Comments on: Comics’ alarming demographics http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/12/14/comics-alarming-demographics/ The News Blog of Comics Culture Thu, 21 Aug 2008 19:54:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: Augie De Blieck Jr. http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/12/14/comics-alarming-demographics/#comment-24997 Fri, 15 Dec 2006 20:22:37 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/12/14/comics-alarming-demographics/#comment-24997 Well, I can say this -- ComicSpace.com was registered in February. TheComicSpace.com was registered in September. So while I've heard grumblings over who ripped off who, ComicSpace is not just first to market, but also first to register. Well, I can say this — ComicSpace.com was registered in February. TheComicSpace.com was registered in September. So while I’ve heard grumblings over who ripped off who, ComicSpace is not just first to market, but also first to register.

]]> by: Brian Spence http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/12/14/comics-alarming-demographics/#comment-24913 Fri, 15 Dec 2006 16:46:20 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/12/14/comics-alarming-demographics/#comment-24913 I created a profile there, and I have to say that ComicSpace seems to give the impression that it's for creators, almost exclusively. Kind of like the Engine or something. I created a profile there, and I have to say that ComicSpace seems to give the impression that it’s for creators, almost exclusively. Kind of like the Engine or something.

]]> by: Todd VerBeek http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/12/14/comics-alarming-demographics/#comment-24602 Fri, 15 Dec 2006 01:30:22 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/12/14/comics-alarming-demographics/#comment-24602 Even with its current tiny feature set, ComicSpace has allowed me to reconnect (albeit in a very limited way so far) with several people I'd lost touch with, and even offered an opportunity to mend a fence with one. A friend of mine who's more gung-ho than I about getting published is doing backflips over the number of seemingly-sincere friend requests he's already gotten on CS compared to his MySpace account. Yeah, it's creator- and wannabe-creator-heavy so far, but A) that's not necessarily a bad thing about it, and B) what that says about the number of creators and wannabe-creators in this medium - with the tools upcoming for them to put their pixels where their mouths are - <i>excites the pants off me</i>. Even with its current tiny feature set, ComicSpace has allowed me to reconnect (albeit in a very limited way so far) with several people I’d lost touch with, and even offered an opportunity to mend a fence with one. A friend of mine who’s more gung-ho than I about getting published is doing backflips over the number of seemingly-sincere friend requests he’s already gotten on CS compared to his MySpace account.

Yeah, it’s creator- and wannabe-creator-heavy so far, but A) that’s not necessarily a bad thing about it, and B) what that says about the number of creators and wannabe-creators in this medium - with the tools upcoming for them to put their pixels where their mouths are - excites the pants off me.

]]> by: Jamie Coville http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/12/14/comics-alarming-demographics/#comment-24594 Fri, 15 Dec 2006 01:04:58 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/12/14/comics-alarming-demographics/#comment-24594 Well, there has been one benefit right away. I just did an interview with a long time pro through comicspace. That private message feature didn't limit the amount of text we could send either. Well, there has been one benefit right away. I just did an interview with a long time pro through comicspace. That private message feature didn’t limit the amount of text we could send either.

]]> by: Gary Reed http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/12/14/comics-alarming-demographics/#comment-24583 Fri, 15 Dec 2006 00:35:46 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/12/14/comics-alarming-demographics/#comment-24583 I'm sure many of the designations are a bit dubious but who's to decide what the classification criteria are? A published writer (let's say from Image or Slave Labor) may not agree that a webcomic writer should share the same designation but a Marvel writer may not feel the independent writer should hold an equal standing. I think the tags are a bit cumbersome but to me they're just a shortcut to let others know what their interests or hopes or potentials are. I'm very impressed with the site so far in terms of the response. I've actually gotten in touch with a number of people I haven't communicated with for years so I think it's done a great job in the networking category so far. I’m sure many of the designations are a bit dubious but who’s to decide what the classification criteria are? A published writer (let’s say from Image or Slave Labor) may not agree that a webcomic writer should share the same designation but a Marvel writer may not feel the independent writer should hold an equal standing. I think the tags are a bit cumbersome but to me they’re just a shortcut to let others know what their interests or hopes or potentials are.

