Comments on: Even more on Zuda! http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/10/even-more-on-zuda/ The News Blog of Comics Culture Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:08:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: Gregory Giordano http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/10/even-more-on-zuda/#comment-362964 Mon, 27 Aug 2007 18:59:19 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/10/even-more-on-zuda/#comment-362964 http://dcboards.warnerbros.com/web/thread.jspa?threadID=2000127340&tstart=0 here's where a discussion is going on at the zuda boards concerning the public admittance that there are/were plans for ZUDA/DC/wb/AOL would control or own TM of properties on ZUDA. the comments were first reported here: http://www.whiterose.org/howlingcurmudgeons/archives/010701.html the possibility of this rather backward and antiquated, and arguably unethical modality being used in their potential relationship with creators is troubling. the ZUDA reps on the thread are asking for our patience in this matter- to wait till the contract is posted. there are growing feelings that the time to see the contract is ASAP. i think the comments made recently by those in charge of ZUDA at WWC are not their fault, being editors not trained PR representatives. but it is suspicious to me and to some others that given the importance, the size of the parent company involved and the IP rights at stake, that ZUDA/DC would be apparently reckless in it's having these critical bases worked out before going public at all. i also would tell you all that unlike all previous PR materials, the live date now apparently is not 10/07, but 10/08. no one was aware of this, but the ZUDA people seem to imply this was the idea all along. either way- it's certainly more miscommunication- which leads to more questions, etc. i encourage you all to read the forum/thread above and join in the discussion. i think it's good for everyone to get some outside views. http://dcboards.warnerbros.com/web/thread.jspa?threadID=2000127340&tstart=0

here’s where a discussion is going on at the zuda boards concerning the public admittance that there are/were plans for ZUDA/DC/wb/AOL would control or own TM of properties on ZUDA. the comments were first reported here: http://www.whiterose.org/howlingcurmudgeons/archives/010701.html

the possibility of this rather backward and antiquated, and arguably unethical modality being used in their potential relationship with creators is troubling. the ZUDA reps on the thread are asking for our patience in this matter- to wait till the contract is posted. there are growing feelings that the time to see the contract is ASAP.

i think the comments made recently by those in charge of ZUDA at WWC are not their fault, being editors not trained PR representatives. but it is suspicious to me and to some others that given the importance, the size of the parent company involved and the IP rights at stake, that ZUDA/DC would be apparently reckless in it’s having these critical bases worked out before going public at all.

i also would tell you all that unlike all previous PR materials, the live date now apparently is not 10/07, but 10/08. no one was aware of this, but the ZUDA people seem to imply this was the idea all along. either way- it’s certainly more miscommunication- which leads to more questions, etc.

i encourage you all to read the forum/thread above and join in the discussion. i think it’s good for everyone to get some outside views.

]]> by: Jason Embury http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/10/even-more-on-zuda/#comment-257998 Fri, 13 Jul 2007 13:09:19 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/10/even-more-on-zuda/#comment-257998 Nice column Heidi. I don't always agree with you, but I think you really give this whole thing a spin worthy reading (and you make it easy for guys like me who don't have time to search out everything on their own too :D ) You hit it on the head with working in the whole "user generated content" thing too. I think the community that crops up around ZUDA is really what will be the true barometer of their success. Although, I'm sure if they can snag a few creators for some of their print books, develop one of their properties they pick up into some other form of media, that THEY'LL view it as a success too. There are a lot of things still unanswered, but I think that a lot of us younger creators, are happy that one of the Big 2 has finally decided to get involved. The 4:3 format is...intriguing I guess to me, because I can totally see it on an iPhone or other handheld device, and working well. I've also seen that format done well in webcomic form already, so it can be done. So long as that contract doesn't want 100% of the rights....they can really BUILD their community, I think they stand a good chance. Nice column Heidi. I don’t always agree with you, but I think you really give this whole thing a spin worthy reading (and you make it easy for guys like me who don’t have time to search out everything on their own too :D ) You hit it on the head with working in the whole “user generated content” thing too. I think the community that crops up around ZUDA is really what will be the true barometer of their success. Although, I’m sure if they can snag a few creators for some of their print books, develop one of their properties they pick up into some other form of media, that THEY’LL view it as a success too. There are a lot of things still unanswered, but I think that a lot of us younger creators, are happy that one of the Big 2 has finally decided to get involved. The 4:3 format is…intriguing I guess to me, because I can totally see it on an iPhone or other handheld device, and working well. I’ve also seen that format done well in webcomic form already, so it can be done. So long as that contract doesn’t want 100% of the rights….they can really BUILD their community, I think they stand a good chance.

