Reading through my Wednesday comics, I came across Patches, which I keep around because it is quirky and cute. Today’s Patches is interesting for two reasons — it marks a slight change in style (though in the past darkness has been indicated by black, and shadows by hatch marks), as well as a tribute to David Bowie created in an ingenious manner. I think it makes for a really great joke.

Which made me think about another comic tribute to musical genius. There is the Planet Song (second post there, 9/14/05), which is a tribute/parody/filk to Sufjan Steven’s States Song, which I believe can only be heard in concert. Jeff? Any chance of getting the rest of the Planet Song?

I love pop culture references.

Today, I was browsing through the archive of PvP, trying to gather data with which to answer a question posed to me by Mr Kurtz. Anyway, I got side tracked and started to think about the different ways that different comics archive their strips and how important it is. PvP uses a fairly simple calender based archive, which is fine if you’re reading the whole thing through from start to finish, but is somewhat unweildy when it comes to finding specific strips or storylines. As I mentioned in my review, Irregular Web Comic has a versatile archiving system that makes it quick and easy to find your favorite strips. Penny Arcade also has a searchable archive. Beaver and Steve goes one better by having a searchable archive and a Wiki entry for nearly all of its strips.

I think a versatile archive is important to a web comic. If your fans like your comic then they will want to spread the word by showing their favorite strips to their friends. I hate having to search through the Mac Hall archives for like a half hour to show someone the car ninja strip. In fact, I wanted to link to the road trip/butt sex strip but I got pissed off looking for it so I linked the car ninja instead.

T Campbell resigns from Clickwheel, now controls only 94% of all webcomics endeavours. On a slightly-related note, we at Fleen are still looking for a copy of Campbell’s El Grande Historio del Webcomics, and would be grateful if anybody knows of a supplier in the New York City Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Jon Rosenberg discovers the joys of grilling meat on land he owns [jointly with his wife and a large financial institution], calls for guest strips as he gets into the homeowner swing.

William G. sends webcomics blog comment in re: the Girly contretemps, adds to quality of discussion. Mr G intended to add the comment to that posting, but since the discussion had scrolled a couple of pages long, he felt that it was a dead topic. However, other comments have arrived since he emailed us, and I think it’s an interesting POV, so I have copied it to that thread.

Lastly, DumbrellaHosting honcho/Fleen publisher Phillip Karlsson announces imminent server switch, promises he will be doing “stuff” to ensure easy browsing while the DNS changes propagate. If you see hiccups here over the next 24 – 48 hours, try to bear up and be brave in the face of it all. We know you have it in you.

From the press release desk at Fleen Central, this item:

July 4th, 2006- In a world where a boundless plethora of information is available at one’s fingertips on the internet, the casual web surfer could be forgiven for thinking that it has all been done… especially in the political arena. But while the internet may have revolutionized politics as a unique forum for dialogue and activism, there are still exciting possibilities yet left unexplored.

Enter SpinZone Comics, the web’s first collective of politically oriented webstrips that consistently bring fresh ideas and images to the tedium of talking heads in the digital blogosphere.

Webcomics are an understandably popular artistic form online- quick to read and easy to digest, they fit perfectly with the speed and aesthetic obsessed online community. Though comics can be used to address any subject, they have all too often been dismissed or pigeonholed into the insular gaming and fantasy genres. With its unique blend of styles and political voices, SpinZone Comics aims to change all of that.

A quick perusal of the site reveals the “unique blend … of political voices” to be about as blended as one might think; given the fact that Spinzone calls itself a “collective”, and that conservative attempts at political humor rarely result in anything other than profound suck, it’s unsurprising that the six contributors to the ‘Zone all tilt to the (shall we say) progressive side of the fence. In an attempt to forestall conservative complaints about liberal domination of yet another branch of the media, Fleen is now calling on the ‘Zoners to invite Day by Day to join up, as well as a pool to guess the exact date that happens. Please note that “when hell freezes over” is not a valid entry.