I’m very impressed with the site so far in terms of the response. I’ve actually gotten in touch with a number of people I haven’t communicated with for years so I think it’s done a great job in the networking category so far.

]]> by: Nat Gertler http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/12/14/comics-alarming-demographics/#comment-24564 Thu, 14 Dec 2006 23:30:06 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/12/14/comics-alarming-demographics/#comment-24564 Which is as it should be-- a social networking board should be for those who can benefit by networking, and that's definitely true of the would-be pros. Which is as it should be– a social networking board should be for those who can benefit by networking, and that’s definitely true of the would-be pros.

]]> by: Nate http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/12/14/comics-alarming-demographics/#comment-24501 Thu, 14 Dec 2006 21:41:31 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/12/14/comics-alarming-demographics/#comment-24501 I'm sure many if not most of the writer's/artists aren't proffesionals I’m sure many if not most of the writer’s/artists aren’t proffesionals

]]> by: Fantomas http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/12/14/comics-alarming-demographics/#comment-24482 Thu, 14 Dec 2006 20:57:39 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/12/14/comics-alarming-demographics/#comment-24482 I see a legal battle in the future if TheComicSpace launches with a too similar name and theme. I see a legal battle in the future if TheComicSpace launches with a too similar name and theme.

]]> by: Augie De Blieck Jr. http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/12/14/comics-alarming-demographics/#comment-24453 Thu, 14 Dec 2006 19:46:17 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/12/14/comics-alarming-demographics/#comment-24453 If ComicSpace.com isn't for you, just wait till TheComicSpace.com launches. I kid you not. There's another similar site in development. I don't put much weight into the tag thing. I've seen some pages on there where people identify themselves as comic fans or readers, but don't use that in their tags. It's all very self-selecting. If there was a checklist of items you could claim yourself to be, then I bet we'd see a lot more "fans" and "readers." If ComicSpace.com isn’t for you, just wait till TheComicSpace.com launches. I kid you not. There’s another similar site in development.

I don’t put much weight into the tag thing. I’ve seen some pages on there where people identify themselves as comic fans or readers, but don’t use that in their tags. It’s all very self-selecting. If there was a checklist of items you could claim yourself to be, then I bet we’d see a lot more “fans” and “readers.”

]]> by: ErikMelander http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/12/14/comics-alarming-demographics/#comment-24396 Thu, 14 Dec 2006 17:12:22 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/12/14/comics-alarming-demographics/#comment-24396 I think that the target audience of this site is hobbyists, webcomics creators in particular. The same guy that runs this, runs onlinecomics.net, a webcomic directory and update notification site. I think that the target audience of this site is hobbyists, webcomics creators in particular. The same guy that runs this, runs onlinecomics.net, a webcomic directory and update notification site.

]]> by: Harris O'Malley http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/12/14/comics-alarming-demographics/#comment-24394 Thu, 14 Dec 2006 17:08:31 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/12/14/comics-alarming-demographics/#comment-24394 I'm curious to see whether Comicspace will end up being a comic-version of Myspace (which seems a touch pointless) or if it will have some sort of emergent identity that isn't readily apparent while it's still very much in it's alpha-stages. I'm willing to bet that, if nothing else, the tags and the proposed ability to host art and/or webcomics make it easier for artists looking for writers and writers looking for artists to find one another. I’m curious to see whether Comicspace will end up being a comic-version of Myspace (which seems a touch pointless) or if it will have some sort of emergent identity that isn’t readily apparent while it’s still very much in it’s alpha-stages.

I’m willing to bet that, if nothing else, the tags and the proposed ability to host art and/or webcomics make it easier for artists looking for writers and writers looking for artists to find one another.

