James Kochalka
Why American Elf Is Important To Webcomics
Submitted by Xaviar Xerexes on May 2, 2007 - 10:25
Derik Badman has a review of the second collected volume of James Kochalka's webcomic American Elf in print. (I wrote a review of the first volume of American Elf which you can read here)
We don't write as much about Kochalka as we did in the earlier years of Comixpedia, but that is really no reflection on the creativity and importance of his work (instead I tend to think it shows the growth of webcomics as a whole). I think Kochalka is important to webcomics for a couple of reasons. Kochalka's self-enforced construct for American Elf (one comic a day capturing a moment therein, without any compulsion to build an overarching storyline), turned out to be such a natural fit for the web that he both inverted his entire publishing strategy for the comic (he now publishes everyday on the web and then collects the work for print in these large volumes), and he also inspired a whole movement of "journal webcomics" that roughly followed his construct.
American Elf Volume 2 Out
Submitted by Xaviar Xerexes on April 10, 2007 - 23:30
The Daily Crosshatch has a review of James Kochalka's second big collection of his webcomic American Elf (vol. 2). (I reviewed the first collected volume for Comixpedia's November 2004 issue.)
Deadline For 2006 Harvey Awards Nominating Ballots
Harvey Award Nominating Ballots are due at midnight, April 4th. (The actual final Harvey Awards are presented at a banquet held Saturday, Sep 8th in Baltimore, MD in conjunction with the Baltimore Comic-Con.)
News and Whatnot for Friday, February 23, 2007
Submitted by Xaviar Xerexes on February 23, 2007 - 11:08
BUSINESS
- Dirk Deppey has a great discussion today of the growth of graphic novels as the now-predominant form of print comics in North America. The discussion is based on analysis from industry analyst Milton Griepp (more of the analysis at ICv2). Interestingly, the total sales numbers also represent the highest sales for the comic and graphic novel market since the early 90s. Even more startling is Deppey's estimate that the manga market is somewhere between 1/4 and 1/3 of the total marketshare for comics of any kind in the United States today.
INTERVIEWS
- The Daily Cross Hatch presents the second part of its interview with James Kochalka (link from Journalista!) (The Daily Cross Hatch is a great new blog on comics - worth checking out!)
- CBR has an interview with Wesley Green, who publishes the online indy comic site Independent Propaganda and also started up Ambrosia Publishing and the webcomic hosting service Ambrosia Digicomics.
OTHER WIKI(s) WATCH
- I don't know why the TV Tropes wiki has entries on webcomics but there's an interesting one on "webcomics time", and a list of other "webcomics tropes":
JUSTIFY MY HYPE
- PinkRayGun has an overview of a comics collectiveSweet 7000 Baaadassss Comics (7000 BC). Awesome name - go check out their comics. called
AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 BLOGS
- Over at Fleen, Anne Thalheimer writes a self-described "fannish" post on some webcomics she likes. If you're going to go all fan-boy on something, Scary Go Round ain't a bad choice...
- Thomas Mauer says, "Build a buffer kids!" I'd link to his webcomic, The Surreal Adventures of Edgar Allan Poo (if for no other reason than the name) but he didn't link to it from his blog.
- T CAMPBELL says Hey Rich Johnston! TokyoPop still does the webmanga!
Tuesday Mid-Morning NewsBlast (UPDATED)
Submitted by Xaviar Xerexes on February 6, 2007 - 13:13
COMIXPEDIA
- First off thanks to our current sponsor, the webcomic Zortic by Mark Mekkes. There are three (slightly cheaper) ad spots below that are still available.
- Don't forget! This Friday is the last day to post your questions for our upcoming community interview with the creators of the Blank Label Comics collective. Post your questions in comments to this thread.
HEADLINES
- Nerve.com presents its Comics Issue with "an essay on just what Sandman means to goth girls of all ages." (probably NSFW) (hat tip to The Beat).
- DIGITAL STRIPS is taking your calls. The formerly non-live podcast is jumping on the live livecast bandwagon this Wednesday (feb. 7th) at 9 PM (presumably ET).
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The first extensive review of PvP: Animated that I've read is at Digital Strips as well (and includes some comments from PvP creator Scott Kurtz)
INTERVIEWS
- Shaenon Garrity interviews Box Brown, whose daily strip bellen! follows the relationship of significant others Ben and Ellen and was recently added to the Modern Tales lineup.
- The Beat catches a video interview with James Kochalka (creatror of American Elf) at the opening of Fine Toon: The Art of Vermont Cartoonists opening at the Helen Day Art Center in Stowe Vermont.
