected in one big book.

If you’ve been following Margo, this is your chance to get the collection. If you’re new to the Margo-Verse, welcome aboard!

Help Launch Margo Into Orbit!

The first 48 hours can make a big difference in a Kickstarter campaign, and I could use your help.

Back the campaign, grab the Trash-Can Edition, and help spread the word!

BACK THE KICKSTARTER

Thanks for following along, supporting my work, and helping me bring Margo back into the universe.

Keep Creating,

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This 122-page collection brings together the series in one big, cosmic, trash-filled adventure. For the past several weeks, I’ve been asking potential backers to sign up for the pre-launch page so they can be notified the moment the campaign goes live.

And there’s more...

One of the perks will be an all-new Margo mini-comic, available only to backers during the first 48 hours!

Getting the Word Out!

I’m trying several things to promote the campaign before launch. Here are two that I’ve been working on.

Both are things I haven’t really tried before, but stepping outside my comfort zone and giving them a shot has already produced some fun and unexpected results.

Sometimes you have to push the big red button and see what happens.

INTERVIEWS!

One of the best ways to promote a campaign is to get out there and talk about the project on podcasts and YouTube channels.

After gathering email addresses for a number of comic-related shows, I put together a press kit and started reaching out.

The results have been better than I expected!

I now have numerous interviews scheduled throughout the Kickstarter campaign in September.

I recently appeared on the United States Department of Nerds show. I haven’t done many live streams in a while, and I had forgotten just how much I enjoy doing them.

A big thanks to the Chairman over at the United States Department of Nerds. He does a great job supporting indie comic creators.

Give the show a watch, support Indie creators and subscribe!

USDN on Youtube

POLLS!

Give Backers What They Want!

One thing I wanted to know before launching was simple:

What do backers actually want when supporting a Kickstarter campaign?

So, I ran a poll to find out what kinds of extras, add-ons, and rewards people would most like to receive.

The results were enlightening, and I’m adjusting the campaign based on what I learned.

After all, there’s no point in loading up the cargo bay with stuff nobody wants!

The first 48 hours can determine just how stressful the next 30 days of a Kickstarter campaign are going to be.

So, I could use your help.

Sign up for the pre-launch page and be notified the moment Margo Intergalactic Trash Collector: Apocalypse in Pink goes live!

September 8th.

Notify me

The countdown is on.

Keep Creating,

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I introduced the world to Margo: Intergalactic Trash Collector in 2015 with my first Kickstarter campaign, featuring a scantily clad female heroine who hated the job her mother got her working for a corrupt intergalactic trash corporation.

I launched that campaign just as Kickstarter was beginning to take off. I like to think of those years as the Golden Age for indie comic creators on the platform.

Three more issues of continuity followed, along with a one-shot, Space-Vampire, which featured collaborations with other creators.

But, as with most comic book characters, Margo’s origin story goes back much further.

In the Beginning...

The origins of Margo actually go back to 2002.

That’s when I began developing the character, scribbling sketches and notes on whatever paper happened to be nearby. Slowly, the character, the world, and eventually the series began to take shape.

Back then, I originally called the series SCOW, as in a garbage scow.

From the beginning, I knew Margo was going to collect trash.

I wanted the series to be a homage to the comics I grew up reading. Big adventures. Strange characters. Wild ideas. Cosmic monsters. And, yes, a little bit of spice.

I always appreciated the more outrageous artwork, magazine illustrations, and paperback covers of my youth. But the days of the helpless heroine waiting to be rescued were long gone.

Margo was going to have to save herself.

She would be strong-willed, opinionated, reckless, and more than capable of getting herself into trouble.

Getting herself out of trouble?

Well...that was another story.

Early Days of the Margo-Verse

In the first Kickstarter book, Margo wore a teeny-weenie metal bikini. She already had her trademark lightning bolt in her hair, but many other things were different in those early versions.

