Comments on: Zuda Thoughts: Final http://www.fleen.com/archives/2007/09/28/zuda-thoughts-final/ the webcomics blog about webcomics Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:10:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Phil http://www.fleen.com/archives/2007/09/28/zuda-thoughts-final/#comment-213218 Phil Sun, 11 May 2008 06:47:51 +0000 http://www.fleen.com/archives/2007/09/28/zuda-thoughts-final/#comment-213218 I've looked over Zuda, and this blog, and I have to say, as a person who maintains a couple of his own independent sites (NO, I'm not telling anyone where they are yet) I would never ever do a deal like this. Never EVER. Think about it my way for a second: if you're good enough to do a webcomic Zuda would consider print-worthy, then you're good enough to make it ON YOUR OWN. There's no need to sell all your rights to some conglomerate. No need whatsoever. Just keep it on the web, don't worry about printing it until you have a few hundred pages up, and when you DO decide to print it, use an on-demand service like Lulu or CafePress. Places like Zuda think you're going to be all starry-eyed and yell "ZOMG DC!" while you sign all your content over to them. Don't do it. You don't even need hosting help. Hosting costs a few bucks a month these days. Seriously. I’ve looked over Zuda, and this blog, and I have to say, as a person who maintains a couple of his own independent sites (NO, I’m not telling anyone where they are yet) I would never ever do a deal like this.

Never EVER.

Think about it my way for a second: if you’re good enough to do a webcomic Zuda would consider print-worthy, then you’re good enough to make it ON YOUR OWN.

There’s no need to sell all your rights to some conglomerate. No need whatsoever.

Just keep it on the web, don’t worry about printing it until you have a few hundred pages up, and when you DO decide to print it, use an on-demand service like Lulu or CafePress.

Places like Zuda think you’re going to be all starry-eyed and yell “ZOMG DC!” while you sign all your content over to them. Don’t do it.

You don’t even need hosting help. Hosting costs a few bucks a month these days.

Seriously.

]]> By: Fleen: Your Favorite Faux-Muckrakers Since 2005 » Music:=Webcomics? http://www.fleen.com/archives/2007/09/28/zuda-thoughts-final/#comment-167037 Fleen: Your Favorite Faux-Muckrakers Since 2005 » Music:=Webcomics? Fri, 21 Dec 2007 18:21:39 +0000 http://www.fleen.com/archives/2007/09/28/zuda-thoughts-final/#comment-167037 [...] 2 and 3; I’d like to see the new ComicSpace do something like 4 or 5 (which would be the Aduz model of publishing); and most self-supporting webcomics artists live in zone 5 or 6 (depends on [...] [...] 2 and 3; I’d like to see the new ComicSpace do something like 4 or 5 (which would be the Aduz model of publishing); and most self-supporting webcomics artists live in zone 5 or 6 (depends on [...]

]]> By: TalkAboutComics Blog » A Moral Quandary, By Me. http://www.fleen.com/archives/2007/09/28/zuda-thoughts-final/#comment-146691 TalkAboutComics Blog » A Moral Quandary, By Me. Tue, 06 Nov 2007 21:10:09 +0000 http://www.fleen.com/archives/2007/09/28/zuda-thoughts-final/#comment-146691 [...] well acquainted with the anti-Zuda arguments. I agree with much of what these guys have to say, and also with Joey’s post and Tim [...] [...] well acquainted with the anti-Zuda arguments. I agree with much of what these guys have to say, and also with Joey’s post and Tim [...]

]]> By: Greg http://www.fleen.com/archives/2007/09/28/zuda-thoughts-final/#comment-133685 Greg Mon, 01 Oct 2007 14:58:12 +0000 http://www.fleen.com/archives/2007/09/28/zuda-thoughts-final/#comment-133685 "the cost is control of the property, and that is a price they’ll have to be willing to accept." I hope all the talk and warnings will wake a few people up and make them read the rules carefully. The Zuda contest(s) can be a very good thing if you don't mind selling the whole concept to them. They're not just looking for webcomics to run, it's also a talent search to find people to work on DC's properties. Unfortunately some creators will only see "DC will print my comic" and/or "DC will see how awesome I am and hire me for Batman" no matter how well Zuda spells out the rules and the control they will get on the submitted property. That's not Zuda's fault. It sounds similar to the Tokyopop Rising Stars of Manga contests. The smart creators didn't submit their favorite project but came up with something specifically for the contest that they didn't mind giving up. That's worked out pretty well for the creators and Tokyopop. Several book deals have come from it. And for those deals similar choices had to be made. It's how the corporate comic business works. Understand that and you can work with it. “the cost is control of the property, and that is a price they’ll have to be willing to accept.”

I hope all the talk and warnings will wake a few people up and make them read the rules carefully.

