Comments on: The webcomics approach to printing http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/ The News Blog of Comics Culture Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:09:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: RaFT http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3498665 Sat, 01 Aug 2009 18:03:05 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3498665 i will get my hands on that book no matter what. i do hope it will be sold on bookstores though i will get my hands on that book no matter what.

i do hope it will be sold on bookstores though

]]> by: Digital Strips: The Webcomics Podcast http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3162793 Wed, 22 Apr 2009 02:25:42 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3162793 [...] It’s still big news when a webcomic attracts the attention of the New York Times, and this article, pondering the significance of Randall Munroe’s decision to self-publish the print version of xkcd, is certainly getting a lot of attention. Oddly, they seem to regard the notion of a creator self-publishing a print comic as some sort of novelty. The article drew a bemused reaction from Tom Spurgeon at The Comics Reporter but evoked some vitriol from commenters at The Beat. [...] […] It’s still big news when a webcomic attracts the attention of the New York Times, and this article, pondering the significance of Randall Munroe’s decision to self-publish the print version of xkcd, is certainly getting a lot of attention. Oddly, they seem to regard the notion of a creator self-publishing a print comic as some sort of novelty. The article drew a bemused reaction from Tom Spurgeon at The Comics Reporter but evoked some vitriol from commenters at The Beat. […]

]]> by: Bill http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3161251 Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:52:44 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3161251 It always happens that a day or later I end up coming back to this one realization anytime the whole print/web/doom/creators/market/future discussion comes up, whether it be in comics, which is some ways can serve as a microcosm for the larger medias (or the equivalent of the arctic in global warming indication -nyah!) but I woke up today and realized that whoever figures out exactly what the future is going to be, how its going to work, and what is going to happen to everything else, is not likely to tell the rest of us. They are going to set about making the future happen and release it and it's just going to seep into the world, and like a flash we'll all see it for what it is and it will be like so much dignity as drawn by Luann VanHouten. It always happens that a day or later I end up coming back to this one realization anytime the whole print/web/doom/creators/market/future discussion comes up, whether it be in comics, which is some ways can serve as a microcosm for the larger medias (or the equivalent of the arctic in global warming indication -nyah!) but I woke up today and realized that whoever figures out exactly what the future is going to be, how its going to work, and what is going to happen to everything else, is not likely to tell the rest of us.

They are going to set about making the future happen and release it and it’s just going to seep into the world, and like a flash we’ll all see it for what it is and it will be like so much dignity as drawn by Luann VanHouten.

]]> by: Gerry Giovinco http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3160397 Tue, 21 Apr 2009 03:41:00 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3160397 Please look at the title of this thread and do not be confused by a bias with some of the content. "The webcomics approach to printing," in its most bare bones, is a lean, mean, business model for publishing that in the hands of a webcomic artist, especially one with the following of Randall Munroe's xkcd, is perfect. I can speak with enough experience, having published Comico comics, having authored books published by Carol and Kensington, and by having self published PODs on Lulu, this model WORKS. Creators put control in their own hands. They have an ability to reach a target audience. The capital risk is dramatically minimized. The return on each book is dramatically increased. The e-commerce is built into the POD provider's "storefront" as well as the shipping leaving creators free to create. POD providers usually have a vehicle for ISBN numbers that also allow the books published to be available to booksellers and distributors. Self publishers are not stuck with a garage full of books that may never sell. Creators do not have to wait for quarterly or semi-annual accountings and tolerate royalties that are pennies on the dollar. Books can stay in print forever. Other than promoting the product and providing the content, there is NO out of pocket printing expense! The POD to an established niche market, which successful webcomics are, makes perfect sense. The successful POD always has the option of being picked up by a bigger publisher later. The biggest perk would probably be the nice advance at the beginning but my bet will be that there will be long-term disappointment with the size of the royalties and the lack of control over the property itself. The landscape to publishing and marketing comics is changing and the power is finally in the hands of the creators. It is time to celebrate. This is the culmination of the independent revolution and the future is bright. Good Luck, Randall! Please look at the title of this thread and do not be confused by a bias with some of the content. “The webcomics approach to printing,” in its most bare bones, is a lean, mean, business model for publishing that in the hands of a webcomic artist, especially one with the following of Randall Munroe’s xkcd, is perfect.

