I wonder if there’d be a market for a comic strip called “The Floozies…”

Not to be contrarian part deux but how do any of these things put money in creators pockets? Nothing you mentioned are revenue making ventures that advance REAL issues like pricing, rights or alternative marketplaces. Yes they can be fun to look at but if I’m going to devote my time to something I’d like to know it has some commercial appeal and will generate a revenue stream. Otherwise it’s a bit of a waste of time and resources.

I’d prefer artists go to art schools and tell emerging artists how to price their work and retain their rights as opposed to how to draw anthropomorphic cats. Why it’s a good idea not to give work away for free on the net. How to negotiate with a syndicate and protect yourself from exploitative practices like Comics Sherpa or stock houses. How its a good idea to diversify and not put all your creative eggs into one basket.

We’re in the hole we’re in because we allowed it to happen. I don’t think we can put the toothpaste back into that tube but suggesting drawing the worlds largest comic strip does anything than promote that particular strip is a non starter.

I like that you’re a contrarian, Darrin.

Actually, the world isn’t the problem so much as the U.S.

“A” cartoonist could do several things, but cartoonists together could accomplish even more. A couple of things I have seen… Tom Gimmell’s “Floozies” YouTube videos… Michael Jantze’s “audio” comics… Guy Gilchrist’s cartoon school… Mort Walker’s “The Best of Times”…

Other things might be doing a special comic book for Free Comic Book Day (which started out as the awful “Cartoonist Appreciation Day” and was borrowed and improved upon by comic book cartoonists); tapping into overlooked segments of the newspaper market; doing worthwhile community projects at the annual NCS events; attending comic book conventions; attending college newspaper conventions (the newspapermen of tomorrow); attending NAA conventions; staying in contact with newspaper clients; going on morning talk shows; making strips more interactive, finding ways to get readers involved beyond reading the strip; quit giving away comics on the internet; publicity stunts (like Mark Pett’s world’s largest comic strip); adding a “throwaway” panel or two into one’s strip to start encouraging newspapers to run larger comics; hiring a PR agent; occasionally making personalized comic strips for particular cities/newspapers.

Cartoonists are creative people. I just think more of it needs to be channeled toward healing a bruised industry.

Roger Langridge is a peerless cartoonist, and while I have my own doubts that anyone really wants a Muppets comic book, I’m sure it’s going to be great-looking.

Not to be contrarian, but what exactly could a cartoonist do (other than making a great comic strip) to convince the world otherwise? For the last few years, I’ve worn a powdered wig and ruffles whenever I draw and it’s done nothing to elevate the artform, so I don’t know what will.

TMNT was originally a comic book, I believe.

Disney comics did pretty well for quite a long time… The Star Wars comic books of the 70s virtually saved Marvel Comics… It really depends on whether they have studio artists cranking stuff out or if there is a creative voice behind it, like Carl Barks, for example.

It’s my understanding that The Simpsons comic book is still going strong, with over 100 issues.

Again, I think comic strip cartoonists could learn a few things from comic book cartoonists. Somebody is paying Roger to draw a Muppets comic book. Would anybody pay a cartoonist to draw a Muppets, or any other, comic strip?

It’s not because the medium is inherently a bad one. Chet Gould once suggested it was the early rising upstart television, competing with newspapers, that first began putting the notion out there that comic strips were low art and whatnot. Whether that’s true, I don’t know, but we would be hard pressed to find any cartoonists doing anything out there to convince the world otherwise. It’s not enough anymore to just make a great comic strip.

I’m happy Bone has made him a millionaire, as he deserves it and that kind of success for cartoonists is rare nowadays. But America still has this thing that comics are for kids… even though it was adults that initially made Bone a success.

Reminds me of Tom Sawyer, which Twain said was not intended for kids. He was also surprised to see is marketed towards kids.

Bone is just one of the best stories ever told, regardless of the medium.