So it feels dreary and oppressive and somehow appropriate that the news comes today that Gahan Wilson, cartoon chronicler of the unsettling and uneasy, has died. We will not see his like for a long time, and we are the poorer for it.

On the other hand, he never had to live in a world with Cybertruck, the current embodiment of Elon Musk’s continual self-beclowning. I’m going to step back from all the dystopia and see about getting home. We’ll talk next week.

Spam of the day:

Never “learn” how to manifest money, again

If I could learn how to manifest money (which I think means make it just … appear?) I would certainly try to learn more ways to do that. I’d repeat until I manifested all the money ever, then give it all away until scarcity no longer existed and the act of having billions of money made you no different than anybody else, the fiction of wealth laid bare.

Yikes, I am in a mood today.

Instead, I get to make my way home from the Navy base I’ve been on all week; a Navy base in the center of Pennsylvania, not even on a river or lake. I don’t makes ’em up, folks, I just reports ’em.

In the meantime, please enjoy the news that Comic Chameleon — the mobile webcomics aggregator that actually works with and pays creators — has updated. You can history of CC by searching on chameleon and browsing back through six or so years of posts; my favorite part was when creator Bernie Hou was able to provide Danielle Corsetto with all the alt-text for Girls With Slingshots following a site hack¹.

Anyway, those using Comic Chameleon on iOS have a new version (with Android hopefully on the way), with improvements and fixes. If it’s been a while since you fired it up, give it another try. Then come back here and read Scott McCloud’s thoughts on comics navigation online/on mobile and just contemplate the nature of comics for a while. I’ll be driving home while you do.

Spam of the day:

Good afternoon. It’s hard for me to navigate the site, could you help me find it? Here, little place, I have everything I need written on the plate here is the link. I really look forward to hearing from you. Bill Rogers [link redacted]

Is it Bill Rogers, or is it Alfred Plono, which is who the post claims to be from? Try harder, spammer scum.

_______________
¹ Reminder: back up your stuff in multiple, mutually-separated places. Test your backups. Document your process.

For those of you outside the eastern seaboard of the United States, I-95 is a roadway with one purpose: to break people and their will to live. Some 450km of it lie between me and home.¹ Fun! Let’s keep this brief.

• On t-shirtery and the design thereof, received wisdom shared with you by the very generous John Allison.
• On achieving 867% of funding the goal for Trial of the Clone, and soliciting input for the next Zach Weinersmith-penned interactive story, which comes down to the eternal question: Good or Evil?
• On the possibility that Aaron Diaz² just volunteered Danielle Corsetto, Anthony Clark, and Emmy Cicierega to publicly engage in The Hammer Dance, less than US$11000 need be raised over the course of ten more days. If they do this, you can be sure that Diaz’s parachute pants will be tweed and tailored to perfection by Duchess of Portland.
• On those last two Kickstarters, note the relative generosity of updates: 20 days, 8 updates for a project that’s still fundraising, and 17 updates over one month (with progress-o-meter graphs!) for one that’s wrapped up, but not yet delivered the goods. These are good practices — frequently let everybody know what is happening with their money. It is incumbent on fundraisers to keep that line of communication open once things close, and there are those that do exactly that and they are to be commended.

  Others … not so much. Eighteen updates from launch to goal? Good. Ten weeks after goal before breaking radio silence? Not so good, Fat Cat Gameworks; nobody expected that you’d have product to ship the next day, but they need to hear that you aren’t just sitting around trying to figure out what to do next. If nothing else, figure out loud.

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¹ That sound you just heard was Ms K. Brooke “Otter” Spangler, warming up to sing my funeral dirge, because she knows what kind of Destroyer Bitch-Goddess I-95 is … she knows and would rather see me dead than suffer its embrace.

² The Latin Art-Throb.

Got a link in the mail to the preview of an e-book by DJ Coffman. This isn’t a review, since I a) don’t have the entire book in front of me; b) wouldn’t have had to time read it properly since it launched yesterday, and c) it’s not even remotely aimed at me. Ca$h for Cartoonists is bright, colorful, has a busy, eye-grabbing (almost advertising-like … and if there’s one thing ad guys knows, it’s how to hold eyeballs) design, and (as befits an e-book) up-to-the-second. For instance, you can get a discount on website hosting with a code provided in the introductory section, something that would be all but impossible with a traditional ink-and-paper presentation.