I can speak with enough experience, having published Comico comics, having authored books published by Carol and Kensington, and by having self published PODs on Lulu, this model WORKS.

Creators put control in their own hands. They have an ability to reach a target audience. The capital risk is dramatically minimized. The return on each book is dramatically increased. The e-commerce is built into the POD provider’s “storefront” as well as the shipping leaving creators free to create. POD providers usually have a vehicle for ISBN numbers that also allow the books published to be available to booksellers and distributors.

Self publishers are not stuck with a garage full of books that may never sell. Creators do not have to wait for quarterly or semi-annual accountings and tolerate royalties that are pennies on the dollar. Books can stay in print forever. Other than promoting the product and providing the content, there is NO out of pocket printing expense! The POD to an established niche market, which successful webcomics are, makes perfect sense.

The successful POD always has the option of being picked up by a bigger publisher later. The biggest perk would probably be the nice advance at the beginning but my bet will be that there will be long-term disappointment with the size of the royalties and the lack of control over the property itself.

The landscape to publishing and marketing comics is changing and the power is finally in the hands of the creators. It is time to celebrate. This is the culmination of the independent revolution and the future is bright.

Good Luck, Randall!

]]> by: Brandon http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3160157 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:58:04 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3160157 If you guys think you have problems in the big US of A, kindly spare a thought for a lonely creator down here in tiny South Africa where there isn’t even one graphic novel publisher. I only wish I could have your problems and challenges. You guys are light years ahead of us here, and by light years I mean, (a) you’re aware that graphic novels exist at all and (b) you have fans and a growing market to support them. Over here I don’t even have the luxury of debating future business models, POD and new methods of delivery, I have no choice but to self-publish, and then have to put up with people running in the other direction because they think I’m selling a graphic (as in, explicit and extremely violent) novel. But fortunately with the limited penetration of broadband internet, print will still be king for the foreseeable future. Or is that unfortunately? If you guys think you have problems in the big US of A, kindly spare a thought for a lonely creator down here in tiny South Africa where there isn’t even one graphic novel publisher. I only wish I could have your problems and challenges. You guys are light years ahead of us here, and by light years I mean, (a) you’re aware that graphic novels exist at all and (b) you have fans and a growing market to support them.

Over here I don’t even have the luxury of debating future business models, POD and new methods of delivery, I have no choice but to self-publish, and then have to put up with people running in the other direction because they think I’m selling a graphic (as in, explicit and extremely violent) novel. But fortunately with the limited penetration of broadband internet, print will still be king for the foreseeable future. Or is that unfortunately?

]]> by: Todd Allen http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3160140 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:40:49 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3160140 The rule of thumb for online content is ~1% of your audience will buy something. 10,000 copies would be 1% of a 1 million readership. Seems reasonable, if not a hair conservative. The rule of thumb for online content is ~1% of your audience will buy something. 10,000 copies would be 1% of a 1 million readership. Seems reasonable, if not a hair conservative.

]]> by: Lowest Common Denominator http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3160116 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:26:48 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3160116 No one ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public. No one ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public.

]]> by: Rivkah http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3160031 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 22:30:04 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3160031 And to show how recognizable this comic is: I had two people come up to me in the middle of responding that recognized the sample strip instantly and wanted to talk about how cool it is he's publishing it this way. People NOT in comics and NOT in the book industry. But tech, science, and net geeks that follow it loyally, both who have absolutely no doubts that they'll be buying it. And undoubtedly passing it on or recommending it to other friends who just might get it, too. Word of mouth is so much more efficient ... and free! ;) And to show how recognizable this comic is: I had two people come up to me in the middle of responding that recognized the sample strip instantly and wanted to talk about how cool it is he’s publishing it this way. People NOT in comics and NOT in the book industry. But tech, science, and net geeks that follow it loyally, both who have absolutely no doubts that they’ll be buying it. And undoubtedly passing it on or recommending it to other friends who just might get it, too.

