COMIC, WEBCOMIC PROS RESPOND TO ZUDA

[MattBrady]

by Chris Arrant (with additional reporting by Benjamin Ong Pang Kean)

The announcement of DC Comics' webcomics initiative Zudacomics.com has caused a firestorm of conversation in forums, blogs, chatrooms and more than a few comic stores. Although details are still sparse here just 2 days after the announcement here, Newsarama.com reached out to several notable professionals who would have something to say on the matter to get their initial opinion.

Warren Ellis, writer (Planetary, Crooked Little Vein) and comics futurist:

From what little on Zuda I've seen: it's interesting, and maybe a little cleverer than people think.

First off, you have to immediately assume Zuda will mesh with Flex, the comics-on-phone company DC invested in. Secondly, Zuda is high-concepted for news stories: it's Pop Idol/American Idol for comics, essentially. (It's a MainStream Media story only -- you can't successfully spin this as, say, a Web 2.0 project.) That demands the third point: the concept begs the formation of an online community around it. It's probably compelling enough that DC will be able to access a sizeable and active audience, and that'll give them a base to expand internet operations from. Which has to happen, because, as much as people continue to say "well, no-one likes reading comics on screen," it doesn't seem to be making scans, scanlations, comics torrent sites and e-books go away. Quite the opposite.

Given the above, DC should be able to generate a whole new section of audience, forge them into a community and create a really strong internet presence to stage for a full-fledged web-content "arm" of the company.

That said: DC, to date, have been crap at internet communities. Their message boards have long been a mismanaged, zoo-like embarrassment. This is a place that's banned DC comics creators because they dared defend themselves against abusive posters in the past. The board systems were, I think, found on Noah's Ark, running Dead Sea Scrolls 0.9 beta. Also, in recent years, DC has been a little more grabby about certain IP rights than they were when I was creating stuff there, and they could walk into an absolute firestorm by, for instance, starting out by insisting on buying all rights and turning the submitted webcomics creations into work-for-hire gigs. Additionally, for this to work, DC must assume they can't monetise Zuda for three to five years, and that's going to be tough for some people to wrap their heads around.

It's just the sort of jumpstart that Flex could use in a US roll-out, because the Zuda comics, having been paid for, could be accessed through the Flex system for free. I wouldn't be surprised to see Zuda used to anchor Flex in America -- presuming that that is their intent. I mean, there are good reasons why comics on phones are a good idea in Japan and not such a good idea in America, and it's the same reason why anthologies work in Japan and not so much in America -- a public-transport commuter culture versus a private-transport commuter culture.

If someone can go down to the Zuda office and hang up two signs, one reading DON'T BE EVIL and the other reading DON'T BE STUPID, then it could well turn out to be, at the very least, a big engine for press and activating the online audience. You have to understand that even the failed entrants will be active if the community and the comics are interesting and vibrant enough. I'm currently a paid columnist at Suicide Girls, and some of the Girls themselves have shown me incredibly energetic communities inside the site where models and photographers show off photosets that failed to be accepted by the site -- they get to display them using the site's free tools and hosting, and they absolutely crackle with activity. It's easy to see how a Zuda messageboard/communitycould become the same kind of thing.

R. Stevens, cartoonist (Diesel Sweeties), and co-founder of webcomics collective Dumbrella:

I'll be honest with you- when I first saw the word Zudacomics, my brain read it as "The Judas Contract." I'm not implying that DC the Terminator is infiltrating the Teen Web Titans in order to destroy it, but it was the first thing that came to mind.

I hope that aspiring web cartoonists don't see this as their only shot at the golden ring. A stamp of approval from a multi-hojillion dollar corporation can open a lot of doors, but this is still the internet. Hard work, caring fans and an accessible personality can still get you *really* far on your own. We're not beholden to a monopolistic distribution system and super-expensive printing bills. We're still frontiers-people out here!

