Archive - 2009
September 21st
Wakes Me When the Webcomic Is Over
Submitted by Xaviar Xerexes on September 21, 2009 - 10:44
I have a review of the graphic novel Ragbox up on the site. If you've got a comic or comic-related thing on paper you'd like to see reviewed in ComixTalk, here's the information on how to get it to me. And in self-interested plugging, I've restarted xaviarxerexes.com this year; largely also about comics, but also about ME and sometimes about ME as well.
JUSTIFY MY HYPE
After you check out the debut of Bad Machinery from John Allison don't forget to check out the debut of Not Invented Here from Paul Southworth and Bill Barnes.
DEMOGRAPHICS
Sean Kleefeld looks in on results of a survey Brad Guigar took of his Evil Inc readers.
BUSINESS
Newspapers are dying and everyone is writing about it... on the web. Paul Graham explains that newspapers were only ever in the business of selling paper and well, people are less in need of paper these days (it's actually a pretty insightful analysis). A newspaper guy and a blogger argue about the fate of the newspaper biz on a blog from PBS.
September 20th
The Ragbox
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The Ragbox is a comic written by Dave Kender and drawn by three artists: Mark Hamilton, Braden Lamb, and Matthew Reinke (each artist handling one of the three chapters). Kender is the founder of the Boston Roundtable group. This is a short book -- the pleasures in reading it are not really for the plot so there will be spoilers ahead. (It's also available as a webcomic here; you can buy the book at the store here.)
September 18th
Hi & Lois Discovers Webcomics
Submitted by Xaviar Xerexes on September 18, 2009 - 13:46
It looks like the current creators of Hi and Lois are the latest to be afflicted by Wiley Miller disease ("an irrational hatred of webcomics") - check out their current comic which slams webcomics (Oh... it's on. So on...). I would have cried from reading the cuttting humor deployed by the current creative team of this 45 year old comic strip (which btw are the sons of the original creative team, Brian and Greg Walker and Robert "Chance" Browne), but I was comforted by the touching thoughts of the Comics Curmudgeon.
FLEEN notes that most of the audience for Hi and Lois probably has never heard of "webcomics". Maybe Jay Leno can explain it to them...
Comics And the iPhone Apps Store
Submitted by Xaviar Xerexes on September 18, 2009 - 09:07
Comicspace co-CEO Joey Manley writes a lengthy blog post about the growth of comics on the iPhone platform this year, focusing a lot on the messiness of where comics are on the iPhone apps store (apparently they're all over: music, tv, books, specialized apps, etc). I don't think Comicspace itself has done anything with the iPhone yet -- Manley's comments on what he actually thinks of the smaller screen format vs a traditional computer screen may have had something to do with that.
September 16th
Kickstarter Fundraising Model
Submitted by Xaviar Xerexes on September 16, 2009 - 13:29
Jamie Tanner, the creator of Eisner-niminated The Aviary, is using Kickstarter to run a fund-raising drive -- enough money gets pledged, money gets collected and Tanner does his next graphic novel. (h/t Journalista!) He has over $2000 pledged with a goal of $5000.
Not new necessarily but interesting that this type of web-facilitated tool is being used for non-webcomic comic projects. Plus Kickstarter itself looks like a handy way to do this kind of approach.
UPDATE: Don't know how I missed this but Gordon McAlpin is using Kickstarter to raise funds for a print collection of his webcomic Multiplex. McAlpin is trying to raise $7500 towards finishing the work necessary to complete the book.
September 15th
Tuesday Is Quiet in Webcomictown... So Far!
Submitted by Xaviar Xerexes on September 15, 2009 - 09:43
Wow -- not a lot to report on this morning, but John Allison does have a comic up about thinking up a new comic. Maybe a little bit insider-y but very funny!
Also an interview with Keith Pille, of the webcomic Nowhere Band. Pille is also in the real life band Derailleur. So there ya go!
JUSTIFY MY HYPE
The most recent storyline of Rocket Roadtrip incorporates noted sci-fi author John Scalzi in it. Scalzi was good-natured enough to link to it on his blog recently.
September 14th
Red String Hits 1000 Pages
Submitted by Xaviar Xerexes on September 14, 2009 - 15:28
Gina Biggs let me know that her webcomic Red String had reached the 1,000th page milestone. Congratulations - if you're not a fan, go check out this "romantic tale of destiny and self-discovery". It's been publishing online since May 1, 2003
Also you can now get Volume Four of the print series of the comic through Haven Distributors under the order code: REDSSTRT04.
Listen up!: Two Interesting Interviews!
Submitted by Xaviar Xerexes on September 14, 2009 - 10:41
The SPX Convention is coming this month! There will be a pretty interesting group of webcomic types exhibiting at this year's Saturday and Sunday show in Bethesda. More details at the website -- I am overbooked this year, but hope to be there Sunday afternoon.
INTERVIEWS
Lucy Knisley, author of French Milk, and Erika Moen, creator of DAR: A Super-Girly Top-Secret Comic Diary, join Words & Pictures' S.W. Conser to discuss cartoon travelogues, online journaling, collaborative art-making, and the fine line between Renaissance iconography and porn. Warning: explicit content. Click here for the podcast.
And another podcast interview -- this one with webcomic creator Paul Taylor of Wapsi Square.
September 11th
Adventures in Marketing: An Animated Ad for Multiplex
Submitted by Xaviar Xerexes on September 11, 2009 - 11:41
A new trailer for Gordon McAlpin's Multiplex comic. Pretty cool - I think easier to do (but not all that easy!) because Multiplex uses vector artwork. Any other comics you think you'd like to see try a promo piece like this? Anything already out there from another webcomic I should add to this post?
This Day in ComixTalk: September 11th
Submitted by Xaviar Xerexes on September 11, 2009 - 11:35
This day in ComixTalk:
2008
Faith Erin Hicks blogged about internal narration in comics; Platinum's purchase of Wowio was still shaking out in the news (a year later and there's still no evidence that Wowio has paid off all of its debts to creators and publishers.)
2007
Platinum Studios filed for an IPO; and Phil Kahn posted video of numerous interviews he did at Connecticon with creators such as Chris Hastings and Kent Archer of Dr. McNinja and Rob Balder and Jami Noguchi of ErfWorld.
2006
Jim Zubkavich announced the print version of his webcomic Makeshift Miracle.
2005
Another update to Kris Straub's meta-meta-meta webcomic Modern Humor Authority; an interview with Maritza Campos of CRFH!!!; a review of School Spirit.
Also from the forums, RanJado wondered about how to draw distinctions between comics' readerships;
2004
Jamie Robertson announced that he would stop working on his webcomic Clan of the Cats. I'm not sure of the ends and outs of Robertson's work status on the comic every year since than, but I'm happy to report that right now he is working on the strip (there's an update today) and I think his work has gotten better every year. Great strip full of of supernatural elements, adventure and relationships, all with really strong artwork.
2003
James Kochalka won best online comic at the Ignatzs for American Elf. He, however, did not accept his award in a gorilla suit.
