Part 6/13:
The situation at Action Labs also underscores broader issues within indie comics: the often predatory nature of small publishers due to creators' desperation for exposure. Some creators sign contracts with low page rates or take on risk hoping that their break will come, but many end up with works shelved, rights held hostage, or unpaid royalties.
In the wider industry context, large publishers like Scholastic or First Second often provide advances based on sales projections, but these come with repayment obligations if sales falter. Meanwhile, smaller publishers like Action Labs typically rely on print runs, with many titles selling only a few thousand copies, making profitability and fair compensation difficult.