Sweatdrop Studios is a UK-based independent publisher and comic collaborative.
Since 2001, we've been creating original comics and artwork in a wide variety of genres and styles; publishing single issues, collected volumes, anthologies and light novels.
We're a registered publisher, but at the heart of it, we're a group of friends and teammates who band together to create stories and art. Our members come from different backgrounds and careers, united in a passion for making great books.
Since 2001, we've been creating original comics and artwork in a wide variety of genres and styles; publishing single issues, collected volumes, anthologies and light novels.
We're a registered publisher, but at the heart of it, we're a group of friends and teammates who band together to create stories and art. Our members come from different backgrounds and careers, united in a passion for making great books.
Though a registered publisher, Sweatdrop is not an employer but a group of artists who print and sell their own work under the brand. All print runs are paid for by the individual creators, excepting anthologies; the group does NOT cover individual printing cost. It provides a platform for creators to self publish their own stories and sell them online and at events.
Sweatdrop is always happy to consider new members!
Sweatdrop is always happy to consider new members!
You need to:
- Live in the UK
- Create original comics
- Have one completed comic, to a high standard, ready to print. The comic must be at least 20 pages, and can be either a standalone story, several shorter stories or a chapter of a longer work.
- Be familiar with our products and standards
- Be friendly and willing to work within a group
- Be committed to seeing projects through to fulfilment
- Be willing to learn and expand your skills
- Deliver content digitally (please scan traditional media)
- Be over 16 years old.
Why join Sweatdrop?
As a member, some of the benefits you receive will be:
- Advertisement of your comic in other titles
- Option of joining group print runs
- Option to participate in group projects and anthologies
- International sales through the website
- Sales at various UK conventions and events
- ISBNs for books/collected volumes (and associated distribution through Amazon, other retailers and wholesalers)
Some conditions/obligations!
Once you are a member you must:
- Give 10-20% of the cover price to the group to cover distribution and other miscellaneous costs
- Print the Sweatdrop logo on your comic's cover at a legible size
- Include 1 or more page of adverts for other people's titles
- Help out at group events if at all possible, allowing for individual circumstances and availability
Advice for applicants
Be realistic! Epics are very tempting, but shorter stories are easier to complete, and you will improve/learn loads, particularly if you're just starting out.
If you get turned down, just keep working hard and try again. Not all of our members were successful on their first application and we always give feedback. We're impressed by noticeable improvements in your art or writing!
Please be aware that we are very busy during convention season (Feb-Oct), so applications processing will slow down or even pause altogether during these times. Please be patient and understand that con season is a manic time for any comics group.
You should be familiar with self-publishing and how self-publishing works. It's all right if you only publish online currently (ie. you post your comic as a webcomic on a hosting platform), just so long as you're familiar with the process to some extent and are ready to self-publish in physical print.
Although it's not obligatory, we recommend you get to know us, either by talking with us on social media, or meeting us at events (announcements of which can be found on our social media)! As a group and collective, we depend on collaboration and great teamwork, so it's a good idea to get acquainted before you apply.
Application Form
Please send us (applications@sweatdrop.com) the following:
Name:
Age:
Location:
Website:
Tell us about your comic(s)... titles, summaries, length:
Do you have your comic online? If so, what's the URL?:
Sample pages: (Attach or link). Please send at least 10 sequential pages, preferably from around the start of your comic; we need to see storytelling as well as artistic skill. If you have multiple short comics, send a total of 10 or more pages from them as needed. If emailing pages, please send JPGs less than 1000 pixels wide.
Is your comic the work of more than one person? If so, please confirm that all contributors have consented to its being submitted as part of your application and, if the application is successful, being printed as a Sweatdrop comic.
Finally, please tell us why you want to join - how do you think being part of Sweatdrop will be beneficial for you?
- Live in the UK
- Create original comics
- Have one completed comic, to a high standard, ready to print. The comic must be at least 20 pages, and can be either a standalone story, several shorter stories or a chapter of a longer work.
- Be familiar with our products and standards
- Be friendly and willing to work within a group
- Be committed to seeing projects through to fulfilment
- Be willing to learn and expand your skills
- Deliver content digitally (please scan traditional media)
- Be over 16 years old.
Why join Sweatdrop?
As a member, some of the benefits you receive will be:
- Advertisement of your comic in other titles
- Option of joining group print runs
- Option to participate in group projects and anthologies
- International sales through the website
- Sales at various UK conventions and events
- ISBNs for books/collected volumes (and associated distribution through Amazon, other retailers and wholesalers)
Some conditions/obligations!
Once you are a member you must:
- Give 10-20% of the cover price to the group to cover distribution and other miscellaneous costs
- Print the Sweatdrop logo on your comic's cover at a legible size
- Include 1 or more page of adverts for other people's titles
- Help out at group events if at all possible, allowing for individual circumstances and availability
Advice for applicants
Be realistic! Epics are very tempting, but shorter stories are easier to complete, and you will improve/learn loads, particularly if you're just starting out.
If you get turned down, just keep working hard and try again. Not all of our members were successful on their first application and we always give feedback. We're impressed by noticeable improvements in your art or writing!
Please be aware that we are very busy during convention season (Feb-Oct), so applications processing will slow down or even pause altogether during these times. Please be patient and understand that con season is a manic time for any comics group.
You should be familiar with self-publishing and how self-publishing works. It's all right if you only publish online currently (ie. you post your comic as a webcomic on a hosting platform), just so long as you're familiar with the process to some extent and are ready to self-publish in physical print.
