FAQ

Information about Band of Bards:

What is Band of Bards?

Band of Bards is an independent publisher of comics and graphic novels. Based in Buffalo, NY we support creator-owned IP, and are committed to publishing stories with a focus on Representation, Inclusion, and Diversity.

How do I contact Band of Bards?

It's pretty easy to get ahold of us at Band of Bards, but first make sure you read this FAQ, because your question might already be answered!

The best (and preferred) way to contact us is by using our contact form right here!

If for some reason the form doesn't work, you can email us as well at support [at] bandofbards.com!

Are you a retailer or library who would like to speak to a sales rep?

Please send us an email at: sales [at] bandofbards.com!

**Please do not email us to check up on submissions. If you have questions about the process please read the Submissions FAQ below, or visit our Submissions page for more details!

Where can I find Band of Bards Comics? (Physical Distribution)

Comic Book Direct Market:

Band of Bards Comics are distributed by Diamond Comic Distributors and are available at comic shops worldwide. To find your local comic shop visit the Local Comic Shop Locator.

Buy direct via our Retail Partner Program:

We recognize how important it is to build relationships with our retail partners. The Local Comic Shop, and Bookstores are the lifeblood of this industry and we want to support you the best we can so we all grow. That includes making it as easy as possible to get Band of Bards titles on your shelves.

The Band of Bards Retail Partner Program is an easy and direct way to get our books into your store. Click here for more info on what you get as a partner and how to sign up!

If you'd like more information on becoming a Band of Bards Direct Retail Partner please email: sales [at] bandofbards.com.

Mass Market/Independent Bookstores:

Books and Trade Paperback releases are available via Ingram Content Group.

Do you digitally distribute your titles?

Yes! Band of Bards releases are available at the following fine digital establishments:

Global Comix
Drive Thru Comics
Amazon (Coming soon)

Press Inquiries

Want to get on our press mailing list, or maybe you are interested in an interview with one of our creators? Send an email to: [email protected]!

Do you work with Libraries?

Yes! Please reach out to us via email about ordering comics or books for Library use. Our releases are also available digitally worldwide to Libraries via: Library Pass!

Do you have a ratings system?

We have an established rating system for all of our releases that is described below. This rating information it included in the barcode area of all our comics and books!

EVERYONE (all ages)
Suitable for all ages.

YOUNG ADULT (ages 12+)
Some material may not be suitable for children. May have mild profanity, dark themes or some material parents may find unsuitable. These titles you may want to discuss with younger readers.

TEEN (ages 16+)
Some content may be inappropriate for children under 16. May contain profanity, minor violence, or drug paraphernalia. These situations are typically purposeful for the story. We urge Parents to be cautious.

MATURE (ages 18+)
These releases may contain sexually explicit content, heavy use of profanity, or excessive gore and violence. These stories were created with an adult audience in mind.

I'm experiencing some issues with the web-site, who can I notify?

Sometimes things break so if you find a bug or issue please send an email describing it to: [email protected]. He'll figure it out (probably).

If you haven't received an email from us that you were expecting, always check your spam folder first before reaching out to us!

Orders:

Where is my order?

Orders will typically go out the Friday after the order was placed.

A note on pre-orders: Anything marked as pre-order is considered to be in production. These types of orders can be delayed so please be patient! If you have a mixed order (pre-order and in stock items) we will do our best to get the in stock items shipped first, but if the dates are close to when we'll have the other items in, we'll hold onto it and send it all together.

When your order ships you'll receive confirmation and a tracking number via the email you supplied. You can also email: [email protected] with your order number to check the status.

Do you allow returns or exchanges?

Returns are not accepted, but we do accept exchanges in the case your item is defective, damaged, or you get the wrong item. We will do everything we can to make it right!

Please inspect your order upon reception and contact us immediately if there is a problem. Be prepared to be prompted to provide pictures of the damaged item(s) and damaged packaging.

Please email: [email protected] with your order number, and detailed explanation of the issue.

It's impossible to guarantee that you get perfect quality comics in every shipment, but we do our very best to make sure your order is packed with the utmost of care.

Submissions:

Does Band of Bards own Intellectual Property?

No, as the Creator of the original content you would retain all rights. Any distribution of ownership percentage would be at the discretion of the creator, and the assembled creative team.

What does "Creator-owned" mean?

Everyone has their own definition of what "Creator-owned" means. We're creators too, and when we established Band of Bards it was important for us to decide what it means to us individually, and apply that to how we would like to do business.

When we publish a Creator-owned story it's done with a licensing agreement, and on a term limit. This allows us the right to publish and distribute the works for a set period of time. When that term expires it can be extended (if both we and the creator are in agreement to do so), or terminated and all rights to the story revert back to the creator/owner. Trademark and copyright of the work in question is wholly owned by its original creator.

The majority of comics and graphic novels published by Band of Bards are creator-owned.

As a publisher what does Band of Bards do for me?

Band of Bards publishes Creator-owned projects.

Via our licensing agreement the services we provide are marketing, printing, and distribution (physical and digital, domestic and internationally). We also handle administrative end processes like: graphic design, book prep-work and building, translation services, and copyrighting (if needed). Doing this helps our creators focus on their project, and not so much on everything else.

Does Band of Bards provide advance payments or page rates to creators?

The short answer, No. We do not pay page rates for creator-owned projects.

We understand how difficult it is to finance a project, and not everyone is a one-stop shop (artist/writer/colorist/letterer/editor etc). We're more than willing to help find unique ways to raise the funds necessary, and will work with you the best we can to make it happen utilizing our available resources if requested. (Kickstarter, etc.)

What happens to my submission if it has been rejected?

We get a lot of submissions and try to respond to them as timely as possible, but sometimes it might take a bit. We appreciate your patience (we know it's hard to wait!)

You will receive a notification from us via email if your submission is rejected. If this happens please be assured that we DO NOT hold onto any of your submit materials (aside from your contact information), and they are destroyed.

If your proposal doesn't fit into our plans please don't take it personally. You're always welcome to submit again in the future.

When submitting a pitch, do you only want finished projects?

Currently we are only accepting completed creator-owned projects.

We are currently not accepting unsolicited incomplete or in progress pitches, story synopsis, outlines, or ideas. These will be deleted without any review.

Do you accept submissions from Illustrators/Colorists/Letterers who aren't currently attached to a project?

Yes! We accept inking, penciling, lettering, and coloring samples. These submissions are kept on file in a database we're building to help better our community, and give opportunities out when they present themselves. Check out our Submissions page if you're interested!

FAQ