Word of mouth is so much more efficient … and free! ;)

]]> by: Rivkah http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3159973 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:46:59 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3159973 I'd also like to point out that with the economy currently the way it is, self publishing is sounding more and more appealing to creators like myself. If Munroe does well with this print run, it'll hopefully set a fine precedent for other creators to follow. In traditional book publishing, many authors stress the benefit of finding your niche audience and marketing directly to them instead of to the mass market, because sometimes the material just isn't appropriate for a wider audience. But if you're a niche, more often than not, your audience is already at least seeking your genre/specialty out. And there are order fulfillment companies out there who operate on pennies, so even if something really picks up, it's not like you'd be whiling the rest of you days away packing and shipping books. Or just freakin' hire an assistant/secretary/minimum-wage-high-school-student, because if orders are really that out of hand, you can afford it. And stuffing envelopes is like . . . every student's DREAM job. Used to stuff envelopes for companies and listen to my language courses at the same time, myself. :) I’d also like to point out that with the economy currently the way it is, self publishing is sounding more and more appealing to creators like myself. If Munroe does well with this print run, it’ll hopefully set a fine precedent for other creators to follow. In traditional book publishing, many authors stress the benefit of finding your niche audience and marketing directly to them instead of to the mass market, because sometimes the material just isn’t appropriate for a wider audience. But if you’re a niche, more often than not, your audience is already at least seeking your genre/specialty out.

And there are order fulfillment companies out there who operate on pennies, so even if something really picks up, it’s not like you’d be whiling the rest of you days away packing and shipping books. Or just freakin’ hire an assistant/secretary/minimum-wage-high-school-student, because if orders are really that out of hand, you can afford it. And stuffing envelopes is like . . . every student’s DREAM job. Used to stuff envelopes for companies and listen to my language courses at the same time, myself. :)

]]> by: Rivkah http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3159960 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:28:28 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3159960 <i>"...there will be those who would love his book and not even know about it."</i> Really? A web comic that is targeted specifically at net geeks? NOT knowing about xkcd? Which is basically about net geeks? And I really don't see someone like my mother even remotely interested in this. Nor anyone I know who doesn't use the internet on a regular basis and already know about the strip. Sure, this may not be the best move for other creators, but IMHO, in this situation, it's perfect. I simply can't see this strip selling anywhere else, and it's obvious its creators sees that, too. Smart man. Keep it to your niche and cut out any potential losses from overprinting your books and getting way too many returns. “…there will be those who would love his book and not even know about it.”

Really? A web comic that is targeted specifically at net geeks? NOT knowing about xkcd? Which is basically about net geeks?

And I really don’t see someone like my mother even remotely interested in this. Nor anyone I know who doesn’t use the internet on a regular basis and already know about the strip. Sure, this may not be the best move for other creators, but IMHO, in this situation, it’s perfect. I simply can’t see this strip selling anywhere else, and it’s obvious its creators sees that, too.

Smart man. Keep it to your niche and cut out any potential losses from overprinting your books and getting way too many returns.

]]> by: Rivkah http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3159954 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:21:58 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3159954 Just posted my own thoughts at my journal: http://lilrivkah.livejournal.com/283513.html Hopefully there'll be some more interesting content to add to the discussion. :) Just posted my own thoughts at my journal: http://lilrivkah.livejournal.com/283513.html

Hopefully there’ll be some more interesting content to add to the discussion. :)

]]> by: Chris Crosby http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3159914 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 20:53:10 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3159914 "If Munroe is able to sell even 500 copies of his book (and having an idea of his following, my bet is he sells more than that his first week), he will have already made more money off of those sales than he would have going through a traditional publishing house and selling 10,000 copies." And considering webcomics with less than 5% of Munroe's daily readership have no trouble selling 500 copies of their collections, my guess is he'll blow through 500 sales in a matter of HOURS, not days or weeks. Heck, maybe even minutes. “If Munroe is able to sell even 500 copies of his book (and having an idea of his following, my bet is he sells more than that his first week), he will have already made more money off of those sales than he would have going through a traditional publishing house and selling 10,000 copies.”

