If you were one of the people taken in by our evil April Fool's Day pranks, I apologize profusely. In my defense, it seemed like a good idea at the time.
Unfortunate timing then, I guess, for the announcements this past weekend that two comics-related web sites may be going out of business. I say "may," simply because the timing seems so suspicious.
Fandom.com has apparently become a victim of the Dot Com Bust, and there's been enough mainstream coverage of this story that I don't think it's a joke. I'm of two minds about Fandom possibly going down. I respect and admire the Comics Newsarama guys, especially reporter Michael Doran and reviewers Randy Lander and Don MacPherson. I'm confident, though, that their talent is strong enough that even if Comics Newsarama is no longer a part of Fandom, they'll still be prominent in the online comics community.
On the other hand, it's cause to celebrate if that's what happens; Fandom's godawful site design has crippled my ability to read and enjoy the good work being done at Comics Newsarama. If they're not crashing my browser, their load times are so egregious as to drive me away more often than not. Apparently the Fandom site design is something that was forced upon these guys, and it hasn't done right by them at all. So, I'm all for seeing them land somewhere a little more reader-friendly. For now, though, Michael Doran is encouraging people to keep visiting, as they are continuing to post new material while they can.
The news that Slush Factory is also going down filled me with doubt. The message appearing on the site's front page struck me as being somewhat light-hearted, but editor Brian Jacks assures me the news of Slush's imminent demise are true, and that the site will more or less go dark sometime next week.
Brian and I have had our online clashes, but he's a decent guy, and reasonable people certainly can agree to disagree. I'm not really clear on the behind the scenes reasons why SF is going down, as it seems to fly in the face of an essay on the site a few months back that seemed to indicate that Slush was immune to the dangers of the Dot Com Bust.
But Brian seems sincere, and I feel bad that his site may be going away, and I wish him, and the Newsarama gang, only the best as they readjust to the realities of the World Wide Web in the '00s.
Now, I've gotten e-mail this morning asking me if Comic Book Galaxy is the next site to crash and burn. The answer to that is an emphatic no.
From the very start, the Galaxy was designed and implemented to be able to withstand the sorts of pressures and circumstances that are taking down other sites. From the moment I envisioned what I wanted to do here last August, I have worked to find only the most dedicated, talented people I could find, and I've worked to make sure they understood that the Internet represents a new paradigm in information sharing. One that, for the time being, doesn't pay very well unless you are able to convince an investor or ten that you are setting the world on fire with your super-duper web site. Unfortunately, the flash that convinces investors your site is worth investing in is not something that attracts a loyal readership in the long run. Stanlee.net, anyone?
I don't doubt that we'll eventually see a business model unfold that will reward dedicated, talented people like the Galaxy's writers in the manner that their work and talent calls for. But making bucks is not what this site is about. To paraphrase my message on the front page of this site when we debuted September 1st, 2000:
"We're not here to crash your browser, leave cookies on your harddrive, or sell you anything."
That remains as true now as it was then. We may make some changes to how we do things here as the weeks and months unfold, but our primary purpose remains absolutely the same thing it always has been. To cover the artform and industry of comics, with truth, passion and diversity. To bring you the best, most unique web site about comic books that we can. God willing and the creek don't rise, as the saying goes, that's what we plan to do here for as long as you care to keep coming. And as far as the creek rising goes, I live on the third floor. I don't worry, and neither should you.