The Zuda contest(s) can be a very good thing if you don’t mind selling the whole concept to them. They’re not just looking for webcomics to run, it’s also a talent search to find people to work on DC’s properties. Unfortunately some creators will only see “DC will print my comic” and/or “DC will see how awesome I am and hire me for Batman” no matter how well Zuda spells out the rules and the control they will get on the submitted property. That’s not Zuda’s fault.

It sounds similar to the Tokyopop Rising Stars of Manga contests. The smart creators didn’t submit their favorite project but came up with something specifically for the contest that they didn’t mind giving up. That’s worked out pretty well for the creators and Tokyopop. Several book deals have come from it. And for those deals similar choices had to be made.

It’s how the corporate comic business works. Understand that and you can work with it.

]]> By: Journalista - the news weblog of The Comics Journal » Blog Archive » Oct. 1, 2007: The fairer and more balanced god http://www.fleen.com/archives/2007/09/28/zuda-thoughts-final/#comment-133650 Journalista - the news weblog of The Comics Journal » Blog Archive » Oct. 1, 2007: The fairer and more balanced god Mon, 01 Oct 2007 11:53:02 +0000 http://www.fleen.com/archives/2007/09/28/zuda-thoughts-final/#comment-133650 [...] Gary Tyrrell sums up his exploration of the various Zudacomics contracts, and it doesn’t look good at [...] [...] Gary Tyrrell sums up his exploration of the various Zudacomics contracts, and it doesn’t look good at [...]

]]> By: Joe Chiappetta http://www.fleen.com/archives/2007/09/28/zuda-thoughts-final/#comment-133542 Joe Chiappetta Mon, 01 Oct 2007 03:34:05 +0000 http://www.fleen.com/archives/2007/09/28/zuda-thoughts-final/#comment-133542 I think I'll post a webcomic there called Silly Chump Daddy, in which the main character sells his soul to the DCvil with the hopes that his kids can one day afford to eat name brand granola bars. I smell a hit. I think I’ll post a webcomic there called Silly Chump Daddy, in which the main character sells his soul to the DCvil with the hopes that his kids can one day afford to eat name brand granola bars. I smell a hit.

]]> By: TalkAboutComics Blog » You Win! We Own Your Stuff Now! Yay! http://www.fleen.com/archives/2007/09/28/zuda-thoughts-final/#comment-133147 TalkAboutComics Blog » You Win! We Own Your Stuff Now! Yay! Sat, 29 Sep 2007 20:58:57 +0000 http://www.fleen.com/archives/2007/09/28/zuda-thoughts-final/#comment-133147 [...] Gary Tyrrell sums up Zuda’s relationship to creators over at Fleen. [...] [...] Gary Tyrrell sums up Zuda’s relationship to creators over at Fleen. [...]

]]> By: Joey Manley http://www.fleen.com/archives/2007/09/28/zuda-thoughts-final/#comment-133059 Joey Manley Sat, 29 Sep 2007 16:39:08 +0000 http://www.fleen.com/archives/2007/09/28/zuda-thoughts-final/#comment-133059 There's at least one thing on the way, maybe, that might look a lot like your hypothetical Aduz. Knowing the webcomics market and some of its players (and Fleen's relationship with one of those players -- not a snark! I promise!), I suspect there may be more than one Aduz on the way. Just one Aduz will be great for creators. Arguably, more than one Aduz will be even better for creators, because they'll be able to play the Aduzi off of one another for even better deals. That's when the real "webcomics industry" gets started. There’s at least one thing on the way, maybe, that might look a lot like your hypothetical Aduz.

Knowing the webcomics market and some of its players (and Fleen’s relationship with one of those players — not a snark! I promise!), I suspect there may be more than one Aduz on the way.

Just one Aduz will be great for creators.

Arguably, more than one Aduz will be even better for creators, because they’ll be able to play the Aduzi off of one another for even better deals.

That’s when the real “webcomics industry” gets started.

]]> By: Gary Tyrrell http://www.fleen.com/archives/2007/09/28/zuda-thoughts-final/#comment-133053 Gary Tyrrell Sat, 29 Sep 2007 16:09:28 +0000 http://www.fleen.com/archives/2007/09/28/zuda-thoughts-final/#comment-133053 Dunno what you mean, T ... there's some >type-etty< alt-text right there. Dunno what you mean, T … there’s some >type-etty< alt-text right there.

]]> By: T Campbell http://www.fleen.com/archives/2007/09/28/zuda-thoughts-final/#comment-133030 T Campbell Sat, 29 Sep 2007 14:32:28 +0000 http://www.fleen.com/archives/2007/09/28/zuda-thoughts-final/#comment-133030 which emotions (Geez) which emotions

(Geez)

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