And considering webcomics with less than 5% of Munroe’s daily readership have no trouble selling 500 copies of their collections, my guess is he’ll blow through 500 sales in a matter of HOURS, not days or weeks.

Heck, maybe even minutes.

]]> by: Kate Fitzsimons http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3159913 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 20:53:06 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3159913 ... There are people who know how to comment on a blog who haven't heard of xkcd? I don't think I *know* anyone online who hasn't heard of xkcd. I thought it was universal, like Calvin and Hobbes or something. … There are people who know how to comment on a blog who haven’t heard of xkcd?

I don’t think I *know* anyone online who hasn’t heard of xkcd. I thought it was universal, like Calvin and Hobbes or something.

]]> by: Kelson http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3159881 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 20:30:13 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3159881 Never heard of Fred Basset. My favorite webcomics right now are Girl Genius, Something Positive, Punch an' Pie, Real Life and (yes) xkcd. Never heard of Fred Basset. My favorite webcomics right now are Girl Genius, Something Positive, Punch an’ Pie, Real Life and (yes) xkcd.

]]> by: Matt Maxwell http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3159852 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 20:12:15 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3159852 I like the hostility. As they say in World of Warcraft: "Your tears sustain me." I like the hostility. As they say in World of Warcraft: “Your tears sustain me.”

]]> by: Brian Warmoth http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3159822 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 19:51:44 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3159822 Kind of. I mean that's the thing. However well one thinks the system is working, it's definitely not pre-configured to accommodate his already highly successful webcomic that's made its name on coding and very science/tech-nerd-oriented jokes. Jon, Ryan North and R. Stevens and a load of other creators have been doing just fine using this model and making their livings off of it for a few years now. Of course, webcomics like Girl Genius probably have a lot more to gain through gaming and fantasy audiences, but I think the self-distribution models that have been evolving for webcomics for several years now are already at the point where they're almost a standard you have reject in favor of a favorable targeted publisher and/or distributor who know how to handle marketing your comics better than you to people you can't already reach. Kind of. I mean that’s the thing. However well one thinks the system is working, it’s definitely not pre-configured to accommodate his already highly successful webcomic that’s made its name on coding and very science/tech-nerd-oriented jokes.

Jon, Ryan North and R. Stevens and a load of other creators have been doing just fine using this model and making their livings off of it for a few years now. Of course, webcomics like Girl Genius probably have a lot more to gain through gaming and fantasy audiences, but I think the self-distribution models that have been evolving for webcomics for several years now are already at the point where they’re almost a standard you have reject in favor of a favorable targeted publisher and/or distributor who know how to handle marketing your comics better than you to people you can’t already reach.

]]> by: Christine http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3159820 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 19:48:50 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3159820 I read both print and online comics. this past week, I plunked down coin for David Malki's "Clever Tricks to Stave off Death" despite the fact that I read it every day online. I also got R. Stevens collection "Crush All Humans". I like good creators and I will probably buy the xkcd book when it comes out. To answer Heidi, other online comics I read, plenty of things on Act-i-vate, Achewood, Questionable Content, Dinosaur Comics, Get Your War On (I also have those books), SMB, Medium Large, Hark a Vagrant...I can go on yet I still manage to spend at least $12 or more at the comics shop. I like that folks like xkcd and other web creators know their audience and know that a collection would sell. It's the future of indie comics and magazines. Publishing on Demand is the next big business model and maybe more comics will start moving towards that. I read both print and online comics. this past week, I plunked down coin for David Malki’s “Clever Tricks to Stave off Death” despite the fact that I read it every day online. I also got R. Stevens collection “Crush All Humans”. I like good creators and I will probably buy the xkcd book when it comes out.

To answer Heidi, other online comics I read, plenty of things on Act-i-vate, Achewood, Questionable Content, Dinosaur Comics, Get Your War On (I also have those books), SMB, Medium Large, Hark a Vagrant…I can go on yet I still manage to spend at least $12 or more at the comics shop.

