Where to start, where to start?

• Latin Heartthrob Aaron Diaz has an art-technique blog now. I’m no kind of artist, but I’m fascinated by what he’s had to say.
• Final tally on the Web-Comics Auction for the Gulf: $3867, if my math is correct (and rounding off those pesky cents). Well done, all the bidders; thanks for your generosity, contributing artists; and big super-special thanks to Carly Monardo for organizing the whole damn thing.
• Final updates have been made to the SDCC Webcomics Find-O-Tron; anybody that didn’t get in updates, you’re on your own.
• Then there’s this: yesterday’s My Cage (link may go away in future; permanent capture here), a newspaper strip, threw out some love to a few webcomics stalwarts. I’m sure that the majority of those that read it in the paper were confused, but for those that decided to do some digging — welcome. Thanks to My Cage creators Ed Power and Melissa DeJesus, and to Phil Foglio for tipping us off.
• Finally, the rumors were (as widely whispered last week) true: Axe Cop and Dr McNinja are teaming up, with Chris Hastings drawing three pages to run at Axe Cop next week, and Ethan Nicolle drawing three more running at Dr McNinja the week after. Even better — the story is a true collaboration between Hastings, and Malachai Nicolle, age 6, and possessor of the wildest comics imagination this side of the DC in Silver Age. This is likely the greatest crossover ever.

How many horribly bodytype-inappropriate Isaiah Mustafa cosplayers do you think we’ll see in San Diego? On the other hand, anybody that manages to cart around a working shower stall will officially win everything.

• With the latest wave of auction completions from the Web-Comics Auction for the Gulf Coast imminent, barring any wild jumps in the last minutes of bidding, guaranteed contributions hit at least $1552.37. Remember that less than a day remains to get originals from the likes of Nedroid and Kate Beaton, and all auctions will close in less than 72 hours.
• Newest confirmed location for San Diego: Tom Siddell at the Archaia booth, #2635; be polite, he’s going to be about seven time zones out of synch.
• I picked up the latest Megatokyo yesterday, and I have to say, I think I’ve got to fundamentally change how I approach this one. I’ve been following MT online for nearly 10 years now, through art and creative team changes, six volumes, four publishers, and I don’t know how many hours of reading, and something’s got to give.

  It’s not the update schedule (Achewood is at least as randomized, and there’s extensive psychological research that says regularity is less compelling than randomly-spaced events that drag us back in when we’re just about to give up) that’s putting me off; it’s not the art, which sometimes features a low enough contrast between foreground and background as to make action hard to follow (my brain can elide over those pages and just continue once the contrast comes back). No, it’s the decompression.

  This latest volume, comprising chapters 9 and 10, which took three years to produce, covers two days worth of story. The one chapter = one day formula means that in the past decade, we’ve seen less than a fortnight’s worth of days where things actually happen. Much like Brian Bendis-scribed comics where storytelling (and especially dialogue) get so stretched out that it takes longer to read a page than the story-time it’s meant to convey, Megatokyo has slowed to the point that I just need something to happen.

  It’s still going to be in my bookmarks; hell, I’m probably going to pick up book 7 whenever that releases — but I’ve turned off the part of my brain that worries where the overall plot is going. I don’t think I’ll get the reward of random, unconnected gags again, and I can certain appreciate the effort that Fred Gallagher obviously puts into each update, but I’m not reading it for the story anymore. And this leaves me curious — anybody else read stuff that they’re disengaged from, but don’t quit entirely? Answers on a postcard.

It’s been Busy Times around here for the past week or so; let’s make today quick and give my typin’ wrists a cool-down, hey?

Continuing story: the first day’s offerings of the Web-Comics Auction for the Gulf have just closed out their auction, meaning that even if all remaining auctions were cancelled, the contribution to the Colbert Nation Gulf of America Fund will be at least $1041.05 (and in the coming days, auctions will close on a number of big-ticket items).

