POD part 1

Last night, Richard and I spent some time looking at what Indyplanet.com had to offer to get an idea about what we're getting ourselves into. The POD comics scene is a weird beast not too dissimilar from it's photocopy DIY sibling(the mini-comic?). In fact, the use of color and additional computer trickery is probably the only thing that really separates the two, aside from the obvious "publishing plan."

In honesty, it reminded me of some of my disappointment in Artist's Alley from Chicago a few years back. It's more than evident that everyone doing this is more than dedicated to what they're doing, but I really wish more thought would go into the presentation, as shallow as that may sound.

I know I'm verging on Asshole Territory with this line of thinking, but if I don't say it someone else will. (Not that that's a bad thing.)

It got us thinking about an alternative to the current POD model. A site that would be selective about the material it would carry, in the hopes of some kind of quality control.

Image, which everyone knows works under a radically different model from most other publishers, doesn't just publish everything submitted to them, and it's the Mecca of creator-owned books.

Which also led to: What kind of communities exist for web and POD comics?

Of the few situations that I'm aware of, most of the web and/or POD creators are solely concentrating on selling their own wares, as it should be. But as a community neither has the kind of organization that the fan base for the print material does. Maybe it's too early for both relatively young mediums.

Magcloud.com and Lulu.com both impressed with not only the breadth of work available, but the care put into most of the design per package. And, yes, I'm pretty aware that neither site provides art direction for what they carry, or - more to the point - deals in comics.

And, yeah, those same design sensibilities don't necessarily carry over well into comics, there are still lessons to be learned.

Anyway, that's enough incoherent ramblings and musings for today.

Adios,
Chet