Reactions to Valerie D'Orazio's post on the looming closure of Friends of Lulu this September if more support and help isn't immediately forthcoming: Johanna Draper Carlson writes about recent problems with a hope that a reduced in scope FoL can survive; FoL co-founder Heidi MacDonald writes she offered to help with the FoL Awards and suggests she will work to keep it alive in some form no matter what happens to the organization; and Laura Hudson writes that the new transparency is a good thing.

MILESTONES: Fleen writes about the impending wrapup of Bellen! and Box Brown's shift to focus on his Everything Dies project:

This, I think, is what web/indy comics allow that print/corporate comics don’t — the ability to wrap up a story or strip, or turn it into something completely different, and let the creator not get subsumed by the creation. Look back at the early days of comic strips, and you’ll find creators that let one strip finish and another take its place all the time. Today, get into the papers with a big enough hit and that’s it — you’re locked in forever (I believe the legal term is in perpetuity) and long after you’re dead, something you thought might last for a decade is still be put together by the former assistants of former assistants or children and grandchildren.

CONVENTIONS

• This weekend is Okaton 2010 in Baltimore, Maryland.  As always help me add events to the Comic Events Calendar.
• Tom Spurgeon's epic and entertaining write up of SDCC 2010.

Interviews: Good Comics for Kids blog has a video interview with Lark Pien

Reviews

• El Santo reviews the webcomic Pressed.
• Another review of Doug TenNapel's Ghostopolis from the Daily Cross Hatch; ComixTalk's review is here.

HYPE: Scott McCloud points to Justin Crane's new website filled with new and old comics.

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So two things ComixTalk-ish I want to mention:

1. I need guest bloggers again due to vacation and other conflicts scattered throughout the fall.  I'll be asking (you know: begging) several folks personally, but if this strikes you as an interesting opportunity send me an email (xerexes AT gmail DOT com) or a tweet (xerexes).
2. Lately, I've been really interested in experimenting with some ideas for a radio show (podcast I guess) and would love any and all tips or pointers to good FAQs on all of the technical side of producing audio and/or video shows for the web.

INTERVIEW: Cross Topic interviewed Neil Fitzpatrick of the comic Neil Jam.

HYPE SQUARED

• Robot6 has the roundup of new books and projects from the Girl Genius universe.  Phil Foglio must no longer sleep...
• Ooooh! The new Strange Tales 2 book from Marvel will feature the work of Kate Beaton, Nick Gurewitch, and Shannon Wheeler among many other big indie comicker names.

NOT WEBCOMICS: David Rees, creator of the webcomic Get Your War On, reincarnation of Andy Kaufman or frustrated Bob Villa?  You decide!

CONVENTIONS: Scott McCloud offers a word of advice derived from his recap of the recent SDCC: patience.

FRIENDS OF LULU: Valerie D'Orazio blogs about the state of Friends of Lulu and although it's a very forthcoming post, it's probably not the entire story (there's always other sides to the story).  Nevertheless I feel for D'Orazio who seems to have made efforts to improve things but had a hard time rallying support from members or outside supporters.  In fact, to D'Orazio's view things have gotten to the breaking point as she writes:

If by September 2010 nobody steps forward and shows interest in helping run this organization, I will start taking steps to officially dissolve it as a non-profit. Then I will donate the leftover money (if any) between the other major comics charities, return the donated artwork, and ship the historical records and sketchbooks to a University or MoCCA.  Before I would take steps to dissolve FoL (if it comes to that), I will personally contact a number of concerned parties via a mass email asking for volunteers to keep the organization going.

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I'm sure there's a ton of good comics to read today and with everyone back from SDCC, well... what's next? To wrap up SDCC memories though, Gary has a transcript of the Webcomics Lightning Round at SDCC that he moderated - good stuff.

Moving on to iWebcomics, Joey Manley writes about the spate of new iPad apps for the traditional comic book companies.  First, iPads aren't going to replace PCs anymore than PCs replaced TeeVees or replaced movies.  The pie grows a bit and the slices change sizes but it rare that NEW THINGS replace EXISTING THINGS.  Also I'm glad people are liking some of the new apps but until DC and MARVEL sanely commit to presenting their entire library of content in a digital format they're never going to put a dent in the illegal scanlation stuff let alone begin to grow an audience for their work beyond the direct market hard core crowd.  I don't know -- would you be super-excited about watching LOST, if you got seasons 4-7 plus the STARTLING ORIGIN episode on the new iPAD ABC TEEVEE app but for the rest you had to go to used VHS stores to hunt for the tapes?  WTF, right?

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