The chapters are pretty specific (“Spot Illustration”, “Digital Caricatures”, and “ACEO (Art Cards)” are the first three), and are presented in a detailed, relentlessly upbeat tone. There’s not enough in the preview to see if any of the full book ramps back a bit from the enthusiasm (Here’s how you can do this!) to something perhaps a bit more realistic (Here’s how I did this, you should be able to make it work similarly, but keep in mind that it’s a different economic climate and your mileages of persistence, luck, and talent will vary.), which I hope does happen.

All those copies of How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way (or more recently, all the How to Draw Manga books) led to an awful lot of starry-eyed kids who were certain that success was imminent; some lost interest or found other dreams, some wound up bitter, and they didn’t have an easily identifiable and accessible author to blame their lack of success on. Here’s the risky bit for Coffman:

A VERY SPECIAL OFFER! For a limited time when you buy the full edition of my ebook, I’m going to make myself available to you for the ?rst 30 days as a Personal Cartooning Career Coach… or Comic Coach… or, well I really don’t have a fancy title for this service, but if you draw comics or cartoons and want to personally pick my brain, or if you’re feeling stuck and need inspired… this is the deal for you!

Why be coached by me? I’ve done just about everything you can do in the cartooning business, from newspaper syndication to full blown super hero comics with a big hollywood producer. Not only have I had a ton of success with my skills, but I’ve also failed many times and made mistakes along the way which I learned from and can pass a lot of knowledge on to you.

ONE MORE THING… You’ll have a chance to get on the AWESOME LIST. What is it? A special email newsletter for buyers of the full edition only, which basically assures this book will never end! I’ll send you updated ways to earn more money with your cartoons and illustrations as they become available. [emphasis original]

I hope that those starry-eyed kids don’t take Coffman’s enthusiasm for a promise, and really hope they don’t read over the most important part of that quote:

I’ve also failed many times and made mistakes along the way

Let’s cut that down one more time for those in the back:

I’ve also failed many times

No book will keep you from having your own failures, starry-eyed kids! Keep that very important bit of perspective in mind while you peruse the lessons! $47 to download, going up to $97 after September 30.

• Speaking of $47, if you had that much to spend but don’t want Coffman’s book, you could get the 2-day VIP package for NEWW 2 and have $2 left over to buy a refreshing beverage. Plain ol’ non-VIP passes are $10, and one-day passes $6, for those that can live without the special-edition NEWW2 Sharpie (not sure I can).
• Speaking of books, Chris Eliopolous pulled a fast one on me with this morning’s tweet:
  

  The book. http://www.miserylovessherman.com/2010/08/26/the-book/

  I can’t be the only one that got his hopes up that this would be another Misery Loves Sherman collection, can I?

So I’m guessing that the occasional explosion and plume of smoke/flame from over that way would be the trail of destruction left by various webcomickers on their drive south to Bethesda, Maryland for SPX. Those flying are, I’m guessing, about half a rum-and-coke from getting tazed by air marshals.

• For those of you heading that way, look for a small (potentially drunk and/or naked) woman named Bree Rubin and tell her “thanks” for me, ’cause she tipped me to a new webcomic that’s a continuation of a play:
  

  Disgraced Comics is the new off-shoot of Disgraced Productions, offering original online visual dramatic storytelling. And in our first online comic, The Adventures of Max Quarterhorse, you will get to see the first-ever Independent Theater-to-comics crossover. The Adventures of Max Quarterhorse picks up where Disgraced Productions’ 2008 play, All Kinds of Shifty Villains, leaves off. [emphases original]

  The first half of the first ten-page issue of TAoMQ are online now, starting here, and the art (by Miriam Gibson) is damn pretty. Can’t think of anybody that’s done this kind of cross-media use of webcomics yet, so hats off to Robert Attenweiler (creator of Max Quarterhorse) for taking the artistic leap.

• Speaking of webcomics-slash-other-artistic-medium (as opposed to webcomics slash, which is full of Ryan North and Jeph Jacques and squishy noises), the last time I attended SPX (and goodness, was that nearly two years ago), I thought about webcomics as a distinct medium:
  

  We’ve really reached that happy point where the distinction between indy/small press comics and webcomics is largely academic.

  … was the conclusion. Although we at Fleen continue to use the word “webcomic” as a signifier, really, all it signifies is a means of distribution within the larger realm of comics. I bring this up because there’s an interesting discussion about the separateness of webcomics vis a vis comics over at the Transmission-X forums that’s worth your time. There’s a good level of thinkin’ going on, and given that TX are Canadian (and the conversation is in the context of a Canadian comics industry award), it’s exceedingly polite. Nice to see so many people thinking along these lines.

