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Mark Mekkes

What T Campbell is Reading

Submitted by Xaviar Xerexes on November 27, 2003 - 08:02

T Campbell is editor of Graphic Smash, writer of Fans, Rip & Teri and more than a couple of Comixpedia articles, and a slave to trends. What's he reading?

"In webcomics, I'm currently working my way through the Modern Tales lineup in alphabetical order. Most of them I read all the way through, though a few of them just don't interest me at all. Just got through No Stereotypes. I also regularly read a few standbys: Sluggy Freelance, PVP, CRFH, GPF, It's Walky, Clan of the Cats, Gaming Guardians. And of course, everything on Graphic Smash.

"In printed comics, I'm sticking with Strangers in Paradise for a little while longer at least, now that Terry's finally getting around to some of the stories I wanted him to write three years ago. Mark Waid just 0wn0rs Fantastic Four. The fanboy in me craves it, along with JLA/Avengers and a lot of Brian Michael Bendis' work.

"Textwise, I just got through Chris Sherman's The Invisible Web and a book of Harlan Ellison short stories, and I'm reading a whole lotta blogs, 'cause all the cool people are writing them these days. Only half kidding: they have a perspective that I miss from my college years.

"What's next? I want to finish off Preacher (yes, I know the series wrapped years ago) and pick up Cory Doctorow's new collection... I've read a couple of his short stories and he's an author to watch. Webcomics-wise, I'll keep working my way down the alphabet with Modern Tales, then start on one of the other collectives... probably Keenspot or Girlamatic.

"Yeah, I'm serious, I really do read all this stuff. Scary, huh?"

Get Scared or Get Silly: A History of The Fright Night Project by Xaviar Xerexes

October 5, 2003 - 23:01 | Xaviar Xerexes

In 1999, there were a number of webcomics in regular publication, but nothing like the vast number of creators today. It was before Keenspot and Modern Tales, when the webcomic community was a much smaller world. In this smaller universe of webcomics, creators seemed more aware of their fellow peers, more prone to help each other out, and more likely to collaborate with one another. There were crossovers between webcomics, guest art for other webcomics, and on April 1st of 1999, Terrence Marks organized the first Great April Fools' Webcomic Swap, where webcomic creators surprised their readers by swapping webcomics with other creators for a day.

Keenspot Adding At Least 4 New Webcomics

Submitted by Anonymous on September 14, 2003 - 12:57

Soon after the official announcement of the addition of Boy Meets Boy, El Goonish Shive, and Gaming Guardians to the Keenspot line, a new wave of cartoonists have openly announced that thay have been invited to join up with the popular webcomics hub.

Proclaiming it either directly on their site, or through public message boards, Mark Mekkes (Zortic), John Troutman (Basil Flint, P.I.), Brandon "Scrubbo" Sonderegger (Silly Cone V), and Joe England (Zebra Girl) have confirmed the invitations, as well as their acceptance, into the Keenspot fold.

The reasons for this sudden invitation boom have not been fully or "officially" explained, though they do not come as a complete surprise. During the Keenspot panel hosted at the 2003 San Diego Comic-Con in July, Keenspot administrators mentioned the planned addition of at least a dozen new titles to the Keenspot lineup in the ensuing months.

Great Webcomic Minds Chat a Lot -- A Session on Webcomic Awards

August 24, 2003 - 23:03 | Frank "Damonk" Cormier

What happens when you put a half-dozen of webcomics' brightest and most vocal brains in a vegematic set on "inquisinate"?

Well, we put Chris Crosby, Joey Manley, Mark Mekkes, Chris Morrisson, BoxJam, and Scott McCloud in a chat room together with an inquisitive Damonk, to see what would happen. The result was a frothy milkshake of a chat interview that focused on awards for webcomics and their value or worth in the webcomics community.

If you're into grey matter milkshakes, or some cool, refreshing idea-sharing, than read on to see what these pureed brains had to say...

[Prelims]
damonk: Five more minutes, and I'm starting this puppy.

The 2004 WCCA Planning Committee Needs A Few Good (Wo)Men!

