This is what I get for being away for so long. As you’ve probably already read here and here Amazon has been running a contest for comics. I find it very amusing that the guys selling the newspaper replacement, in the kindle, are running a contest where new fresh artists are creating newspaper style funnies. I doubt this will be the next wave but it does feel like a good jumping board for Amazon to get into comics distribution. Now if only they could create an E Ink display that used color…

The 10 final contestants are:
Belle Plaine by Eric Gapstur
About Josh and Collingwood, two fifth graders who use their wit and ingenuity to stave off boredom in a small town.

Büni by Ryan Pagelow
A dark comedy told in cute pictures. It revolves around a hopelessly optimistic loser bunny named Büni. The girl he loves doesn’t love him back.

CounterCulture by Kory Merritt
Follows the life of Margo, an oddball teenager who lives with her father, Bob Bower. Supporting characters include Margo’s ditzy ferret Kassidy, her laidback boyfriend Dobbs, and her giant boa constrictor, Stretch Armless.

Evil Twin by Alexander Matthews
Story of twins Myron and Ludwig, two 10 year-old boys who, like most brothers, are engaged in a constant battle of one-upmanship. They trade insults, devise devious schemes, and have a vivid fantasy world.

Girl by Dana Simpson
She’s a kid who’s awkward at school, awkward at home, and comfortable in the forest, where her friends all live. She has a name, but her forest-dwelling friends all just call her “Girl.”

Hemlock Heights by Todd Machen
Come join the denizens of Hemlock Heights as they combat some of life’s biggest challenges: first-time snack duty, oversized pool tags, and that most unnatural abhorrence… the neighborhood newsletter (shudder). Tennis anyone?

Joe 6-Pack by Mike Floyd
This strip centers around Joe and his everyday occurrences managing his six kids. Joe used to bring a lunchbox to work everyday, but now he’s a stay-at-home dad. He’s raising his kids on instinct and therefore solves problems and handles everyday situations in his own unique way.

Lil Wit by Andrew Paavola
Whitaker Lawrence, or “Wit,” is a delightfully dark eight-year old by with a barbed sense of humor. Fortunately, Wit is not without his unique charms as he takes pleasure in the simple things, such as giving his teacher headaches, and annoying his sister.

Nutz n’ Doltz by Michael Underhill
A modern update of what Rube Goldberg did so successfully. With a twisted sense of humor and an even odder sense of design, Nutz n’ Doltz mocks the modern gizmos and the way they are advertised to us.

Thatababy by Paul Trap
Babies have it made– they set their own hours and make their own rules, all while commanding the spotlight. Thatababy celebrates that glorious freedom through the eyes of a newborn who lives by one simple rule: It’s a baby’s job to drive their parents crazy.

Every once in awhile there’s big news I can’t help but trip over and read. First there is the news about Diamond deciding not to publish distribute any new comics during the last week of the year. There are many view points about this decision I can understand. Times are hard and sales of comics historically go down this week because their target audience tends to spend their time at home or on vacation. I don’t know about you but that seems like taking the easy road. Does it not make more sense to put out new comics and see which ones would do well next year?

That’s where a group of artists got together and decided to do just that. The Indy Comic Book Week was started as a call to action to challenge writers and artists to self publish new material for that week, and offer it to their local stores. From their site:

“This is a perfect storm that opens up those new release shelves for the independent community. We don’t have to be set aside to the small publisher shelf for once and can stand tall in the spots that the big, national publishers usually take. Not only is this an opportunity for creators, it’s a great opportunity for the reader as well. Instead of picking up their usual books, they can check out something new, different, and most likely something local.

So, I’m putting forth this idea to the comic book community. Let’s turn “No Comic Book Week” into “Indy Comic Book Week”. Creators, let’s step up and put those books together. This is our chance to show the world that our books and creations can stand strong on those shelves as well as any major publication. It doesn’t have to be a 22-page full color affair; it can be a small black-and-white ashcan. But it has to be new, it has to be a product of your own creation, and it has to be awesome. Then talk to your local comic shops about putting your book on those shelves for the week of December 30th. Comic book readers, go to your local comic shops and tell them you want to see “Indy Comic Book Week” on the new release shelves. Tell them you want to see something new and different on those shelves. Comic book retailers, show some support for your local creators by filling those new release shelves with great indy books and hopefully open up your patrons to something new that they would not have read otherwise.”

This is a group of people who know an opportunity when it knocks.

Are you tired of seeing the heroes get all the attention? Me neither, which is why you should go check out Digital Strips Adventures, now featuring Captain Excelsior!

Ok, so if you are jonesin’ to see antagonists get their time in the spotlight, you should also check out Chillin’ Like Villains by the one-and-only, Ryan Estrada. With this, Estrada’s first daily comic strip, he’s trying something a little bit different…

I’m trying something new with this comic- most webcomics will run for a while, then collect the comics you’ve already read into a book. Well, I’ve got a 100 page buffer, so I’ve decided to put the book for sale on day one. So if you like what you see, you can snag a copy of the book and read half a year ahead!

‘Twere anyone else, I’d say, “Good luck, buddy!” and cheer, albeit in a low-key manner, from the sidelines. But this is Ryan Freakin’ Estrada we’re talkin’ about here! This is ALREADY a success AND the rights to the film, TV show, and regular series have likely already been optioned, or whatever one does with rights once they acquire them.

I’d say go read, but you already did that when I said “new” and “Estrada”, didn’t you?

So it turns out if you try to get to www.webcomics.com and you forget to type the ‘S,’ you end up at Least I Could Do. I had no idea those guys were so crafty.

In other news, yesterday was 24 hour comic day. One of those events that are so epic and fun that only the Internet and its community could possibly contain it. I know that Kris Struab and Scott Kurtz participated this year and I’m sure over the next few days we’ll start seeing the fruits of labors done by them and the many other creators who undertook this challenge.

I love this short of super-dedicated, short time, high output creative endeavor. My hat goes off to everyone who tried and the article of clothing of choice to those who finished. I’m a three time NaNoWriMo failure so I know true grit when I see it and 24 hour comic survivors have it in spades.

So super congratulations to everyone who did it and keep your eyes on Digital Strips, I’m sure we’ll find a couple excellent comics that came out of this years event.