SUNI looked like he was connected to a food cart.

Porthos smoked cigars.

The universe was still very much under construction.

And that’s one of the things I love about creating comics. You don’t just draw a character once and put them in a glass case. You draw them hundreds, maybe thousands of times.

You put them in impossible situations.

You throw monsters at them.

You give them weird friends.

You destroy a planet or two.

Eventually, the character starts telling you who they are.

The character evolved.

And so did the universe around her.

From Metal Bikini to Orange Jumpsuit

By the second issue, Margo was wearing the orange jumpsuit and protective goggles that she has become known for.

The change wasn’t just cosmetic.

Giving Margo a recognizable uniform also helped unify the other characters around her. Suddenly, this solo trash collector had a crew.

Or at least something that occasionally resembled one.

So is Margo: Intergalactic Trash Collector a team book?

Well...maybe.

Sometimes.

I have to admit that I’m a huge fan of Gold and Silver Age team comics. The idea of moving from Margo’s solo adventures to giving her an occasional backup crew, ready to haul her ass out of the fire when things go sideways, has always appealed to me.

So the Margo-Verse grew.

I created more supporting characters.

Employee logs.

Personnel files.

Ship schematics.

New worlds.

New monsters.

New problems for Margo to accidentally make worse.

And somewhere along the way, the Margo-Verse took on a life of its own.

Now Margo is getting ready to take another step forward.

On September 8th, I’m launching the collected issues of Margo: Intergalactic Trash Collector: Apocalypse in Pink on Kickstarter.

And for the first 48 hours only, I’m giving away the Trash-Can Edition mini-comic, an all-new Margo adventure.

After all these years, it’s strange to look back at those first sketches from 2002 and see how far the character has come.

From a few scribbles on paper...

To metal bikinis.

To orange jumpsuits.

To cosmic trash runs, strange aliens, monsters, and an entire universe of characters.

Not bad for a garbage collector.

Keep Creating,

The Next Evolution

Now Margo is getting ready to take another step forward.

On September 8th, I’m launching the collected issues of Margo: Intergalactic Trash Collector: Apocalypse in Pink on Kickstarter.

And for the first 48 hours only, I’m giving away the Trash-Can Edition mini-comic, an all-new Margo adventure.

Follow Along

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If you were here for the last posting/NL, I asked you to help me select a video, to use on for my upcoming Kickstarter campaign for Margo Intergalactic Trash Collector: Apocalypse in Pink.
I got some great feedback and, even more interestingly, some interesting results.

Let’s look at the numbers.

Video A
30% of you liked the video.
70% liked the music.

Video B
70% liked the video.
30% liked the music.

A landslide win for each. So, I decided to split it down the middle.

I combined the music from A with the images from B to come up with something in the middle.

Could this be Video C?

Since I’m on a roll with polls and soliciting your opinions, I’m preparing my Kickstarter launch for Margo Intergalactic Trash Collector: Apocalypse in Pink, and I’m wondering what items, add-ons, and swag work for you.

I love some swag, but have no use for others, let me know what you would like to see in my upcoming Campaign.

Here’s what I am doing..

The Trash-Can Experiment

I am trying something new with an all-new 12-page ashcan. It will be available free for the first 48 hours of the Margo Intergalactic Trash Collector Apocalypse in Pink campaign.

Why an ashcan, or Trash-Can, as I’m calling it?

When I did the budget numbers for the campaign, I realized I could spend about $150 on a 12-page comic. I usually spend that much or more on stickers, prints, postcards, etc., and I already have a completed preview of the new series sitting in the can.

So, I’m going to try it out.

Here’s the link to sign up and get a copy when I launch on September 8th. They are limited and will go fast.

Apocalypse in Pink

In the Studio This Week

With all this Kickstarter business going on, you wouldn’t think I’d have time to draw, but you would be mistaken.

Crazy the things you think of when the pressure is on.

Keep Creating!

