Our server logs show we’re running about ten times our normal pageviews thanks to the wanging we received; we haven’t had any server troubles, but if you have difficulty getting the site to load, do let us know. Also, apologies to any who’ve sent in items that would have appeared here, but were bumped due to the recent unpleasantness — if they aren’t time-dependent, we’ll do our best to run them. Now, we make with the links, you make with the clicks:

• Cloudy did a soft launch at comics.com on Monday, but today he’s launched all official-like.
• Ryan Sias is one of the nicest, goofiest guys I’ve met in webcomics (’cause hey — Ryan), and he’s been running some really nice guest strips this week at Silent Kimbly. Check ’em out.
• If Mr T be for me, who can be against me?
• Greg Carter has rebooted Abandon:
  

  Less than 10 pages of the current version are up at the moment. After creating almost 200 pages over the last three years, most of which will never again see the light of day, I decided practice time was over and now it’s the real thing. The kinks are worked out of the new ComicPress software so updates should even be on time now. And yes, my pretties, there will be printed collections. Floppy-style no less. Then annual(ish) graphic novel collections.

  Gutsy move with the archives, Greg; but you know what? I love that “practice time is over”. That’s the sort of declaration that tells me interesting things are gonna happen with this comic. And need I note that this is a perfect time for new readers to hop on board?

• It’s an ill wind indeed that blows nobody any good, as the last great webcomics shitstorm and the current great webcomics shitstorm converge. Xuanwu writes:
  

  Thought you might like the news — In a rare moment of sense, Wikipedia has brought back the Purple Pussy article, thanks to the attention it got from the plagiarism.

  Of course, noted anti-webcomic deletionist Dragonfiend (she’s the one who attempted to get Checkerboard Nightmare and Girly deleted) tried to oppose the whole thing, but she was thoroughly smacked down when people reminded her that multiple coverage means notability, even in the strictest sense.

  So, thanks to Todd, Wiki’s webcomic coverage has been improved slightly and a noted deletionist idjit got her head handed to her. Not a bad silver lining!

Lightning Round, GO!

• Nick Perkins!
  

  The author of Gothy McGee has a neato webcomic review blog, and I consented to be his first interviewee about my comic, Cooties. Check out the interview here. Thanks!

• Dina Kelberman!
  

  look, i made them.

• Al B. Moore!
  

  So am I allowed to just ask you to check out my web site? Specifically my comic Bug & Worm. This isn’t really a press release, but it is shameless…

A hearty welcome to any new readers directed here by Boing Boing (edit: and Penny Arcade); the stuff you’re looking for is thataway ↓.

From yesterday’s entry of the blog of the McCloud Family Intercontinental Vagabondage, courtesy of Ivy McCloud:

He signed and doodled on the copy of the book that Sky is having everyone sign for the CBLDF auction. He was Winterviewed (though, as always, Scott and I did not see any of it), we hung out with Lorraine while they were Winterviewing. He played us music on his cell phone.

For the record, “he” would be Neil Gaiman. This will be the first Winterview we’ve seen in some time, so here’s hoping that Sky’s laptop holds up to life on the road and that she can get it mixed down soon; I’ve got a feeling this is gonna be a good one.

In general tour news, this week’s stops in Illinois and Wisconsin will make 32 states + three countries visited since things kicked off back in September; 7½ months and untold miles on the odometer don’t seem to have any adverse effects on the Bravest Family in [web]Comics, so if you see ’em at one of the upcoming events, shake their hands for me.

It appears that The Great Goldman Debacle of Aught-Seven has had the unexpectedly positive side-effect of spurring creativity in the outraged masses. Witness: Huzzah! Goods (motto: “Yes, it’s another damned T-shirt site”) would like you to consider their entry into the fray, with all profits going to Boston Arts Academy.

I think that everything I might have said about our current situation has been said by at least one of you; thanks for your support. Rest assured that words are being crafted with fine precision, honed to a razor’s edge, waiting only for the moment that they may be unleashed in a maelstrom of righteous justice.

In the meantime, the most sincere of thanks to all of you for your support, and please enjoy some happy fun webcomics!

