The big boys don't make much money on print comics, that being Marvel and DC. At this point print comics only serve as a means to get IP out there and expand the brand.
Disney and Warner Brothers make their money on TV, movies and merch
And as far as the small to mid tier players (Image, IDW...) they do not sells ad space in the same manner and do not pay creators much for their work but in return the give up all IP rights to said creators.
These are the 2 models, pay creators a decent check, sell adds to cover costs of salaries and printing to attempt to at most breakeven and make all money on backend IP, or pay creators little to nothing and make small profit on cover price while giving up IP rights.
What REDG is trying to do is more of the google model which has proven to work in other areas.
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