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Not other job options, obviously - you asked about being a comic artist. But before you spend your life savings on manga-making tools and company addresses (please don't...that is very reckless), think about this for a while.
It's been previously mentioned that illustrators make next to nothing for fiendish hours. 'Tragic and writer-blocked' just won't cut the mustard in this business. But something I didn't see mentioned - maybe I didn't catch it, or maybe no one said it - is online publishing. That's right, boys and girls, putting your work online.
A lot of people's first reaction is 'Eew, that's lame. Online comics are for people who suck too bad to actually get published.' I whole-heartedly say that's not true at all. I've met some wonderful, talented people who display their work online, and I've always been told the same thing - it's just as rewarding, tons of fun, and a lot less stressful.
Here's some good points to think about.
1. You are your own boss. There is no editor dashing your brains out with your lightbox, no deadlines gnawing on your poor little artist innards, etc.
2. You can still attract a large fanbase. I've been to conventions with my favorite online artists before; they can't go five feet without a fan gushing over their work. And the best part? You have you, and only you to congratulate!
3. Appearances times, places, and dates are decided by you. Most artists pick two or three conventions to visit a year, then sell prints, stickers, and the like of their work. Can you say 'flexible schedule?'
4. Sites like keenspace/comicgenesis offer free forums to go with your comic. You can get immediate fan feedback, warn them about impending absences, and ask for advice.
5. Speaking of impending absences, they won't wreck your entire career. Going to visit granny for a week or two? Post a bonus page (cute oneshot illustration, entertaining four-panel comic, etc.) and put the bad news in a quarter-page panel. Having something fun like that along with the news will give fans an extra reminder of why they love you so much, and they'll wait patiently for your return. I've seen it, i've been though it, and it never, ever fails.
6. Most sites will put a copyright on your work for you while letting you retain ownership of your work. All you have to do is advertise them. It's still up to you to obtain a sales license, though (it's illegal to sell stuff in most places without one).
7. When your work is offered for free, more people read it, which means there's more fans. Never fear - when you sell at conventions, you make money. Just be sure to get a sales license so you don't get clapped in irons (see above point).
Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying it's all good. You still need to be able to draw and tell a story (popular series rip-offs almost always need not apply), and professional-looking work certainly doesn't hurt your chances any. If you've joined up with one of the sites that doesn't offer copyright protection, someone can steal your work and you can't do hey-diddle-diddle about it...never a good thing, especially if it had potential. Also, you can expect harsher criticism online - people tend to be a lot braver when the person they're insulting can't retaliate physically.
Whatever method you choose, have faith, and I wish you the best of luck in your endeavor! Have a good day and a great tomorrow!
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