I was really excited when I got an offer from United Features Syndicate to syndicate my strips to newspapers last year, but I didn't take the deal until we negotiated a deal that didn't take away my web autonomy. I was lucky to be dealing with a company willing to work with me rather than tell me, "THIS IS HOW IT'S GONNA BE, PUNK." I also found a great lawyer who was willing to talk and assure me that signing on didn't mean doing anything unacceptable. (His names Stu Rees if you need him) Zuda doesn't yet have a track record in this regard, so the first wave of cartoonists have a responsibility to negotiate, show backbone and set a precedent for those who come after. That includes being prepared to walk away if you're sacrificing too much.

I also hope that Zuda & DC are going to be respectful of creators and of the long-standing webcomics tradition of owning one's own work. Is it worth giving up your copyright in order to see your work promoted and made into a movie? Maybe it is for you, but it wouldn't be acceptable for me. Perhaps this won't even be an issue! That'd be awesome.

If I had to sum my reaction to this up in two sentences, it'd be: "Yes, Zuda is stunning and you're in love with her. But will she respect you in the morning?"

Scott McCloud, cartoonist and leading popular scholar on comics:

What might spring to mind to some people, including me, is 'Venus Flytrap'. It's really all just speculation at this point, not knowing what the exact deal is. It all depends on the deal they offer creators. I'm wary of how much control and/or ownership over each comic DC might expect in return for "publishing" them. That said, they made a wise move choosing a screen-fitting page format and the site looks sharp. I've seen worse first steps.

Dean Haspiel, cartoonist (The Quitter, Billy Dogma) and founding member of the webcomics collective ACT-I-VATE:

I'm thrilled to learn that DC Comics has launched a new webcomics imprint. Based on initial reports, it seems like the most intuitive and cost effective way for a corporation to discover and test market new intellectual property. And, with the added "American Idol" aspect of having readers vote for and make popular their favorite candidates, it's a win/win situation for the company and new creators. I'm curious which demographics Zudacomics will aim for but I'm especially interested in learning their contract and pay system, the very detail all us web-comickers are trying to realize the best solution for. Meanwhile, ACT-I-VATE is still enjoying an exciting beta phase of understanding and scrutinizing this digital medium with our original and highly varied content. Webcomics has become the premiere way to learn comix, make comix, market comix, and brand your ideas.

Joey Manley, owner & founder of Webcomics Nation, a webcomics platform:

Generally, I think that DC's initiative will bring a lot of creators to the webcomics field who wouldn't have thought to do a webcomic before -- those focused on the mainstream comics scene -- and this can't help but be a good thing for webcomics as a whole. "Comics" is a lot of different things to a lot of different budding creators. For some creators, "comics" means newspaper comics. Lots of current webcomics creators want to be the next Bill Watterson. For some it's manga. Lot of people want to emulate the careers of their favorite manga-ka, through webcomics. For some, the career pinnacle they daydream about would be represented by, say, Alison Bechdel's success with Fun Home or Gene Yang's with American Born Chinese (which debuted on Modern Tales, one of my sites). And for some, the end-game is to work on the kind of comics published by Marvel and DC. That last group has been the least well-represented in the webcomics scene to date, both in terms of creators, and in terms of readers. This initiative from DC will bring them out. In droves. (And yes, I know there's lots of overlap between these various groups, and it's not as simple as all that). As a reader, I'm looking forward to it. As the owner of a free webcomics hosting portal, I'm expecting that some number of the 99.9999999% of submissions that don't make DC's editorial cut will end up my site -- and I look forward to working with those creators to help develop their opportunities in a more, shall we say, indie-empowered way than DC might be able or willing to provide.

Kazu Kibuishi, Eisner nominated cartoonist (Daisy Cutter, Amulet) and founder/editor of Flight:

This looks really interesting. I'm glad to see DC is looking to the internet to find new talent, because there is a lot of it out there. If it actually helps push people to come out of the woodwork, then I'd imagine it can prove to be a very successful project for them.

Scott Kurtz, cartoonist (PVP) and 2006 Eisner award winner for digital comics:

From what I can read, DC has no business model in mind for comics on the web. From their website and the New York Times article it seems more like their looking to mine the web for potential TV, Films and Toy properties, Which is disappointing. The last thing I expected from DCs big online push was a rehashing of the Platinum model of preying on young, desperate, "deer caught in headlights" cartoonists who are under the false assumption that someone is eventually going to sweep them up and make them famous.