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I am getting ready for the September 7th launch of Margo Intergalactic Trash Collector: Apocalypse in Pink, a collection of my work on the series from 2017 to the present day, and things have been getting a little wonky.

Back into the Fray

I do a Kickstarter about once a year or every 18 months, depending on how long the production takes for a one-man shop. I wear all the hats. Writer, artist, designer, even editor, marketing, and sales.

That is a long time to jump back in, and I have struggled with the learning curve, something that can be hard and expensive. As I am currently relearning.

One of THE most important things to determining how successful your Kickstarter is who shows up on launch day. Bringing your audience to the launch can make or break a campaign.

Just throwing a project up on Kickstarter and hoping that everyone is dazzled by its brilliance can be a recipe for disaster. I have had my share of failed campaigns, wondering why my “super-cool” project sputtered and died before getting across the finish line.

The Digital Mire

Determined to get as many signups as I can on board, I have launched an email advertising campaign 30 days before the Kickstarter. You may have seen it. If not, I hope to fix that.

Going into the second week, I have to admit, I made some mistakes.

Watching these numbers, I have had to course-correct. Fortunately, I still have some time to tweak it.

It is strongly recommended to use a video in the ad instead of static images. “Better conversion rates” is the idea.

The video can be one of the most daunting things to get right for your project. Many creators choose to hire someone and get videos professionally done, which works fine for them. But to be honest, as much of a primitive video creator as I am, I do enjoy having my fingers in every aspect of the process.

A/B Testing

When running a campaign, you often have the option to create A/B testing. A way to create alternate versions and test which is more successful.

That is where you come in.
I created two videos and would like to conduct some A/B testing right here.

Which video would you use?

Version A: I was aiming for a Saturday morning cartoon vibe, using audio I created for the music and images screen-captured from the interior of the book.

Version B: I swapped out the images and shortened the playing time of each to create a faster-cutting montage, overlaying music I purchased a license to use.

I am hoping you will let me know what you think before an algorithm comes back with its findings. I will post the results in the next newsletter.

Thanks for helping me out here. The link to the Kickstarter Pre-launch page is below. I hope you will follow along.

Pre-Lauch

Keep Creating,

New in the Vault…

Clive Barker Trading Cards

In 1993, Michael Brown, Clive Barker, and I created this set of trading cards, distributed and published by FantaCo Enterprises.

I loved designing this set from the ground up and having the opportunity to spotlight Clive’s striking artwork. Michael Brown worked closely with Clive to describe each image on the back of the cards, helping make this set something truly unique.

The set came in two variations: the regular 50-card set and the deluxe 54-card set.

I have unearthed a few of these from my collection and am now offering a limited supply in my online store.

Here is the link:

The Vault

Subscribe now

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I‘m excited to announce that Margo Intergalactic Trash Collector: Apocalypse in Pink is headed to Kickstarter, and because you’re one of my subscribers, you’re getting the first look.

This 112-page, 6” x 9” collection brings together the complete Apocalypse in Pink storyline in one oversized volume. If you’ve been following Margo through the newsletter, YouTube, or conventions, this is the definitive edition you’ve been waiting for.

Inside you’ll find:

• The complete Apocalypse in Pink adventure

• All-new personnel files and ship schematics

• Pin-up galleries and bonus artwork

• Alternate covers

• Behind-the-scenes material

• Plenty of cosmic chaos, monsters, explosions, and trash!

While on what should have been a routine shore leave, Margo stumbles into a weapons deal gone spectacularly wrong, unleashing X15, a universe-devouring organism capable of consuming everything in its path. Now Margo and her unlikely crew must stop the ultimate cosmic dumpster fire before there isn’t a universe left to clean up.

A Free Comic Just for Early Backers!

I wanted to do something special for everyone who jumps aboard early.

So I went a step further and created an all-new Margo mini-comic that won’t be available anywhere else.