I like that folks like xkcd and other web creators know their audience and know that a collection would sell. It’s the future of indie comics and magazines. Publishing on Demand is the next big business model and maybe more comics will start moving towards that.

]]> by: Bill http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3159807 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 19:41:13 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3159807 Everyone is just plain silly and Bill Hicks died too young. God I hate Fred Bassett. xkcd has been for me the long awaited follow-up to The Far Side and Calvin &#38; Hobbs, which while lacking some of the rendering ability, is still emotive and often enough clever and humorous. I find reading xkcd more rewarding when considered along with Buddhist notions of impermanence, and I have to think a high, and if unintentional, organic appreciation for wabi-sabi - the japanese regard for imperfection, is also pretty well ingrained. Othertimes it is just downright funny. Someday we'll all be rocketships, computers, or webcomics anyway. Until then more xkcd, more act-i-vate, and more slithy toves. Everyone is just plain silly and Bill Hicks died too young.

God I hate Fred Bassett. xkcd has been for me the long awaited follow-up to The Far Side and Calvin & Hobbs, which while lacking some of the rendering ability, is still emotive and often enough clever and humorous.

I find reading xkcd more rewarding when considered along with Buddhist notions of impermanence, and I have to think a high, and if unintentional, organic appreciation for wabi-sabi - the japanese regard for imperfection, is also pretty well ingrained. Othertimes it is just downright funny.

Someday we’ll all be rocketships, computers, or webcomics anyway. Until then more xkcd, more act-i-vate, and more slithy toves.

]]> by: Heidi M. http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3159803 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 19:38:29 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3159803 Brian, so Munroe must be "the prophet of a new way of thinking that isn’t ground down by a system that obviously isn’t working any more. " Brian, so Munroe must be “the prophet of a new way of thinking that isn’t ground down by a system that obviously isn’t working any more. “

]]> by: Brian Warmoth http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3159798 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 19:31:59 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3159798 I think Jon and Maija nailed it. xkcd already has a fantastic audience that's bigger than standard comic book readerships. It's fueled by almost dependable Digg front-page appearances for his new posts and lots of high-quality geek word of mouth. If he can cut out the middleman and sell directly to his audience (who are already reading the comic where he's selling it), why would he want to sacrifice percentages to get into a distribution model that's not targeted toward his market? The way it stands, if someone knows what xkcd is, they can buy it. And given the nature of his material, I would be really surprised to learn that there's a huge market awaiting him who isn't already online -- let alone one large enough to justify sacrificing his profits he could be keeping. Maybe I'm wrong. I think Jon and Maija nailed it. xkcd already has a fantastic audience that’s bigger than standard comic book readerships. It’s fueled by almost dependable Digg front-page appearances for his new posts and lots of high-quality geek word of mouth. If he can cut out the middleman and sell directly to his audience (who are already reading the comic where he’s selling it), why would he want to sacrifice percentages to get into a distribution model that’s not targeted toward his market?

The way it stands, if someone knows what xkcd is, they can buy it. And given the nature of his material, I would be really surprised to learn that there’s a huge market awaiting him who isn’t already online — let alone one large enough to justify sacrificing his profits he could be keeping. Maybe I’m wrong.

]]> by: Darren J. Gendron http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3159793 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 19:26:52 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3159793 I'm not sure this is a matter of "a long line of naive creators who don’t want to look at numbers." Munroe gets more readers in a single day than any book printed by DC or Marvel has had in the past 10 years, so getting the "eyeballs" isn't really that big of a problem for him. His material is also extremely nerdy and a perfect fit to the web-savvy, who are already buying things online. Meanwhile, the HUGE advantage of selling a book through your own site is that if an add-on purchase is made, it will also be your own product. Financially, what do other retailers offer? As for my favorite comic strip (limiting me to comics that use the strip format), I'd have to go with The System (http://www.notquitewrong.com/rosscottinc/) I’m not sure this is a matter of “a long line of naive creators who don’t want to look at numbers.” Munroe gets more readers in a single day than any book printed by DC or Marvel has had in the past 10 years, so getting the “eyeballs” isn’t really that big of a problem for him. His material is also extremely nerdy and a perfect fit to the web-savvy, who are already buying things online.
Meanwhile, the HUGE advantage of selling a book through your own site is that if an add-on purchase is made, it will also be your own product.
Financially, what do other retailers offer?
As for my favorite comic strip (limiting me to comics that use the strip format), I’d have to go with The System (http://www.notquitewrong.com/rosscottinc/)

