When talking in a recent interview about the challenges of corporate publishing and distribution practices (in particular, the decision of chief comic distro Diamond to change their policy on how it evaluated what comics it would distribute), John Porcellino of King Cat fame had the following to say about those stuck within an apparently unfair system:
…if they’re in the hands of a monopolized distribution stream, maybe they felt there was no other way to go. As someone who comes from a DIY background, the answer is clear though – you create a new system.
He also had this to say:
“Despite all the upheaval in the comics world, and publishing in general, I have nothing but high hopes for the future. I think the underground got kind of confused for awhile in the 2000′s. Things were changing so fast. Now we’re seeing creators and publishers digging in and getting to work. We’ve seen our options, and we’re making choices. Comics are more alive now than at any other point in history, and they’re going to survive. That’s for certain.”
Now, Diamond doesn’t register anywhere in my world of distribution - I am but comics plankton. But what DOES register with me is the importance of going out there and DOING IT FOR YOURSELF, and the beauty of working hard and finding others to work with along the way: just look at what plankton does for the whole bloody planet when it gets together*
Anyway; enough overwrought metaphors. You can read the full interview here.
* I mean that it sustains whole ecosystems and supports life on earth and other awesome stuff - my poorly thought out metaphor thoroughly ignores the bit where we all get eaten alive.
