Comic Book Publishers
Requirements
Education and Training Requirements
High School
Classes that provide a good foundation for working in comic book publishing include English, art, business, mathematics, accounting, computer science, marketing, public relations, social studies, and history. Volunteering to work on your schools Web site, yearbook, or other publications is a good way to learn how to work with a team toward common goals.
Postsecondary Education
An eye for good artwork and an understanding of what makes stories riveting and popular is essential in the comic book publishing field. In college, take classes in English, writing, art, and publishing. Business and marketing courses shed light on how to successfully manage a business. There is no one correct educational background for comic book publishers. A bachelor’s in art, English, writing, communications, business, or marketing is helpful for this type of work.
Certification
Several colleges and universities offer programs in which students can earn certificates after taking a certain number of classes about topics such as publishing basics and copyright. Schools that offer these programs include the New York University, Pace University, City College of New York, Columbia University, University of Chicago, and the University of Denver. A full list of colleges and universities that offer these programs can be found at http://bookjobs.com/publishing-programs.
Other Education or Training
Local, state, and national business associations offer continuing education classes that focus on financial management, business operations, staff management, and other related topics. The Independent Book Publishers Association offers a variety of webinars, as well as Publishing University (https://www.publishinguniversity.org), which it describes as the "premier educational event for independent book publishers." Contact these organizations for more information.
Certification, Licensing, and Special Requirements
Certification or Licensing
There are no certification requirements for comic book publishers.
Most states and municipalities require companies to have a business license.
Experience, Skills, and Personality Traits
It typically takes five to 10 years of experience in lower-level positions before you will have enough knowledge and business acumen to start your own company (or be eligible to work in executive-level positions). With that said, highly entrepreneurial people have launched businesses while they are still in high school or college.
Comic book publishers must have a love and appreciation for comic books and the genres in which they focus. They must be able to see a good story when they have it and know their audience well to achieve distribution and sales goals. The job entails a combination of skills that includes money management abilities for handling contract negotiations and budget oversight, strong communication skills, professionalism and diplomacy in dealing with a variety of personalities, time management and organizational skills, and marketing acumen (unless they hire people with these skills). Comprehensive knowledge of the comic book art process and the publishing process is essential. Comic book publishers must stay tuned in to what the competitors are publishing and which books and genres are performing well and which are showing sales declines. They must be flexible and open-minded when looking for ways to improve and enhance their book lists.