Congratulations to R Stephens!
Wow, Diesel Sweeties is going to be in newspapers across the country (maybe globe!?) and online! Two different strips, not the same stuff repackaged. That is AWESOME! Better news? He gets to maintain his copyright and sell his own merch! Man, this is one of the sweetest deals I’ve seen.
Only downside I can see is, there’s not much money in the newspaper market, (been there, done that) BUT he’s a smart friggin cookie and he knows this will be HUGE for readership or even new readership to Diesel Sweeties. I’ll say one better, I think this will be HUGE for bringing new people to more online webcomics too. We’ll see in the next few years!
Very exciting news. Maybe not to some of you, but when you eat and breathe comics like I do and have done for many years, it’s an awesome feeling to hear this sort of news.
Hopefully a bunch of inter-tards don’t come out asking how they can get in his “deal”, or worried about his business dealings (I’ve already seen a couple downer like posts (jealous!) — people make their own deals. Negotiate and WORK HARD!!!! That’s the answer. Plain and simple. Also,
“Don’t be an asshole”
Now go and enjoy some Diesel Sweetness. I’m going to go wear my Johnny Cash is a Gangsta t-shirt out in honor of this occassion.
September 6th, 2006 at 12:18 pm
I can’t believe no one is commenting on this!
I’m with you, DJ. I know exactly what you’re talking about - that excited feeling when you hear this kind of news for other web comic guys.
Truthfully, I would have never expected a Syndicate to look at DS and say “THIS is what newspaper comics are missing!” I mean, everything from the art style to the pop culture references… Who would have thought R. Steven’s creation would be sharing space with Marmaduke.
It’s very impressive that he was able to negotiate maintaining his own copyright and merch sales. Everything I’ve ever heard about syndication told me that you kiss that stuff goodbye like some kind of Faustian bargain.
Kudos to R. Stevens. He’ll represent the rest of us very well!