What to Include in Your Comic Artist Brief (Template Inside)

You’ve got a script. A vision. Maybe even a budget. So why is it that half the people trying to commission a comic artist end up with broken timelines, mismatched styles, or worse — an inbox full of ghosted follow-ups?

Simple: no clear brief.

Comic artists aren’t mind readers. They’re not going to magically interpret your vague email that says, “It’s like X-Men, but more emotional.” That kind of ambiguity costs you time, revisions, and money.

A proper comic artist brief is the difference between:

• Weeks of miscommunication…

• …versus a clean, smooth commission that actually ships on time.

If you’re serious about your project — whether it’s a comic book commission, a one-shot, or a full series — you owe it to yourself (and your artist) to spell it out.

And that’s what we’re going to do here.

You’ll get:

• A checklist of what to include in your artist brief

• A free downloadable template to save hours

• Practical advice that cuts out the mess and gets results

Let’s not waste time. If you want this thing done right, keep reading.

What goes in a great comic artist brief? This visual breakdown walks you through every section your artist needs to hit the ground running.

Why You Actually Need a Comic Artist Brief (Even If You're "Just Hiring One Page")

You might think, “It’s only 3 pages. I’ll just tell them what I want over Discord.”

Let me be blunt: That kind of thinking kills projects.

It’s not about the number of pages. It’s about clarity. If you don’t give your artist clear direction, don’t be shocked when your “badass knight” shows up looking like a Disney extra.

Whether you’re working with a first-time freelancer or a seasoned pro, here’s what a proper comic book commission brief prevents:

• Guesswork about tone or style

• Misaligned expectations about delivery dates

• Confusion around character designs or settings

• Scope creep and extra charges

A good brief saves your budget. A great one gets artists excited to work with you.

This isn't about writing a novel either. Most clear briefs are one or two pages tops — if you know what to include. That’s what the next section is for.

What to Include in Your Comic Artist Brief (With Real Details That Save You Time and Money)

A vague message like “Hey, I need a comic artist, how much for 5 pages?” doesn’t get real responses. It gets ignored.

If you want to commission a comic artist — and actually get what you’re paying for — you need a brief that gives them the right information up front. Artists don’t need 10 paragraphs. They need clarity.

This is the section your artist will read twice. So make it count.

Project Overview

Start with the basics. This shows the artist that you're serious and organized.

What to include:

• Project title

• Genre (sci-fi, noir, slice of life, superhero, etc.)

• A single-sentence pitch — something tight that captures the essence

• Your role in the project: writer, publisher, editor, or creator funding the work

Example: Title: Burn District Genre: Urban fantasy One-line pitch: A courier with a demon bloodline tries to keep a magical black market from exploding. You: Writer + project lead, building a short pitch comic for submission.

Even if you're working on a small one-shot or just hiring for a character design commission, clarity here helps the artist understand where their work fits.

Page and Panel Breakdown

This determines the workload. It affects pricing, scheduling, and whether the artist wants to take the project at all.

What to include:

• Total page count (finalized or estimated)

• Average number of panels per page

• Any specialty pages (double spreads, splash pages, covers)

Be upfront if you're flexible. Say, “5–6 pages, may expand to 8 depending on pacing.”

If you’re doing a comic book commission for a Kickstarter preview or sample to pitch to publishers, let them know. This isn’t just structure — it’s planning.

Art Style and References

This is where most projects go wrong. Telling an artist “something gritty like Sin City but also cartoony like Adventure Time” doesn’t help. It confuses.

If you're serious about your commission, include:

• A few reference images or pages (screenshots, scans, links)

• Artist names or book titles you want to visually echo

• Notes on tone (dark, bright, minimal, hyper-detailed)

Example: “I’m aiming for the heavy line work and lighting style from Hellboy, but with the panel density and pacing of Criminal.”

Even if your budget is tight, a clear visual brief improves results and avoids endless rounds of “Can we tweak this?”

Character Descriptions

Even short comics need defined characters. Don’t just say “female warrior with red hair.” That’s half a concept.

Include:

• Name, role in the story, and basic demographics

• Visual traits: clothing, build, scars, accessories

• Attitude or posture — is she alert, lazy, rigid, chaotic?