The contributors to SpinZone are Cosmic Awareness by J.E. Mills, Fighting Words by Ben Smith, Monkey Law by Brad Hawkins, Idiot Box by Matt Bors, Death of the Party by Jonathan Fischer, and Line Item Vito by Eddie Caplan.

So, I know most people are focused on July 4th (which happened about ten minutes ago). But I would like to bring some attention to my friends the Canadians.

Canada Day was July 1st. Have a look at some Canadian themed webcomics.

Canadaman made me giggle, because it features a United States Superhero character who seems to be treated with bemusement. And there are political jokes, which I always am a sucker for. Lemme know if you know of any other Canadian comics or what you think of those on the webcomics listing.

Not much to update, since everyone is preparing for this whole Fourth of July thing.

• I noticed over at Overcompensating that mice have conquered water travel by way of toad.
• Across the way at Yirmumah an actual storyline has developed, with a mysterious prologue featuring one badass with a sweet moustache. I love moustaches.
• And it looks like Faye just might bust with excitement over her new found freedom of ball busting.

I know it’s short folks. But I got to get sloppy drunk for my country some time. And that time is now.

… PJ Hart, and I don’t give much of a toss about the new Superman Movie. Lots of people saw the old movies when they were kids and were completely captivated. That never happened to me. I liked Ghostbusters. Anyway, despite this, when I saw today’s PvP (a strip I have a love/hate relationship with) I couldnt help but smile.

Today, without words, Kurtz captured the feeling of seeing a movie that just makes you feel young again, makes you remember why you love movies and puts a big silly grin on your face for days. I honestly can’t remember the last time that happened to me, but then again I’m a film studies major, so I’m not allowed to actually enjoy movies. Of all the Superman strips I’ve seen on the web as of late, Scott’s really stands out for me. Whether the actual movie will or not remains to be seen.

Much driving this weekend, along with family obligations and the desire to beat the everliving snot out of the sumbitch that abandoned a dog at the I-64 (westbound) rest stop at mile marker 213 in Virginia on the hottest bloody day of the year; there’s a special circle of torment for you in hell, asshole.

Anyway, fast roundup of things you may have missed over the holiday weekend. Something resembling normal updates tomorrow.

• Over at Graphic Smash, the first storyline of Bang Barstal by the colorful William G wraps; I’m liking it so far.
• Over at Webcomics Nation, Narbonic goes free and leaves Modern Tales. You got six years of Pinkwateresque archives to plow through, Bunky.
• Over in Connecticuit, Connecticon is coming this weekend. Lots of webcomic folk to be there.
• Over in Merrie England, the full list of Scary Go Round Idol contestants have been posted by John Allison. Some nice work there.
• And at Penny Arcade for the rest of the week, cartoons will be supplied by the Third Graders From Mrs. Eriksen’s Class. Although not yet live, the PA Archive drop-down lists Wednesday’s offering as Third Grade Gold, Wild Styles and Friday’s as Third Grade Gold, The Secret. Miss them, and you will miss the future of the internets.

Fancomics are interesting in the webcomic community; their creators cannot profit from the production of their creative wares, or else they are in violation of the intellectual property rights held by another person. Now, I don’t understand the ins and outs of this – but I do know one thing from many years of writing fanfiction. You must, must, disclaim any ownership of the characters, scenarios, or plots.

I have heard of very few situations of cease and desist notices (exceptions for Anne Rice and Orson Scott Card, who prefer their works not to be used), but the need for such a precaution means that fancomics are created for the love of the fandom, and the love of story telling, and the love of art – with no long term plans beyond feedback. Maybe they’re looking for practice, or exposure, but to me, who merely has talents as a bitter, haggard wordbeast, it seems baffling to create a comic without plans to publish a book or create a t-shirt line. I couldn’t imagine putting all those hours into fancomics without reward.

So, hats off to Simply Potterific, and others like it.