Sun Sep 9, 2007 3:57PM30 comments ›
Sun Sep 9, 2007 — by Mike Gold
MIKE GOLD: ComicMix – Phase II
Whizzy's Wazoo #31
O.K. The cat’s out of the bag.
What is probably the worst kept “secret” in the history of comics, known only to about 200 writers, artists, staffers, collaborators, co-conspirators, friends, and family plus whomever they might have told, was let loose in Baltimore yesterday. Or actually earlier today since I’m posting this one early – like, a couple hours after our Baltimore panel. Or, since I’m writing this on Thursday, in about 69 hours.
That’s what I love about the Internets. It’s the closest we’ll get to time travel, at least any time “soon.”
Here’s what we revealed. Here’s the high-concept pitch.
In a few weeks, we’re adding the first of several major components to ComicMix. We’re doing brand-new serialized online comics by major comics talent, in traditional comics format, with an amazingly cool proprietary reader, and it’s all for free.
Please note. I said “brand-new” and “major comics talent.” And I said free.
What talent, you might ask? Well, to name but a few, and in alphabetical order, we’re talking about Mike Baron, Rick Burchett, Chris Burnham, Michael Davis, Ian Gibson, Dick Giordano, Mike Gold, Stuart Gordon, Mike Grell, Bo Hampton, Glenn Hauman, Marc Hempel, Lovern Kindierski, Linda Lessman, Jay Lynch, Frank McLaughlin, William Messner-Loebs, John Ostrander, Andrew Pepoy, Bob Pinaha, Michael H. Price, Bill Reinhold, Nick Runge, John K. Snyder III, Joe Staton, Martha Thomases, Robert Tinnell, Timothy Truman, Trevor Von Eeden, Mark Evan Walker, Matt Webb, Mark Wheatley, Skip Williamson, Marv Wolfman, and John Workman. And more. You think we’re going to tell you everything?
But we will say this: here are the features we’re working on: Black Ice, Demons of Sherwood, EZ Street, Fashion In Action, Fishhead, Glamours Inc., GrimJack, Jack Johnson, Jon Sable Freelance, Munden’s Bar, Naked Brain, PayDay, The Prowler, Simone & Ajax, and White Viper. All are trademarks of their owners, by the way, so watch your ass or Glenn Hauman will get very angry. If he’s got to “TM” everything in sight, you should respect his loving efforts. And not all of that stuff will be going up on Day One – we’ll be starting with six.
We’ll also be showing off our new design for ComicMix. Brian, Glenn and the Tech-Team of Secret Infinite Civil Crisis Warriors have been at it since Hector was a pup, and, damn, it looks great. They’re in the home stretch. And all this starts happening...
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... October 2nd.
We’ll be explaining things as we come closer to our new comics launch date. You’ll be seeing our various presentations, including a video podcast of our Baltimore panel, and individual write-ups on each of our initial-launch series, complete with preview art. So this is merely the iceberg warning.
Whereas the cat’s out of the bag, there will be a lot of kittens. Stay tuned.
Did I say new comics by major talent, for free? Odd that I would forget to say that.
This is fun.
Mike Gold is ComicMix’s exhausted editor-in-chief.
Jump to comments (30) 
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Comments (30)
Alan Coil (4:42 PM on Sun Sep 9, 2007)
Congrats on the expansion!
.
I knew (okay, strongly suspected) that there had to be more planned than what you started with, because otherwise why bother. Who needs yet another site that has daily online articles and comments? I have been pleased to participate thus far. I hope you open a forum some time in the near future.
Elayne Riggs (5:30 PM on Sun Sep 9, 2007)
Hope all is going well there in Baltimore! Now please approve my week-in-review roundup, which I was kind enough to upload last night for your convenience. :)
Richard Pachter (7:06 PM on Sun Sep 9, 2007)
I'm shocked, shocked.
Mark Behar (10:06 PM on Sun Sep 9, 2007)
I had a sneaking suspicion something was up...
Christopher Moonlight (10:09 PM on Sun Sep 9, 2007)
That's wonderful news. I love comic mix as it is, but I'm looking forward to the new additions.
Jeff Cuscutis (8:21 AM on Mon Sep 10, 2007)
This sounds great.
Any news on whether the podcast will be able to be successfully subscribed from iTunes?
Brian Alvey (9:27 AM on Mon Sep 10, 2007)
The podcast feed will be part of the site upgrade. We might even be able to release it before we launch the comics.
MARK WHEATLEY (8:29 AM on Mon Sep 10, 2007)
It was great hanging with the entire COMICMIX crowd at the Baltimore Comic Con. The BBQ at Andy Nelson's is now on my radar and I know we will be going back for more. Damn you!
