Here's a Tricky One: Webcomics and Guest Comics

[lastres0rt.livejournal.com]

A couple weeks ago, one of my favorite webcomic folks -- in my eyes, THE webcomic guy that started me down this crazy, woolly path -- was asking for guest comics that he could run during his usual weekday schedule while he was orchestrating a big personal life event (nothing permanent, but just disruptive enough that he wanted some guest strips) Also, he wanted them rather quick.

Being an opportunist and trying to quickly draw up a good showing of my stuff (because guest comics for a webcomic == publicity the same way a guest post on a blog does), I made a single-panel comic for him and sent it to him the next day. I'd post it here, except I don't feel like revealing the identity of the guy or his comic yet.

So I waited, patiently checking his RSS feed for the comic (which I was already subscribed to before all this, hence how I discovered the opportunity so fast), day, after day, after day... it didn't show up. Two days after I sent mine, he even went asking for MORE comics, but still without showing mine.

I sent another email Thursday with a copy the comic again, this time asking if he could at least respond back to let me know when I could expect to see mine show up and that I was really anxious to see it / a really big fan of his. No response.

Today, normal comics resumed. I've received no response and no indication that my comic ever has / ever would appear on the site.

I'm probably going too far in protecting the guy's identity at this point (though I imagine a few of you have figured it out already), but that's because it's time for me to ask you guys for advice. I realize it's his prerogative to decide which comics he wants to let appear and which ones he doesn't, but leaving me "waiting by the phone" as it were is a bit much. If he didn't want to run it, he should have said so. There were photoshopped comics and copy-paste comics running during that time period, so it's not like he was looking for a minimum art standard...

I'm mostly annoyed because not only did I take time out of my usual drawing time to produce what basically amounts to fanart (which I can't sell / promote otherwise because it's not my characters involved... hell, until I'm willing to name names, I can't even POST IT on my art sites), but also I've received no response from the guy at all. Not even something as innocuous and banal as a post on his blog or anything stating "We had so many good comics sent in, but we just couldn't show them all!" Even if this is "Standard procedure" for guest comics, it's sue as heck not encouraging me to draw any more of the things, which is only shooting myself in the foot as far as I'm concerned because again, it's as much a way to help another artist out as much as it is a publicity stunt.

I'm also in the sticky situation of wanting to point out that this guy basically refused to post my work without any explanation and that I expected better out of a "professional", but NOT wanting to do so in a way that's going to cause drama. He's a fairly long-lived fellow, which makes me "Ye Ole Noob" and basically means I'm likely to get the majority of the shit thrown back in my face for daring to insist that I should at least have received some sort of acknowledgment for my work.
So... advice?

Comments

[maddogairpirate.livejournal.com]

Some people just don't want to hurt others feelings. In doing so they tend to irritate us more.

Just remember, the guest comic was a voluntary submission with no guarantee of display. Guy probably should've been considerate enough to tell you, but, his comic, as you said, he chooses what airs.

Don't fret over it.

[anarchicq.livejournal.com]

I say screw it. I've done guest comics that never got posted or commented on by the creator, and I posted them on my DA anyway stating that they are fan art. *Shrug*

Also, you don't know if there was a huge influx of guest comics and he simply didn't have time to post them all, you might not be alone in this predicament.

Of course, that's just more publicity for them.

I think you're taking it a little too personally.

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

He's made it clear he doesn't intend to show it, and doesn't intend to respond. That's his right, really, even if it is very rude of him. While I agree you shouldn't cause drama, it IS your art. Simply posting it to your own gallery with a brief explanation along the lines of "I drew this for X comic but it was never shown there, so I'm going to show it off here," or something, tells the story for anybody who cares, without flinging around drama and accusations.

[tealizard.livejournal.com]

You submitted something to a request. Especially if it's a very popular comic, there were likely many submissions.

he didn't ask you personally, nor offer you money. You did it out of hoping to have your work posted. It's like sending letters to the editor- it doesn't mean your letter WILL get posted, and are you going to yell at the newspaper?

Get over it, is my advice, blunt and mean as it sounds.

[greenreaper.livejournal.com]

You're sure he actually got the emails in the first place?

[lastres0rt.livejournal.com]

They didn't bounce, if that's what you mean.

[greenreaper.livejournal.com]

Not really. I don't imagine the stuff that lands in my jumk mail bounces either, but it still risks not getting read.

[merlin-the-wise.livejournal.com]

If you didn't request and receive a read receipt, there's no way to actually verify that he did receive the emails. Bouncing or not isn't really a meaningful method of finding out.

[dinogrrl.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's a bit rude, but I doubt this person has a vendetta against you and is going out of their way to ignore you. Don't take it so personally.

[leahtaur.livejournal.com]

I think your ego is overly fragile and you need to toughen up a bit, for your own good as an artist. :/ This artist is not required to answer each artist that didn't get their comic posted; he probably got a tonne and shouldn't feel the need to anyway.

Take it as a learning experience.

[uneide.livejournal.com]

I think pretty much everyone has said what I would - he probably got many submissions and found yours inappropriate in some way?

