Welcome, my CryptoComics Compatriots! Let me tell you a quick story. Yep, story time… as many of you know, I am working with Freefall Comics. We were gearing up for a big print run on Gunpowder Issue #1. The plan was to drop-ship all the comics from Australia directly to the U.S. to cut down on shipping costs. 

Sounds smart, right? It was — until everything went sideways.

I was working with my old boss, Sandon, from Falls Printing to get the job done. We were running the print job, and everything was humming along perfectly. Then, one of us spotted it. A small but critical mistake — THE COVER LISTED THE COMIC AS ISSUE #2 INSTEAD OF ISSUE #1. 

It was one of those gut-drop moments where you realize something so simple could cost you big.

We had no choice but to stop everything, update the file, and start the print run over from scratch. Anyone who’s been involved in printing knows how painful that is. The clock is ticking, and every second of downtime adds to the cost.

But it didn’t end there. After the new run started, we realized something even worse — WE DIDN’T HAVE A SOLID COUNT FOR HOW MANY COPIES WE ACTUALLY NEEDED. So we had to set up the printer again, recalculate the run, and print more. More downtime. More cost. More stress.

That day stuck with me. It wasn’t just the cost that got to me — it was knowing that all of it could have been avoided with a little preparation.

That’s why I decided to do something about it. I sat down with Sandon from Falls Printing and Lucas from Freefall Comics, and together we created the Ultimate Print-Ready Comic Checklist. Our goal was simple: make sure that no one else ever has to deal with costly mistakes like this.

This checklist is a combined effort from three industry powerhouses: CryptoComics, Freefall Comics, and Falls Printing. Each of us brought our unique experience and lessons learned to make this guide as foolproof as possible.

So, what’s in it for you? No more last-minute file edits. No more forgotten print counts. No more extra costs. Just a smooth, stress-free print run from start to finish.

This checklist covers everything you need to know, from file formats and color profiles to ensuring the right issue number is on the cover (trust me, I won’t forget that one) and drop-shipping logistics. This is your ultimate roadmap to getting it right the first time.

If you’re printing your first comic — or your fiftieth — this list will save you time, money, and a whole lot of headaches. Take it from someone who’s lived it. Double-check your files, review that checklist, and make sure everything is locked in before you hit "Send."

Print smart! Print once! Your future self (and your budget) will thank you.