• Apparently taking the suggestion to mirror our content to heart, Jon Rosenberg has done so for at least one posting in teeny-weeny eyestrain-o-vision. The sentiment is appreciated.
• Y’know, as long as I’ve been doing the webcomics hanger-on thing, I’ve never actually met the fabled Sam Brown, and am all but convinced that he doesn’t actually exist. But his talent and disembodied voice are available for your listening/viewing pleasure in pursuit of a good cause. Click to launch, dude.
• Speaking of listening pleasure, check out Dave Kellett’s audio tour of Sheldon (scroll down jes’ a little); okay, it’s just him showing you ’round the features of his site, but for those of us that miss his regular Blank Label podcast, it’s nice to hear him again. Actually, I’d been kind of wondering which creator would get the idea to do something like this first, since recording quick podcasts is easy enough.

  The next logical step is DVD commentary-style tracks. I’ll throw out a suggestion: Kellett and the Unshelved guys should team up and give us the dirt on the now-famed Coffeelid Challenge. Gentlemens, let’s start quibbling.

• Forthcoming merch sighting: Shortpacked announces pre-orders for the first book of David Willis’s toy-related strips. I’m hoping that the back cover contains at least one of the following quotes:
  1. I did your mom.
  2. I’m Batman.
  3. Whores whores whores whores.

Edit to add: From some of the comments below, it appears that I was not sufficiently clear. Mr Felix does represent Todd Goldman. The communication cited is legitimate.

Slightly more than 24 hours ago, the “authors” email (the one at the Contact Us link up there to the right) received the following:

from Andrew.P.Felix@[redacted]
to authors
date Apr 19, 2007 6:10 PM
subject Todd Goldman

Andrew P. Felix, Esq. wrote:
Dear Sir or Madam:

This firm represents Mr. Todd Goldman. I write on behalf of Mr. Goldman regarding certain comments and disparaging remarks that are posted and housed on your website (www.fleen.com).

We have acquired articles posted on your website which contain defaming, derogatory and malicious statements about Mr. Goldman. Therefore, we request that you immediately remove these article from your website, as well as any subsequent articles and/or URL links of this nature regarding Mr. Goldman. Further, the hosting of such statements and/or URL links about Mr. Goldman is actionable defamation and libel that has caused irreversible damage to his character.

Unless we receive written assurance that you have removed these article, as well as any subsequent articles and/or URL links of this nature regarding Mr. Goldman, from your website by the close of business on Friday, April 20, 2007, we will have no other alternative but to take action to seek injunctive and monetary relief against you pursuant to Florida law. Please be advised that we will also seek to recover attorneys’ fees and costs associated with this matter. As time is of the essence, this action must be taken immediately.

This letter is not, nor should it be construed to be, a waiver of any rights or remedies available to Mr. Goldman under federal or state law, whether now existing or hereafter accruing.

PLEASE GOVERN YOURSELF ACCORDINGLY.

Sincerely,
SHUTTS & BOWEN LLP

/s/Andrew P. Felix

We at Fleen have consulted with attorneys, and they are in contact with Mr Felix to determine specifics as to what material Goldman objects to. We also understand that other websites that have hosted material regarding the Kelly/Goldman affair have received similar letters.

More information as the situation warrants.

Good news first: webcomics are gettin’ more respect than ever at the Eisners. We’ll start with the most obvious category, Best Digital Comic:

• Bee, in “Motel Art Improvement Service,” by Jason Little, beecomix.com
• Girl Genius, by Phil Foglio [as cited on the Eisners nomination site; should probably read “Phil and Kaja Foglio”], www.girlgeniusonline.com
• Minus, by Ryan Armand, www.kiwisbybeat.com/minus1.html
• Phables, by Brad Guigar, www.phables.com
• Sam and Max, by Steve Purcell, telltalegames.com/community/comics/samandmax/issue-3
• Shooting War, by Anthony Lappe and Dan Goldman, www.shootingwar.com

Interesting thing about the Sam & Max nod: you could almost consider the chapter-oriented game (and BONE, also from Telltale and the forthcoming PA game) to be a form of digital (playable) comics themselves. Interestingly, rumor is that the S&M people approached a pair of webcomics writers at SDCC last year to write for the series. They got blown off, but still, interesting.