Also - don't discount email woes. Even at our store we find the newsletter ( which people sign up for voluntarily) doesn't arrive to 1/3 of the recipients, and to date haven't been able to find out why. So its possible yours got filtered by an overactive spam filter, and simply never reached him.
There was also a customer that emailed us THREE TIMES and each time we replied to her -- and she didn't get any of the replies as she then tried again through a board and got in touch.
Have you tried emailing him without any attachments?

In the end -- his prerogative, and you're not really out money - you did this because you loved the characters, correct? And he never made specific promises to you... so... eh, I'd just let it go. I can imagine how that could be enormously frustrating though.

[taasla.livejournal.com]

I think you are taking this way too personally. What you did was voluntary and you knew there would be no guarantee that your comic would be posted. Are you more upset that you didn't get the free pageviews? Because that's sort of what it seems like.

It doesn't mean that you cannot ever show it off. Post it to your gallery and call it fanart.

[sorethumb.livejournal.com]

This sounds like greg dean.

You know, the Real Life Comics greg dean (http://www.reallifecomics.com/).

I only say that 'cause this douche did the same to me about 6 years ago, when I also made a sucky comic (http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=21nleag&s=4). Yes, I can see why he wouldn't've posted it. No, I didnt' get a courtesy "Thanks, but no thanks."

I guess Greg Dean wants to maintain a level of "Quality" about his "Comics".
AKA: Illustrator template art.

Did I guess right?

I just checked, and it seems he made posts about it recently.. Wow, I can't believe I guessed that correctly, 6 years later. I guess assholery of 'celebrities' is never forgotten.


Greg dean or not, it's not your comic. Just make sure to spread the bad word about this person. Why do I say so? Because he's obviously not prefacing his request with the notice that he's going to be a dick.

[tealizard.livejournal.com]

You're being parodic, right?

Otherwise, oh god, get over yourself.

Over

[sorethumb.livejournal.com]

Kind intent should be repaid with kind intent. That's all I'm saying-- even if I should be putting "Kind" in quotes.

Man, this's such a gunpowder keg. If I reply when you've possibly insulted me, I'm not over myself.. We'll see. 8)

Re: Over

[tealizard.livejournal.com]

The problem is, you did a quick, shoddy fancomic. It didn't get posted, and suddenly the guy is an asshole and you think his name should be slurred? and that this guy (who isn't the same guy, it's a HUGE webcomic artist, if I'm guessing right) should also have his name spat on, just for not posting someone's art? I'm sensing huge entitlement issues, seriously.

Re: Over

[sorethumb.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to say that it appears you have completely missed my points. See you later, tealizard 8)

Re: Over

[tealizard.livejournal.com]

Your point is basically that you drew something for someone, and omg he didn't post it. How dare he. :/

Unless, like i said, you're being parodic.

Re: Over

[lastres0rt.livejournal.com]

Actually, in OP's defense, it IS Greg Dean I'm talking about. (His stuff's more popular than you'd think.)

My entry just wasn't nearly so quick / shoddy. (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v435/jekkal/?action=view&current=real_life_web.png)

...maybe he doesn't like furry jokes?

Re: Over

[tealizard.livejournal.com]

Haha no I thought it was someone else who you had on your rss.

To be honest, it's not that funny... Nonsensical, even. Likely irrelevant, unless Real Life has EVER had any furries in it whatsoever, which, I doubt. Pretty self indulgent. Which could be a reason why he didn't post it- or, like most of the internet, he doesn't want his name affiliated with some of the things furries are affiliated with...

In the end, I still don't get why you're upset (or why the other guy is), you took time out of your schedule to draw something, without a guarantee it would be posted, without being directly asked by the guy, and in the end, you were doing it for your own gain.

It's tough luck, etc.

Re: Over

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

No, there have never been any furries in his comic. It's primarily gaming and geek jokes.

Re: Over

[shadsdf.livejournal.com]

i'd just like to point out. a lot of the internet doesn't like furries. at all. and the main "characters" that you drew here are HIM and HIS WIFE. that must be really kind of uncomfortable to log on to see if you're really not into that thing. i mean, it's one step above getting "fanart" that's just surprise porn when you're not into that.

Re: Over

[armaina.livejournal.com]

I don't know if you noticed, but his comic isn't furry.

Think about it, he really doesn't have a 'furry' fanbase, the comic would make -no sense- to the vast majority of his readers. -That- is why it was not posted. It makes no sense to make a furry related comic for a comic that has practically nothing to do with furries at all.

Re: Over

[thaily.livejournal.com]

Glad I wasn't the only one thinking that. O_o

[onesteptwo.livejournal.com]

I don't see how anyone should be slurring his name just because your comic didn't make it up. Or the OP's comic. There are never any guarantees on open calls and if his comic is so popular, YEAH HE MIGHT BE BUSY.

*sigh* People.

[sorethumb.livejournal.com]

That's not why I slurred his name. I think you've missed all my comments up above, and my point in the original comment.

[onesteptwo.livejournal.com]

He didn't post your comic, didn't comment back to you about it, made no promises to do either ...

