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“And then maybe we’ll all finally come to the conclusion that no, the money isn’t online, it’s in the merchandise and the collections, and the same damn thing has always been true for syndicated strips. One last time for those at the back: Sparky [Charles Schulz] or Jim [Davis] or whichever megasuccess you wish to discuss did not become richer than God off of syndicate checks. The money came from getting the people who read the strip (and essentially paid nothing for it) to buy other stuff with characters on it.”
- Webcomics blogger Gary Tyrrell at Fleen, once again laying it out for the people who don’t get it, that the business model for webcomics is no different from that of newspaper comics. No. Different.
Don't forget to check out our other notable quotes!
[Artwork: Snoopy merchandise]
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If you’re reading comics in their digital form, you’ve no doubt heard of Comixology, one of the leaders in the field.
They’re expanding again with lots of job openings for the technically inclined:
Product Manager Publisher & Creator Tools
Technical Mobile Development and Device Manager
Click to continue reading Comic Book Jobs: Comixology
Reed Gunther: Cowboys, Monsters & Bears, Oh My!
Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Reviews, Image Comics,
One of the great things I love about going to Comic Con International in San Diego is taking a stroll through the small press section, Artist’s Alley and the Image set-up. I never know what I’ll find, but I always find something interesting that nearly makes the whole convention worthwhile.
In 2011, it was Ian Churchill’s Marineman.
This year, it was Reed Gunther by Shane and Chris Houghton.
I’ve forgotten which one of the creators I met at the Image Comics booth (got to start writing these things down), but he hand-sold me a copy of Reed Gunther #2, one of the older issues.
This is a terrific comic book. The story is touted for all ages, and it truly is. I can easily see this being enjoyed by a 9-year-old and a 39-year-old - it’s just great fun with terrific storytelling chops on display by both writer and artist.
Click to continue reading Reed Gunther: Cowboys, Monsters & Bears, Oh My!
Weekend Reading: Kirby, Argo, Overstreet And Palooka
Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, Movies, Television, DC Comics, Marvel Comics,
For those of us who are not already at the NYCC this weekend, here’s how the internets can keep us occupied:
Why did the Judge Dredd 3D movie flop? Here are five reasons from What Culture.
Paul O’Connor at Longbox Graveyard finds much to love about Sean Howe’s new book, Marvel Comics: The Untold Story.
Scoop interviews Robert M. Overstreet, creator of the ubiquitous and essential Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide. “One of my favorite comics was Fox And The Crow. I would have Kix cereal in the morning and I would read my Fox & The Crow comics eating Kix.” I love that.
Jeff Mariotte writes about the problems of freelancing, his own writing career and a great comic strip called Cow And Boy by Mark Leiknes.
Click to continue reading Weekend Reading: Kirby, Argo, Overstreet And Palooka
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The world of Super-Heroes fighting Super-Villains can be yours!
Universal Orlando, the Florida-based theme park is looking for an Attractions Attendant to “enter a gleaming comic book city where Super Heroes pit themselves against Super Villains in the ultimate battle of good versus evil.”
Plus, you can “help our guests plunge into total darkness as they face an army of warrior mummies on a psychological thrill ride totally unlike anything that's come along in the past 3,000 years!
Click to continue reading Comic Book Jobs: Universal Orlando
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Doug Moench did not create Shang-Chi (Steve Englehart and Jim Starlin did), but when he took over the book, he ran with it, creating an epic 100-issue run on Marvel Comics' Master Of Kung-Fu that remains, I think, unsurpassed in its 1970s-1980s greatness.
Shang-Chi is the son of the legendary villain Fu Manchu. And the cast of characters that Moench added to the book include elderly Fu Manchu-hunter Sir Denis Nayland Smith and his muscle, Black Jack Tarr, Clive Reston (who is alleged to be the son of James Bond and a nephew of Sherlock Holmes), Leiko Wu, and a pair of recurring characters based on Groucho Marx and W.C. Fields.
Issue #120, January 1983, “Dweller By The Dark Stream,” is a stand-alone story, not part of some giant conspiracy-laden arc. All of the series’ regular cast is tied up with the exception of Shang-Chi. His planned meditation is interrupted by Rufus Carter, a former CIA agent (and former kickboxing champ) who some call “the ebony Bond.” Carter’s a one-eyed freelance private eye who persuades Shang-Chi to be his back-up man on his first case.
Click to continue reading Master Of Kung-Fu #120
Comic Book Plus has loaded up a ton of old stuff, including complete copies of Capa-Alpha, the legendary (and still publishing) apa (amateur press association), of which I was once a member in reasonable good standing. This is from K-a #20 (May 1966), pages 21 and 21 at the link. It’s from a zine by Andy Zerbe called Saraband.
Zerbe collected the circulation reports from the various comics that published them and posted them in a list. These should be referring to the average sales from 1965. And not every title is listed; Zerbe reminded in his introduction that not every publisher and not every title had a circulation report.
There are some Marvel and DC titles included, but you’ll have to go to the link to check them out. I find this kind of thing fascinating as a snapshot of the industry at a specific time.
Naturally, looking at the numbers, any publisher today would kill to have sales like these, but it was a different era, newsstand only and there’s no going back. Here are four of the publishers Zerbe tracked: Charlton, Archie, Dell and Gold Key.
Click to continue reading Comic Book Circulation: 1965
Read More | The Comics Chronicles
The Unviersity of Texas at Austin isn’t the kind of place you’d ordinarily find a comic book job, but there’s a slight one over there.
The school is looking for an Administrative Associate ($2,430/month) for all of the usual functions, with this one tossed in:
“Assist with the Comic Book, Trailblazer, Math and Science Competitions and executive breakfast events.”
I don’t know about the rest of the stuff - details at the link - but the competition sounds like fun.
Good luck, job seekers!
[Artwork: University of Texas]
Read More | University of Texas
“If you have a certain point of view and reasons that you think are valid, then whether it’s pro or anti, you can only and should only express those views you honestly hold.”
- Steve Ditko in a letter to the fanzine Fanzation #3, 1969
Be sure to check out our other notable quotes!
[Artwork: The World of Steve Ditko by Blake Bell]
Read More | Kleefeld On Comics
Are you looking forward to Arrow as much as any other comic book or archery fan?
It debuts October 10 on the CW. Arrow is loosely-based on Green Arrow, the venerable and outspoken liberal DC Comics' super-hero blessed with the powers of a longbow.
The mark of any successful show is whether or not fans can start quoting favorite lines like they do for Monty Python, The Simpsons and, of course, Mike And Molly.
Our spies at Comix 411 were able to get a copy of the script for the first episode and gave it an immediate reading to see what dialogue gems lurked inside. What we found are 10 sample dialogue snippets from Arrow that we’re hoping will catch on as easily as Monty Python’s “It’s just a flesh wound,” The Simpsons’ “Batman was a scientist” and Mike And Molly’s “You gonna eat that?”
Click to continue reading Top 10: Arrow On The CW
Read More | Arrow
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