T Campbell's Blog
Writer of Penny and Aggie, Fans (also called Faans), Rip & Teri, Search Engine Funnies and A History of Webcomics. Experienced webcomics editor, currently seeking full-time work and working on strange and interesting new things...Monday, September 12, 2005
Requiem For A #4.
This is beginning to look like a curse. This is the second time Gisele Lagace and I have braved the direct market with plans for four issues at least, only to be struck down after three.
Yes, you heard it here first: Penny and Aggie #4 ain't gonna happen. It was going to be a fantastic issue: 27 pages, including the full "Uptown Girl" storyline, the short piece with art by Randy Milholland and an absolutely jaw-dropping cover. It would have been my favorite of the four, but there's a danger in saving the best for last. (And of course we found out about this just as Randy started promoting the appearance heavily on his own website. Um, thanks, Randy, and sorry.)
The reasons are strictly business. Despite the explosions in manga for teens and webcomics, the direct market is still a really steep climb for webcomics that aren't "top-tier" and teen comics that aren't Archie. We got some good reviews, made some people really happy, but we just couldn't crack that superhero stranglehold.
This won't affect the webcomic at all. The Milholland sequence will find its way online at some point. For those who wanted to hold Rich Diggle in your hands, though, well, I'm sorry. Gisele and I haven't given up on the idea of print, and there's a new angle we're starting to pursue, but for now-- see you in the funny pixels.
Yes, you heard it here first: Penny and Aggie #4 ain't gonna happen. It was going to be a fantastic issue: 27 pages, including the full "Uptown Girl" storyline, the short piece with art by Randy Milholland and an absolutely jaw-dropping cover. It would have been my favorite of the four, but there's a danger in saving the best for last. (And of course we found out about this just as Randy started promoting the appearance heavily on his own website. Um, thanks, Randy, and sorry.)
The reasons are strictly business. Despite the explosions in manga for teens and webcomics, the direct market is still a really steep climb for webcomics that aren't "top-tier" and teen comics that aren't Archie. We got some good reviews, made some people really happy, but we just couldn't crack that superhero stranglehold.
This won't affect the webcomic at all. The Milholland sequence will find its way online at some point. For those who wanted to hold Rich Diggle in your hands, though, well, I'm sorry. Gisele and I haven't given up on the idea of print, and there's a new angle we're starting to pursue, but for now-- see you in the funny pixels.
Comments:
<< Home
I realize this won't put you in the direct market (and that sucks), but is there a chance you could do something like ComiXpress or Lulu?
If it means anything I know the comics sold well here in Charlottetown PEI. *shrug*
Well, with all the hard luck somethin bigs gonna haveta happen to ya!
Well, with all the hard luck somethin bigs gonna haveta happen to ya!
I had P&A #3 laying on my coffee table on Labor Day. I was out behind my building grilling with a bunch of my friends. One of my friends went back up to my apartment for what should have been a minute and was gone for an inordinately long time. When she finally got back, it turned out she saw P&A laying out and started flipping through and ended up reading the whole thing because she couldn't put it down.
T. Maybe you can collect all 4 issues in one book and sell them from the site? (rather than running them for free on the web.)
Or maybe Chris Crosby could publish it?
Just a thought
Or maybe Chris Crosby could publish it?
Just a thought
That's a shame. When I was in high school I was one of those girls who just wasn't interested in superhero comics. If friends hadn't shown me Neil Gaiman work, I'd still think that's all there was out there. The comics industry needs more varied comics or they'll never be able to be meanstream. It's a self-perpetuating loop.
Have you looked at publishing through Plan 9? (http://www.plan9publishing.com, though I notice they seem to be undergoing some site reconstruction right now) They've been publishing comic books for syndicated AND web comics alike for a while now, and seem to get a pretty decent following. Or is this not what you're looking for?
At any rate, hope your next foray into print fares better! I'll be waiting eagerly for it!
At any rate, hope your next foray into print fares better! I'll be waiting eagerly for it!
What about graphic novels?
They are a little longer but basically its still comic book format.
And you can get more out at once.
I found the comic through something positive but the comic looks good.
i like reading it.
They are a little longer but basically its still comic book format.
And you can get more out at once.
I found the comic through something positive but the comic looks good.
i like reading it.
A problem with comic books may be that when you do something different, your target audience doesn't know it. They don't go browsing in comic stores, or even the comic racks of bookstores. Heck, I go weekly, and didn't know there was a book. And then even if it does sell the issue is a weekly phenomenon, barring reprints. Novel format hangs out there more.
I'd definitely chalk this up to George Carlin: "They found out I liked it, so they stopped making it."
Post a Comment
<< Home
Archives
January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006