]]> by: Heidi M. http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3159770 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 19:09:33 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3159770 Are there any Beat readers whose favorite comic strip is NOT Fred Bassett? Just wonderin'. Are there any Beat readers whose favorite comic strip is NOT Fred Bassett?

Just wonderin’.

]]> by: maija http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3159733 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:46:41 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3159733 oops, *"xkcd gets shared around by email" oops, *”xkcd gets shared around by email”

]]> by: maija http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3159729 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:44:15 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3159729 Everyone has to keep in mind that Munroe isn't some guy who has yearned his whole life to be a published cartoonist, slaving away at his craft, sending off hundreds of submissions to publishers and syndicates and getting back hundreds of rejection letters, printing ashcans on a photocopier and sitting in Artists' Alley hoping to make back his table fee. Munroe is a programmer who one day was cleaning out old papers, found a bunch of funny doodles he had done and decided to post them online. People liked them, so he made more. He began selling merchandise. <B>He already lives off of the sales of merchandise alone</b>. You worry about him "reaching new readers" by not being available in bookstores or libraries? xkcd gets shared them around by email and social networks and quoted ad nauseam in forum discussions and arguments. He gets <I>70 million</I> hits per month. He has never existed inside of the comic production and marketing model you know and has been quite successful in spite of that. Why should he engage it now? Everyone has to keep in mind that Munroe isn’t some guy who has yearned his whole life to be a published cartoonist, slaving away at his craft, sending off hundreds of submissions to publishers and syndicates and getting back hundreds of rejection letters, printing ashcans on a photocopier and sitting in Artists’ Alley hoping to make back his table fee.

Munroe is a programmer who one day was cleaning out old papers, found a bunch of funny doodles he had done and decided to post them online. People liked them, so he made more. He began selling merchandise. He already lives off of the sales of merchandise alone. You worry about him “reaching new readers” by not being available in bookstores or libraries? xkcd gets shared them around by email and social networks and quoted ad nauseam in forum discussions and arguments. He gets 70 million hits per month.

He has never existed inside of the comic production and marketing model you know and has been quite successful in spite of that. Why should he engage it now?

]]> by: Oliver http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3159684 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:01:03 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3159684 Torstein, Well said, as always -hey, maybe Dave Sim's model is the future:) In any case, all I know about the strip is that it's crazy popular among my son and his friends -and even his math teacher. Torstein,
Well said, as always -hey, maybe Dave Sim’s model is the future:)
In any case, all I know about the strip is that it’s crazy popular among my son and his friends -and even his math teacher.

]]> by: Tommy Raiko http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3159680 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:55:30 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3159680 To take another example of a self-published, sell-direct-to-my-existing-fans-and-don't-worry-about-traditional-bookstore-and-library-markets project, J. Michael Straczynski has used a similar model to publish the screenplays for Babylon 5, and similar for-B5-fans books. In 2006, this endeavor was written up in no less than <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techinnovations/2006-06-04-print-on-demand_x.htm" rel="nofollow">USA Today</a> in a "future of publishing" story. That story claimed that the project may be have come to $1.5 million in sales. Even with a fair chunk of that going to a POD printer, one imagines that JMS was left with a fair return on his investment of time and treasure. In the end, it depends on what the creator wants and what he/she can reasonably expect. If this creator can indeed sell a print version to existing fans of the webcomic, and if he doesn't particularly care about whatever prospects of reaching new readers through conventional bookstores and libraries, then this ought to work great for him. Others may want other things, and may opt for other arrangements. To take another example of a self-published, sell-direct-to-my-existing-fans-and-don’t-worry-about-traditional-bookstore-and-library-markets project, J. Michael Straczynski has used a similar model to publish the screenplays for Babylon 5, and similar for-B5-fans books. In 2006, this endeavor was written up in no less than USA Today in a “future of publishing” story. That story claimed that the project may be have come to $1.5 million in sales. Even with a fair chunk of that going to a POD printer, one imagines that JMS was left with a fair return on his investment of time and treasure.

