Should you judge a book by its cover? episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 22, 2026 · 1H 1M

Should you judge a book by its cover?

from Comic Lab · host Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar

A listener asks: "Should you judge a book by its cover?" Cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar say... YES! Next, a cartoonist who is too embarrassed to promote his own work gets some encouragement and words of advice from the veteran comic creators.TODAY'S SHOWShould you judge a book by its cover?Too embarrassed to promoteTakeawaysA book's cover plays a significant role in its marketability.It's important to design a cover that reflects the content of the comic.Promoting comics can be challenging, especially in unexpected social situations.Introverts can find it difficult to promote their work in person.Having a decoy website can help ease the promotion process.It's okay to feel uncomfortable discussing your work with strangers.Using humor can help deflect awkward conversations about your work.Online promotion can be more effective than in-person promotion.  You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon$2 — Early access to episodes$5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.If you'd like a one-on-one consultation about your comic, book it now!Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. He is available for personal consultations. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive. He is the co-director of the comics documentary, Stripped.

A listener asks: "Should you judge a book by its cover?" Cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar say... YES! Next, a cartoonist who is too embarrassed to promote his own work receives encouragement and advice from the veteran comic creators.

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Should you judge a book by its cover?

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This episode is 1 hour and 1 minute long.

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This episode was published on January 22, 2026.

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A listener asks: "Should you judge a book by its cover?" Cartoonists Dave Kellett and Brad Guigar say... YES! Next, a cartoonist who is too embarrassed to promote his own work gets some encouragement and words of advice from the veteran comic...

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