For me, the most significant event of the year was Finder going to the web (http://www.lightspeedpress.com/). For a critically acclaimed, self-published print comic to decide that web serialization was more economical that continuing to print old-fashioned issues is really significant. I'm curious to see how it works out in the long run, and if other print creators do the same thing. Also interesting is the new Sam & Max comic (http://www.telltalegames.com/comics/samnmax/) on indie game publisher Telltale games' site. What's really interesting is that both of these comics were intended from the get go as advertising for something else.
As much as I respect Scott McCloud, I don't think micropayments was ever a viable economic model for web comics. I think that as time goes by, and web comics become more recognized by the world at large (which is inevitable*), we will come to see free content as the norm, and economically successful comics be become so by selling merchandise - print collections, t-shirts, original art, whatever. Web comics could also be used as creative advertising for other web sites - for instance, even if Telltale never gets to finish the new Sam & Max game that Lucasfilm axed, the comic will still bring people to their site, people who might, in turn, wind up hunting around it and buying one of their games. The fact is, that comics are excellent advertising, because they are fun, and people will actually seek good ones out.
*This doesn't mean that individual creators will necessarily do better, simply because it's so easy to make a web comic. Now, I think this is a great thing, I love to see people expressing themselves. But with so many comics, it becomes hard for the casual reader to separate the wheat from the chaff, and really good comics that deserve to be wildly successful can go unnoticed for a long time. I think the key to success in this environment is longevity, but that's another rant.
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RE: Random Specualtion
Girl Genius by Studio Foglio did that a year or two or maybe longer ago. Apparently this was a very good move for them as the sales of their books and other merchandise is now a steady income for them. I'm not aware of any other printed comics which have come to the web instead of the other way around.
Apologies for coming across as if I'm throwing my own comic into the spotlight, I'm not really meaning it that way, but I also have my comic project set up in comic book format as opposed to the usual continuous story format that most have. We tried to be printed but ran into closed doors or open ones with traps (companies wanted us to sign over all of our rights, they'd own it, we just make it for them). So we brought it to the web instead. We keep our rights, our control.
Anyways, enough rambling from me.
RE: Random Specualtion
April 18, 2005. I wrote up a tangent on it in fact.
Re: RE: Random Specualtion
There's the Shuck series by Rick Smith and Tania Menesse.
RE: Re: RE: Random Specualtion
The lightspeed press website isn't working for me...
The fact that the web is
The fact that the web is free has a big appeal to comic creators. Not everyone in print comics is in it to make the big bucks, and some of the lesser knowns can use the web in order to get their work out to the world, rather than sit through rejection letter after rejection letter. Honestly, would any big syndicates pick up comics like CAD or Penny Arcade? Nope. However, those creators are making a living off their work, and now that collected trade paperbacks are becoming a new trend, and one that's worked out pretty well for a number of creators, the "pros" are recognizing this and are jumping on board. It's not a bad deal - the kicker is that your comic has to have an audience on the web. The appeal of collecting print comics doesn't exist in the webcomics world, and the work itself has to stand out. I say good luck to the print converts, and I hope they experience the success they're seeking.
Don't hesitate to procrastinate.
See my stuff at http://www.cuteninjagirls.com
Don't hesitate to procrastinate. My brand new comic: http://cain.bombsheltercomics.com
Print vs. Web?
If print comickers are setting up websites that help them sell books, are they really "jumping to the web" at all or are they just using the web as the brilliant marketing tool it is so that they can do what they were doing already- make and sell print comics? I don't think the web will reduce the number of print comics out there at all.
But I do think more and more new comickers will set up shop here first.
Jonathon Dalton
A Mad Tea-Party
Different Strategies
Setting up websites just to sell books is totally different then what I was talking about. I think that's widespread by now.
I was referring to cases like the Foglios who ditched the monthly comic book model to do regular web updates. They still collect the work and sell graphic novel size collections but now they do it of web material, not comic book material.
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Xaviar Xerexes
I am a Modern Major Generality.
Re: Different Strategies
Ah. Okay. That is much better. Keeping up with monthly floppies was always a huge pain anyways. Good riddance, I say. My preferred method of reading goes 1.) graphic novel, 2.) online, 3.) scrawled on toilet wall, 4.) monthly over-priced magazine.
Jonathon Dalton
A Mad Tea-Party
Converts
Yeah, and I think a percentage of people who move to the web as promotional method for print will find the web to be better suited to their goals and convert, in a sense. This is actually how I got into doing webcomics.
Look at me, I'm living proof. Beefcake! BEEFCAKE!!
Tim Demeter
Reckless Life
Tim Demeter
does a bunch of neato stuff.
Clickwheel
GraphicSmash
Bustout Odds
Only the begining, I think
-pardon my infrequent posting lately, been moving. Good times.
Anyways, I know Stuart Immonen recently started or is starting a webcomic on webcomicsnation.
I think the larger migration is happening with the up and comers and it's happening in droves, and I think in a few years, we won't see big names moving from print to the web, so much as we will see big names spring out of the web all on their own.
I know there was some year in review article or another, linked off this very site in which a bunch of mainstream type creators were all sniffing around the web.
I think who's talking the talk and willing to walk the walk remains to be seen.
Tim Demeter
Reckless Life
Tim Demeter
does a bunch of neato stuff.
Clickwheel
GraphicSmash
Bustout Odds
Print to Web Trend Fizzling or Just Not A Big Deal Anymore?
I was just thinking about how big a deal last year it seemed for several print-based creators to jump from their respective serialization markets (comic books or newspapers) to the web.
Are people aware of this still happening regularly and it's just not a big deal anymore or are there actually far fewer medium to big names making the leap?
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Xaviar Xerexes
I am a Modern Major Generality.