This is the most DC and Time Warner can come up with as a business model for the web? Let's hold a contest and vote on which cartoonist gets to "win" the opportunity for us to buy up the rights to their properties so we can exploit them in other markets?

If my work ever stands for ANYTHING...if it manages to ever leave a real lasting mark...I hope it can be a testament to the ideal that you can succeed without these guys.

The people putting their heart and souls into their own comic book and comic strip creations are cartoonists, not contestants. Until publishers can start looking at talent that way, and approach them as potential partners, then we have to continue to try to find new ways to bypass them and succeed on our own.

Shaenon K. Garrity, cartoonist (webcomics Narbonic, Smithson) and editor of the webcomics anthology site Modern Tales:

I don't have much to say about Zuda until I know more about what it plans to offer cartoonists. It's high time DC dipped its toe into the webcomics ocean, and this could be a good opportunity for the publisher to hook up with talented new creators. However, so far the people running Zuda haven't revealed much about what they plan to pay cartoonists or, perhaps even more importantly, what kind of contracts they plan to offer.

Webcartoonists are accustomed to immense creative freedom and control over our work. We don't have to sign off ownership of our characters, stories, or ideas in order to reach readers. That's the way things work at Modern Tales, the webcomics site that I edit, and at most of the other webcomics collectives out there. I'd hate to see anyone try to compromise that freedom and control. DC doesn't have a bad recent track record on creators' rights--the contracts offered to Vertigo and Minx creators are generally pretty good--but until Zuda provides specifics about what it will offer cartoonists and what it will demand in return, I'm reserving judgment.

Stuart Immonen, cartoonist (Ultimate Spider-Man, Nextwave, webcomic Never As Bad As You Think):

Maybe Zudacomics will be a five hundred pound gorilla in the webcomics market, and maybe that's exactly what's needed to make the medium viable for more than a handful of creators. However, I think the criticisms that have already been leveled at the venture are valid, and it saddens me to read reactions from (potential) creators who apparently have been waiting for just this kind of "opportunity." The tools are available for free to anyone who wants to publish online; even if managing a webcomic site, blog or journal seems daunting (when in fact, it is simplicity itself), there are in existence enterprises which take care of all that drudgery already, and won't ask to share in one's creative rights in the process.

It's never been easier to self-publish. It's a little hard to get noticed and harder still to make it pay. But people shouldn't have to give up the only thing they're offering to make that happen. By all means, creators can take work-for-hire if they think they're getting a fair shake, but consider all options carefully-- it may cost less (spiritually as well as financially) to do some projects yourself.

Jennifer de Guzman, Editor-In-Chief of SLG Publishing:

It's a little early to accurately comment on what Zudacomics.com will be, but I will say that DC is used to owning the rights for properties they publish. I'm personally against taking away ownership rights from creators. We should wait and see how it turns out. At SLG, we're expanding Eyemelt.com and always looking for more submissions to that. With Eyemelt, creators would retain their rights. Yes, they won't get win prize money [like Zudacomics.com is promising], but it's more of a partnership here than a contest. Also, I'd like to clarify that Eyemelt does digital downloads of comics, not webcomics.

Vito Delsante, writer (Stuck, JSA Classified) and co-founder of the webcomics collective The Chemistry Set:

I think that, for all intents and purposes, DC has it's heart in the right place. Whether or not they can execute is a wait and see. I give them credit for not jumping in without researching the whole marketplace. It looks as if they planned this anywhere between today and a year ago, so they appear to have some knowledge of what they were looking to do.