]]> by: Foot2Mouth - A Mouth Kicking Comics and Gaming News Source » Blog Archive » DC Comics announces Zuda Comics Online Web Portal http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/10/even-more-on-zuda/#comment-253361 Thu, 12 Jul 2007 02:02:54 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/10/even-more-on-zuda/#comment-253361 [...] I have actually been debating all week how to properly synthesize this info for you the faithful Foot2mouth reader.  I was seriously overwhelmed by the massive amount of negative reaction to this. The Beat did a good job of chronicling the senseless negative reactions here and here and she even excerpts an interview with Paul Levitz here. Essentailly the online community of artists that has been producing comics just fine without DC’s portal for years is suspicious and occasionally downright rude about DC’s new initiative.   [...] […] I have actually been debating all week how to properly synthesize this info for you the faithful Foot2mouth reader.  I was seriously overwhelmed by the massive amount of negative reaction to this. The Beat did a good job of chronicling the senseless negative reactions here and here and she even excerpts an interview with Paul Levitz here. Essentailly the online community of artists that has been producing comics just fine without DC’s portal for years is suspicious and occasionally downright rude about DC’s new initiative.   […]

]]> by: Torsten Adair http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/10/even-more-on-zuda/#comment-249860 Tue, 10 Jul 2007 22:45:21 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/10/even-more-on-zuda/#comment-249860 Since I read the web on my cell phone, I haven't the opportunity to read all the hubbub. There is one model which might apply here: newspaper comic strips. Papers do not make any direct money on the strips, but they do attract readers. This translates into circulation and some cachet, which turns into advertising revenue and prestige. Will Zuda direct readers to DC? It seems that this is just New Talent Showcase 2.0 . Try talent on a cheap mode of production with less stringent deadlines. Develop relationships with the next Big Names now so that they will consider you in the future. Gain goodwill and prestige by offering a visible website for new talent and for webcomics as a medium. DC also gains experience with web content without making huge embarrassing costly mistakes. And for good or ill, everyone is now talking about DC. Since I read the web on my cell phone, I haven’t the opportunity to read all the hubbub. There is one model which might apply here: newspaper comic strips. Papers do not make any direct money on the strips, but they do attract readers. This translates into circulation and some cachet, which turns into advertising revenue and prestige. Will Zuda direct readers to DC?
It seems that this is just New Talent Showcase 2.0 . Try talent on a cheap mode of production with less stringent deadlines. Develop relationships with the next Big Names now so that they will consider you in the future. Gain goodwill and prestige by offering a visible website for new talent and for webcomics as a medium. DC also gains experience with web content without making huge embarrassing costly mistakes. And for good or ill, everyone is now talking about DC.

]]> by: Matt Bayne http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/10/even-more-on-zuda/#comment-249510 Tue, 10 Jul 2007 20:10:53 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/10/even-more-on-zuda/#comment-249510 Slashdot reports that according to Neilsen/Netratings, page hits are not necessarily the best metric for comparing sites. http://slashdot.org/articles/07/07/10/0012209.shtml I think it is reasonable to extend that to webcomics; that page hits may not necessarily be the only or best indicator of webcomic quality. Just as an example, I may spend 5 minutes or so a few times a month reading Penny Arcade, but that is vastly outweighed by the time I've spent staring dreamily at Jenn Manley Lee's Dicebox (www.dicebox.net). Hopefully this new metric will help level the field for webcomics that are better known for the quality of the aesthetic experience they provide than for their humor or page-click popularity. And hopefully Zudacomics (and others) will consider this as a factor in their tracking of which comics to bring on board. Slashdot reports that according to Neilsen/Netratings, page hits are not necessarily the best metric for comparing sites.

http://slashdot.org/articles/07/07/10/0012209.shtml

I think it is reasonable to extend that to webcomics; that page hits may not necessarily be the only or best indicator of webcomic quality. Just as an example, I may spend 5 minutes or so a few times a month reading Penny Arcade, but that is vastly outweighed by the time I’ve spent staring dreamily at Jenn Manley Lee’s Dicebox (www.dicebox.net). Hopefully this new metric will help level the field for webcomics that are better known for the quality of the aesthetic experience they provide than for their humor or page-click popularity. And hopefully Zudacomics (and others) will consider this as a factor in their tracking of which comics to bring on board.

]]> by: Michael Bowen http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/10/even-more-on-zuda/#comment-249458 Tue, 10 Jul 2007 19:49:07 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/10/even-more-on-zuda/#comment-249458 I like the idea of Zuda, it means more comics for me to look at. But I do wonder about all the people that are excited about it and getting submissions ready. Somebody may have pointed this out already, but why aren't the writers/artists already making webcomics? Why do they have to wait for DC? I like the idea of Zuda, it means more comics for me to look at. But I do wonder about all the people that are excited about it and getting submissions ready. Somebody may have pointed this out already, but why aren’t the writers/artists already making webcomics? Why do they have to wait for DC?

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