Example: Name: Rhea Cortez Age: Early 30s Role: Black market information broker Visuals: Wears outdated military gear, one cybernetic hand, short buzz cut Demeanor: Speaks slow but direct. Posture always squared like she’s ready for a fight.

If you're only commissioning a character design (not full pages), this section becomes even more important.

Setting and World

Every page of art includes a background — unless you want floating heads in white voids.

Give your artist a sense of place:

• Is the story urban, rural, off-world, indoors, outdoors?

• Time period: modern day, 1980s, 3000 AD, undefined future

• Any key visual motifs: neon signage, medieval tech, junkyard world

The more visual identity your setting has, the more your artist can do with it. This applies whether you're creating a full comic issue or just a splash page commission for a pitch deck.

Script or Story Breakdown

You don’t need a polished, formatted script. But your artist needs a basic roadmap.

Option 1: Provide a full comic script — panel-by-panel, page-by-page.

Option 2: Provide a story summary broken down into numbered scenes or pages.

What to focus on:

• Key story beats

• Character movement or action

• Emotional tone of each page or scene

• Critical moments that need to be emphasized visually

If a panel has to carry tension or deliver a reveal, say so.

Even if you're only working on a character-centric comic artist commission, a breakdown helps frame the image and set the tone.

Timeline and Delivery Schedule

This is not where you say “ASAP.” That doesn’t work. Be specific.

Include:

• When you’d like to receive rough layouts

• When you want final inks/colors (if applicable)

• Any hard deadlines (Kickstarter launch, anthology submission, pitch meeting)

Also be honest about your own availability. If you’ll be slow to respond, your artist deserves to know that up front.

If you're hiring a comic artist for a short commission and need it within a week, expect to pay a rush fee.

Budget and Payment

Don’t wait to talk money. Artists need to know what you’re offering before they can accept or quote.

Include:

• Your payment offer (per page, per piece, or total project budget)

• Payment method (PayPal, TransferWise, bank transfer, etc.)

• Payment terms: upfront, 50/50, on delivery, net 15, etc.

If your budget is limited, say so — but be respectful. If you’re offering $60 per page for line art, don’t expect Marvel-level output.

When you treat a comic artist commission like a serious transaction, you’ll get serious replies.

Rights and Usage Terms

You must talk about rights — especially if this is a commercial project.

Clarify:

• Is this work-for-hire? (You get full rights)

• Will the artist retain portfolio or resale rights?

• Are you planning to publish, submit, or monetize the work?

Put it in writing. If you’re not sure what’s standard, ask the artist. Most will tell you what they’re comfortable with.

This protects both parties and builds trust — whether you're hiring someone for one page or a full comic book commission.

The Mistakes That Burn Time, Blow Budgets, and Drive Artists Up the Wall

Look — if you don’t give your comic artist a decent brief, you're asking for trouble.

It doesn’t matter how talented the artist is. If your communication is sloppy, expect headaches. I've seen hundreds of projects fall apart because people didn’t bother to write down basic details.

So before you throw money at an artist and hope for the best, avoid these landmines:

Being Vague About Style

“I want something cool like Marvel but also like Mignola.” That’s two totally different worlds. You're not helping. Link a few sample pages instead. Don’t make the artist guess.

Leaving Out Visual References

You have them. Don’t lie. You’ve saved screenshots, moodboards, or comic panels that nail the look you're after. Put them in the brief.

No Timeline

You wanted the pages yesterday? Too bad — the artist thought they had 6 weeks. You didn’t say otherwise.

Scope Creep

You start with 3 pages. Then it’s 5. Then “Can you do a quick logo too?” No clear brief = no clear agreement. That’s how things go sideways.

 Skipping Payment Clarity

“I’ll pay you after it’s done.” Nothing says red flag like vague money talk. You wouldn’t accept that from a client — don’t do it to an artist.

If you’re serious about the project, these are the basics. Skip them, and you’ll waste more time fixing problems than finishing your comic.

Your Free Comic Artist Brief Template (Grab It and Use It Today)

You don’t need to reinvent anything. We’ve done the hard part for you.

This is the same structure used by studios, indie teams, and Kickstarter-funded creators. You can fill it out in 15–20 minutes. It works whether you're hiring for:

• A 1-page comic strip

• A 30-page indie issue

• A character-only comic artist commission

• Or even an entire series

Here’s What the Template Includes:

• Project title, genre, and overview section

• Page and panel breakdown

• Character and setting descriptions

• Style reference area (with space for image links)

• Deadlines and delivery expectations

• Payment and rights terms

Once it’s filled out, send it to the artist before you talk pricing. That alone will set you apart from 90% of their inbox.

