Fallen Kitten » Comics

Printing Walking the Lethe Volume 1: A Look at the Cover

Amanda — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 07:51:55 +0000

Our cover illustration for Walking the Lethe Volume 1 is complete and the files off to the printer for the creation of the proof copy prior to our final print run. This is exciting, so today I share with you the cover illustration and the elements we added to make it into a proper cover. The illustration was completed by Chris Dozier of http://radcore.us and I used Photoshop to create the rest of the cover elements.

Preorders for Volume 1 are still open until September 15th. If you’d like to order a copy of the book, please visit us at http://walkingthelethe.com.

15+ Ways to Manage Your Webcomic

Amanda — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 09:23:30 +0000

Update: Is this list out of date? Go to the Links Page under Hosting & Content Management Systems for current links or to add your own.

I frequently run across the question of what content management system a new webcomic creator should be using for their website, and find that the answers can often be one note depending on where the inquiries are made. In truth there are a variety of publishing options worth considering based on your tech savvy, willingness to spend time on your site, and hosting choices. Check out this semi-comprehensive list to get started (order implies nothing).

WordPress-based Systems

If you have or will have your own hosting and wish to use a very robust blogging CMS, a WordPress-based option may be best for you. WordPress builds all pages dynamically and can have server load issues. However you will have access to a host of plug-ins and support via the WordPress community.

Comicpress: Currently on version 2.9, with a Comicpress 3 coming soon, the core theme is free with paid add-ons and child themes for v. 3. WordPress 3 compatible.
Inkblot/Webcomic: Webcomic/Inkblot just released version 3. This plug-in-based system is designed to let you work your comic into any WordPress theme. WordPress 3 compatible.
Manga+Press: Another plug-in-based system, Manga+Press is also intended to be used with a regular WordPress theme by automatically or by inserting template tags. WordPress 3 compatible.
StripShow: stripShow is a plug-in to make your WordPress blog into a webcomic site. The most recent version, 2.5, is in beta. I believe it is WordPress 3 compatible.
WP-Comic: WP-Comic is another theme-based solution which recently released its 2.9 version. I believe it is WordPress 3 compatible.

Independent Scripts/CMS

Also for people with their own hosting, independent solutions can be lighter on your server (you don’t have all the extra WordPress stuff), but may require more technical know-how. They can generally be added to existing websites.

ComicCMS:A PHP program designed to be the core of your webcomic site (although it can operate within another website). ComicCMS also has the backend features many non-techie creators want.
Comic Gallery: ComicGallery is a light-weight PHP script that creates a gallery for your comic that can be integrated into an existing site. It does not appear to offer pre-scheduling of pages.
Comikaze: A database-driven comic management system designed to work within an existing website. May not be actively supported anymore.
Walrus: A PHP-based script. Version 3 is (apparently) coming soon, but the site is only semi-functional, so it’s hard to say what exactly is going on.

Hosted Solutions

If you want webcomic-specific hosting, these hosts also provide their own content management scripts. Hosted solutions vary wildly, but may require joining a very specific community, prevent you from joining other networks, or may force you into a specific format. Visit each for details.

Clickthulu: A premium CMS and hosting solution specifically for webcomics. Includes a member’s section function. Hosted and managed by the creators of Code Name: Hunter. Paid service.
ComicFury: A free to join & use and ad-free webcomic host with available templates.
Comic Genesis: A free to join and free webcomic host, Comic Genesis is intend for new webcomickers. It is run by Keenspot. Keenspot itself does not accept new applicants anymore.
Drunk Duck: Free to join & free to use webcomic community owned by WOWIO and typically for new webcomickers. Your site will be forced into their template and large top-of-site bar.
Dumbrella Hosting: Premium hosting for professional webcomic creators. Paid service.
Rampage Network: A webcomic network with free hosting. By application or invitation only.
Smack Jeeves: A free to join webcomic host generally used by new webcomickers. There are three levels of membership: free, donator, and premium with different features.
Spiderforest: A webcomic community with free hosting and the ProPanda CMS available to members. By application or invitation only.
Webcomics Nation: A free to join and use webcomic host with pre-set templates and a narrow top-of-site bar.
WeVolt: Another WOWIO webcomic community, WeVolt offers both free and paid (Pro) hosting plans.

