From: cwelsh@morgan.ucs.mun.ca (Craig Welsh  8823239)
Subject: Re: $$ Comic Book Creators $$
Organization: Memorial University of Newfoundland
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1992 19:00:51 GMT

In article <28SEP199212364407@lims02.lerc.nasa.gov> sewon@lims02.lerc.nasa.gov (WAYNE WONG) writes:
>Some loose quotes from previous posts (sorry, don't recall the posters):
>>>  ... McFarlane and his Millions ....
>>>  ... Alan Moore got a $100,000 signing bonus for writing Spawn #8 ...
>>>  ... McFarlane is estimated to make 3-4 Million dollars this year ...
>
>Huhh?  How much do comic book creators make these days?  I'm sure it 
>depends on the popularity of the creators and the popularity of the books, 
>but Millions?!! I had no idea comics could be such a lucrative profession.
>Are the creators paid some flat fee plus an additional royalty for each 
>book that is sold?  What's the percentage?  How much do the following 
>make on an average book?
>  1) writers, 2) pencilers and 3) inkers
>
>Most artists can only crank out one book a month.  On the other hand, 
>comic book machines like John Byrne writes several books, pencils and inks 
>a couple, and even does his own lettering.  All in one month.  Quallity 
>work too IMO.  With Byrne's popularity, I would guess he's among the most 
>$uccessfull.  Any guesses on how much he makes?  
>X-Men #1 had a print run of over 8 million copies.  How much did Jim Lee 
>make off of that one book (actually, 5 books)?
>
>Just curious,
> - Wayne.
>
>P.S.  Hold your flames. :)  I'm not being nosy, I think Byrne and Lee would 
>be a good gauge to measure the potential salaries of comic creators.
> =========================================================================

The quote on McFarlane and him making 3-4 million is mine. It is taken
directly from the CBC program "Venture" which recently did a special on
the comic business and focused on a creator trying to peddle his at the
San Diego Con. They did a brief interview with McF and they (Venture,
not McF) said that he stood to make 3-4 million dollars this year. I
think he is the exception. Only the very top creators make a lot of
money. Most of the poor shmucs out there are fighting to make a living
just lie the rest of us.

As for Byrne, "Next Men" is creator owned, so he lives and dies by the
sales, but I would imagine he is doing well. I thin DC paid him $500,000
a year while he was doing Superman.

Perhaps how much they get paid is none of our business. But seeing these
people mae that much money in a year for doing a comic book is amazing.
Makes me wish I had some creative talent. Oh well.


*************************************************************************
* Craig Welsh                  *    "I'm a few bricks short of a       *
*                              *     load, but a full load always      *
* cwelsh@morgan.ucs.mun.ca     *     hurt my back."                    *
*                              *     "Crazy" - Barenaked Ladies        *
************************************************************************
* "Homeboy from Hell." Screw that. I'm the Waiter from Hell.           *
*  You figure out which is scarier.                                    *
************************************************************************

Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.misc