I’m calling it the Trash-Can Edition, and I’ll be giving it away FREE to everyone who backs the Kickstarter during the first 48 hours of the campaign.

It’s my way of saying thank you for helping launch this book with a bang.

Sign up to be notified when the Kickstarter launches, and you’ll be eligible to receive the exclusive Trash-Can Edition absolutely free during those first 48 hours.

Why Sign Up Before Launch?

Following the Kickstarter before it goes live is one of the biggest ways you can help the campaign succeed.

By clicking the button below and following the project, you’ll:

• Be notified the moment the campaign launches.

• Receive the exclusive FREE Trash-Can Edition by backing during the first 48 hours.

• Get first access to limited rewards and Kickstarter exclusives.

• Help build momentum during the campaign’s critical first two days.

Click here to follow the Kickstarter Pre-Launch page.

Thank you for sticking with me on this wild journey. Whether you’ve been reading Margo since the beginning, discovered the series on YouTube, met me at a convention, or recently joined the newsletter, your support makes projects like this possible.

The universe is a dirty place...

...and someone has to clean it up.

See you on Kickstarter!

Keep Creating,

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In the Studio

When the seasons changed, I thought things would slow down here in the studio. I figured I’d finally have time to catch up on some long-overdue house projects, update the website, organize old files, and tackle the endless list of things that always seem to get pushed aside.

Instead, I’m just as busy as ever.

I’m getting ready for several fall releases, working through a growing list of commissions, and even squeezed in an unexpected convention invitation. At this point, the closest thing I get to relaxing is sitting down at the drawing board and making art.

With that in mind, here’s a recent Wonder Woman commission.

I wanted to take a different approach and imagine an older Diana leading the charge against Apokolips in what could very well be her final battle. The original commission was an 11 × 17 inch ink drawing, but I couldn’t resist taking it a step further. I added color and designed a ‘What-If’ cover to fully bring this version of Wonder Woman to life.

The sketch

The inks

Color Flats

Full Color

Trade dress

Keep Creating,

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It has been a busy week here in the studio.

I prefer to do most of my comic work during the winter months and slow down a bit during the summer to tackle repairs and general maintenance around the house and studio. Summer also marks the start of convention season for me. I look forward to kicking things off with my local show and then bookending the season with the local fall convention.

After years of exhibiting at conventions both large and small, I’ve settled into mostly doing local shows. There are a few reasons for that. I’ve built a loyal local fan base here in my hometown, and I enjoy debuting new books, projects, and prints to that audience before releasing them to a wider market. Last weekend was the Albany Comic Con, one of my favorite local shows.

The show also attracts a great roster of guests, and over the years I’ve made many professional friends there. After a long winter spent working in the studio, it’s always good to catch up.

Last weekend was the Albany Comic Con, one of my favorite local shows. One of the projects I debuted at my table was Besprinkled with Scarlet, an anthology inspired by the writings of Edgar Allan Poe and the many artistic interpretations his work continues to inspire.

I shared a table with the book’s publisher and writer, Mark Brandow, better known as Dr. Masque Retro. Mark and I collaborated closely on the project. In addition to contributing artwork, I handled the design work, created a logo, and prepared the book for print.

It was a fun project to work on throughout the winter and even more rewarding to finally debut it at the convention. The show was packed, and we sold a healthy stack of books, sketch cards, and prints.

Special Shout Out…

Important Update…

Anyone who knows me knows I’m always poking around dollar stores looking for inexpensive art supplies. Bristol pads, poster board, markers, whatever I can find.

One thing I almost never find is fine-point black Sharpie markers. They always seem to have red, green, orange, or some other color, but rarely black.

This week, however, my local dollar store unexpectedly restocked them.

Fine-point black Sharpies are one of my go-to tools for sketches, convention drawings, and quick layouts. Finding them at dollar-store prices felt like striking comic creator gold.

I may have gotten a little excited.

I bought a dozen.

