May You Live In Interesting Times

Changes are afoot for how we read our comics, both online and in print. (If anyone reading this still does read their comics on paper.)

Last week United Media, who distributes comics (among other things) for United Features Syndicate, announced that they are as Arlo & Janis creator Jimmy Johnson put it, "effectively closing their doors." Here's a copy of the press release from the same source. Uclick will be taking over distribution.

Predictably, the press missed the point on this one, spending most of their "ink" on how Peanuts and Dilbert changed hands — months ago. (Of course, if they were capable of seeing the real point, it probably wouldn't be happening to them.) Comic Riffs, a column about comics in the Washington Post, came close to the point, by quoting United Media executive Lisa Klem Wilson: "There can only be two 'top' players now in newspaper syndication...The market is shrinking -- the number of newspapers, the size, everything."

I think this is only half the point, or maybe one third. The question isn't how many syndicates the industry can support, it's whether or not the syndicates can find a business in a world without newspapers.

United's comics.com was/is the most Internet friendly of sites, with RSS that actually gave you the comics (unlike Uclick's feed, which only gives you links. Pathetic!) and the ability to share to social sites, even though for some bizarre reason they don't give you a thumbnail or a description for Facebook. (Do they understand that showing people what's there might actually make them want to go to it?) However, UClick doesn't supply a thumbnail either, and dailyink.com will have sharing buttons real soon now!

It's apparent though, that without a subscription model United Media was unable to make enough from the site to stay above water. Does that mean that nobody can? I don't know.

You're reading this tomorrow. Or I am writing it yesterday? Time travel always confuses me. I know that tomorrow (today?) is going to be a long one, so I am doing this in advance. Here's my one strip:

The New Adventures of Queen Victoria, Yesterday.


I thought this was a pretty funny take on the unrest around the world.