Top 5 Biggest Troublemakers in Webcomics - I’m #1!
So, according to Darth Manley’s most recent article at the pulse (HERE), I am the #1 troublemaker in webcomics. The list goes as such:
#5 Eric Burns of Websnark
#4 Scott Kurtz
#3 & 2 Gabe and Tycho
and
#1 is ME, baby.
Finally… I made a list! I don’t know whether to be proud or ashamed of myself. Here’s a little of what Manley had to say about me:
You have to admire a man who participates in a popular webcomics contest only to rub the loser’s noses in their failure.
Or how about the time he spoiled the climax of the latest Harry Potter book (days before it came out) in a completely-unrelated WEBSNARK comments thread — and then, in true instigator fashion, put out a t-shirt with the infamous two words that had set the Snarkoleptics into a frenzy in the first place?
DJ is the only webcartoonist (to my knowledge anyway) who is the subject of a bluegrass-tinged hate song. I mean, that alone is quite something.
So, yeah, that’s just three things. Multiply them by a thousand. I realize that I cannot even begin to scratch the surface here, which is a shame. The controversies DJ has been embroiled in are so numerous, and yet so small at the same time, each taken individually, that their impact can’t even be explained to somebody who didn’t get caught up in them when they were happening — which is pretty much the ultimate in “teh drama.” One thing is clear: this isn’t a man who wishes to be loved. That we love him anyway is a function of his wit, his skill as a cartoonist, and the alacrity with which he pushes our buttons: he always knows exactly which ones to push, in any context where he happens to find himself, and he never hesitates to do so.
You can read the rest of what he said over there. LINK
Now that he’s told you all about me, let me tell you about Joey.
Now, I’m no dummy, Joey obviously only mentions me because I have a big mouth and I’ll link his column and rave about it, which I’m doing now. I give Joey some credit, because I totally was a bastich to him, and very critical in nature of just about every move he made. Instead of just giving up and fighting me from the shadows like my other pains in the asses for enemies, he decided to take some of my criticisms constructively and it may have helped to create things like Webcomics Nation (a great little service for webcomic hosting). Now, with this new column on the Pulse, I think he’s really trying to bridge the gap to comic book readers who peruse the comic news online, it’s a valiant effort, and definitly worthy of a column of some sort… BUT…. here’s the kicker…
Comic book readers don’t give a crap about comics online. They REALLY don’t. Sure, there are folks who buy comicbooks AND read webcomics, but it’s a lost cause to meld the two into one thing, the comic book readers just won’t have it. For one, they know quality when they see it, that’s why the majority of things bought are the BIG polished publishers, Marvel, DC, Image, Darkhorse– even the Indys better be polished, Slave Labor, Fantagraphics, Top Shelf…. The comic book industry doesn’t really support it’s indepedent creators at all, trust me, I know. I’ve seen some good friends, with great write ups take it in the “A” and barely make it out alive…. not to mention myself. Even if you manage to get a good gig with a known publisher like Slave Labor, your lucky to turn a dime at all. Sad, but TOTALLY true. And don’t even get me started on Diamond Distributors and the broken, old, tired system that the direct market IS— That ship is sinking slowly.
So, those mass readers who love thier comic books, when they go dive into the abyss that is webcomics, they’ll most likely only see the “unpolished” in everything, because let’s face it, the majority of webcomics are complete crap. At least Manley might snare us a few more open minded people who are willing to embrace and seek out the quality that DOES exists online, and I commend him for that. Thank god for the good hubs we have out here in webcomics land.
That’s why Webcomics are so exciting to me. Beyond the fact i can do whatever the crap I want, I’ve actually made more money online in the past year than I ever did toiling away in self publishing OR working freelance for other writers. And WOW, it’s a liberating feeling for a creator. That’s probably why I’ve been a little less of a bastard online as of late. I’m honestly happy. The comic book industry tends to breed some moody bastiches. That’s where I came from.
December 5th, 2005 at 8:40 pm
I dunno, DJ…if by “Troublemakers” they mean “irritating pains in the ass who piss whine and moan then expect their fans to bail them out”, then I’m sorry…Kurtz has it all over you.
Your rants have given me only ONE…count ‘em…ONE WTF moment. Scott’s gave me plenty. As I mentioned before, it’s one of the reasons I don’t read his stuff anymore.
But I’m sure, if you show hard work, perseverance, and begin a diligent practice in giving ill-informed, snap judgement opinions, you too can become a major irritant that I ignore! Till then, I’ll enjoy your hilarious comics!
December 5th, 2005 at 8:41 pm
I just want to find those dispirited small pressers and hug them! That’s why I do a column over there!
Joey
www.webcomicsnation.com
December 5th, 2005 at 8:55 pm
DJ, I think it’s great for you, (not to mention pretty damn accurate;) ) imagine all the extra traffic it can bring in with people wanting to keep an eye on the “#1 Troublemaker” Congrats on the award.
December 5th, 2005 at 9:09 pm
Ironically, I included a link to DJ in the Top 10 Webcomic Resources list I published on Friday. That didn’t impress him much… now, call him a troublemaker… ;-D
Stuart
www.DesignMeme.com
December 5th, 2005 at 9:15 pm
You’ll always be the #1 Troublemaker in my heart, DJ. *smooch*
December 5th, 2005 at 9:57 pm
Hey Stuart! No one told me– you shoulda dinged me!
