Comments on: GUEST STRIP – BRANDON J. CARR http://www.theaterhopper.com/2009/12/16/guest-strip-brandon-j-carr-4/ Comics about movies Sat, 11 Feb 2012 06:26:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Shawn Robare http://www.theaterhopper.com/2009/12/16/guest-strip-brandon-j-carr-4/#comment-3732 Shawn Robare Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:35:03 +0000 http://www.theaterhopper.com/?p=3678#comment-3732 Anon - Sadly the Comedy Police currently aren't recruiting, or else you'd have a bright future in pun enforcement. As for Kurtz, the guy has one hell of a knack for sticking his foot in his mouth. For a guy who throws around an anecdote about how important it was for his personal success to have Jeff Smith to dress him down when he asked for help back in the day, he sure likes to act like the guardian angel of webcomics (see How to Make Wencomics, and as if there was such a position that needed filling anyway.) If an idea like Kickstarter had the potential to tarnish the image of webcomics as a medium, then the medium would have larger problems of sustainability that needed addressing. The bottom line is that there's no reputation to protect with the medium. Take the film industry for example. Currently the "Hollywood" output has a terrible reputation for quality and interesting content, but does that stop anyone for enjoying the film medium? No. Film as a medium will weather the storms of image tarnishing ballyhoo whether it's bloated mindless product clogging the theaters or films backed mob-funded money laundering schemes (like the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre.) Webcomics is a medium, and as long as people enjoying reading comics in a digital format it doesn't matter if 90% of artist/writers subsist on tip jars. I think the root of the issue Kurtz has is that he's uncomfortable with the tiers of success and the steps a lot of people take to climb the ladder. He's ashamed of the lower rungs now that he's high enough to look down. The thing is that the higher he climbs the more and more he'll stop caring about the lower rungs, but he's close enough that mixed with his sense that he's the caretaker of webcomics he's just annoying. Anon – Sadly the Comedy Police currently aren’t recruiting, or else you’d have a bright future in pun enforcement.

As for Kurtz, the guy has one hell of a knack for sticking his foot in his mouth. For a guy who throws around an anecdote about how important it was for his personal success to have Jeff Smith to dress him down when he asked for help back in the day, he sure likes to act like the guardian angel of webcomics (see How to Make Wencomics, and as if there was such a position that needed filling anyway.) If an idea like Kickstarter had the potential to tarnish the image of webcomics as a medium, then the medium would have larger problems of sustainability that needed addressing. The bottom line is that there’s no reputation to protect with the medium. Take the film industry for example. Currently the “Hollywood” output has a terrible reputation for quality and interesting content, but does that stop anyone for enjoying the film medium? No. Film as a medium will weather the storms of image tarnishing ballyhoo whether it’s bloated mindless product clogging the theaters or films backed mob-funded money laundering schemes (like the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre.)

Webcomics is a medium, and as long as people enjoying reading comics in a digital format it doesn’t matter if 90% of artist/writers subsist on tip jars.

I think the root of the issue Kurtz has is that he’s uncomfortable with the tiers of success and the steps a lot of people take to climb the ladder. He’s ashamed of the lower rungs now that he’s high enough to look down. The thing is that the higher he climbs the more and more he’ll stop caring about the lower rungs, but he’s close enough that mixed with his sense that he’s the caretaker of webcomics he’s just annoying.

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]]> By: Tom http://www.theaterhopper.com/2009/12/16/guest-strip-brandon-j-carr-4/#comment-3731 Tom Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:48:42 +0000 http://www.theaterhopper.com/?p=3678#comment-3731 Kurtz has nothing to gain from shooting down Kickstarter except that I think he's branding himself as a "web comics expert" (see the 'How To Make Webcomics') book and anything that he thinks cheapens the medium is a threat to him in the long-term. On the one hand, I value what Kurtz has done to build up the medium. On the other hand, I find it frustrating how stubborn he can be when someone else finds a new way to skin a cat. Kurtz has nothing to gain from shooting down Kickstarter except that I think he’s branding himself as a “web comics expert” (see the ‘How To Make Webcomics’) book and anything that he thinks cheapens the medium is a threat to him in the long-term.

On the one hand, I value what Kurtz has done to build up the medium. On the other hand, I find it frustrating how stubborn he can be when someone else finds a new way to skin a cat.

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]]> By: steak http://www.theaterhopper.com/2009/12/16/guest-strip-brandon-j-carr-4/#comment-3730 steak Thu, 17 Dec 2009 08:15:47 +0000 http://www.theaterhopper.com/?p=3678#comment-3730 Hmmm what does Scott Kurtz stand to gain from shooting down kickstarter? It sounds like a case of "if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything" Hmmm what does Scott Kurtz stand to gain from shooting down kickstarter?
It sounds like a case of “if you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything”

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]]> By: anon http://www.theaterhopper.com/2009/12/16/guest-strip-brandon-j-carr-4/#comment-3729 anon Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:35:08 +0000 http://www.theaterhopper.com/?p=3678#comment-3729 Sadly, the "Avatar = Smurfs" angle was taken by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for South Park nearly a month ago. They called it "Dances with Smurfs." Sadly, the “Avatar = Smurfs” angle was taken by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for South Park nearly a month ago. They called it “Dances with Smurfs.”

