Steve, I had to sign up again because I couldn't remember my password. This is Jamie Cosley. Yes, that was a cheap shot on my part. It was a knee jerk reaction. But I do believe that Frank is both arrogant and pompous and no where near as talented as he thinks he is. From the statements he made a few years ago about "Sparky's" retirement when no one would pick up his lame strip to the comments he made just hours ago about other cartoonists. If he is going to continue to make asinine comments then he should expect a rebuttal.

Now, I like PVP and Scott's art but I did have a question that got "lost" in the other thread. Scott is a fan of Dork Tower, but John (although funny) can't really draw that well. So does a comic cease to be "alternative" when you download someone elses font and slap it next to your bad art? I'm just trying to understand his argument. Because in all seriousness I have seen a dozen "alternative" cartoonists that have never worked for the big three that, in terms of skill with a pen, would blow Frankie and his sexy gals right out of the water.

Actually, Scott, I find your strip from Thursday to be a very important and encouraging point for aspiring comics artists to hear. After all, regardless of the relative quality of the work or the attitudes of the creators, the only way to make comics is to just make comics. Even if that means you start out running them off at Kinko's and handing them out to friends. I mean, everybody hears tons of discouraging things about how hard it is to succeed at anything, but it's very rare to hear the simple message that to move from "wanting to do" something to "doing" something only takes a little effort and some guts.

Frank was very justified in his comments about Charles Schulz's retirement promises. I don't think many people even realize just how dismal the newspaper comic strip market is. I know I didn't know about it until I started talking to other syndicated artists.

Talk to any syndicated artists out there. I miss Charles, but it's time for Peanuts to take it's place in the history of the artform and make way for the new kids to come and make their mark.

If they would let Peanuts drop from the paper, it would allow a lot of new strips get their chance to make their mark in the great history of the American Comic Strip.



Dilbert isn't drawn well, but you certainly can't consider it alternative. The art is only one aspect and as the week (and the current storyline) continues, you'll see that it's not what I'm really focusing on.

Well, and I agree with you Greg. But the process doesn't end there. Anyone can just "do it" but not everyone can succeed at it.

The problem is when people who fail to succeed at it get a crappy attitude about those who are. Suddenly, those succeeding become the sell-outs and those failing become the mis-understood artists who are victims to the homoginization of entertainment.

Eddie Campbell makes a similar point in "How to be an Artist."

As for Kurtz himself, I know for a fact, from private conversation, that he's a fan and supporter of any number of alternative comics. For example, when I got a signed Modern Tales contract from one particularly well-known alternative cartoonist, Scott was beside himself with excitement.

Lighten up, guys. The strip is funny.

Joey
www.moderntales.com

Or you know, vice versa.


depends on your definition of success...or alternative...or "is"....

And so on and so on...


Can't we all just get along?

NEVER!!!


( )

Dangnabit - where's Frank Cho?? That guy owes me $20 bucks...

(looks around furtively)

Scott, Franklin wasn't justified in his statements. Sparky didn't need to move on and even if he did Cho certainly would not be the one to take his place. The strip stunk. He can't write. I believe there is more to the story of him "leaving the syndicate" to pursue comics but it's really not a big deal. Good luck with the storyline....

So whatever happened to the original thread?

This one feels like deja vu.