VILLAGE VOICE Comics Issue: If Cartoons Are So Big, Why Don't They Pay?

Roy Edroso, a freelance writer, pens the article If Cartoons Are So Big, Why Don't They Pay? for this week's comics issue of the VILLAGE VOICE.

This article has quotes from cartoonists about how there's no money for most creators.

Roy also admits (bravely) that

" ... many of the artists in this issue aren't getting paid, but have contributed work for the exposure."

Roy has a "Donate" button on his blog, with the headline "PATRONIZE ME!" so now I worry that the VOICE editors got him to agree to do the same that the cartoonists did.

And there's the rub.

Ted Rall and Dan Perkins (Tom Tomorrow) are doing OK, we are told, because they have diversified. Ditto Molly Crabapple.

It's a mistake to not consider all of the markets for your talent.

The VOICE, obviously, is not one of them.

Related:

Tom Spurgeon's take
Comics Alliance