So what am I missing?

words words words

[stolenmilkcrate.livejournal.com]

I'm with most of the people up there...
a) e-mail could have never made it to the person because of spam filters etc.

b) some webcomic artists get dozens or hundreds of e-mails a day and some may slip through the cracks

c) webcomic artists may use the art of their friends, or people they know and want to promote, before strangers' works

d) many popular webcomic artists are just not that great at replying to e-mail. I imagine it gets tiring after a while

e) bunches of people may have submitted theirs before yours came in and he queued theirs up in his updater

f) there may have been something about your submission that irked him or made him go, "ehh better not"

g) it really sounds like you are taking this too much to heart, unless he personally came to you and asked you to draw a comic. For popular comics there is no way an artist can showcase every single fan-art that comes in.

I agree that it would have been nice of him to say something but... popular/famous people don't always have the time, or make the time, to do so for every single fan. It is part of being one of the masses :P Next time, just do fan art because you want to, not because you want to be promoted. If you get featured, hey bonus. If not... oh well!

Re: words words words

[stolenmilkcrate.livejournal.com]

Upon seeing your guest comic, your image is pretty much you trying to shoehorn Greg Dean's characters into furry bodies for some bizarre reason, and a lot of people look at furry jokes either as old meme or just plain "what?/Yuck." There may be very little crossover between furries and the audience that reads the comic so he might have just passed on yours.

A thanks would be nice but I think you are expecting too much for that particular comic to get posted, honestly.

Re: words words words

[fiercereaper.livejournal.com]

Agreed.

Re: words words words

[marlinkhylacat]

Everything stolenmilkcrate says is true-facts! A lot of people don't think of webcomics people as "real celebrities" who do "real work." But in truth, it's not uncommon for them get daily emails numbering in the triple digits, in addition to posts made on their forums, LJ's, running their shops, etc. AND they're having to do their own work both, online and offline, in addition to managing fan-responses.

I've seen so many artists get so backlogged in e-mails they can't respond to that they eventually post, "I'm so sorry, guys, but I had to just delete the 4000+ emails in my inbox before my system just crashed from the strain of loading it."

When artists request guest comics (and I see this a lot, since I read about 40 webcomics daily), I've never seen them say, "I promise all guest art received will be acknowledged in some way." Mostly because they don't have the TIME to respond to everything. If you weren't directly commissioned by them personally, then they're under no obligation to contact you back--there's probably already 500 other people they're still trying to find time to respond to, about more serious matters like bills and merchandising rights issues. Even small-time webcomics people often have to deal with those.

[merlin-the-wise.livejournal.com]

It sounds to me like you're being overly sensitive and blowing this way out of proportion. You can't verify that he ever actually received the emails, and you're inferring all kinds of thoughts to the author that come across as quite spiteful and entirely unfounded.

I may be overly blunt and just rehashing what others have already said, but my advice is to get over yourself. I don't see at all why you see the need to take any of this fellow's possible actions or inactions as some sort of extreme personal affront, especially as a webcomic author yourself.

[thrivis.livejournal.com]

I don't know how this "guest comic" thing works so maybe i'm going to sound silly for a minute.

So when someone says "I need some guest comics," you don't ask first everyone just makes a comic? Are you sure you aren't supposed to go "hey, i'd like to try, here's a sample of my work. Can I do a strip?"

Going ahead and doing it and then expecting him to post it seems... unreasonable. By that logic, he would have to post every submission received, and depending on the popularity of the comic, that might be a ridiculous feat.

I think he should have noted you at the very least "Sorry I'm not going to use it" or posted a general note on the blog/whatever about it. Getting all worked up about it like you are though...?

It just seems like it would have been better to get his actual personal interest through email before spending a lot of time on something you didn't have any real indication he would accept.

You have absolutely no real agreement between you two to report on. :/

[neolucky.livejournal.com]

Bawfest.

And while we're on the topic of Real Life Comics, I don't like Greg Dean or his Comic, or his attitude. And yes I've met him in real life and had the distinct "lovely pleasure" of tabling next to his highness at conventions.

Did an art trade with him (per his asking me) and he did nothing in return, and scoffed when I turned down one of his books.

His comic is retarded in my opinion, and I boggle at his fame sometimes.

But back on topic, this post is kinda stupid and pointless. If you wanna out someone, do it, if you wanna complain and get a hugbox, do post it on your own LJ and not here.

[thaily.livejournal.com]

As much as I can sympathize on how shitty it is to be ignored when you try to do something nice for someone, they didn't make you a promise they didn't keep. I'm not sure why this is in the community.

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

Speaking as a webtoonist, my first guess is that your piece got lost in the shuffle. I'd say go ahead and post it to your own site indicating that it was sent in for guest art.

If the comic has a forum, you could also post the strip to that.

I've done that kind of thing before myself, not out of any malice, just from being a forgetful airhead. The main way I was positive I wasn't the person you're referring to is that I haven't put out any calls for guest art recently and don't have an RSS feed. ;P

-The Gneech

[cuprohastes.livejournal.com]

You drew something but they're not obliged to actually put it up. It might be it goes up in a week or two, and the schedule is being filled for several weeks in advance.
If you're so bent out of shape, post it on your LJ.