Although it's not obligatory, we recommend you get to know us, either by talking with us on social media, or meeting us at events (announcements of which can be found on our social media)! As a group and collective, we depend on collaboration and great teamwork, so it's a good idea to get acquainted before you apply.
Application Form
Please send us (applications@sweatdrop.com) the following:
Name:
Age:
Location:
Website:
Tell us about your comic(s)... titles, summaries, length:
Do you have your comic online? If so, what's the URL?:
Sample pages: (Attach or link). Please send at least 10 sequential pages, preferably from around the start of your comic; we need to see storytelling as well as artistic skill. If you have multiple short comics, send a total of 10 or more pages from them as needed. If emailing pages, please send JPGs less than 1000 pixels wide.
Is your comic the work of more than one person? If so, please confirm that all contributors have consented to its being submitted as part of your application and, if the application is successful, being printed as a Sweatdrop comic.
Finally, please tell us why you want to join - how do you think being part of Sweatdrop will be beneficial for you?
Orders are dispatched twice weekly. Within the UK, your comics will be sent by first class mail and should arrive within two working days of being dispatched, unless the total weight is greater than 1.25kg, in which case your order will be sent as a standard parcel and will take between three and five days to arrive. Orders placed up until 6pm on any workday will be sent in the next shipment.
UK orders typically take 3 days, International takes 5 to 10 days, from day of shipping; orders will be sent by airmail and priced accordingly. Shipping costs are calculated at Checkout after you provide us with your address. You will be shown this before committing to the purchase of your order. However, if you are ordering from outside the UK, you may be charged VAT and handling fees by your local postal system when the package enters your country (this now includes orders from the EU). Please note that from December 13th 2024, due to the new GPSR rules, we cannot ship to the EU or Northern Ireland. If you place an order with a delivery address in either area, you will receive a full refund and our deepest apologies.
Please note that while we will pack your order with the utmost care, we cannot guarantee that items sent outside the UK will arrive in pristine condition. If you wish to make use of a specific courier, please contact us at shop@sweatdrop.com to make arrangements.
Please allow 21 days before contacting us regarding missing orders. If your order has not arrived by then, contact us quoting your Order ID in the subject line. Click here for Contact information.
We currently accept payment via PayPal. You do not need to be registered with PayPal to use the service. PayPal accepts Visa, Visa Delta, Visa Electron, Switch/Maestro, Solo, MasterCard and American Express.
Once you're ready to purchase, simply click the 'Checkout' link in your cart. If you would like to update or delete your items, click on 'Full View' in your cart.
UK orders typically take 3 days, International takes 5 to 10 days, from day of shipping; orders will be sent by airmail and priced accordingly. Shipping costs are calculated at Checkout after you provide us with your address. You will be shown this before committing to the purchase of your order. However, if you are ordering from outside the UK, you may be charged VAT and handling fees by your local postal system when the package enters your country (this now includes orders from the EU). Please note that from December 13th 2024, due to the new GPSR rules, we cannot ship to the EU or Northern Ireland. If you place an order with a delivery address in either area, you will receive a full refund and our deepest apologies.
Please note that while we will pack your order with the utmost care, we cannot guarantee that items sent outside the UK will arrive in pristine condition. If you wish to make use of a specific courier, please contact us at shop@sweatdrop.com to make arrangements.
Please allow 21 days before contacting us regarding missing orders. If your order has not arrived by then, contact us quoting your Order ID in the subject line. Click here for Contact information.
We currently accept payment via PayPal. You do not need to be registered with PayPal to use the service. PayPal accepts Visa, Visa Delta, Visa Electron, Switch/Maestro, Solo, MasterCard and American Express.Once you're ready to purchase, simply click the 'Checkout' link in your cart. If you would like to update or delete your items, click on 'Full View' in your cart.
What data we collect from you
Sweatdrop Studios collects personal data which you provide to us when you order from our online shop, specifically, your name, address and (optionally) your email address.
Why we need it
We need your name and address in order to post the comics which you have ordered.
What we do with it
We use Paypal, a third-party provider, to process all online purchases. We do not store your credit card or PayPal account information, only your name and address (and email address if provided). Please see Paypal's Privacy Policy for more information on how they manage your data. We will not share your data with any other parties.
How long we keep it
We are required under UK tax law to keep your basic personal data (name, address, contact details) for a minimum of 6 years.
What are your rights?
If at any point you believe the information we have about you is incorrect, you can request to see this information and have it corrected or deleted. If you wish to raise a complaint on how we have handled your personal data, you can contact our Data Protection Officer who will investigate the matter.
If you are not satisfied with our response or believe we are processing your personal data not in accordance with the law you can complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).
Our Data Protection Officer is Morag Lewis and you can contact them at webmaster@sweatdrop.com.
Sweatdrop Studios collects personal data which you provide to us when you order from our online shop, specifically, your name, address and (optionally) your email address.
Why we need it
We need your name and address in order to post the comics which you have ordered.
What we do with it
We use Paypal, a third-party provider, to process all online purchases. We do not store your credit card or PayPal account information, only your name and address (and email address if provided). Please see Paypal's Privacy Policy for more information on how they manage your data. We will not share your data with any other parties.
How long we keep it
We are required under UK tax law to keep your basic personal data (name, address, contact details) for a minimum of 6 years.
What are your rights?
If at any point you believe the information we have about you is incorrect, you can request to see this information and have it corrected or deleted. If you wish to raise a complaint on how we have handled your personal data, you can contact our Data Protection Officer who will investigate the matter.
If you are not satisfied with our response or believe we are processing your personal data not in accordance with the law you can complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).
Our Data Protection Officer is Morag Lewis and you can contact them at webmaster@sweatdrop.com.