Scott Allie, editor at Dark Horse:

The internet's pretty democratic, so it's a wide open playing field. One of the appeals of doing comics on line is the democratic freedom of it all. The advantages of being owned by a corporation are nicely balanced by the drawbacks. Look what happens to cool sites like Youtube when they get bought by conglomerates. If you have a site that starts as the product of a corporation, it can only ever offer the perspective and the agenda of that company. I'm sure DC will get great stuff on their site, without a doubt. But web artists who are hoping to get their projects picked up in Hollywood should not consider Warner the big advantage that you might think. How many creator-owned projects from DC have made it to the big screen? They own their own stuff, so that's gonna remain their focus—there's more money in it for them to focus on Batman and Superman movies than Major Bummer movies, or The Boys, or Megatokyo. I guess they did get League of Extraordinary Gentlemen made, though. It's not really about counter measures or competing with DC. They'll do what they do best, and we'll do what we do best, and there's room on the internet for all that. I think we're all still trying to figure out what the best role for a comics publisher on the internet really is.

Jim Shelley, writer and co-creator of Flashback Universe:

To be honest, I'm a little disappointed. I was really hoping this rumored Web Initiative would be the iTunes for Comics we've all been waiting for. A place where I could go to download legal digital copies of old Jim Aparo/Bob Haney Brave and the Bold as well as new Mark Waid/Perez Brave and the Bold. Instead, I find it's just going to be another collection of web comics.

For webcomics guys, I would think that Zuda is a really nice way to create your comic without worrying about how you will promote it.

Dan Goldman, cartoonist (Shooting War, Kelly) and founding member of the webcomic collective ACT-I-VATE:

I heartily applaud DC Comics and Zuda for jumping feet first into a pool that seems hell-bent on reinventing their business model, and am interested to see Zuda gel into something new and exciting for comics.

During the past year-and-a-half doing ACT-I-VATE, we've learned a valuable lesson in using the internet to further our creative careers: we do precisely the kind of work we want to in order to BE KNOWN FOR [AND HIRED TO DO] WHAT WE LOVE, rather then playing a different tune in a style geared towards a specific audience in order to "get the gig"... and our cartoonists are landing gigs and books deals left and right. It's my very sincere wish that the Zuda editors can take that very simple lesson we've learned in the last year and a half and improve upon it for the benefit of all, not just by "paying" their cartoonists, but by keeping their comics (and their cartoonists) wild and free as the internet itself. Keeping open doors and open minds when choosing their content roster could channel Zuda's considerable resources to create a new type of webcomic community that didn't exist before. The more creative outlets across the landscape of this medium, the healthier and richer all our the futures become... and for that I wish Zuda all the best.

[investcomics]

I already posted on a previous Zuda article. Digital comics are not appealing. No matter how much anyone tries to sell it. Nothing in life beats the smell of a new comic book. (well maybe a new car...)
Sorry, not a fan of anything dealing with comics on the computer. Very unappealing.
Well Newsarama kicks butt! i'm not saying "anything" comics. I'm saying comic books.

[DennyColt]

Wow, Scott Kurts was a little... harsh. Out of all of the creators I think Ellis had the best grasp on the topic.

[RichJohnston]

Originally Posted by investcomics

I already posted on a previous Zuda article. Digital comics are not appealing. No matter how much anyone tries to sell it. Nothing in life beats the smell of a new comic book. (well maybe a new car...)
Sorry, not a fan of anything dealing with comics on the computer. Very unappealing.
Well Newsarama kicks butt! i'm not saying "anything" comics. I'm saying comic books.

Not appealing TO YOU.

Do you know what the illegal comics download figures are?

[gwangung]

I think Warren Ellis has it right. Good idea--but with the potential to be mucked up royally by group think mentality and organizational carelessness.

[Manny]

Originally Posted by RichJohnston

Not appealing TO YOU.

Do you know what the illegal comics download figures are?

ALOT?



The whole thing is very interesting. I am looking forward to watching this unfurl. As a webcomic creator, it's never bad to watch and learn and take advantage of oportunities if they are worth taking.

If nothing else, DC being this information lite so far, is giving them a TON of press and discussion. That's a point for DC.

Touche.

[ziza9]

From Scott Kurtz: "The last thing I expected from DCs big online push was a rehashing of the Platinum model of preying on young, desperate, "deer caught in headlights" cartoonists who are under the false assumption that someone is eventually going to sweep them up and make them famous."

