Webcomics Weekly, Episode 75

Dave, Scott and Brad discuss Scott's recent dust-up over The Economist's piece on The Oatmeal. We discuss what makes a comic a comic and how we've become unapologetic comics snobs.

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Lightboxes: Three solutions

Many of us who still throw ink (in lieu of pixels), use a lightbox. It helps when drawing repeated images accurately. And it helps when you're using photographic reference.

However, lightboxes can be expensive and/or difficult to find.

Here are three possible solutions to getting a lightbox for your studio.

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About those Createspace ISBNs...

A short time ago, I posted a Mailbag question about POD printing, and a tangental discussion developed about using Createspace (an Amazon.com company) to buy an ISBN.

Createspace's options are detailed on their site, but here's an overview:

1. Createspace can assign you an ISBN, but they will be listed as the publisher
2. Createspace offers a Custom ISBN for $10. You will be listed as the imprint, but only Createspace may distribute the book.
3. Createspace offeres a Custom Universal ISBN for $99. You are listed as the imprint, and you have your choice of distribution options.
4. You may buy your own ISBNs from Bowker. You can buy one for $125 or 10 for $250 ($25 apiece).

My own personal recommendation had always been to buy your own ISBNs from Bowker. Bowker is the only official source for ISBNs.  I never, ever wanted to face a situation in which I have a successful book on my hands and I am blocked from distributing it because I cheaped-out on a third-party ISBN.

However, I wanted to get some more information about the Createspace ISBNs. Their page differentiated between publishers and imprints, and I just wasn't comfortable with what I was seeing. So I went to the source: R.R. Bowker. The response was enlightening:

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Predictions for 2011

As the digital publishing landscape changes, I'd like to offer a few predictions for the coming year. Feel free to add your own.

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Because it needs to be said...

Thank you.

I was doing a little looking back today, and it really hit me hard.

This site. What we do here. What this has become.

On January 4th, I converted this site to a subscription site with the support and help of Robert Khoo and Scott Kurtz.

And the response was overwhelmingly negative. Competitors sprung out of the woodwork. People wrote long posts decrying my horrible decision. And angry e-mails were written.

And, in the midst of all that, you guys subscribed.

And as the year progressed, and as I unveiled exclusive membership benefits, and as the Private Forums became a place for high-level discussion of webcomics among serious cartoonists... more and more of you came.

And as more new subscribers arrived, I knew we had built something amazing here.

I could approach companies like Transcontinental, Reed Exhibitions and Blue Line Pro and boast an impressive membership list, saying "if you're willing to offer a discount, I can deliver your message to a large, concentrated pool of potential clients."

And here we are, on the threshold of a new year. And according to almost everybody, we weren't supposed to make it to the end of this one.

As we enter the second year of Webcomics.com, I'm prepared to see some of you leave, and I want to say that while I'm sorry to see you go, I'm thrilled that you gave it a chance.

For those of you who are continuing your subscription, I can only say that I will continue to work my ass off to bring you the best site I possibly can in return for the confidence you've shown in this site.

So thank you.

Thanks for helping to shush the critics and the naysayers.

Thanks for helping your fellow webcartoonists out throughout the year.

Thanks for the debate, the discussion, the laughter and the insight.

And best wishes for a happy, healthy, prosperous New Year.

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