Quick Announcements:

• 200 updates of sticky-note comics!
• Man illustrates greeting cards, but desires narrative creative outlet!
• Webcomic redesigns site for better reading experience!
• Collective accepting prospective new members, but only if you hurry!
• I have money in my Kiva account!

  To expand on that last one a bit, Kiva’s Team Webcomics is now 56th (out of 1357) on the all-time total loaned list, coming in ahead of such worthies as bloggers and the country of Finland. Just thought I’d mention.

For example, there’s this, which is totally not related to San Diego — Marvel (yep, that Marvel) is looking for a web software architect, with the relevant description being:

As a Web Software Architect, you will help define the architecture for Marvel’s interactive digital products, consisting primarily of the Marvel.com collection of Web sites and various mobile offerings. You will be involved in the design and development of cutting-edge Web applications, defining system architecture to achieve scalability and reliability goals, and researching new technologies for our evolving business systems.

Which, once translated from jobpostingese (subdialect: I know a bunch of different business phrases and think I can translate that into IT-speak) sounds somewhere between “you just have to overhaul our main site” and “we’re a year or more behind comiXology and LongBox Digital, and you have to catch us up”. Combined with the recent de-Zudafication over at DC, it looks like the big publishers are trying to figure out what they want webcomics to be (which isn’t necessarily what webcomics are). Many thanks to Friend o’ Fleen Brett “Small g, no period dammit” Porter for the story tip.

• Updates to the SDCC Webcomics Locate-o-Tron continue apace, particularly concerning the news that Doug TenNapel tweeted that his booth will be hosting a certain officer of the law with a stick-mounted cleaver.
• Speaking of tweeting, Christopher Hastings mentioned that Some kid named Malachai sent me a story to draw?, which led to much speculation confirmed by Ethan Nicolle: Axe Cop and Dr McNinja team-up!
• Speaking of San Diego, Scott Kurtz promo’ed his show merch debuts, and much as the vinyl figures look awesome, the line that jumped out at me was:
  

  PvP book 8 will be debuting at the show. This is your first chance to pick up the latest volume of PvP and I’m very proud of this collection. It collects all the strips from 2008 and is the first PvP collection I’ve self published since 2001 (more on that at a later date). [emphasis mine]

  That “later date” turns out to be today, as the press release has been seen all over the comics blogosphere today (for example, with Brigid Alverson). Somewhere in my stacks, I still have Kurtz’s previous self-published work, and I always wondered in the back of my head how long it would be before he returned to the world of DIY.

  With a wealth of experience and advice from his studiomates to call on, I imagine that the mechanical presentation will be better than we’ve seen in the past, and since it’s all on him, I suspect that he’ll push himself to a schedule that’s both regular and on a short delay from on-line presentation. Self-publishing can be a headache, no doubt, but every self-publisher I’ve spoken to is pretty glad to have that control.

• Oh, yeah, and there’s the return of The Webcomics Section, this year coordinated by Jorge Cham, who’s so dedicated to the idea of a webcomics-themed giveaway that he did the wrangling work despite the fact that he won’t even be at San Diego. Four pages of four-color goodness on genuine newsprint, yours for the grabbing pretty much anywhere in webcomicland for the duration of the show, or until we run out.

Whew, I think I’ve finally caught up with everything that should have run yesterday. Onwards to things that didn’t crop up over the weekend tomorrow.

