Webcomics Weekly podcast episode 21, the hosts were talking about signing their comic strips in the comics.

Scott mentioned that he does not sign his strips because when he was a child his Dad mentioned that it looked like bragging to do so. So Scott has never signed his strips. He also mentioned that Image had asked him to sign his covers but he felt like the people who bought the comic knew who drew it and there was no need to sign the covers. He also mentioned that it brought back images of the early 90′s where everyone was signing their covers, and how huge and out of control it got.

He brought up the fact that I used to sign covers with a big pocket image. And I agree that the Image days got out of control with the big signatures on the covers and it’s also the reason I don’t sign my covers anymore. I want the art to speak for itself.

There are a number of reasons that an artist should sign the covers, one main reason is it helps publicize your work as an artist, and hopefully it will build your audience as well. Sometimes I feel that i just want the number of people who like and appreciate my art to grow on it’s own without any publicity on my part. Another part of me can see the multitude of talented artists who felt this same way and don’t get their names out there, who still sit in the same position in their careers.

It can go both ways. Which do you prefer? Signed covers or not? Publicity or no?