In the end, it depends on what the creator wants and what he/she can reasonably expect. If this creator can indeed sell a print version to existing fans of the webcomic, and if he doesn’t particularly care about whatever prospects of reaching new readers through conventional bookstores and libraries, then this ought to work great for him. Others may want other things, and may opt for other arrangements.

]]> by: Jimmy Robinson http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3159653 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:25:47 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3159653 Torsten, well said. I applaud him for taking his webcomic by the horns, but he will limit his audience. If he's okay with that then godspeed, but there will be those who would love his book and not even know about it. He has the ability to reach more, if he wants. Perhaps that's a second-stage for the future. Knowing the business side of art doesn't mean selling one's soul. Torsten, well said.
I applaud him for taking his webcomic by the horns, but he will limit his audience. If he’s okay with that then godspeed, but there will be those who would love his book and not even know about it. He has the ability to reach more, if he wants. Perhaps that’s a second-stage for the future.

Knowing the business side of art doesn’t mean selling one’s soul.

]]> by: tone http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3159637 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:11:33 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3159637 I keep finding myself going back and forth and reading this strip and trying to give it a real chance. There is one lingering thought that keeps going through my head. Since when did they do a strip based on Simon Templar? http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/0a/SaintLogo.png I keep finding myself going back and forth and reading this strip and trying to give it a real chance. There is one lingering thought that keeps going through my head. Since when did they do a strip based on Simon Templar?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/0a/SaintLogo.png

]]> by: Torsten Adair http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3159629 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:02:44 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3159629 Ah, so his book will not be available to the big guys, which means that Amazon's and BN's and Borders' websites can't recommend the book to people buying similar titles, like "Piled Higher and Deeper" or "User Friendly". Which also means that the Geek Diaspora working in bookstores can't handsell the book to customers. That university bookstores will be less likely to carry the book. That many libraries won't acquire the book. I understand him wanting to sell the book directly from his website. Hopefully he has staff to handle the workload. Selling direct is not a new concept, Dave Sim caught bloody hell from retailers when his collected editions were only available via mail order. What Mr. Monroe should consider is what Studio Foglio does, which is sell advance orders with an extra attached (in this case, a signed bookplate). Or sell the book exclusive on the XKCD website for six months, then offer it to comics and bookstores. Test that market for one year, and see if sales support the added expense. Ah, so his book will not be available to the big guys, which means that Amazon’s and BN’s and Borders’ websites can’t recommend the book to people buying similar titles, like “Piled Higher and Deeper” or “User Friendly”.

Which also means that the Geek Diaspora working in bookstores can’t handsell the book to customers. That university bookstores will be less likely to carry the book. That many libraries won’t acquire the book.

I understand him wanting to sell the book directly from his website. Hopefully he has staff to handle the workload.

Selling direct is not a new concept, Dave Sim caught bloody hell from retailers when his collected editions were only available via mail order. What Mr. Monroe should consider is what Studio Foglio does, which is sell advance orders with an extra attached (in this case, a signed bookplate). Or sell the book exclusive on the XKCD website for six months, then offer it to comics and bookstores. Test that market for one year, and see if sales support the added expense.

]]> by: Lowest Common Denominator http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3159592 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:16:10 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/04/20/the-webcomics-approach-to-printing/#comment-3159592 I think he should dispense with the stick figures, replacing them with his own ink-stained fingerprints. Much faster. I think he should dispense with the stick figures, replacing them with his own ink-stained fingerprints. Much faster.

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