Troubles within Webcomics
 

Has anybody been reading the big thread over at Keenspot and thier views against the views of Scott Kurtz? It seems this issue is getting a little big.
Any thoughts on this?

A link would be nice. However if this is intended to become a discussion I'll leave it here, if it is meant for more casual conversation it will be moved to the comics section.

Sorry, here's the link:

http://forums.keenspot.com/viewtopic.php?t=74490

I've only looked at the first two pages, but it seems to me that there's just one poster named Pupkin who has it out for Kurtz. Unless it esclates in the later pages, I don't see anything to your original claim. Edit: On further reading, it just seems that this Bobby guy hates Kurtz, Kurtz won't let it die, Bobby won't let it die, and some of the other posters aren't helping the situation out at all.

What a sad situation... and it went on for 24 pages, sheesh.

I think that conversation got out of control. Some webcomic artist didn't want to have a banner with two men kissing so she took it down. Then people got mad she took it down and started whining tot he person in charge. He said it was her right to control what's on her page as long as she has a keenspot box it's fine. Kurtz said something to defend the artist who took the banner down, and pupkin insulted him. He didn't discuss or comment on the matter he just called Kurtz and asshole.

Personally I think that the artist did the right thing. Not everybody is acceptant of gays so it's unfair to make her put it up. I think it should be Keenspot's responsibility to make sure that thier newsbox isn't controversial. They offer a G rated one if people want to be on the safe side, but that doesn't mean they can't moniter the non-G banner.

If I had web site I wouldn't have the banner up either, so I could make sure my readers aren't offended.

Kurtz put up a rant on this: http://www.pvponline.com/rants.php3

I get the feeling that some of the people in that thread were just trying to be offended. Kurtz's "rant" was well thought out and is a logically analysis of the whole situation. I wouldn't call it a rant. I'd call it a counter-point for discussion not the "You are so wrong because I say so" rants you come across in blogs and what-not.
I can't formulate an opinion about this "controversy." I don't understand the keenspot environment. I don't understand how important the newsbox is. This whole thing seems to me, as an ignorant outsider, as a mountain made out of a molehill.

THE INTERNET IS SERIOUS BUSINESS.

This was an issue between Keenspot and the individual artist. Who cares?





Nearly off-topic rant, warning:

Why does anyone care what a webcomic author thinks again?

The ones that're at the top of the foodchain in regards to money/exposure (but not quality) are PA, PvP, and Megatokyo. These are the titans of the webcomic "biz", and they're little more than a sideshow in publishing and any related business area they fall into (the comic commissions PA does for game companies, etc).

Let us count off what the "cream of the crop" pull in.

PA:
-Lots of ad dollars and cash from cheap T-shirts and overpriced posters. ($40,000 a month I hear. Impressive, but I know a couple rather lame game-portal sites you've probably never heard of that pull in 6 figures a month.)
-Tons of free game swag and free Q&A time in exchange for knobslobbing in comic or editorial form.

PvP:
-Ad dollars, and cash from being printed in a number of publications you can count on one hand (one being the monthly City of Heroes comic, which I don't think should even count as being "published").

Megatokyo:
-Printed in Manga form by Tokyopop. I hear that the volumes my local Suncoast video got can form impressive stacks if not thrown out, since no one buys them.

...So why does anyone care what Kurtz says again? Or Tycho/Gabe/the Wapanese dork that does MT/etc.etc.etc.?

I wasn't aware that MT was one of the big shots. I know a lot of people have heard of it but I didn't think that many people loved or even liked it. I for one quit reading it years ago. Cause it sucks.

However you make a good point, really. "Who cares?" This pupkin guy has proven himself a moron to begin with, many comic authors have giant inflated egos and aren't half as important as they like to believe. And people shouldn't be all up in arms about stupid things like images on the internets. There are no amendments here, and there are no rules which force a person to adhere to a specific code of conduct, or which force a person to be completely anti-discriminatory and such. Eh.

I'd say it's because people respect thier work. They all started out with a little web-comic they did in thier free time, and now it's become thier full time jobs. They've come a long way from where they started and keep doing better. They don't even charge people for thier work because it can be seen for free online. They may not be a "big" part of the comic industry, but a lot of people have heard of them.

Oh yeah...the Wapenese guys name(Wapenese I love that word now) is named Fred Gallagher in case anyone was wondering.

Accually its published by Dark Horse, and it appears to be doing pretty well.

Back on topic.

I am going to aggree with SNAFU, it does seem like s a mountain made out of a molehill.

I herd about it from PA, and I read the Keenspot post, clairflying what happened. It seems like a open and shut problem, both parties seem satisfied.
But for some reason all these Keenspotters (I dont know if they are all keenspot artist or not) seem to be compelled to argue about nothing.