That's what he got from the press releases and articles? Why so angry and reactionary? Wouldn't a more level headed response from a webcomics vet be better? Of all the responses that tirade was the most disappointing. I think Zuda is a good idea. The more expansive the webcomics world becomes the better. The indie rock attitude of the big boys shouldn't bring their evil into our pond is ridiculous and divisive...and just unnecessary. In my opinion. Let's see how it pans out initially before we overreact and call it an outright bad idea or accuse DC of preying on anyone.

[Pack]

Originally Posted by MattBrady

Warren Ellis, writer (Planetary, Crooked Little Vein) and comics futurist:

I'm currently a paid columnist at Suicide Girls, and some of the Girls themselves have shown me incredibly energetic communities inside the site where models and photographers show off photosets that failed to be accepted by the site

I'm sure they had to twist Ellis' arm to do that!

[Ignatius Prime]

Originally Posted by investcomics

I'm sorry that i don't just make random statements with no numbers to back it up. You scream but now you'll have to do research on the internet to prove me wrong
You're so disgruntled, why is this? i just offered my opinion. sheesh, be happy will ya?

It's always refreshing to see someone admit they don't have a clue what they're talking about and then continue to stridently defend their self-centered, uninformed, ignorant opinions.

As reported by Journalista and The Beat recently, comic downloads are starting to ECLIPSE purchases. 65,000 people downloaded Lost Girls from one tracker. From ONE TRACKER (I'm guessing probably mininova, but it could be any number of larger ones). The same tracker reports that the weekly pack of comics is getting downloaded by upwards of 40,000 people every week. In that pack there probably aren't more than 3 or 4 comics that sell more than that in given month.

The numbers - these are actual facts, unlike idiotic, grandiose pronouncements like "digital comics are not appealing" - don't lie. More people are downloading most titles than are reading them. But, hey, digital comics are not appealing, right?

Earlier, in your idiocy, you said "because a lot of people downloaded Spider-Man should Sony release it online?" Here's a phrase you might want to learn: economies of scale. When more people download a movie on opening weekend than go see it, studios will change their release strategy, but for now the number of downloads still pales in comparison - something on the order of less than 1% - to the number of paid admissions for even a mediocre-performing movie.

To borrow a phrase from WoW: QQ, l2p, kthxbye.

[investcomics]

Originally Posted by Ignatius Prime

It's always refreshing to see someone admit they don't have a clue what they're talking about and then continue to stridently defend their self-centered, uninformed, ignorant opinions.

As reported by Journalista and The Beat recently, comic downloads are starting to ECLIPSE purchases. 65,000 people downloaded Lost Girls from one tracker. From ONE TRACKER (I'm guessing probably mininova, but it could be any number of larger ones). The same tracker reports that the weekly pack of comics is getting downloaded by upwards of 40,000 people every week. In that pack there probably aren't more than 3 or 4 comics that sell more than that in given month.

The numbers - these are actual facts, unlike idiotic, grandiose pronouncements like "digital comics are not appealing" - don't lie. More people are downloading most titles than are reading them. But, hey, digital comics are not appealing, right?

Earlier, in your idiocy, you said "because a lot of people downloaded Spider-Man should Sony release it online?" Here's a phrase you might want to learn: economies of scale. When more people download a movie on opening weekend than go see it, studios will change their release strategy, but for now the number of downloads still pales in comparison - something on the order of less than 1% - to the number of paid admissions for even a mediocre-performing movie.

To borrow a phrase from WoW: QQ, l2p, kthxbye.

Wow, you really told me huh? Feel better? Good. You proved my point. Thank you.

[MattBrady]

Folks, a few of you seem to have a real problem with expressing yourselves, particularly, figuring out how to do it without insulting someone else. By doing so, you're telling us far more about yourself than the person you're disagreeing with. While enlightening, I'd rather not see it. Calm yourself, do a little bit of personal improvement, and stop it.

I've already cleaned up this thread once, if I do it again, it won't just be posts that I'm removing.

MattB

[investcomics]

Originally Posted by MattBrady

Folks, a few of you seem to have a real problem with expressing yourselves, particularly, figuring out how to do it without insulting someone else. By doing so, you're telling us far more about yourself than the person you're disagreeing with. While enlightening, I'd rather not see it. Calm yourself, do a little bit of personal improvement, and stop it.

