August company. I am extremely flattered to be on the same cover with these people. But alas, this is the final issue of Write Now. A real shame, these were good magazines. Is there an online alternative in their future?

You can get it at the publisher’s website. You can also buy any back issue at great discounts, or go whole hog and get the lot for $67.50.

Here’s a podcast interview with editor Danny Fingeroth. Do check it out. Danny has lots of interesting things to say about the industry.

Not a stretch to suggest that many magazines of this sort will be going home to Jesus. It’s all online now. But how to finance the new model?

Online, there’s no big bucks needed for printing, and you reach tens of thousands of people easily. Every day is a convention. But you have to be pulling in thousands of hits every day to really make money on ads.

I am often asked how much traffic I get and if I make any money at this blog thing. It’s hard for the average reader to tell what we’re getting from looking at Alexa or Technorati (especially since the recent revamp and move destroyed our stat rankings.) Comments are no indication of traffic, either. This Neil Gaiman photo from last month got 5,000 hits in two days, and only eight comments. Neil’s Twitter link sent so many people here, we overloaded the very unhappy server.

(FYI: People tend to comment more when they argue, actually, so if I were to post something vile implying Neil Gaiman supports child molesters because he stands up for free speech issues, as opposed to my posting cute photos of Neil, we’d get a lot of comments. Mostly angry ones. And deservedly so…and, um, no, I don’t think Neil is enabling icky child molesters.)

BTW, pop this link and scroll down for a look at Neil’s very first published illustration: a parody of Watchmen called Watchdogs.

(more…)

Cheryl Lynn’s blog is one of my favorites. She asks an important question this week while searching for information about black women in comics:

You know what has been really depressing for me during this search? Finding the women who simply walked away from comics. Webcomics left unfinished. Blogs abandoned. What made them stop? A lack of funds? Did real life get in the way? Did they grow disappointed with the industry?

I suspect the lack of material reward gets to people after awhile. It’s a lot more fun singing when someone is listening and applauding once in awhile. Few artists want to live life in an echo chamber.

I’d really like to know why people give up. So many comics abandoned. So many projects dumped.

Share your insights. I’d be interested in hearing from men and women on this.

c

Jimmie Robinson’s all-ages classic returns to print courtesy of Jim Valentino’s Silverline Books!

18 March 2009 (Berkeley, CA) – EVIL AND MALICE, Jimmie Robinson’s all-ages superhero series, finally gets collected this May in a 128-page trade paperback aimed at younger readers!

“A definitive collection of EVIL & MALICE has been a long time coming and I’m very happy it’s with the folks at Silverline Books,” Robinson said said. “Over the years I’ve heard a lot of demand for a superhero series older readers could share with their younger siblings, nieces and nephews. Considering Shadowline’s continued pushes into the younger reader market with their own Silverline Books division, they seemed like the right home to bring back EVIL & MALICE. I’m highly anticipating its upcoming reception with fans – new and old alike!”

EVIL & MALICE: SAVE THE WORLD collects the entire story of Evelyn and Malinda, the 13-year old twin daughters of an infamous (but soft-hearted) villian, The Black Eye. Once a collective of villains makes life miserable for dad, Evelyn and Malinda take it upon themselves to strike back — as superheroes! They’re quickly thrown into a madcap race against time until their father discovers their identities and grounds them for life!

EVIL AND MALICE: SAVE THE WORLD TPB (MAR092470), A 128-page full-color tradepaperback for $14.99, will be in stores May 20th, 2009.