Andertoons Cartoon Blog

AnderCon?!

I'm kinda really excited about the book coming out, and, assuming it does modestly well, I'm looking at doing a few more this year.

And lately I've been thinking about marketing Andertoons a bit more.  I've tried some advertising, I'm doing the monthly newsletter (and let's not forget the blog), but the books open up another possibility – conventions.

After some searching I ran across ComicBookConventions.com, and while there a lot there that wouldn't fit Andertoons well, there's a few that look interesting:

• MoCCA - No chance for this year, but maybe 2009.
• SPX - Another really good opportunity, and it looks like I could register for this year.
• SPACE - Close to home, but it doesn't look as well organized or presented.  Another for 2009 maybe.
• APE - Another possibility for this year, but it looks pretty comic booky.

I've only been to Wizard World here in Chicago once, and I wasn't really paying close attention to the artist alley, so I have no idea if any of these would be worth it.

I think what I'm looking for is to:

1. Sell a few books
2. Create some new fans
3. Get some publisher attention

So whatcha think?  Does this make any sense?  Or am I just looking for a way to justify a few days out of the house?

Technorati Tags: andertoons, books, cartoon, cartooning, cartoonist, cartoons

Wording

I love words.

And it's a good thing since writing is really the crux of the whole cartoonist thing.  You can be the greatest artist in the world, but if your writing stinks, t'ain't  nobody buyin'.

One of my tricks when I'm stumped is to hit the books.  I've got a number of different reference volumes to kick start the process:

• Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms
•  The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms
• The Dictionary of Cliches
• The Oxford Dictionary of Catchphrases

But I heard of a newer source of topical and popular language that I intend to be digging into the next time I'm drawing a blank, the Global Language Monitor.

There's tons of great stuff here, although I'd like it to be updated a little more frequently.

I'm also looking forward to digging into Semantic Antics: How and Why Words Change Meaning by Sol Steinmetz.

Dunno how inspiring it will be cartoon-wise, but it sounds like a fun read.

Word up!

Technorati Tags: andertoons, cartoon, cartooning, cartoonist, cartoons

Mmm... Cheesy Italian Oatmeal Bread

 

You gotta love the Mrs.!

Technorati Tags: andertoons, food

Book Update

I've gotten my ISBN, my Library of Congress control number, and my bar code all put on and in the book now.

I also threw in some page numbers! (Oops! Forgot all about that last time!)

Now I'm just waiting for my preview copy to arrive. I'll letcha know once its available, but it should be soon! Woo-hoo!

Technorati Tags: andertoons, books, cartoon, cartooning, cartoonist, cartoons

New Anderithm

Some subtle changes to the Andertoons homepage recently.

The same cartoons were becoming cemented under Highest Rated and Most Viewed. And, subsequently, those were being rated and viewed more. It was an ugly circle.

So we made some changes to the algorithm so a greater number of cartoons could get their chance in the homepage sun. We also added a few more choices under most viewed.

Here's a look:

And then here's another look after a refresh:

See the difference?

It was as much for me as anything. I just couldn't take seeing that damn Frankenstein cartoon there every morning!

Hope ya like it!

Technorati Tags: andertoons, cartoon, cartooning, cartoonist, cartoons

Chicago Tribune Changing Sunday Comics to Tabloid Format

So I reading about the last season of BSG last Sunday, and I notice this on the inside cover of the Trib's TV Week:

Starting next Sunday, TV Week is becoming The Guide to TV and the Internet, with fresher TV listings, more channel listings and more color. And tucked inside The Guide will be your favorite color comics in an easier-to-scan tabloid format. Plus you'll get our experts' and readers' advice about the best sites on the internet, including those on chicagotribune.com and elsewhere.

Here are the details:

In our more up-to-date listings grids, you'll find nine new cable channels, plus color coding that will instantly guide you to movies, sports, news/talk, and our Best Bets.

In Comics, which will be a pullout section inside The Guide, Chicago's best comics and puzzles – now including the popular TV jumble – will be easier to hold ad share among the entire family.

Each week in our guide to the internet, we will cut through the jungle of millions of sites to the best ones as determined by Tribune experts and readers like you. Each week, we'll offer different topics for time-saving surfing.

Look for it next Sunday in the same spot you've been finding TV Week.

From the look of the graphic, it looks like The Guide is gonna be sized like Parade or the Trib's weekly local news mag.

Interesting huh? I'll post some pics next week of the new comics section.

Technorati Tags: andertoons, cartoon, cartooning, cartoonist, cartoons, comics

Webcomics' Impact

Weighing in at 162 comments so far, The Daily Cartoonist's recent post, Ted Rall, Rich Stevens, others debate webcomic impact on cartooning, is one of the best conversations I'd read or been a part of as far as the "freeconomics" (Chris Anderson's word from Free! Why $0.00 Is the Future of Business, another great piece on the subject) of cartoons online.

There's a lot to digest, and a fair amount of snark and vitriol at the start, but it's well worth your time.

Technorati Tags: andertoons, blog, business, cartoon, cartooning, cartoonist, cartoons, comics, webcomics

#6 #6

So I'm a huge nerd and I'm excited about the upcoming final season of BSG.

Thanks to  Show Me SciFi for the heads up on their revealing Letterman Top 10:

Technorati Tags: andertoons, cartoon, cartooning, cartoonist, cartoons, youtube

The Andertoons Guy is Back (Sort Of...)

Andertoons fans might remember this fellow from a previous website design:

He used to wave and blink in the upper left hand corner of the site.

When I did the last redesign we dropped him and went for a more web 2.0 look, and, even more recently, a snappy logo.

Well, after some recent user testing and some number crunching, guess who's back?!

Not exactly the same, but certainly related. Also, he looks a lot more like my current style.

He's just on the homepage, there's no waving or blinking, and that shirt looks a little like he's an inmate, but it's nice to have the squiggly-haird guy around again.

Technorati Tags: andertoons, cartoon, cartooning, cartoonist, cartoons

Andertalk Running Again

OK, looks like except for a few cosmetic glitches, the forum is back up again.

Enjoy!

Technorati Tags: andertalk, andertoons, cartoon, cartooning, cartoonist, cartoons, forum