I've already cleaned up this thread once, if I do it again, it won't just be posts that I'm removing.

MattB

Thank you Matt. That being said, all I was saying is that web comics are going to take away from the whole going to the store, hanging with friends talking about comics, having that "tangible" thing in your hand and relishing it. I would never have experienced my first bought comic or trip to the store with my father had it been for "web books."

[Kolimar]

Interesting range of opinions. I still think DC is making a very intelligent move. Now, it's a matter of simply waiting and seeing how they actually proceed and the results of their actions. Good luck, guys.

[ziza9]

Originally Posted by investcomics

Thank you Matt. That being said, all I was saying is that web comics are going to take away from the whole going to the store, hanging with friends talking about comics, having that "tangible" thing in your hand and relishing it. I would never have experienced my first bought comic or trip to the store with my father had it been for "web books."

Very well said IC.

[Kolimar]

Originally Posted by DennyColt

Wow, Scott Kurts was a little... harsh. Out of all of the creators I think Ellis had the best grasp on the topic.

Agreed.

[Pack]

Originally Posted by DennyColt

Wow, Scott Kurts was a little... harsh. Out of all of the creators I think Ellis had the best grasp on the topic.

What do you expect from the guy who beat up Darrick Robertson....?

[SDJoyce]

Stuart Immonen said it the best. Alot of creators, especially young creators, are going to be drawn to this as a way to get signed by DC. Yet they are going to have to give up their creation to do so. I can understand to want to get signed, I'm working on stuff to submit at the moment myself, but the biggest thing people need to remember that there are other avenues to go with.

Top Cow has noticed Plantinum and Drunk Duck.com's potential. So if you made a really well received comic on Drunk Duck you might get noticed by Platinum or Top Cow. Then there's Keen Spot. If you're good enought to be part of that group you can easily get the attention of Image when you submit to them. It's all about investing into yourself and your art. No matter how big the company is it doesn't mean they are going to do it correctly.

Of course, I hope they are able to do this correctly. I'd love to see this succeed, but part of me feels that this will last maybe 2 or 3 years tops. It's not being welcomed by the webcomic community at large, but few small groups like big players to join the game.

What really needs to be done is a seperate submission type for the webcomics. Divide the submission types into writers, artist, colorist, ect. This way people who can't do it all can get a chance to work with other talented people. And don't just look for printable comic material. There are several highly successful webcomics that aren't as high quality as what's in print, but that doesn't make them any less of a comic.

[djcoffman]

Hey Invest-- here's another interesting spin that no one has covered -- it doesn't REALLY take away, in fact it could draw more people INTO comic book stores. In my case, our Hero By Night project launched online for months as an exclusive webcomic series, you can see the comments over and over again on the site from people who haven't been to a comic shop EVER who suddenly were going in asking if they'd carry HBN in the shops, or older readers who hadn't bought an actual comic book were going in. I'd also get asked suggestions for other books in stores that were similar.

At both Pittsburgh Comicon and Wizardworld Philadelphia at least 8 or 9 retailers came up to say that they had new customers they had never seen before come in and ask for our book, a book they would have other wise only special ordered. So it goes to show, webcomics of any kind can actually HELP comic shops and bring in new readers, not take them away from going there.

As far as Zuda goes, I really wish everyone could chill and wait and see what they offer. Having some of the bigger namers of webcomics or comics dissing it out the gate without much information I'm sure might scare away some people who might have gotten a good deal. Just my opinion.

[investcomics]

Originally Posted by djcoffman

Hey Invest-- here's another interesting spin that no one has covered -- it doesn't REALLY take away, in fact it could draw more people INTO comic book stores. In my case, our Hero By Night project launched online for months as an exclusive webcomic series, you can see the comments over and over again on the site from people who haven't been to a comic shop EVER who suddenly were going in asking if they'd carry HBN in the shops, or older readers who hadn't bought an actual comic book were going in. I'd also get asked suggestions for other books in stores that were similar.

