like a lot of creators and artists out there this week, I’ve been reading a lot on the ZUDA comics venture by DC too, chimed in briefly over at Digitalwebbbing.com as well in the thread on ZUDA over there too.  I mean, I’m busy making a living in comics now and I admit that I don’t keep up with all the news sites, blogs, etc…that are out there now.  I can’t do all that in addition to coloring 3-5 pages a day, put together creative teams on books, help manage pencilers and inkers on 3 different books, create Previews ads, deal with printers, Diamond, create marketing, advertising and promotional pieces, set up interviews etc…..and spend a little time with my wife and kids.  As one of those small press guys from the mid-late 90’s that has busted their ass for a long time, and is finally seeing the fruits of those labors I can speak from a little bit of experience.  As with life in general, it’s not about where you end up (DC, Marvel, Image, Platinum, Dark Horse, Devils Due, etc…..) it’s about the journey.  My wife and kids, could care less about whether i CREATED something or not, they care about when the next check is coming in because our mortgage is due, or they need new clothes or shoes, or money for a book or video game.  Or because they want to go see all the cool new movies in the theater this summer.  They don’t care WHO is writing that check.  I’m lucky that I’m a “just a colorist” I guess.  But if I was pitching any of my own ideas, I think I’d definitely wait to see what ZUDA was all about before submitting something, however I’d also be more than willing to give up a hefty chunk of those rights if it meant money, royalties, work, and more exposure for my talents IN THE RIGHT PLACE.

Bottom line is clear.  I said it yesterday (or maybe the day before this week is all blurred together now), some people like my buddy have BEEN saying it, and a handful of other people are getting it.  ZUDA isn’t for everyone.  But if working on a comic and getting paid is something you want to do, you’re not against SHARING rights to your creation, and you want a chance for a company like DC to see your work on a regular basis……then you should probably submit something to ZUDA.  They don’t have a regular submission process for creators anymore at DC.  It’s 2 shows, San Diego and Chicago, where you drop off your portfolio, and hope for a call for an interview the next day to go over things.  ZUDA gets your work at least seen for sure, and I can ALMOST guarantee that they’ll be looking at the talent coming in, or working on projects that ZUDA is putting out, and possibly recruiting for their print books from that talent pool.  It’s a perfect setup for that.  It’s a controlled environment they’re setting up, which isn’t a BAD thing.  they’re looking for stuff that will FIT IN with what DC Comics is doing (or Vertigo or Wildstorm) etc…….  Each branch of the DC tree is looking for different types of artists, inkers, writers, and colorists….  you never know.  as an artist, you’d be stupid to not want to be involved with a project there.  as a CREATOR, as long as you go in KNOWING that you’re not keeping 100% of the rights…it’s not like the average joe keeping 100% of the rights, has a chance in getting their property in front of a Time Warner on their own.  And while there are people who have sold their OWN properties, or gotten them optioned, they’re the exception and not the rule.  Giving up some ownership, for a much greater chance of exposure and representation in the right circles, isn’t a BAD idea, it’s just an idea that may not be right for EVERYONE.

For me, and I’ve had this conversation with countless people at conventions, via email, on the phone, that have NO published credits. Why would you NOT be willing to give up SOME editorial control of your book to get your name out there?  If you’ve got NO published work, NO contacts, if you’ve been turned down by publishers because of your lack of wanting to have editorial input…..WHY do you want to work in comics again?  You don’t have even a stapled 8.5 x 5.5 comic to sell at a convention or show around to people (because that’s how all of us old guys used to do things) you don’t have anything online, what am I supposed to look at?  Your Deviantart account, your Myspace page.  No, I don’t go to those sites.  They’re nothing but overblown, overpopulated social networking sites.  I realize real artists have those types of things.  But I come from a business background, and one of the first rules of marketing is you have to market yourself.  So get a website with YOUR NAME on it, get YOUR NAME, not your screen name, but your REAL name, out there.  The more people see your name, the more you build your “brand” recognition as an artist.  Develop some social skills, go to cons, TALK to people.  Be yourself.  It kills me to see kids 19, 20 years old at cons now sitting at their tables, and not even looking up from what they’re doing on their laptop to TALK to people.  Or getting up to walk around and introduce themselves to other artists, publishers etc…..  The internet is great, it’s a great TOOL for an artist.  But just like any digital tool, Photoshop, a Wacom tablet or Cintiq, they’re only as good as the artist using them.   Successful freelance artists, don’t get that way by not talking to people.  Email IS great, but picking up the phone and TALKING to someone, is still the next best thing to meeting face to face.

So I hope ZUDA succeeds.  I hope DrunkDuck, Webcomicsnation, and the other webcomic hubs out there are also successful (some already are making money) It’s good for comics as a whole.  The internet has replaced the days of the stapled 8.5 x 5.5 ashcan comic, underground comic scene.  So if guys like me and other guys I know who came up in that old school, stapled comic scene are making a living off of comics now, wouldn’t it be GREAT for MORE people coming up in the webcomic scene NOW, to be able to make a living in comics several years down the road?  I think it would be.  I know there are people out there making a living from webcomics now, but I’m sure they’ll tell you how much hard work, sweat, blood, tears ,and late nights are behind that success too.  And if there are people out there, that have the CREATIVE side of things down, but just don’t want to mess with all the “other” stuff involved, they should be able to reap the rewards of a successful business model as well.  Because who knows, things may just change and we’ll all be reading these things 10, 15 or 20 years from now on our iPhones or our Microsoft Surface coffee tables.  that 4:3 format IS nice, here’s a GREAT example of it in use already, Awesome Storm Justice 41.
I don’t know, I’m rambling now, I’ve got a ton of pages that need some pretty colors put on them now.  I just thought I’d throw out some more positive vibes into the Universe on this whole thing.  That should cover my blog posts for the next week or so too