Other webcomics-related nominations:

• Mom’s Cancer, by Brian Fies (Abrams) for Best Reality-Based Work and Best Graphic Album—Reprint
• American Born Chinese, by Gene Luen Yang (First Second) for Best Graphic Album—New and Lark Pien for Best Coloring
• ¡Journalista!, produced by Dirk Deppey (Fantagraphics)
  for Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism;Deppey has had a “digital comics” section from day one of the blog’s revival

Some good stuff here, and it’s worth noting that webcomics (or webcomics-related items) aren’t just getting shovelled off to the side; they’re getting nominated in the regular categories alongside traditional works. And all this in a year that didn’t see a new Flight anthology, so just wait ’til next year to see a bunch more web creator names on the nominations list.

Of course, all that creamy, Wheatony goodness (and I can tell you truly that I never in my life thought I’d type those words) portends ominously for webcomics. Recall our discussion on webcomics and St Elsewhere from last year? Well, consider this (found via the TV Tropes webpage, which has branched into webcomics as well; please note our description there — I’m so proud).

Scared? Hell, that diagram isn’t even complete! Wings will connect you to Duckman, for crying out loud. Now consider:

1. ST:TNG is linked to the St. Elsewhere/Homicide:Life On The Street axis;
2. St. Elsewhere never happened

Conclusion: ST:TNG never happened. QED.

In a similar vein:

1. Overcompensating portrayed the death of the Universe;
2. Contrary to T Campbell’s fears, Jeff Rowland isn’t a real person, so no carryover to our existence;
3. BUT Wil Wheaton is a real person, and has appeared in Overcompensating and multiple other webcomics;
4. Those webcomics are linked to each other in a chain of reference that makes the St.E/H:LOTS axis look simple and untangled

Conclusion: at the very least, Wil Wheaton is imaginary (and from there it looks pretty bad for the rest of humanity). T-Rex’s antisolipsist theory may be true after all? This spells doom for all of webcomics, with the possible exception of Filth Hole.

Which makes it almost a moot point, but Shishio from One Liners writes to inform us of a new collective launching today:

Intravenous Comics launches today.

IV Comics was originally founded in October 2006 by Shishio, Kevin Sanchez, Lando Fitzgerald, Phillip Seals, and Nick Wright. The group has been live since February, but now that everything is finalized to everyone’s liking, the group is making it official.

Current members and their comics are:

Shishio and -U!: One-liners

Phillip Seals and KL Sanchez: Steve and Mac

Nick Wright: Treading Ground

Henshin: Henshin does not have a comic of his own, but he has worked with Shishio on some guest strips for Treading Ground, (He also did a few on his own.) and one for Yirmumah! He also created the Intravenous Comics mascot.

John Keogh, David Rothlein, and Ross Armstrong: Lucid TV

Keryn Everett: Brink

Kate Lin: Institute of Metaphysics

(Lando has since left the group to pursue other venues.)

The Intravenous Comics website also has a sampler page for our readers’ convenience. All the group’s members have selected five or six of their best strips/pages to familiarize new readers with their comics.

I like that last point a lot — the sampler page is a terrific idea, and I’m surprised that every collective doesn’t do it. One question remains, though — as recently as ten minutes ago, Shishio’s (former?) collective, Bomb Shelter, listed him as a member. With the membership status question sitting there, those with knowledge of the situation are encouraged to comment and fill us in. Shishio, asked for comment¹, replied:

Aw, what the hell does it matter? All that work, the sample page, we were gonna get groupies, and now it’s all shot because webcomics don’t exist anymore. Thanks a lot, Wheaton!

Similarly, Sugarskull introduces three new comics this week, so be sure to check out First Kingdom (zombies!), Goldenbird (Jazz Age!) and SPQR Blues (decadent Roman fish-pickle sauce!).

¹ Not really.

