FCBD 2008

Cortland · Post by **Cortland** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 10:01 am

Hi, everybody. Remember me?

I haven't been around lately, as real-life has been keeping me busy, but I've been checking up and haven't seen anything so far on Free Comic Book Day 2008. I don't know if anybody has plans in mind for next year's book, but we had some amazing talents in the 2007 book and I know we have plenty more for next year's.

Is anybody else keeping tabs on this? I learned a lot from helping to put together last year's book, and I have some ideas for how to make the next one even better, but seeing as I've kind of disappeared from the community, we really should have some new members to take over for next year's book. I'll help however I can, of course. It was a joy to see some of the amazing artists here in print at local comic book shops, and with a little effort, we can do it again.

Who's up for it?

Prettysenshi · Post by **Prettysenshi** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 11:06 am

Well, I never participated, but let's try to make this one as professional as possibly. I think last year we got some crappy reviews or something about quality.

McDuffies · Post by **McDuffies** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 11:16 am

Hi, everybody. Remember me?

We aren't that old!

Well, maybe Warren.

Garneta · Post by **Garneta** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 4:06 pm

I'm up for doing it again this next year...not interested in running it, though! By the way, it's nice to see you again, Cort!

The Mortician · Post by **The Mortician** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 4:07 pm

I have no desire to participate in such a thing anymore. My "work" is not professional enough for print.

JTorch · Post by **JTorch** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 5:03 pm

I didn't make it in last year, but I'd love to participate this time if/when we find someone to actually run it.

Perk_daddy · Post by **Perk_daddy** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 8:56 pm

You did a great job with this year's book, Cort. I'd like to participate in next year's, too.

Dotty · Post by **Dotty** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 6:31 am

Where were the reviews about quality at? I'd love to read them.

Also, I never got my book from last year. If I participate this year, do I get a book this year? Can I have last years book then too?

Finally, just throwing this out there out of concern since I know you've definitely got an understanding of what you're doing, are you the right fella for the job, with your recent tendancy to disappear without a trace for months on end?

YOU BROKE MY HEART, CORTLAND

War · Post by **War** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 7:13 am

Both offerings from Comic Genesis and Legion of Evil Press featured samples of currently actice webcomics, ranging from a half a page to four printed pages in length, and reading both of these issues was one of the most breakneck experiences I've ever had this side of a comic book. Like two other issues I read today and will review later, I actually took the time to absorb each entry, each contributors' work more thoroughly rather than through this FCBD review marathon, I might have enjoyed these comics more, but as it stands, I don't think this format suits such an anthology. I'd recommend one or two webcomics titles' worth of "back issues," a solid issue's worth of strips that establish a flavor for this cyber genre, then supplemented by an appreciative essay (like many of these FCBD issues have) that explains the up-and-coming phenomenon further. As it stands, the Comic Genesis sampler was a very poor package, from its amateur content to its shameless solicitation for more.

Rkolter · Post by **Rkolter** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 8:44 am

Except that we aren't an up and coming phoenominon, we wanted to show a range of the comics that are available on ComicGenesis, we not only welcome but encourage new people to join, and a ComicGenesis "sampler" of one or two comics and their archives is not a sample of ComicGenesis. Not every review of the CG Sampler was quite this critical.

Shishio · Post by **Shishio** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 8:51 am

rkolter wrote:Except that we aren't an up and coming phoenominon, we wanted to show a range of the comics that are available on ComicGenesis, we not only welcome but encourage new people to join, and a ComicGenesis "sampler" of one or two comics and their archives is not a sample of ComicGenesis. Not every review of the CG Sampler was quite this critical.

I get that the point was to advertise the service, and logically speaking, the quality of the works of the cartoonists that use it should not reflect poorly on the service, but given that logic yields to emotions and impressions as far as many people's perceptions are concerned, it would make sense to strive for a quality book.

You know?

War · Post by **War** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 9:09 am

rkolter wrote:Except that we aren't an up and coming phoenominon, we wanted to show a range of the comics that are available on ComicGenesis, we not only welcome but encourage new people to join, and a ComicGenesis "sampler" of one or two comics and their archives is not a sample of ComicGenesis. Not every review of the CG Sampler was quite this critical.

It did miss the point of FCBD though.

