Archive - Dec 2004
December 5th
The History of Online Comics by T Campbell (Part 7)
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The Beginnings of a "Modern" Age?
Conventional wisdom held, as late as 2001, that the only sustainable economic models for online comics were ad-based. Either the comic carried advertising in some fashion, or it was itself an advertisement for its own merchandise. Pay-to-read models were mostly based upon speculation and mostly spectacularly unsuccessful. Even Scott McCloud found his position as comics pundit threatened over his endorsement of micropayments.
The History of Online Comics by T Campbell (Part 8)
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The Collective Convective
Keenspot and Modern Tales were Big Panda’s most influential descendants, at least as of late 2004. But they were far from the only ones. As the number of webcomics continued to grow, the formation of collectives became as easy as the joining of bubbles in a bathtub. And like bubbles, they defied attempts to keep track of them all.
But categories began to emerge: (1) dropdowns, (2) kaffeeklatches, (3) showcase hosts (closed and open), (4) subscription sites, and (5) one pay-per-view store.
These collectives are worth studying, both in success and in failure, for every success shows where webcomics may be heading and where they may not be heading.
From Malaysia to Jupiter with Lynn Lau
Webcomics is, of course, a global phenomena. 2004 saw webcomics proliferate, not just in America and Europe, but all over the world. Webcomics can be American, Brazilian, Japanese, British, or...Malaysian, like Lynn Lau, the creator of Jupiter, a webcomic set in a literal circus, not just a metaphorical one.
Recently Marilyn Scott-Waters got a chance to talk to Lau about her current webcomic, her past work and her future plans.
Feeding Snarky by Eric Burns
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Do you know something? "Year in Review" columns are a bitch and a half to write.
It's not that things didn't happen this year. Tons of things happened this year. Strips started and strips ended. Grand plans were launched and grand plans failed and -- every now and again -- succeeded. Arguments were launched and flamewars fought and webcomics were turned onto their head nine or ten times.
And sitting here in front of the Smith Corona, I have trouble recalling any of these things.
I Hate You All By Dalton Wemble
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A Farewell to Arse
Well, I'm packing it in. It's been a year of columnizin' here at Comixpedia, and while in some ways there are more things to be said, basically it was a long year of saying the same thing over and over again.
And my name's not Dalton Wemble. Like that wasn't obvious.
December 3rd
Penny and Aggie Go For Syndication
Submitted by Xaviar Xerexes on December 3, 2004 - 14:52
Penny and Aggie, the new strip from Legace and Campbell abruptly ended their Modern Tales run recently to move the work to Comics Sherpa and to more aggressively pursue a newspaper syndicate deal.
In contrast to novel approaches to selling comics in the newspaper space from Scott Kurtz and Keenspot, T Campbell explains why he is interested in the more traditional syndication model for Penny and Aggie.
Webcomic Primer
Submitted by Xaviar Xerexes on December 3, 2004 - 14:07
This is a pretty decent Webcomic Primer.
Checkerboard Nightmare Takes on Webcomicsland... Again
Submitted by Xaviar Xerexes on December 3, 2004 - 14:06
Consider this your slow-news-Friday-post: Checkerboard Nightmare today takes aim at Websnark (but also a quick shot at Scott "PVP" Kurtz and Comixpedia).
I love it when Straub does this - it is mean, but it's lovingly mean-spirited. But it's about as insular to webcomics community as humor can get it, isn't it?
Gewd Guys Collective Looking for Webcomics
Submitted by Al Schroeder on December 3, 2004 - 11:52
New collective, "The Gewd Guys" are taking submissions to join their webcomic co-operative. Already members are webcomics such as Loserz and Altermeta.
If interested, see the submission guidelines here.
December 2nd
November Issue Cover by Kean Soo
Submitted by Xaviar Xerexes on December 2, 2004 - 14:36
As we wrap up the November issue I just want to point out again the wonderful cover by Kean Soo. Hopefully you all know all of the faces on it by now, but just in case, let's play a little game. First one to post the correct names of everyone on this month's cover and their webcomic gets braggin' rights.