On a recommendation from the fella who creates the charming High Maintenance Machine, I finally checked out Sarah Morean’s comics. I was given a lovely little business card with 3 stamps on it: one a web address in blue, a red squid, and the word “comix” stamped out in little black letters. The web address led to a little treasure trove of choices. Turns out that Sarah Morean’s not just someone who crafts webcomics and zines–she’s a musician and a crafter as well. She’s got a few different projects posted, including Old Timey, which is produced for a museum newsletter.

Her work–the one I’m looking at the most, Plastic Frames, which she describes as “diary gag sketchbook comics”– varies. Sometimes what she posts is very political and at times it’s totally introspective. Sometimes her images remind me a little of Natalie Dee’s work. Sometimes they’re single panel minimalist images and at other times longer works, or very detailed. Sometimes black and white, sometimes color, it’s impossible to predict what will come next. Some images, like the one above, are simply heartbreaking. Some are just goofy. And you folks who like print also, take note: you can get her work in print form (including her recently self-published book Human which is gaining great reviews).

Sarah Morean’s work wasn’t quite what I imagined when I thought about what I was looking for this week, but I’m fond of it anyway. I’ve been staying away from the internet lately for obvious reasons. When I was in college, nearly fifteen years ago, something quite like what happened this week happened on my campus. So I wanted something cute for this week’s column, something that would cheer me up. I’m glad, though, that I found something that wasn’t just cute, something that had a little more depth and range to it. (So instead, forgive my brevity, and check out some beautiful, weird webcomics.)

Quick notes before the main feature:

• Congrats to Steve Troop, Puppetmaster.
• This was a special kind of brilliant
• At PenguiCon this weekend, please join Randy Milholland, Rob Balder, Eric Millikin, and The Ferrett at the greatest-named webcomics panel ever — How To Offend An Audience.
• Scrabble for nerds. Cute.

Now, to business. We’ve spoken previously about the prevalence of crossovers and cameos in webcomics; mostly it’s individual characters migrating to other strips for a hearty laugh-chuckle. Sometimes it’s cameos of real people.

Sometimes, it’s former teen idol and geekly author Wil Wheaton.

Seriously, is there anybody that gets cameoed as much as Wil? Off the top of my head, you’ve got Goats (both oblique and direct references), Overcompensating, a Rich Stevens sketchblog entry, Questionable Content (textual only), and Dork Tower (maybe a cheat since it was initially created for print). Add in another print comic reference here and one forthcoming here, and you have the beginnings of a movement.

So the question is, what is it about Wheaton that makes him so [web]comickable? Seriously, I’m puzzled here, because crossing Wheaton with webcomics opens up all of reality as we know it to possible extinction. More on that tomorrow.

Table of Malcontents (formerly the blog of some guy with sunglasses and booze) entertains with a story of meeting Todd Goldman in person. Reading this makes me believe that Toddster (not to be confused with The Todd) really could have been the one to send that deranged email. Slightly related: Chris Jeffrey at Cartridge Comics has just wrapped up a five-day bundle of contempt for Goldman. So, open question #1: does mocking Goldman ever get old? Discuss.

Open question #2 comes from Shishio (who, by the bye, is a collective-mate of Jeffrey):

Hey, I’m looking for any research on the ability of comics to improve literacy. If you or anyone on your staff knows of any good papers, studies, etcetera, (I imagine Anne will.) I would be most grateful if you could point me their way.

Damn good question, Shishio. Off the top of my head, there was the story about the New Haven Free Public Library, detailed here. Anybody else know of specific programs? Comment thread is right down thataway.

The Kea is back to webcomics blogging; maybe not forever, but anything he brings to the table is worth a gander; speaking of the Antipodes, Gavin Aung Than wrote to point us towards his comic, Dan and Pete; it appears weekly in The Sunday Times, Perth, Oz, and Gav has put it on the web for all to enjoy. Hats off to the editors of The Sunday Times for not standing in Than’s way — I’m sure it will garner far more readers now that it’s more easily accessible. Thus, open question #3: is everything made better by the presence of Aussies and/or Kiwis? Cite examples and show your work.