Update: Thank you to everyone at the Webcomic List for your suggestions. You can also check out this similar post for more options.

Do you know of a content management solution for webcomics that I missed? Share it here so I can add it to the list.

This article was written for Day 2 of the 31DBBB & SITS challenge.

Heroes, Freaks, and Superrabbis at the Berlin Jewish Museum

Amanda — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:26:34 +0000

Our recent trip to Berlin took use to the Jewish Museum Berlin and their unique special exhibit about the contribution of Jewish culture and creators to comics: “Heroes, Freaks, & Superrabbis”. Designed loosely as a continuous comic strip looping through history, this exhibition brings the visitor from superhero comics of the 1930s, through the underground comix era, and up to modern graphic novels and the budding new generation (represented here by an independent collective of creators in Israel).

As a comic enthusiast, the exhibition was a rousing success. Not only does it introduce many immigrant comic luminaries I already knew, Will Eisner for example, but also exposes the visitor to other creators I was not familiar with (or didn’t know were Jewish). There were even strips in German and Yiddish from those early years, showing how these artists and storytellers helped create the building blocks of comics that we take for granted today. The chance to view originals from The Spirit, Krazy Kat, and more was also one of those once-in-a-lifetime moments; at least for a librarian like me.

Since the exhibition is pretty extensive, perhaps 2 hours long and displaying 400 artifacts, I will highlight a few of my favorites.

Superman Persuades Hitler: In an explicate piece of American World War II propaganda, Superman meets an incognito Hitler in New York and talks him into stopping the German war machine. The newly converted Furhur returns to Germany only to be murdered and replaced by his advisers who wish to continue the war; resulting in Superman’s disappointment that Hitler had (apparently) broken his promise. This 8-page comic is simultaneously naive and fatalistic; appropriate for the time.
I was disappointed that the discussion of superhero comics did not address the several copyright and trademarks that have marred the genre over the years.

Faces of MAD: EC Comics, a Jewish-owned publishing house and inventor of horror comics, was hit hard by the Comics Code and only MAD Magazine saved them. I read later copies of the magazine as a child, so this collection of Alfred E. Neuman as famous and infamous figures was fun to see.

Living Shmoo: I had never head of the Shmoo balloons that were dropped on West Berlin as part of food drops during the worst of the blockages and was delighted by the work of Al Capp who created the original shmoos, critters that provide all the food and animal products needed by humans. Other comic creators also adopted the living shmoo in comics written from within Berlin itself to tell stories about living behind the wall.

The Heroes, Freaks, and Superrabbis exhibit wrapped up with a narrow look to the future via the work of a young, independent comics group in Israel; which suggests that the medium is alive and well and continuing to interest Jewish creators. Certainly this view of the future of comic is incomplete without the contributions of people from other background, countries, and (perhaps?) publishing mediums, but the Jewish Museum Berlin isn’t a Comics Museum. So I’m willing to give them a pass on that.

In short, if you have the chance, go see this exhibition. You won’t leave disappointed.

Bonus: There is a “webcomic” motion comic online. It’s not particularly good, but it is what it is.

Freebie: “History of Speech Bubbles” Social Icons

Amanda — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 11:03:41 +0000

Tossing another social media icon set on the pile, I’ve created this small set of 9 icons to be used for free for any sort of project. I entitled it “History of Speech Bubbles” because each icon is inspired by a different type of speech bubble from various periods and styles.

The icons are all hand drawn and inked, but digitally colored. I tried to cover the sites I see used the most in webcomics, but if there is interest I will add more. Social Network sites included are: Facebook, Twitter, Digg, Flickr, LinkedIn, Reddit, and Stumble Upon, plus RSS and Email. 2 sizes available.

[Download Here]

If you’d like to use these icons, please feel free to do so with or without attribution, although I would appreciate a link or a heads-up. Please tell others about the set, but do not host it on your own site or sell it. Instead, please send people to this post so they can pick up their own.

History of Speech Bubbles Social Media Icons by Amanda Potter is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at http://fallenkitten.com.