BTW - after the big announcement on Sunday about the launch of PHASE II, I had a fan stop by the Insight Studios booth who had started reading our comics way back with MARS at First Comics. He was popping eyeballs at the collected version from IDW. So naturally I showed him the bound preview of the first 80+ pages of EZ STREET that Robert Tinnell and I are doing for ComicMix. And the guy says a lot of nice things about it while he was flipping the pages - but he finally, sadly closes the book and puts it down on the table telling me, "Looks nice but a few years ago I got so fed up with the increasing costs of comics and the shrinking story content that I decided to never pay another publisher more money as a protest against this trend."
So I said, "That's perfect. You can read EZ STREET on ComicMix.com for free."
And he said, "Oh it is a beautiful book and I wish I could buy it - but I had to make this hard choice to never PAY for a comic again unless publishers start giving better value for my money."
"Yes - I know. But on ComicMix you can read EZ STREET for FREE. That's FREE."
"What?"
"Free!"
"Free?"
"Yes, FREE!"
"Wow! ComicMix.com? Do you have something I can write that down with?"
So - the concept does require repeating.
Mike Gold (12:03 PM on Mon Sep 10, 2007)
We'll be saying "FREE!" a LOT!
Neil (11:36 AM on Mon Sep 10, 2007)
It was a great presentation yesterday. Too bad more ComicMix people couldn't make to Baltimore. I am looking forward to seeing how the comics will work on the site. Thanks for the GrimJack button and hat.
Neil
Elayne Riggs (12:17 PM on Mon Sep 10, 2007)
Well, some of us have day jobs, Neil. :) I wish I could have made it to Baltimore, I've never been there and I really do want to go someday.
Neil (3:33 PM on Mon Sep 10, 2007)
By the way, I think I was able to upload a few pictures I took during the ComicMix panel. You might be able to see those at
http://img255.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p9090031zo6.jpg
http://img255.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p9090030lt6.jpg
http://img255.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p9090029so9.jpg
http://img255.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p9090028lj9.jpg
http://img255.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p9090027lh7.jpg
Neil
Linda Gold (3:56 PM on Mon Sep 10, 2007)
Thanks for the pictures Neil. I was unable to attend the panel since I volunteered to watch the ComicMix booth while the people who actually do the work were making the announcement so these are as close I can come to seeing what went on.
Elayne Riggs (11:20 AM on Tue Sep 11, 2007)
Hey, you came closer than I did. :)
Stella (6:38 PM on Mon Sep 10, 2007)
Great news, can't wait to see the new site!
Steve Braun (8:15 PM on Mon Sep 10, 2007)
Thanks again for your time in Baltimore. It was quite a treat being able to speak with you and the news was worth waitng for.
joanie pond (8:17 PM on Mon Sep 10, 2007)
sounds great to me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Scott Bieser (9:33 PM on Wed Sep 12, 2007)
Everybody wants to get into the act!
-- Jimmy Durante
Kneon Transitt (9:57 AM on Tue Sep 18, 2007)
w00t!
Marc Hempel webcomics for the win.*
(*more Gregory, please! PLEASE!!!)
Mike Gold (11:49 AM on Tue Sep 18, 2007)
Funny... we're working with Marc on something along those lines. Something.
"w00t!"?
Glenn Hauman (12:33 PM on Thu Sep 20, 2007)
Yes, w00t. Get hip to the latest jive, bro; lest you be looked on as horribly squaresville. (If you really want the etemology, it started as an acronym for "We Own the Other Team" and got turned into hacker speak by gamers.)
Mike Gold (12:37 PM on Thu Sep 20, 2007)
... who, evidently, feel a strong need for more code, daddy-o.
MARK WHEATLEY (1:49 PM on Thu Sep 20, 2007)
Actually I just thought it sounded like something GREGORY might say - - -
Jack C. Harris (4:01 PM on Thu Sep 20, 2007)
Mike--send me the phone number of which we spoke.
--JCH
Len Strazewski (7:57 PM on Thu Sep 20, 2007)
If only someday I could write for ComicMix! It would be my dream come true. Then NO ONE would kick sand in my face every again!
Referencing obscurity,
Len
Mike Gold (10:28 AM on Fri Sep 21, 2007)
I think you just did, Len.
Michael Davis (4:22 PM on Wed Sep 26, 2007)
Can't wait for all the new stuff=Speaking of new stuff CALL ME!!!
Matthew Ceplina (1:43 AM on Sun Sep 30, 2007)
As I'm new to the site, I wasn't aware of all the upcoming free webcomics. There seems to be a nice breadth of content. Looking forward to the new, free, stuff. Hey, saying 'free' is contagious.
Matthew Phansel (11:56 AM on Mon Oct 1, 2007)
RICK BURCHETT!!!! WHERE? WHERE?
MPH
Max (Maureen (1:33 AM on Fri Oct 10, 2008)
Just to wish you the best and say high from when were children