First Pages First

What belongs at the beginning of your book? Brad and Dave discuss whether an anti-AI statement offers creators any meaningful protection, break down the information that belongs on a copyright page, and explore the many ways cartoonists can approach the first page of a story or chapter. The best opening isn’t determined by a universal rule—it should establish the right expectations, reflect the story you’re telling, and give readers a reason to keep going.

Topics include:

• Skunk Watch 2026
• Do anti-AI statements offer creators legal protection?
• Why a standard copyright notice may already cover AI training
• The difference between creating, declaring, and registering a copyright
• What information belongs on a copyright page
• Copyright and trademark ownership
• When to use ™ and when to use ®
• Print location, printing numbers, and edition information
• ISBNs and Library of Congress numbers
• Combining copyright, title, credit, and dedication pages
• Should a comic begin with a splash page?
• Does the main character need to appear on page one?
• Using the opening page to establish tone and make a promise to the reader
• Why different stories require different kinds of openings
• Brad’s two-page system for beginning a new Evil Inc chapter
• Creating separate covers for SFW and NSFW editions
• Using chapter openers as archive markers, promotional art, and production buffers
• Dave’s approach to prologues, chapter openings, and world-building vignettes
• The difference between the first page and the first chapter
• ComicLab LIVE at the National Cartoonists Society Reuben Awards

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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.