Ok, we all know we have a lot of talented artists in Nigeria. I think we have what it takes to make quality comics in Nigeria in terms of human resources, artistry/skill and the likes.

But that which i think we lack is the business side to animations and cartoon/comic making generally. Knowing who to produce for, what to produce and how to, seems to be among the setbacks of comic production in Nigeria.

Apart from that, there's the question of distribution. This, to me, seems like the major setback for those looking to venture into comic making.

How can this problem be solved? What are the steps that can be taken?

NLers, artists, Cartoon lovers. . .let's discuss.

The audience's never been the problem for the Nigerian comics/animation, that has never been the case because there are millions (I mean millions) of comics and animation fans in Nigeria. From my experience and a little experiment/research, the BIGGEST problem is AWARENESS/DISTRIBUTION. There is little or no effort in that department. You have to let people know what you have since it won't crawl to their doorsteps. If my memory serves me right, there was a mad rush for comic books back in the 80s especially those Romace lovey dovey stories and thrillers like Benbella. Such appetite is still there but unfortunately,there is little or nothing so quell it.

There are lots of Nigerians who can hold their ground in those two fields but without the distribution/marketing side of things sorted out, it will remain the sword at will eventually rust unburnished. I did venture into comic book production back in '99 but it was such a hassle since there was no distribution structure. Shuttling from one city to another dealing with newspaper/magazine marketers and keeping my job as a cartoonist with a local newspaper was too much burden for a teenager, I didn't quit but I left the shores of Naija and that project died a natural death.

So in a nutshell, if the distribution side of the business is sorted, it will all blossom just like the Ikebe Super/Dauda Nakson (Ok I am saying they should do 'pornmic' or 'pornimation'just giving an instance). They artist are there, don't get me wrong 'cause there are the crappy artists; the meddlesome interlopers who think they have arrived but the good ones are there,l ots of them and they are pretty good.

So how do you propose the distribution problem be sorted out?

Distribution-wise, comics are not very different from weekly magazines and newspapers, which are doing very well!

interesting _{i see this is where the Admin base}

@ Seun:

hmm. . .i hear you. So, what you're trying to say is get the comics to the vendors and Viola?! But hold on, would the vendors get the copies of 'em comics from the printing press doing the Publishing? Or is it that there'd be some kinda deal cut btw them vendors and the printing press.