Keep Creating,

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If you live anywhere in the comics world, whether as a creator, crowdfunder, or reader, chances are you already know what happened.

Kickstarter announced new guidelines affecting NSFW projects after Stripe, its payment processor, refused to process payments for some NSFW projects. Following significant backlash, Kickstarter reversed course and returned to its previous policy. Many applaud the reversal as, a blow to censorship, looking to get back to normal

But was one set of guidelines really going to be worse?

The answer depends on your perspective.

On one hand, many creators view these restrictions as a form of censorship. Stripe argues that it must comply with requirements imposed by the financial institutions and card networks it works with. Ultimately, however, decisions about acceptable content are still being made somewhere within that chain of authority.

I’m no fan of the flood of AI-generated NSFW projects that have appeared on crowdfunding platforms in recent years, and I wouldn’t be sorry to see many of them disappear. At the same time, Kickstarter has historically taken a hands-off approach to content and to projects that fail to deliver. Given that history, it’s not surprising to see the company reluctant to become the final arbiter of what can and cannot be funded.

What concerns me is the uncertainty.

If creators are expected to follow Kickstarter’s rules, but approval does not guarantee that a project can be processed by the platform’s payment partner, then the real standards become difficult to define.

And if those decisions are increasingly automated, that uncertainty only grows. Anyone who has watched content moderation struggles on large platforms knows that automated systems do not always understand context particularly well.

Would leaving the new guidelines in place have caused disruption?

Almost certainly.

Would it have been the worst thing to happen to the platform?

I’m not convinced it would have been.

For creators, clarity may be more valuable than flexibility. Even rules we dislike are easier to navigate than rules that seem to shift beneath our feet.

Keep Creating,

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There are many ways to create your comic pages, but eventually, everything goes digital. Even if you work traditionally on paper, you’ll need to bring your art onto a computer—whether by scanning your pages or preparing digital files for print.

Here are a few key points to consider:

Common Standards

High Resolution
Generally 300 PPI or higher—suitable for print.

Web/Screen Resolution
Typically 72 or 96 PPI. Higher resolution won’t improve how images appear on screens.

How to Check Resolution

PC: Right-click the image, select Properties, then Details.
Mac: Right-click the file, select Get Info, and look under More Info.

Rules I Work By…

Rule #1: More than your printer needs is wasted space

Most printers output at 300 DPI. Anything significantly higher just increases file size without improving print quality.

Personally, I like working at 450 DPI—a standard once used by major comic publishers. But working at 600 or even 1200 DPI creates unnecessarily large files that can slow down your system and make tasks like lettering and layout more cumbersome.

There are exceptions—archival work, museum-quality reproduction, or high-end photography—but for comics, 300 DPI is typically all you need.

Rule #2: Garbage in, garbage out

When you send files to a printer, the prepress department will flag any images below 300 DPI. At that point, you’ll either need to replace the image or approve it as-is, accepting the risk of lower print quality.

Rule #3: You can always scale down, but not up

Once your image is created at a specific resolution, it’s essentially locked in. If you start at a low resolution—like 72 DPI—you’ll run into problems if you later decide to print. Enlarging those files will result in a loss of detail and clarity.

Starting with a higher resolution and scaling down for web use is the safer approach.

While tools like AI upscalers can increase pixel count, they can’t truly recreate detail that wasn’t there to begin with.

The Bottom Line

Understanding resolution early on saves time, preserves quality, and keeps your workflow running smoothly—whether your work lives on screen or in print.

Keep Creating

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Let’s take a look at them.

Line Art

Best suited for exactly what the name implies: stark black-and-white artwork with no gray tones or color. Artists often scan inked pages in this mode to eliminate blue or red pencil marks used during the preliminary sketch phase.

Digital artists achieve the same result by placing rough sketches on a separate layer, which can be turned off once the final inks are complete. If you don’t color your own work—or primarily work as an inker—this is often the preferred mode.