• Now available for your purchasing pleasure — Spacetrawler originals at the low, low price of $80, which is a damn bargain, especially considering that the originals are sepia-toned, not just black and white.
• Still running in Portland: Trek in the Park 2; while waiting for Khaaaaaan!! to overact, please enjoy some fanart from the always-interesting Bill Mudron and Mike Russell
• The good folks at the Cartoon Art Musuem wish to remind you that they will be at San Diego Comic Con, booth 1930 (Master List o’ Webcomickers amended to include this fact), and will be running the Fourth Annual CAM Sketch-a-thon Thursday, July 22 through Sunday, July 25, 2010. There’s a huge-ass list of highly skilled cartooners who will be taking part (including more than a few who make regular appearances on this page); for a $10 suggested donation, they will do their absolute best for YOU.
• The Dallas Webcomics Expo is back for a second year of fun come August (God willin’ an the creek don’t rise), and this year they’re adding a charitable component. To benefit the Texas Scottish Rite Hosptial for Children and Bryan’s House, DWEX will be conducting an art auction, and all are welcome to contribute originals within the show guidelines (at least 8″ x 10″, nothing R-rated, pleased). Submission form here, [PDF], and they’d like to physically receive the art by the 12th of next month (or bring it with you if you’re attending).
• Speaking of art auctions, as of time-of-writing, the Web-Comics Auction for the Gulf is sitting at a total of $3031.95, with a little less than two days to go on the first batch of art. Far be it from me to drive The Wedge of Envy between artists, but I am forced to note that at this time, Anthony Clark‘s contribution is currently out-pacing that of Christopher Hastings by fifteen dollars.

  Clark, of course, is the colorist of Dr McNinja, which sort of makes Hastings his boss. Will keeping these bid amounts where they are affect their working relationship? It could! It could destroy their sense of mutual respect and a beloved webcomic at the same time. Somebody better start a bidding war if Dr McNinja is to continue!

• Below the cut is a list of SDCC programming sessions that may be of interest to those working (or seeking to) in webcomickry. Actually, everything tagged webcomics is available here, including some things that are only marginally related to Our Interests. What’s called out are sessions that either weren’t tagged as webcomics-related, or were and I wanted to make sure you saw them.

(more…)

A pair of followups for you all this Monday morning:

• Dale Zak, who you may remember from a fast-moving backlash against an iPhone webcomic-reading app that he released and then almost immediately withdrew, has come back for Try Two.

  This time, his app seems to be more explicitly designed (or perhaps just more accurately described) as an RSS reader, and doesn’t appear to be using the names of webcomics in his promotional blurbs (which had been one of the loudest points of protest last time).

  Given that I don’t have an iPhone/iPad and can’t test-drive the thing myself, it does appear from casual inspection to follow all of the ethical concerns one would want from such an endeavour. Thoughts?

• Also, there’s been a recurring discussion in the community about spec work, particularly a flavor where a “contest” harvests work from lots of creators but may or may not ever pay out. NPR’s On The Media considered the pros and cons of crowdsourcing in a story broadcast this past weekend that’s worth a listen.

In other news, lots of convention news.

• The run-up to San Diego Comic-Con continues apace — programming highlights will be discussed tomorrow, and there are a few more additions to the Webcomics Exhibitors List. In addition, Becky Dreistadt and Frank Gibson appear to be supplementing the (ridiculously underpriced) Tigerbuttah book with Tigerbuttah plushes. Hopefully, Customs doesn’t become so enchanted with these cute lil’ guys that they “confiscate” the entire supply for themselves.
• New Show On The Block Intervention scored a bit of a coup: Molly Crabapple will be bringing Dr Sketchy’s Anti-Art School to the show as both a discussion panel and a full-blown three-hour event with free admission for con attendees. Artists, however, are encouraged to reserve one of the limited (though free) slots at the front of the room, where sketching will be easiest.
• Baltimore Comic-Con will again host the Harvey Awards, with MC duties again provided by Scott Kurtz (who will have to work pretty hard to top his performance last year, which killed). The Harveys announced their nominees, and of interest to webcomics fans are certain names:
  Misery Loves Sherman creator Chris Eliopolous for Best Letterer (for his comic book work)

  Steve Hamaker (with lots of webcomics at his site) for Best Colorist (for his work on BONE)

  Longtime webcomicker Kazu Kibuishi for Best Original Graphic Publication For Younger Readers (for the second Amulet book)

  Flight 6 and ACT-I-VATE, both done by more webcomickers than one can reasonably count (for Best Anthology)