Submitted by Anonymous on August 4, 2003 - 14:18

A message from the WCCA (Webcartoonists' Choice Awards) chairman, Mark Mekkes:

First and foremost, I’d like to thank everyone in the webcomic community for being a part of the 2003 Web Cartoonists’ Choice Awards. Some truly great comics were recognized and rewarded for their wonderful work this year. Every vote and every contribution helped make this year the best one yet.

But we’re far from being done, folks – we’re already on the way towards making next year even better. As always, the WCCA tends to generate a lot of discussion and debate in a variety of forums and lists, expressing thoughts and opinions on how it should be done, and what can be done to make it better. Some brilliant ideas are always bounced around, and with the right kind of commitment and energy, will raise our process to an even higher level of quality.

However, in order to follow through with those ideas we need active and creative people to be a part of the awards process. We need those voices in the forums to come sound off WITHIN our committee. We need to HEAR all your intelligent ideas and suggestions.

We need YOU to join the planning committee for the 2004 WCCA.

Roll Out the Red Carpet, Cue Joan Rivers, It's Time for Webcomics Awards!

July 6, 2003 - 23:01 | Xaviar Xerexes

The comics medium has more than its fair share of awards. There are multiple awards for comic books and comic strips including the Eisner, Harvey, Ignatz, and Reuben, (see sidebar for more details) so it should not be surprising that with the explosion in webcomics publishing, there would inevitably be an award, or even two, for webcomics. But while everyone seems to agree that webcomics should be recognized for excellence, there is no agreement on the best way to present awards to webcomics.

Zortic by Mark Mekkes, reviewed by Stelas

May 25, 2003 - 21:01 | Alan Knight

Zortic, a science-fiction webcomic created by Mark Mekkes and hosted by Keenspace, tells of the continuing adventures of a little green man in a flying saucer with his friends, as they putter about the universe. The protagonist, Zortic, is urged by his co-burger-flipper and prospective girlfriend Zoie to enter a gameshow - thanks to his knowledge of late twentieth century Earth TV trivia - in an attempt to win some money to pay back his student loans.

An interview with Zortic's Mark Mekkes

May 11, 2003 - 18:36 | Leah Fitzgerald

Mark Mekkes is the writer/artist behind Zortic, the long-running webcomic about Zortic and his pop culture-parodying adventures through space. Mark is also involved with the organizing committee for the Web Cartoonists Choice Awards, which is now in its third year.

Comixpedia: How did you first get a start in comics?

Webcomic Awareness Day Coming May 5th

Submitted by Xaviar Xerexes on April 24, 2003 - 10:38

Jim Alexander writes:

A last reminder about WCA2003...

May 5th and our third annual WCA is less than two weeks away.

We currently have more than 60 web cartoonists signed on to do a special contribution strip for that day, as well as about a dozen others who are tenatively considering a WCA2003 strip (circumstances permitting).

Howard Tayler has mentioned that "The Pulse" is supposed to cover the event. Mark Mekkes has mentioned that he's going to plug the event during a local radio interview in Florida next week.

The current list of participants spans a full range of online comics. We have several members from Keenspot, Keenspace, Modern Tales, The Nice, and a lot of independents who aren't affiliated with any particular group (or groups). There are a few dozen return participants from previous years (many 3-time participants) as well as a lot of newcomers (our most newcomers ever).

For those of you who've said you'd like to participate, but haven't yet sent me the URL for your WCA2003 page, please do so as soon as possible.

Radio SciFi to Interview Zortic Artist Mark Mekkes on May 3rd

Submitted by Mark Mekkes on April 14, 2003 - 10:28

On Saturday, May 3rd, Mark Mekkes, creator of Zortic wil be appearing as a guest on the radio show Radio SciFi. In addition to discussing Zortic and his own projects, Mark will be talking about Webcomic Awareness and hyping Webcomic Awareness Day. Also listen for announcements about this year's, upcoming (3rd Annual) Cartoonists' Choice Awards.

Radio SciFi can be found in the central Florida area on 580 AM, and it is also broadcast over the internet at www.radioscifi.net on Saturday nights from Midnight to 3 AM eastern time.