• Finally, quick note that Johanna Draper Carlson (who’ll be trawling the aisled at SPX on Saturday) has caught an interesting tidbit: the Android phone platform (aka “Google phone”) has a new category coming up in its applications market — comics. More than one person declared the iPhone to be an ideal mobile platform for comics (especially of the webbish variety), but the open API and lack of Apple approval at the Android Market may make it an even better platform. I know for a fact that at least one creator designing comics for a mobile generation made sure to test against the Android G1 (which, full disclaimer, is my phone of choice) in addition to the more ubiquitous Jesus Phones and Crackberries. Could be interesting times ahead.

… and I-95, aka The Devil’s Own Intestinal Tract, sits between me and home. Let’s get this done.

For those of you on the far side of the continent from I-95, there’s a few things you should be aware of. Friend Of Fleen Since Small Times Eben Burgoon has sent details of upcoming comicsy events in the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Yuba City, CA–NV Combined Statistical Area that are coming up, and heck if that’s not the kind of thing we look forward to on these pre-holiday/I-95 Fridays.

First up, the Crocker Art Museum will be hosting ArtMix|CrockerCon on Thursday, 12 September from 6:00pm to 9:30pm. An like-named exhibition of student & community comics work is presently running, and will stay up until 22 September. US$10 for Crocker members (with some membership levels free), US$20 for nonmembers.

And for those of you looking to learn, or at least to dump your kids somewhere for a few hours that won’t get Child Protective Services on your case, Burgoon will be teaching an after school workshop at the Verge Center For The Arts starting next Wednesday, 4 September. Tuition is US$105 for the public, US$95 for Verge members (which includes CrockerCon admission), and the class is intended for kids 10 – 15 years old. Class runs from 5:00pm to 7:30pm on 4, 18, and 25 September, and 2 October, and I’ma say that registration in advance is strongly recommended.

Check out Burgoon’s current Burgooning at @Burgooneytunes on The Grams, and I’ll see you next week if I ever get home.

Spam of the day:

You have received a messacie from Tori. All our members are looking for fun and often send sexy photos. Are you okay with seeing sexy photos?

I’m not sure what people who send messacies consider sexy. Little scared to ask, actually.

But still plenty day-ish, you know? I mean, what’s up with seeing five-bar wifi signals all over an office, but only being able to connect when sitting in one particular chair? Somebody’s messing with me. So let us move onwards and put this whole unpleasantness behind us. And quickly, too, as I shortly get to subject myself to the greatest Transportation Hell this side of the fabled I-95, namely, the United terminal of O’Hare International. At least they have a dinosaur.

We hinted at the San Francisco Comics Fest a couple of days ago, and seeing as how San Francisco is also home to the Cartoon Art Musuem, I figured you’d want to know more about where the two intersect; too bad if it’s not what you wanted to know. Today you get to learn about Storytelling Across Media, which is a free one-day symposium produced in association with San Francisco Comic-Con¹, capping off the Fest with panels and workshops covering comics, gaming, animation, movies, and other media. The Fest itself starts next Wednesday (2 November), with SAM occurring on Saturday (5 November).

SAM is free and open to the public, but space is limited and you’re better off registering online to reserve your place. Programming starts at 11:00am and runs to 6:00pm, at the Marriott Marquis on Mission. The full list of guests and participants is has some damn impressive credentials associated with people who aren’t necessarily household names; for example, how many of you could identify the supervising animators on The Iron Giant? I couldn’t, and I love that movie, but you can bet I’d attend the hell out of a spotlight panel on any of them (Stephan Franck, in this case).

The programming list has at least one must-see panel every one of those seven hours, and frequently more than one in conflict. Click on the More Info button next to any panel description to reserve your place, but be aware — some are shown as sold out (including — encouragingly, the session on Diversity And Representation In Storytelling). Go, enjoy, and report back so that those of us in other parts of the world may share in the positive aspects of comics.

Spam of the day:

Revolutionary smart home accessories are here. Enjoy Wi-Fi enabled devices that keep your home safe brought to you by the Verizon Accessories Store.

You’re actually trying to sell me — me, who has a long, painful history trying to get Verizon to make a proven, perfected, 140 year old technology not suck — on Verizon’s Internet of Things garbage when IoT is behind the entire damn internet falling over last week because they’re unsecurable shit? And pitching it as a way to make my home safer? You’re either insane or tripping all the balls.

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¹ Not to confused with the previously-mentioned San Francisco Comics Fest. SFCC is a production of Comic-Con International, who also put on San Diego Comic Con and Wondercon.

… and I’m going to have to drive through it up ol’ I-95¹. Let’s make this brief.