And guess what? If you’ve ever had an artist ghost you, delay you, or disappear halfway — this simple doc can keep that from happening again.

Comic Artist Brief Checklist.pdf

Download PDF • 125KB

How to Work with a Comic Artist Without Wasting Their Time or Yours

Now that you’ve got the brief, let’s talk how to actually manage the working relationship. Because you can have the best brief in the world and still botch the process if you act like a pain.

Here’s how to work with a comic artist like a professional, even if this is your first time:

Respect Their Time

They’ve got other clients. Other projects. Don’t vanish for 10 days, then demand changes overnight.

Be Clear, Not Controlling

It’s okay to ask for changes — that’s part of the deal. But if you’re rewriting every pose, every panel, every expression? That’s not a partnership. That’s micromanagement.

Pay on Time

You agreed to a rate. You got the files. Pay the invoice. Fast. If you pay slow, good luck hiring that artist again.

Credit the Artist

Even if it’s a work-for-hire comic book commission, credit is goodwill. It builds trust. It gets you referrals. It shows you’re not a hack.

Keep Your Files Organized

Name your documents. Use folders. Save versions. If your artist has to dig through 15 versions of “final_script_FINAL_EDIT_REAL_FINAL.pdf,” you’re wasting their time.

FAQs: Comic Artist Commission & Brief Services

1. Do I really need a comic artist brief for just a small project?

Yes. Even if you're only commissioning a single character sketch or a 1-page comic, a brief keeps both sides on the same page. Think of it as a job sheet — without it, you're asking for confusion, delays, or the wrong result.

2. What if I’m not sure what style I want yet?

That’s fine — but don’t wing it. Share a few comic pages, artists, or styles you’re drawn to. This helps narrow things down so your artist isn’t flying blind. If you need help organizing references, our template has a section for that.

3. I’m not a writer. Can I still hire a comic artist?

Absolutely. You don’t need to be Alan Moore to start a project. A basic story breakdown is enough. We’ve worked with clients who came in with nothing more than a paragraph — and still got solid results. The brief helps you fill in the blanks.

4. Can you help me create the brief if I don’t have time?

Yes. If you’re serious about hiring a comic artist but don’t have time to write a full brief, we offer a done-for-you Comic Artist Brief service. We’ll take your ideas, questions, and goals, and build a clean, professional brief you can send to any artist. Reach out through our services page to get started.

5. What’s the turnaround time for most commissions?

It depends on the scope and the artist. Small commissions like a character bust can take a few days. Full pages or multi-page issues might take weeks. That’s why your brief needs to include a realistic timeline — artists can’t guess what “ASAP” means.

6. Will I own the artwork after the commission is finished?

This depends on the terms you agree on with the artist. If it's a work-for-hire project, you typically own the full rights. If not, the artist may retain some usage rights. Always discuss this upfront — we’ve included a section in the brief to cover it.

7. Do you connect clients with comic artists?

Not directly. We specialize in helping clients prepare professional-grade briefs so that when they do approach an artist — on Instagram, Reddit, or a portfolio site — they’re taken seriously and avoid project-killing mistakes.

8. How much should I expect to pay for a comic artist commission?

Rates vary by artist and project scope.

• Character designs: $50–$300

• Comic pages (black & white): $75–$200 per page

• Comic pages (full color): $150–$500 per page

Your brief should include your budget range. This saves time for everyone and helps you get quotes faster.

9. Can I reuse the same brief for multiple artists?

Yes. One good brief can be sent to several artists for quotes. It makes you look like a pro and speeds up hiring. Artists will thank you for the clarity — and you’ll likely get better responses and faster turnaround.

You’ve Got the Idea. Now Make It Happen.

If you’re serious about your comic project, the first step isn’t hiring an artist — it’s handing them a brief that actually makes sense.

We just gave you the checklist. The mistakes to avoid. And a free template that does the heavy lifting.

And if you want that brief done-for-you, we can take it off your hands. No guesswork. No back-and-forth. Just a clean, pro-level brief you can send to any artist with confidence.

Ready to work together? Head to our services page and let’s get started.