From Kez in the forums:

Hey guys! TWoW’s comic host SpiderForest has spent the last couple weeks getting ready to unveil an entirely new front page system that we hope will benefit not only the webcomickers hosted there, but also the READERS. It lists the last 10 updated comics in order on the front page, with links to more longer descriptions and more information. What we don’t want to do is have a static main page.

Check out our new main page! Spread the word if you like.

So I was browsing around the internets and I happened (or should I say… “stumbled upon”?) an interesting concept on MahShelf. You remember looking at the Best Buy ad for your area on the internet and flipping through page by page? Well apply that to some popular comic books and manga and you got yourself a nice lunch break. The real kicker is you can also put up your webcomics. I think I saw an archive of CAD on there. I can’t wait for this to get more comics. Maybe then I can read the real rare ones from WAY WAY back.

The interface is set up strikingly similar to YouTube and there are some great finds on there currently. Who knew about some Star Wars Manga? SCHWIING! Anyway, since I am in the middle of reading the Watchmen, maybe I’ll hit up MahShelf site and read the rest?

MahShelf was publicly released to beta June 2008. Recommend you check this out and see what it has to offer.

EDIT: Looks like Watchmen was removed as well as some other prominent comic books. Perhaps some legal issues in the future?

The other day I was trying to figure out how to log onto the forums of Buzzcomix. I fumbled around the site until I found the correct spot to login for it. Then I found out that it didn’t work.

I guess the reason is they were in the middle of a redesign. More info in an interview at Comixtalk.

Theme looks good so far!

In May of 2007, a new fan fiction archive appeared, soliciting fan fiction writers to join. This Archive was called FanLib, and was clearly fandom-for-profit. Fans did not take kindly to being used as free content generators and marketing research.

They did not like this because fans generally believe that their hobby should not be for profit, considering that fan-fiction is legally a gray area. There was also speculation that any fiction on Fanlib could technically become an episode, without credit to the fiction writer due to the fact that the TOS said:

“You hereby grant FanLib a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free and transferable license to use, reproduce, distribute, prepare derivative works of, display, and perform the Submissions in connection with the Website.”

FanLib never really grew, boasting just over 18,000 registered users.

On June 4th of 2008, there was rumor that Disney, a corporation known for being quite strict with their copyright, was buying FanLib.

In July, a month later, FanLib announced it was shutting down on August 4th. The announcement was vague, with no reason why, apparently even staff were left in the dark. Although there is much speculation as to the cause of the site’s closing, one thing is for certain: They burned through their venture capital in 15 months.

What a brilliant business venture!

And yes, fans everywhere are revelling in their “We told you so’s!”

WOWIO homepage has been replaced with a countdown. Guess we will know when the go global after all.

The SEC is reporting that Platinum Studios has purchase WOWIO. This also states that all contracts have been terminated. I can only hope that this doesn’t shake the foundation that WOWIO is based on. In a letter to publishers, William Lidwell, founder, states:

I am pleased to finally and officially announce that WOWIO has been acquired by Platinum Studios, Inc. The process took longer than any of us desired (you can make lawyers work hard, but not fast), but it is done and we are all excited to get back to the business of books. Per Kristin Ellison’s previous email to you, an amendment to the existing Publisher’s Agreement will be required to assign your agreement over and enable full use of the new capabilities. It is short and simple, and provides you with a number of new options for monetizing and distributing your content.

Kristin will be contacting publishers of books. Mike Miller will be contacting publishers of comics. You should receive an email from them before Wednesday of next week with the amendment. If you do not, please contact us and let us know. Our goal is to launch the site as quickly as possible — as early as 7/23, and no later than 8/4. The faster we get your amendments back, the faster we can launch.

Lastly, with mergers and acquisitions, there are invariably personnel changes. To this end, I am sad to report that Mike Miller will be moving on from WOWIO to pursue a new digital venture — he has kindly agreed to stay on long enough to help with the amendments. Mike has been with us from the beginning and has done a tremendous job developing the comic book side of the business. I am grateful for his hard work and dedication to the WOWIO mission, and on behalf of the WOWIO team I want to publicly recognize and thank him for his efforts.

Thank you for your support and patience during this process. We will be in touch soon.

Is there any speculation as to whether things will remain as they once were (read: free)?

I hope there wasn’t any conflict that made Mike Miller leave. I wonder what digital venture Mike is going to pursue? Will it be doing WOWIO clone his way, if there was conflict? I will wait eagerly an news on to where he ends up!

A price range has come forth for the sale of Webcomics.com. Owner T Campbell states that the current range is $2000-$3000. This announcement coming shortly after Campbell decided to close doors, citing a “gray period.”

I would love to own this domain. If I knew I could be worthy of such a domain I would go after it. However, life is costly and I do not have the capital to invest in such a risk. I mean if Campbell can’t make Webcomics.com work, then who am I?