Over the past three months, the full run of previously-published Octopus Pie (by Meredith Gran, who remains Best At Comics) has been republished by Image in three handsome volumes; in a little less than two weeks time, the fourth book in the series — never before published material! color! — will hit the shops and Gran’s having an event to celebrate:

I’m hosting a pop-up event for the release of my new book, Octopus Pie Volume 4!

This is the first time in years that brand new OP material has been in print, and I’m damn proud of this book and hope you would like a copy! They will be for sale at the event, in addition to Volumes 1-3, a bit of TBA merch, and original comic art on the walls!

That’ll be on Wednesday, 25 May (release day!) at Creations Gallery, 89 Avenue C (corner of East 6th) in Manhattan, from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. You can RSVP at the Facebook event page (which I would do except I’m not on Facebook — Mer, barring disaster I’ll totally be there), and come enjoy some Good Times.

And a few days after, Octopus Pie will be considered for the Online Comics — Long Form division award from the NCS at the Reubens weekend in Nashville; Gran’s got some formidable opposition in her category, but I think with some luck and gumption, she’ll wake up the following day a Broadway star!

I may have gotten a little ahead of myself there, but for reals — tell your local comic shop you want a copy of Octopie 4 because it’s full of great comics.

Spam of the day:

Hi my name is Emily and I just wanted to send you a quick note here instead of calling you.

Who the hell are you and how did you get my number.

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¹ If I don’t make it, tell KB Spangler that I died in battle with her nemesis.

This day in Great Outdoor Fight history: No strip. I’d guess it’s mostly involving Beef and Ray obtaining the motorcycle and sidecar.

As anticipated, I’m way behind the curve in work today, and if I try to cram in a posting in the … twelve minutes I’ve got for lunch, I will not be treating a couple of topics with the depth they deserve. Tomorrow will be better, I promise.

I will say this for the overly-challenging corporate hell I’m in — the soundtrack outside this demo room is surprisingly good. In Between Days (maybe my favorite Cure song ever) was just playing, and now it’s London Calling. Throw on some XTC or maybe Save It For Later and I’ll even call this day a win.

Update to add: No XTC or English Beat, but as I type, the piped-in music is playing Daft Punk. And now I brave I-95.

Spam of the day:

View Pictures of ChristianMingle Singles in your area

I dunno, that one creepy guy at the bottom looks like he should be featured on ChristianNonconsensualAssmasters. I have no trouble at all believing he’s single.

Hey. So I have to travel I-95 — aka Satan’s Own Highway — alter this afternoon, the Friday before a long weekend. This is gonna be brief.

SPX has revealed its programming slate, and it appears to be the usual (i.e.: high on quality, low on quantity). Each day will feature two rooms of programming, one with events on the hour, the other with events on the half hour, from midday on. Highlights include:

• Saturday at noon the slate kicks off on a high note, a combined spotlight panel on Kate Beaton and Noelle Stevenson.
• Food, man, food. Tasty Comics will be about the intersection of food and comics, with Robin Ha, Jade Lee, Eric Colossal, and Jessi Zabarsky, moderated by Lauren Jordan. Get hungry at 1:30pm.
• Comics are for everybody, and the straight white dude hegemony is starting (oh so slowly) to fade. Black Art Matters (with Darryl Ayo, Ron Wimberly, Whit Taylor, and Spike Trotman) drop some truth at 2:00pm, and Queer and Here to Make Comics! (Anna Archie Bongiovanni, Yao Xiao, Hazel Newlevant, and Kevin Jay Stanton, with Dylan Edwards moderating) reveal the secrets of the dreaded Queer Comics Agenda¹ at 6:00pm.
• Sunday starts off as well as Saturday, with the first panel on sexy, sexy times and the message that Erotic Comics are for Everybody! (Sarah Winifred Searle, Anna Bongiovanni, Paul Reinwand, and Spike Trotman, under the loving guidance of Jess Fink) at 12:30pm.
• Scott McCloud. 1:00pm. Come for the second half if you can’t drag yourself away from the sexy times.
• Comics and the internet will be the focus of Dear Internet: Today I Made a Comic. Now What? at 3:30pm; join Molly Ostertag, Aatmaja Pandya, Matt Bors, and Comixology’s John Roberts, with Jen Vaughn moderating.

Have a heck of a weekend, Statesians. Maybe I’ll see you on Monday, maybe not.

Spam of the day:

Download Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star Movie.

I wouldn’t watch that shit with your eyes, my friend; I ain’t gonna watch it with mine.

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¹ Make comics while queer.