  A.D.: New Orleans After The Deluge (for Best Previously Published Graphic Album, the “previous” being online)

  Oh, yes, and the category for Best Online Comics Work:

  Kate Beaton’s Hark A Vagrant
  Steve Ellis, David Gallaher and Scott O. Brown’s High Moon
  Nathan Schreiber’s Power Out
  Scott Kurtz’s PvP
  Cameron Stewart’s Sin Titulo

Finally, some congratulations are in order:

• To Blank Label Comics for their spiffy new homepage
• To Angela Melick, engineer, webcomicker, and now no longer a planner of weddings

Whew! Is that everything? I think that’s everything. If I missed anything, promise I’ll get to it tomorrow.

Sad news broke this morning: Harvey Pekar, jazz scholar, literary analyst of rare insight, and famously cranky bastard — in the best sense of those words — died in the early morning hours at his home in Cleveland. Harvey paved the way for a hell of a lot of people in comics, and was particularly an inspiration for those who wanted to tell their own stories. It seems hard to believe that there could be a Bellen, DAR!, SMILE, Conversations With My Younger Self, or any of a hundred other These Things Happened To Me kind of comics without Harvey’s example.

Although it’s in the Fleen Manual of Style that people are referred to by last name after their initial introduction, I can’t help but use his given name. I was only privileged to meet him once (Harvey himself was gracious, friendly, patient, and erudite, and in that half an hour I learned more about jazz than I had in the prior 35 years), but having shared so much of himself and his life, I think that we all felt like we knew Harvey personally. He was the sometimes grumpy, always fascinating guy that lived a block or two over, even if “a block or two” was on the other side of the world. Now that we have lost Harvey and Studs Terkel, I wonder who will be the next chronicler of ordinary lives.

To his widow, Joyce, and daughter, Danielle, our deepest sympathies; you’ll never read these words and they would likely be only slight comfort, but please know that Harvey made all of our lives richer with his stories, his insight, and his honesty.

For everybody else, there’s a good collection of some of Harvey’s best moments at The AV Club. When you’re done watching those, go out and have an ordinary day that becomes an adventure.

Lotta stuff coming up in the immediate future. Let’s dig in.

• Waves of webcomickers are, even now, making their way toward ConnectiCon, including all the fine folks listed here. A pretty significant subset of them will be heading home after the weekend and then promptly u-turning their way cross-continent to San Diego in — urk — eleven days time. Before they do, though, keep an eye out for Super Art Fight, both in Hartford, and in SAF’s secret underground lair of Baltimore next weekend for SAF7.
• Speaking of San Diego, they’ve not only got booth numbers now attached to the exhibitor list (highlights below the cut), but the schedule of events is going up, and it’s personalizable this year. I’m going to be playing around with this a bit this weekend — I’m particularly interested to see if it detects schedule conflicts and lets me know that the BONE panel probably runs over the start of the Dumbrella panel (which I usually get drafted to moderate).
• Also: holy crap, TopatoCo got a new client, and it’s Jhonen freakin’ Vasquez.

Below the cut: as complete a list of webcomics-related folks as I could find. If there are any missing or incorrect entries (especially where people are sharing space), let me know. The small map previously posted fits into the big one here. (more…)

WordPress’s spam filters held a Bill Barnes infocomment for moderation, and passed along two posts hawking bogus Sony Viao batteries. Bad algorithms, or does it know something we don’t?

In any event, we can update yesterday’s SDCC Webcomics Locate-o-Matic as follows:

Booth 1228 — Evil, Inc and Friends
Booth 1229 — Keenspot
Booth 1231 — TopatoCo
Booth 1234 — Tiny Kitten Teeth
Booth 1237 — Penny Arcade
Booth 1330 — Blank Label
Booth 1337 — Dumbrella
Booth 2300 — Unshelved

As this list grows, we’ll just keep including it at the bottom of posts so that it doesn’t get in the way.