]]> by: Mike Imboden http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/12/14/comics-alarming-demographics/#comment-24375 Thu, 14 Dec 2006 16:11:48 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/12/14/comics-alarming-demographics/#comment-24375 One has to question the overall use of Tags. How many of the people with "writer" or "artist" tags actually work in the business? Don't get me wrong, I have no delusions that I am an A-List (Or B or C for that matter), but I tend to think that if someone has a piece of fan-fic stored on their hard drive they've applied the "Writer" tag to themselves. Hopefully, over time, things will start to settle into a more accurate portrayal of who people are so that those looking to network will be able to do so without weeding through people who drew a pin-up of Wolverine fighting Batman and consider themselves a sequential artist. (boy, I hope this doesn't come off sounding snobby. Lord knows I've got no room to be snobby) One has to question the overall use of Tags. How many of the people with “writer” or “artist” tags actually work in the business? Don’t get me wrong, I have no delusions that I am an A-List (Or B or C for that matter), but I tend to think that if someone has a piece of fan-fic stored on their hard drive they’ve applied the “Writer” tag to themselves.
Hopefully, over time, things will start to settle into a more accurate portrayal of who people are so that those looking to network will be able to do so without weeding through people who drew a pin-up of Wolverine fighting Batman and consider themselves a sequential artist.

(boy, I hope this doesn’t come off sounding snobby. Lord knows I’ve got no room to be snobby)

]]> by: Fantomas http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/12/14/comics-alarming-demographics/#comment-24374 Thu, 14 Dec 2006 16:08:32 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/12/14/comics-alarming-demographics/#comment-24374 Tom said it perfectly. Also, give it a break. That over 5000 people have jumped on this after only 2 weeks is astounding. After all, it's only 1 guy doing the website, it will get better within several months, I'm sure. Tom said it perfectly.

Also, give it a break. That over 5000 people have jumped on this after only 2 weeks is astounding. After all, it’s only 1 guy doing the website, it will get better within several months, I’m sure.

]]> by: Dan Merritt http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/12/14/comics-alarming-demographics/#comment-24365 Thu, 14 Dec 2006 15:39:33 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/12/14/comics-alarming-demographics/#comment-24365 There are 33 retailers so far. Thats only about 1.1% of active Diamond accounts. There are 33 retailers so far. Thats only about 1.1% of active Diamond accounts.

]]> by: david http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/12/14/comics-alarming-demographics/#comment-24326 Thu, 14 Dec 2006 14:19:00 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/12/14/comics-alarming-demographics/#comment-24326 Ditto what Tom said. Currently, there's not much motivation for a fan to jump on ComicSpace vs. what MySpace already offers. Ditto what Tom said. Currently, there’s not much motivation for a fan to jump on ComicSpace vs. what MySpace already offers.

]]> by: Jimmie Robinson http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/12/14/comics-alarming-demographics/#comment-24323 Thu, 14 Dec 2006 14:12:11 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/12/14/comics-alarming-demographics/#comment-24323 Love those "penciler" / "penciller" splits. This was talked a bit on The Engine, such as "colorist" / "colourist". Also, what constitutes as "professional"? A listing in Diamond? I have my opinions on the matter, but they did a better job dissecting it on other forums. Love those “penciler” / “penciller” splits. This was talked a bit on The Engine, such as “colorist” / “colourist”.

Also, what constitutes as “professional”? A listing in Diamond? I have my opinions on the matter, but they did a better job dissecting it on other forums.

]]> by: Tom Spurgeon http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/12/14/comics-alarming-demographics/#comment-24320 Thu, 14 Dec 2006 14:05:41 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/12/14/comics-alarming-demographics/#comment-24320 Is it really surprising that the early adoption of a social networking tool would be dominated by those professionals within a given industry most likely to benefit from social networking? Is it really surprising that the early adoption of a social networking tool would be dominated by those professionals within a given industry most likely to benefit from social networking?

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