Date: 8 Nov 2006
From: Gary Tyrrell
To: _______, Features Editor

Subject: Comics page

Dear ________,

Can I call you ________? Since I’ve written to you several times, I feel like I know you. I apologize if I’m being too forward. I haven’t heard back since I wrote to you on the 17th of September about the comics page, and how I hoped that you might revamp it soon (especially by including the forthcoming Diesel Sweeties by Rich Stevens). He’s starting to pick up steam, with major papers in major markets (I’ve been sworn to secrecy, but one of those markets rhymes with “eattle”) deciding to add Diesel Sweeties to their comics page lineup. I’m hoping that in the time since we last spoke, you’d given some consideration to adding the strip yourself; United Features Syndicate has a promo kit waiting for you!

Perhaps you fear that, coming from the wilds of the internet as it does, Diesel Sweeties is untested for unsuitable for the wider populace. If that’s your concern, I’d point out that this time next week, a reprint volume of a webcomic is up for a National Book Award. Other publishers are snatching up webcomics left and right, looking to print and distribute accomplished, quality creators not just into comics stores, but into major bookstore chains. Trade journals such as Editor & Publisher and Publishers Weekly now carry stories (sometimes entire sections!) on comics, webcomics, and manga on a regular basis. Next month, Business 2.0 will be doing a feature story on how being a webcomics creator can be a career. I know that newspaper publishing is by its nature an industry with a great deal of inertia, but these happenings ought to help convince you that there’s something of worth here.

If you’re still hesitant, maybe Mister Washington can change your mind … he has a brother, you know. If you can resist the siren song of cold hard cash, how about cookies? You like cookies? I’ll bake you cookies if you give Diesel Sweeties a look.

In any event, thank you again for your time. In all seriousness, I do want to help you find the best mix of comics for ________, and I really do think that Diesel Sweeties can be a cornerstone of that effort.

Gary Tyrrell
________, NJ

PS: Seriously, cookies. Mmmmm, cookies!

Editor’s note: Once again, I’ll let you know of any replies.

Oh, man, I feel terrible even thinking this, but I think it’s time to toss Scott McCloud; he’s not holding up well, and it’s time for him to end up on the compost heap of, if not history, at least my back yard. Don’t look at me that way; it’s either this … or pie. While we’re at it, say a fond farewell to the Devil, too.

On a happier note, I’m thrilled (can you tell I’m thrilled? ’cause I am) that I was able to read Sheldon this morning. See, normally I have to wait until I get into work, because I don’t allow Internet Explorer on my computer at home, and comics.com would, 75% of the time, load ads and banners and no comic unless I used IE. Then I have to deal with ads, and banners, and pop-ups, and who knows what, and about twice a month, they wouldn’t bother updating the strip for two or three days anyway.

Not today. Today, Sheldon casts loose his shackles, and soars free like the majestic duck. For reference, the strip is still at comics.com until December 1st to accomodate paid subscribers. I’m not holding out much hope that United Media will tell those subscribers where to find Sheldon after the 1st, so if you happen to know any, tell ’em to clear browser cache (possibly give DNS a day or two to catch up) and swim in the new site design.

Hey, Kids! It’s interview time again!

D.J Coffman‘s been in the news a lot recently, both for good stuff and bad, and he’s always been a willing victim friend of Fleen’s. So when I decided to get back into this crazy little world, at least on a limited basis doing interviews, he’s the first creator I thought to contact.

Yeah.

That’s right.

I’m back. Doing interviews.

Want me to interview you? Just write in and ask.

Meanwhile, here’s what’s up with D.J.

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First off, some new kinds of content coming to Fleen; we’ll be experimenting with guest authors in the next couple of days, so be sure to let us know what you think of the experiment. Also, more interviews means more fun!

Secondly, Child’s Play is back, with nearly 30 hospitals world-wide for you to support. Speaking from a personal level, the past few years, my nieces and nephews have had donations made in their names to various childrens hospitals, and they’ve all told me that it means more to them than more stuff for themselves. Fleen hopes to talk with the coordinator of this massive effort shortly, and to find out exactly how the heck it’s been live for four days, and has already reached the $50,000 mark.

Thirdly, remember to update your bookmarks, because tomorrow Dave Kellett‘s Sheldon casts off the shackles of syndication to stand proud and free on its own. No more pop-ups and pop-unders, full archives for five years of strips, RSS feed, and much more coming your way. Don’t forget to kneel before Zod.