Grayscale

This mode includes black-and-white line art along with a full range of gray values. It’s useful when your work relies on shading rather than color. I often use grayscale when scanning previously printed black-and-white material.

RGB

This is the color mode used by screens—computers, tablets, and phones. RGB stands for red, green, and blue, which combine using light to create a wide range of colors.

Because it’s light-based, RGB tends to appear brighter and more vibrant on screen. However, that vibrancy can shift when converting to print. Some colors may appear muted when translated into CMYK.

Programs like Clip Studio Paint work primarily in RGB and convert to CMYK for print. Because of this, I always double-check my files after conversion and, if needed, adjust saturation to bring the colors closer to what I originally saw on screen.

CMYK

Most commercial printing is done using four colors: cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (K). Printers separate your artwork into these components to reproduce color on paper.

Unlike RGB, which uses light, CMYK relies on ink absorption. This difference can affect how colors appear—especially more vibrant hues like reds.

While modern digital presses are more accurate than ever, variations still occur. A good rule of thumb: no two printing presses are exactly alike. The same file printed on different machines—or even different paper stocks—can produce noticeably different results. Paper quality, ink absorption, and press calibration all play a role.

For this reason, it’s often a good idea to convert your files to CMYK before sending them to print, so you can preview and adjust any color shifts in advance.

Next: Resolution

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If you spend any time around independent comics, you’ve probably heard the phrase: “Print it once, print it often.”

Keeping books available for readers — whether through my store or at conventions — is part of of being an indie publisher. In that sense, I’m 100 percent committed.

But revisiting your own work years later is another story entirely.

Time changes how you see things. Looking back at older work, you inevitably notice details you’d handle differently today. Some are small and easy to accept as part of the process. Others make the more experienced version of you itch to make adjustments.

I ran into this recently while revisiting Scab, the two-issue series I created with Steve Niles back in the 1980s. Looking at the updates I made, I realized something interesting: the younger me and the older me actually make a pretty good creative team.

And now I’m doing it again.

Later this year I’ll be releasing a collected edition of Margo: Intergalactic Trash Collector, bringing together issues #1–3 along with short stories and pinups. It’s a project I’ve been revisiting and refining for several years.

I’ve also been serializing the material over on my sister page. Admittedly, the schedule has been… flexible. But I’ve filed a formal complaint with the circulation department, and the one-man staff assures me the matter is under review.

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Working on another creator’s character is both a thrill and a test—especially when you get something wrong. And I did.

I recently created artwork for the comic series Rammur, the continuing adventures of a “Master Thief in a Police State,” written and created by Charles Santino. Charles sent over a character sheet for reference, and I set out to bring my own interpretation to his creation.

Rammur flies using fusion-powered rockets attached to his suit, so I sketched a series of roughs, pushing the perspective and aiming for a dramatic, straight-at-the-reader flight shot. After scanning the roughs and importing them, I completed the line art and added color.

I’ll admit, I was pleased with the result. I emailed a screenshot and waited for his response.In my head, the possibilities played out:
“I love it.”
“I hate it.”

What I got was neither.

“Looks great, but there’s one problem… his wristbands are blasters, not rockets.”

I had gotten it wrong.

Back to the drawing board

The fix itself wasn’t complicated. I went back into the file, reworked the wrist designs, adjusted the lighting to match the new forms, and corrected the propulsion effects. Technically, it was a straightforward revision.

Mentally, it was a reminder.

When you’re working with someone else’s character, you’re stepping into their world. Every detail matters. A wristband isn’t just a wristband. It carries function, story logic, and visual identity. Even small elements define how a character operates.

The lesson? Slow down. Double-check the reference. And never assume.

In the end, the piece was stronger for it. Collaboration has a way of sharpening the work—if you’re willing to listen.

You can read more about Rammur at:
https://markosia.com/rammur-the-corvus-trilogy-part-1/

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