Turnsky · Post by **Turnsky** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 9:11 am

well, to be fair, it's not like Comicgen has this vast pool of talent that can be used repeatedly without the same artist/comics being shown each year.
And it's not like the majority of decent artists here have the time or the energy to work on such things anyway.

Also, out of the "decent artist" pool, half of them could quite possibly be inactive, on hiatus, or just not interested in a bit of "Free advertising"..

An overall high quality book would be nice, but one must deal with the hand they're dealt with. the "F" in FCBD Stands for 'free', doesn't it? people get what they pay for

That said, I'll be sitting on the sidelines, this time around, Cort. If you absolutely need a space filled, i'll try and get something cooked up, but if you can give it to somebody else, do so.

Edit: Folks, to be really honest, we need to put out a really high quality product here, to try and shatter the overall (and fairly earnt) misconception that all webcomics are eyesores. Put forward the good of the community's appearance before one's ego.

Yeahduff · Post by **Yeahduff** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 11:44 am

War wrote:
rkolter wrote:Except that we aren't an up and coming phoenominon, we wanted to show a range of the comics that are available on ComicGenesis, we not only welcome but encourage new people to join, and a ComicGenesis "sampler" of one or two comics and their archives is not a sample of ComicGenesis. Not every review of the CG Sampler was quite this critical.
It did miss the point of FCBD though.

What is the point?

War · Post by **War** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 12:00 pm

FCBD is intended to help bring new readers into independent comic book stores. As a webcomic anthology, the keenspace sampler has never worked towards that goal. The same criticism gets aimed at Keenspot too.

Rkolter · Post by **Rkolter** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 12:16 pm

War wrote:FCBD is intended to help bring new readers into independent comic book stores. As a webcomic anthology, the keenspace sampler has never worked towards that goal. The same criticism gets aimed at Keenspot too.

Is that the sole reason for the FCBD? (I'm not being crass; I never knew the original reason behind it)

I always thought that point of the FCBD was to get people interested in comics (for those who weren't before), or in new comics (for those who like comics already). And that independant comic stores bought them and gave them away, because it brought people into their stores.

If you're right, then yeah. CG shouldn't be producing an FCBD at all - we have nothing to offer an independant comic book store, or certainly very little. In fact, we could be technically harming them by getting people to go online instead of buying paper comic books. If we did an FCBD at all, it would be a purely altruistic venture.

If I'm right, then our sampler does the same thing any other sampler does - it pulls people into the stores. It gets them interested in comics, and unlike other FCBD comics, it acts to bring new comic artists out by showing there's a whole community of people just like them - who try to draw, but aren't necessarily experts at it (with some clear exceptions).

War · Post by **War** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 12:32 pm

You have to remember that the stores that stock the free comics for FCBD do have to pay for them. They're intended as a way to get new people hooked on comics so that they keep on coming back to the store.
Admittedly it doesn't really do any harm, the people who pick up the CG sampler are most likely those who visit the store regularly anyway, due to it's more limited distribution. Same as a lot of the comics on FCBD probably. However, I doubt it helps any.

KWill · Post by **KWill** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 12:41 pm

rkolter wrote:... we not only welcome but encourage new people to join, ...

I'd be interested in submitting something, though that would depend on when. My comic is just starting up and I'm only just getting around to making the site presentable.

Yeahduff · Post by **Yeahduff** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 12:54 pm

War wrote:You have to remember that the stores that stock the free comics for FCBD do have to pay for them. They're intended as a way to get new people hooked on comics so that they keep on coming back to the store.
Admittedly it doesn't really do any harm, the people who pick up the CG sampler are most likely those who visit the store regularly anyway, due to it's more limited distribution. Same as a lot of the comics on FCBD probably. However, I doubt it helps any.

Nah, at least half of the story is getting people into the stores and into comics in general, something a CG book can certainly do. It won't have the impact of stuff by Marvel, but then it doesn't have to. Seems a weak criticism, really.

Keffria · Post by **Keffria** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 2:09 pm

I know this idea was tossed around last time, and I'd like to see it brought up again: What about, instead of just having people make one-to-two-page ads for their comics, we try to do something with a theme? Not necessarily a continuous story or anything (that might be a nightmare to organize with multiple artists), but maybe a series of short ones? If this means reducing the number of contributors in order to give four or five pages to a few select artists, so be it.

I know this comes across as harsh, and yes, I realize that I was involved in it, but last year's book was really just a series of advertisements. We can do better than that.