• Latest Web-Comics Auction for the Gulf Coast total: $1888.02, with most of the swing in just one or two items. Come on, people, there’s some real bargains still out there. NB: the Thursday tranche of offerings has not yet gone up.
• From the Webcomics Past department, Padraic Harley wrote:
  

  I was wondering if you folks know whatever happened to Matt Milby and his Malfunction Junction webcomic? It disappeared aaaages ago and myself and my friends still get pangs of missing it.

  Milby did some pretty good work and contributed a fair number of guest comics around 2006 – 2007 before completely dropping out of sight about two years ago. If anybody knows of Milby’s whereabouts, let him know that at least one fan is curious.

• Speaking of past webcomics experiences, I remember archive trawling my way through Yet Another Fantasy Gamer Comic a couple years ago; something about beholder home life made me chuckle, and you can never have too many beholders.

  Somewhere around strip 200 I had to go do something else and never got back to it. I noticed ’em at Archive Binge realized that the only way for YAFGC to be at 1502 updates would be to update pretty much without fail every day since. That was worth a trip over to the site, where I was pleased to see that the art has gotten sharper and more ambitious, the story arcs regularly run for hundreds of strips, and there’s now a book out.

  Volume One: The First Year covers exactly that — 366 comics by Rich Morris, who I now realize was the guy that did the ultimate in nerd-tastic tribute comicking, a 257-page Doctor Who epic that included all ten Doctors (as they were at the time) and every companion (again, as of the time of writing). Oh, and about a zillion other pages of comics, too.

  Given the sheer volume of comics (in different genres) that Morris is cranking out, a bit of sketchy, pencil-y work is entirely understandable (actually, it looks a bit like animation pencil tests, and the faces especially have a slightly exaggerated, animation feel to them, which is doubly understandable given that Morris lists his day job as storyboard artist). If fantasy gaming and Doctor Who aren’t your thing, there’s surely something here that will appeal to you. Check ’em out, and try not to spend more than five or six hours at a time crawling through back strips — it’s bad for your posture.

My faithful hound, even now, is sprawled across the A/C vent, hogging all the cold air for herself. Let’s think of other places with more temperate weather.

• For example, the Gulf Coast, which surely can’t be this unpleasant, the roiling waves of petrodeath aside. We’re into day three of the Web-Comics Auction for the Gulf Coast, and as of this writing the various auctions have reached a total of $1654.51, with several heavy hitters still to be listed, and 12 days to go before it all wraps up.
• One of those aforementioned heavy hitters? Brandon Bird. He’s part of a Law & Order-themed art show coming up at the end of the month (it largely coincides with San Diego Comic Con) called These Are Their Stories at Gallery Meltdown in LA, 24 – 30 July. I saw “part of”, in the sense that Bird is well known for this L&O themed work, and he’s pretty much the driving force behind this show and is contributing three of the nearly 50 pieces. Also part of TATS: Kate Beaton, Box Brown, Scott C, Carly Monardo, and Christopher Hastings.
• Speaking of Scott C and LA, his Great Showdowns artblog will be releasing a new print set of great showdowns via Galleries 1988; this will be in conjunction with G1988’s annual Crazy 4 Cult show, which starts Friday. Not only will Scott C prints be available, but ten originals of the showdowns will also be up for grabs.
• Speaking of San Diego (we were, couple items back), the first webcomics map for this year has dropped; one might be forgiven for thinking that webcomics at SDCC ’10 were all-Guigar all the time, but I’m sure we can fill in a few more of the numbers. Unfortunately, although the SDCC Exhibitor list is current as of today, it doesn’t yet feature booth numbers.

  Traditionally, space 1237 has been taken by Penny Arcade, 1330 by Blank Label and 1229 by Keenspot (which should make for an interesting neighborhood). 1231 was previously the Dayfree table, since acquired by TopatoCo, and 1337 (island, not shown) is where you can find Dumbrella. If you know of any other booth assignments with certainty, chime in.