At both Pittsburgh Comicon and Wizardworld Philadelphia at least 8 or 9 retailers came up to say that they had new customers they had never seen before come in and ask for our book, a book they would have other wise only special ordered. So it goes to show, webcomics of any kind can actually HELP comic shops and bring in new readers, not take them away from going there.

As far as Zuda goes, I really wish everyone could chill and wait and see what they offer. Having some of the bigger namers of webcomics or comics dissing it out the gate without much information I'm sure might scare away some people who might have gotten a good deal. Just my opinion.

I'm really glad it worked for you. Thank God for another medium for you to get recognized. I love a great story like that because i do understand personally how hard it is to get your stuff out there.

[Dave Accampo]

Originally Posted by investcomics

Thank you Matt. That being said, all I was saying is that web comics are going to take away from the whole going to the store, hanging with friends talking about comics, having that "tangible" thing in your hand and relishing it. I would never have experienced my first bought comic or trip to the store with my father had it been for "web books."

While I agree that it takes the "going to the store" experience" away, it doesn't mean that that is not replaced by something else. The figures are the figures, and they show that people are downloading. Publishers will strive to meet that demand.

But what we're seeing is more of a cultural shift. People are also dating online now. Buying books. Downloading music. I don't even have any good music stores around me to go to, but it hasn't stopped me from buying music or talking to my friends about music.

My son is 6 years old, and he has his own email account. He knows how to search for things online, and he even socializes on a virtual social site for kids. He finds games on his own, and he goes to school and talks to the other kids about it. His childhood is already very different from mine, yet I see him falling in love with stories and characters and ideas in the same way that I did. The delivery mechanisms might be different than the newstand or the comic shop, but kids are still kids. I really don't have any problems with ANY media format that takes hold. I say hit all avenues and see what shakes out.

I'm not saying this to be argumentative, BTW, I just think it's interesting the way things are changing. It does not mean the death knell of childhood. It just means that old ways of learning, reading, and socializing are being replaced with new ones. Which seems to me to happen with every generation anyway.

[Marc_Spector]

I took an online college course where I had to read stories on the computer. Anything more than 2 pages and I can't stand reading it on a computer screen, much rather have a printed out copy. Hope this project does well and more people get into comics because of it, but it is not for me.

[johnchrist]

I guess it all comes down to how they model the business. I know the big draw of webcomies for me are the free, fun, and exciting stories (I read Mega Tokyo, Lackadaisy, Order of the Stick, and Sequential Art on a regular basis), and were I a richer man I'd even like to support my favorite artists with cash purchases.
This will be interesting...

[hebitudinous]

Now that we have a great sampling of opinions from creators, perhaps it's time for Newsarama to put together a Webcomics Publishing 101 (or WebComixWiki) that helps would-be Aparos or Lees to get up to speed, quickly, on a variety of topics. Some topics might include legal rights, publicity, drawing web perspectives, etc.

This might help the smaller indies like Act-I-Vate, which sound like they are just crackling with creative energy.

[Ben543250]

Originally Posted by investcomics

I already posted on a previous Zuda article. Digital comics are not appealing. No matter how much anyone tries to sell it. Nothing in life beats the smell of a new comic book. (well maybe a new car...)
Sorry, not a fan of anything dealing with comics on the computer. Very unappealing.
Well Newsarama kicks butt! i'm not saying "anything" comics. I'm saying comic books.

Yeah, I'm sure that's what's going to kill digital comics... the lack of smell...

[ssava]

Putting my 2 cents in here.

I put The Dreamland Chronicles up last year and it's helped tremendously.

The fact that an indy publisher gets SUCH low sales due to lack of retailer support made it a smart move to go online.

I think ANY creator should give it a try. You lose nothing. There's no costs to printing or distribution. No middle man (Diamond).
Nothing to lose.

I wholeheartedly agree that comics SHOULD be read on paper. It's just better that way.

But this still doesn't change the fact that MILLIONS of younger readers PREFER reading online.

It's a generational thing. YOu roll with it.

Yes we love the paper. Yes I'll ALWAYS have it in print. But you can't stop progress.