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]]> By: Binkleykun http://www.theaterhopper.com/2009/12/16/guest-strip-brandon-j-carr-4/#comment-3728 Binkleykun Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:31:02 +0000 http://www.theaterhopper.com/?p=3678#comment-3728 My whole issue with the debate was that Kurtz was arguing market forces should dictate whether you get another book (this I agree with) but what I fail to see is how using Kickstarter somehow takes market forces out of it. You still need an audience to support your funding project or you get nothing. My whole issue with the debate was that Kurtz was arguing market forces should dictate whether you get another book (this I agree with) but what I fail to see is how using Kickstarter somehow takes market forces out of it. You still need an audience to support your funding project or you get nothing.

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]]> By: Tom http://www.theaterhopper.com/2009/12/16/guest-strip-brandon-j-carr-4/#comment-3727 Tom Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:52:31 +0000 http://www.theaterhopper.com/?p=3678#comment-3727 Okay, typos fixed. That's fine if you agree with Kurtz, Monkey Dharma - but can you at least explain why or at least articulate what points you agree with him on? What is weak about using Kickstarter to help organize a fund-raising effort? In what way is it worse than doing a pre-order through Theater Hopper? Is it your expectation that web comics apply for small business loans and be handicapped by interest payments? How is my involvement in Kickstarter tarnishing the reputation of web comics as a whole? What is your ideal solution? Okay, typos fixed.

That’s fine if you agree with Kurtz, Monkey Dharma – but can you at least explain why or at least articulate what points you agree with him on?

What is weak about using Kickstarter to help organize a fund-raising effort? In what way is it worse than doing a pre-order through Theater Hopper? Is it your expectation that web comics apply for small business loans and be handicapped by interest payments? How is my involvement in Kickstarter tarnishing the reputation of web comics as a whole?

What is your ideal solution?

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]]> By: MonkeyDharma http://www.theaterhopper.com/2009/12/16/guest-strip-brandon-j-carr-4/#comment-3726 MonkeyDharma Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:45:54 +0000 http://www.theaterhopper.com/?p=3678#comment-3726 Um...it's 'weak', not 'week'. And I tend to agree with Kurtz. Sorry. Um…it’s ‘weak’, not ‘week’. And I tend to agree with Kurtz. Sorry.

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]]> By: SSG Jeff (USAR) http://www.theaterhopper.com/2009/12/16/guest-strip-brandon-j-carr-4/#comment-3725 SSG Jeff (USAR) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:33:39 +0000 http://www.theaterhopper.com/?p=3678#comment-3725 I'm loving this send up of Avatar... especially since most of the reviewers I've read seem agreed that Mr. Cameron has produced another technological tour-de-force..... and turned it into an anti-war, anti-US screed. I’m loving this send up of Avatar… especially since most of the reviewers I’ve read seem agreed that Mr. Cameron has produced another technological tour-de-force….. and turned it into an anti-war, anti-US screed.

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]]> By: Tom http://www.theaterhopper.com/2009/12/16/guest-strip-brandon-j-carr-4/#comment-3724 Tom Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:24:48 +0000 http://www.theaterhopper.com/?p=3678#comment-3724 I know, Andre! I know! I'm sorry! :: runs crying into the wilderness :: ;) I know, Andre! I know! I’m sorry!

:: runs crying into the wilderness ::
;)

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]]> By: wren1313 http://www.theaterhopper.com/2009/12/16/guest-strip-brandon-j-carr-4/#comment-3723 wren1313 Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:15:16 +0000 http://www.theaterhopper.com/?p=3678#comment-3723 I asked a friend recently if he was excited about Avatar and his response was, "Why would I go see Ferngully ThunderSmurfs?" So, when I read the comic, I think I shot something out my nose trying to supress LOLing too loud at work. As for KickStart, if it is something that is working for your business & not hurting anyone, it is none of Scott's concern. It's not like you are receiving TARP funds, raising the cost of the book, & then paying yourself a huge bonus. Geesh! I asked a friend recently if he was excited about Avatar and his response was, “Why would I go see Ferngully ThunderSmurfs?” So, when I read the comic, I think I shot something out my nose trying to supress LOLing too loud at work.

As for KickStart, if it is something that is working for your business & not hurting anyone, it is none of Scott’s concern. It’s not like you are receiving TARP funds, raising the cost of the book, & then paying yourself a huge bonus. Geesh!

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