Update in the interests of full disclosure: Kellett’s new home on the web will be provided by Dumbrella Hosting, parent corporation of Fleen. Along similar lines, DH has finished migrating the WIGU and When I Grow Up archives, so any links to those sites are probably broken now; if you find any here, let us know and we’ll fix ’em.

We got new comics, we got review requests, we got nudity. Onwards!

From Brian Wilson:

I have been reading fleen for quite a while now, and really enjoy you’re professional reviews and insights into the comic world. I have found alot of strips through fleen that i really enjoy and would never have found otherwise. Anyway, I was hoping you guys could take a crack at reviewing my strip. I really think your readers would like my strip, and professionally it would bragable on my end.

and similarly from Kevin Forbes:

Simulated Comic Product is a chronically under-reviewed webcomic. Just sayin’ :)

Guys, your heartfelt appeals touch me, on the inside; consider yourselves in the Queue of Review.
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Two good links via Dirk Deppey today: a great interview with Gene Yang by Shaenon Garrity at Sequential Tart, and a story about Charlie Brown and a political campaign (with echoes of copyright infringement and what constitutes Fair Use) at the Nevada Appeal.

Speaking of copyright infringement If, like me, you thought that Steven Cloud might have actually been on the receiving end of a C&D over his character, Florida Cracker, you may breathe a sigh of relief. I was 99% certain that he was funnin’ with us, but the whole idea was just stupid enough that it could have been real; Mr Cloud has confirmed that all is well.

Still speaking of copyright infringement Unnamed sources tell us that Steven Cloud is considering suing “Florida Cracker” horses and cattle for infringing on his character, Florida Cracker. More on this story as it develops.

So we at Fleen have spoken to a number of creators about webcomics and (semi-)syndication, and it turns out a couple of ’em have news these days. First off, Chris Baldwin (Little Dee, Bruno), reports that:

[A] piece I wrote, illustrated, and colored is in MAD magazine this month (November, page 40). And it looks promising that we’ll sustain a continued relationship.

So go pick up a copy of MAD and check out page 40, and let the usual gang of idiots know that you like what Baldwin’s doing.

Secondly, it’s been hinted at for some time, on this page, and elsewhere, and now the day has finally come:

A heads-up for Sheldon readers…on Tuesday, Nov. 7th, I’ll be moving the strip to a new site at www.sheldoncomics.com.

…

The majority of Sheldon readers currently get the strip via comics.com/comics/sheldon, or via United Media’s e-mail delivery. And when the strip moves, these readers won’t have any way of know where the strip went to (I tried putting a notice in the strip…it got edited out).

BASTARDS! They barely edit for years, and now they cut stuff? Anyhoo, Dave Kellett’s promised us more info tomorrow, so check back then for details on his new digs on the internets.

I’m continuing on my Koala Wallop review-athon with I am a Rocket Builder by Ben Shur. The comic is actually comprised of five separate comics; A Cave, An Old House, A Large Tree, A Tiny Shack, and The City.

All of them have been somewhat developed, except for A Cave. An Old House is a story about a small bird who is captured by The Pocket Witch. It is an interactive comic, with the last panel usually animated. And when I say interactive, I mean you can spur animations with you cursor. It’s a fun read, and I would like to see how this little bird ties in with the other storylines.

There is only one comic so far for A Large Tree.**Edit** There is more than one comic strip for A Large Tree, which can be found here. It is about a young bird couple, Brad and Janet. We see Brad telling Janet that he is going into the army to be able to afford a family. Then he drops on his knobby-bird knee and begins to propose to his dear Janet, but right then disaster strikes! What happens next, you ask? Only time and Ben Shur can tell.

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Rachel! Tessa! My God, how long has it been? And to return on Halloween day, with all the pieces falling into place! Ladies and gentlemen: John Allison, Super-Genius.

Rest in peace, Gordon Frohman. Alas, we hardly knew ye. Congrats to Christopher Livingston on reaching the end of Concerned, the epic story of one not-very-smart guy trying to get through the apocalypse with a minimum of fuss. We’ll miss your wacky adventures, and can’t wait to see what Livingtson comes up with next. Which, coincidentally, we might see on Monday, so be sure to check back then.