VALENTINES DAY
- Blind Date II is coming soon - we'll start posting comics on Valentine's Day (and then throughout February).
- Chris Daily has Valentine's Day cards featuring your favorite Striptease characters in some sizzlin' smokey positions, bringing you the romance as only they could for purchase. For only $5.00, you get five high-rez images of the cards ready to print.
- FLEEN points out other V-Day cards from The Devil's Panties, Scene Language and Dinosaur Comics.
WIKIPEDIA WATCH
- Howard Tayler of Schlock Mercenary provides the most recent wiki-rant. In a comment there I tried to lay out my current thinking of what's "broken" about Wikipedia. It is simply that the deletion process as it currently exists is not really the same as the creation and editing process. UPDATE: Tayler writes further in response to feedback.
- Brad Guigar also wrote about the recent deletion of the Wikipedia entry for his comic Evil Inc. which appears not only on the web but in several newspapers.
JUSTIFY MY HYPE
- Terrence Marks has a great post up explaining how useful Piperka is for reading webcomics. Piperka is hard to sell (like Tivo was/is) but once you start using it, you get how useful it is.
- I forgot to post about Benjamin Birdie's new project but The Beat reminded me. Birdie has teamed up with blogger Beaucoup Kevin on The Rack about a comic book shop.
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So long as we're browsing The Beat's webcomic entry archives check out some other plugs from Heidi MacDonald:
- @ the 8 Spot by Wilson Ramos and Eric Rivera is a weekly webcomic that chronicles the life of comics freelancers.
- La Muse by Adi Tantimadh and Hugo Petrus is a weekly science-fiction comedy webcomic.
- FLEEN also has multiple webcomic plugs today.
- And Journalista! gets in on the plug action too linking to the blog Same Hat! Same Hat!! which looks at Sascha Hommer's comics -- many of which are available online, including his full-length Insekt.
- Heck even the Comics Reporter is doing it! Here's a review of Daniel Spottswood's Disquietville Volume One - much of this comic also appears online.
Andrei Molotiu's Blot Comics
Submitted by Derik Badman on December 21, 2006 - 11:34
Since I never see it mentioned around here, I wanted to point out the slew of beautiful abstract comics that Andrei Molotiu has been posting on his BlotComics blog.
Molotiu combines the comics form with the design and style of abstract painting. Amorphous shapes that hint at something more seem to move and undulate across panels.
Monday News Mash-up
Submitted by Xaviar Xerexes on October 16, 2006 - 13:30
Besides my own write-up of SPX this weekend you can check out a list of SPX reports at The Comics Reporter. You can also check out the list of Ignatz winners at The Beat. Last, be sure to check out Johanna Draper Carlson's good post on webcomics at SPX.
Also alas, I missed the stage version of Get Your War On because it sold out mid-week. GWYO got really good reviews from the local DC media - I wish I had bought tickets well ahead of time.
DEAD TREES
Webcomics-In-Print has a nice wrap-up of recent and forthcoming book projects.
Tomorrow morning (Tuesday) the second Schlock MercenaryThe Blackness Between, will go on pre-sale.
AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 BLOGS
Kristofer Straub started a sketch-blog.
Joey Manley recommends Name Removed by Nick Wolfe. "It’s got a silly, twisted innocence that reminds me of James Kochalka or Achewood..."
Back of the Envelope's Weekly Webcomic Update summarizes what Donald read last week.
2006 Harvey Award Winners
Submitted by Xaviar Xerexes on September 10, 2006 - 20:56
The winner of the BEST ONLINE COMICS WORK at this year's Harveys is AMERICAN ELF by James Kochalka. Congrats!
Check out the full list of Harvey winners at The Beat.
Baltimore Comic Con
Submitted by Brad Guigar on August 28, 2006 - 11:35
Baltimore Comic Con is coming up in two weeks. The con hosts the Harvey Awards, which is featuring a webcomics category for the first time this year. Master of Ceremonies Kyle (Plastic Man) Baker is going to be awarding the first-ever webcomics Harvey Award to one of the following:
Welcome to THE WOOORRRRLD OF TOMORRRROWWW!!!
Submitted by Tim Demeter on August 10, 2006 - 10:37
On Tuesday we tackled (and I mean tackled, solid talkback everybody) how we, as webcartoonists can perceive others. Today, I have some thoughts on how others perceive us, to my eyes.
I've been on the road (it is rough and stuff) quite a bit lately, hitting San Diego and Chicago both, as many did, in a three week period. One of the perks of spending two whole weekends ensconced in geekery is I was able to see how the rest of the industry feels about our internet-y-world. (The other perk being Kristen Bell. Hey, Veronica Mars. Call me.)
