Comments on: Webcomics Weekly News Roundup – October 14, 2008

By: Corey Pandolph

Corey Pandolph — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 17:34:59 +0000

I’m already enjoying this more than the other “Webcomics Weekly”.

All the news without the snark. Very refreshing.

By: Howard Tayler

Howard Tayler — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 00:27:49 +0000

Disappointing? I consider myself fairly plugged in to the Webcomics scene, and almost everything on this list was news to me. I thought this was a “slow news week,” and Alan found all kinds of cool stuff going on.

By: Steve Markum

Steve Markum — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 15:55:40 +0000

Unfortunately, The Roundup turned out to be a bit disappointing for me. I thought it would be more in-depth… and not just links.

By: Howard Tayler

Howard Tayler — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 15:42:03 +0000

Most of the webtoonists I swap email with are already well aware of the horrible nature of the Zuda contracts. They’re an IP farm, pure and simple.

Some of us (not me) have blogged negatively about Zuda, trying to put the word out, but the fact is there are thousands of aspiring comic book creators out there for whom Zuda really is the best option they can hope for. More’s the pity. There’s some good stuff out there that deserves a better home.

Re: Randall Munroe and YouTube — this is the second or third time Mr. Munroe has quipped something brilliant and set things in motion. The first I can remember is his strip about gluing chess-pieces to the board so that you can get a good picture of yourself playing chess on a roller-coaster. There are hundreds of such pictures now on the web.

By: John Moore

John Moore — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 15:17:23 +0000

Ted is sooooooooooooo right. CN wants the Zuda content BECAUSE they don’t have to deal with the artist.

Zuda is a good idea but the contracts are SLAVERY bigtime.

That said, I think this shows that all of the “action” is in the comics/graphic novel arena. It’s amazing that Zuda content is going from “webcomic” to cable TV in less than 4 years time.

This content didn’t even bother going the “dead tree” route.

This development should make cartoonist and NEWSPAPERS rethink the whole “webcomic” thang.

Maybe newspapers need to include webcomics on thier websites. I don’t mean linking to Penny Arcade, I mean create a webcomic JUST for say, The Indianapolis Star or Washingtion Post? Can’t hurt to try, imho.

By: Karen Drastal

Karen Drastal — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 21:48:10 +0000

I’m loving the Round Up! Thanks for bringing so many great links together in one place!

By: Ted Dawson

Ted Dawson — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:46:00 +0000

Unfortunately, Zuda has an awful rights agreement and is taking advantage of creators:

“2. GRANT OF RIGHTS. … You grant and assign to Zuda … all rights in and to the Material … The Rights include the following:

“(a) All print and electronic publication rights, audio and/or visual recording and reproduction rights (including motion picture, television and radio rights), merchandising rights, computer software and multi-media rights, Internet and mobile device rights, live stage rights and commercial tie-in rights …

“(b) The right to prepare and use and/or license the use of all Versions of the Material … including in combination with elements from other properties. …

“(d) The right to edit, alter, revise and make any and all changes to any Versions of the Material, including making necessary additions thereto and deletions therefrom…”

Never trust any contract that uses the word “therefrom…”

By: Rich Diesslin

Rich Diesslin — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 05:22:18 +0000

Thanks for doing these. Interesting news.

By: Miles Grover

Miles Grover — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 03:18:17 +0000

Youtube has in fact already implemented audio previews for comments.

By: T.J. Hill

T.J. Hill — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 23:37:07 +0000

ditto and ditto!