I only found out about Joey’s column from Al Nickerson who linked me up.
December 5th, 2005 at 10:20 pm
Wow… that was way too cool… Like one day, I hope to grace a list of ‘troublemakers’ beyond my police files… I am not quite sure who this ‘JOEY MANLEY’ is, but apparently it was a slow news day for him…
A few things.. I love the song about you… I laughed so hard I almost pee-ed myself.. Again, another thing I want to do before I die is inspire music of hate against me…
Second off.. this guy’s discussion on why penny-arcade is drama.. is well lacking. See.. I coach high school debate, and there’s something we like to call an arguement.. It has two parts: a claim and a warrent. Though this Manley fellow has the claim down right, his warrent is as old as Mead in ‘92… and that’s pretty freak’n old…
Third.. I love your reply..
Fourth… hell.. find a way to slashdot this article to slashdotter’s hell… that’ll make the ‘wang effect’ look like a tic-tac..
Fifth.. I love your comic, always have, always will…
Six… yea… that’s all I got..
Peace out…
Keep the Llama of Drama alive..
Realworld Austin was a hater fest… cut scenes tomorrow!
- Jeremy
December 5th, 2005 at 10:42 pm
Dj’s right — comic readers know quality when they see it…
So why are webcomic news sites so hard on the eyes? For example — The Pulse and Comixpedia have good enough content… but they look bad.
Comixpedia is pretty rough looking. I keep waiting for the update when it stops looking like it’s in Beta. It runs on PostNuke, and you can get many nice looking templates for that — so why is it still looking so rough? Why are there so many boxes inside boxes inside boxes? Xerxes — please fix it.
The Pulse is running the old utlimatebb — and while that’s outdated and discontinued, they could still pick some colors that work a bit better. Don’t get me started with the Homepage. It’s just… wow. It’s like it’s trying to attack my eyes. Jenn — please help.
Won’t someone think of the children?
December 6th, 2005 at 12:03 am
THIS is the bit I love the most:
>>The controversies DJ has been embroiled in are so numerous, and yet so small at the same time, each taken individually, that their impact can’t even be explained to somebody who didn’t get caught up in them when they were happening
December 6th, 2005 at 12:06 am
Ah damnit, will I ever learn? Anti-html rules ate my post.
Anyhoo, that was…..”can’t be explained” AT ALL. Because, well, DJ isn’t a troublemaker. A truthteller, yes, and sometimes a caustic one. But not a troublemaker. Not just for the sake of stirring shit. There has to be a reason.
December 6th, 2005 at 12:46 am
I think that his definition of “troublemaker” and “artists that he’d like to fuck him while he wears a pink bunny suit” could be the same.
If he starts sending you anonymous emails with content that mainly consists of “the costume is back from the cleaners. you buy the lube this time.” then you’ll know the dark truth about all this troublemaking listing stuff.
It’s that twelve inch that you had for lunch and the thought of llama loving that gets them every time.
December 6th, 2005 at 12:58 am
I gotta admit, when I read that Manley pegged you as the number one troublemaker, I was ready to launch the offensive and come to your aid.
Then I realized that his comments were in fact high praise.
I think if you’re going to be the number one troublemaker in webcomics, you’ve totally gone about it the right way, DJ. Speaking honestly - at times bluntly - and making effective change in the community.
This, as opposed to others who bitch and moan about the popularity of the other guy and really serve no purpose but their own.
Honestly, I don’t know many other creators that care about the medium as much as you do. Even when you’re tearing down those who contribute only as a means to their own end.
December 6th, 2005 at 8:44 am
I’ve gotta admit, he had you pegged. Granted, being a troublemaker isn’t always a bad thing. Hell, it gives insomniacs like me something to read about at 2:30 in the morning when I should sleeping.
I completely agree with Tom though, I can’t think of many other creators that care about webcomics as much as you do. It’s really quite impressive. Quality is something a lot of comics lack, mine included.
While I know my comic is shit, I’ll be the first to admit it. I don’t try to beat around the bush and pass it off as “post modern douchebaggery” or whatever the crap people say when confronted with the fact that their work sucks a big one. Just call a turd a turd and move on. On that note, though, I’m using the comic as a means of practice. It might suck now, but I’m hoping the more I work at it the better it will get.
I care a lot about the medium, but you can’t go around bagging on the work of others when you’re doing everything just short of stick men and pictures of sock puppets. You’ve got some talent, so busting someone’s balls is justified.
Anyway, I went off on a tangent, sorry about that. Congrats on makign #1 and keep giving people shit, it’s good for the reputation…or the complexion, I forget which.
December 6th, 2005 at 7:10 pm
I love the rallying of the troops. It’s all about the community, and the family, hahaha.
December 9th, 2005 at 12:01 am
Uhm, who is this Joey Manley schlep? Personally, I rate your comic right up there with Wapsi Square, and Polymer City- fun to read, and who cares? Keep producing, and I’ll keep readin’.