Comics & Paying In Attention
A growing number of smart, research-minded types are finally starting to coalesce over an idea most of us have already figured out: the majority of what we see on the internet is algorithmically engineered promotion and advertising (potentially 90% of everything, by some estimates). Even the large fandoms for the things you love are fake as hell, it turns out.
When I think about comics and everything I've learned in just this last month back in the field, it activates all my ambition buttons. I see the potential. How lucky are we to realize everything we thought we knew about trends and popularity and growth are just made-up bullshit? The whole story hasn't actually been written yet, and the best creators and comics stories are still ahead. It just requires people to sift through it all and nurture a community.
I’ve shown up to conventions, comic shops, and book stores to buy so many great indie titles over the last two months. The biggest thing I've learned is pretty simple: paying them in attention is still more valuable than paying full cover price.
Same goes for us. Have you signed up as a Weird City member?
That simple act of imperfect human verification is actually really important for us to grow and expand our coverage as an independent source of news and information. We aren't owned by large corporations, media conglomerates, or publishers. Jamie and I buy nearly all the stuff we're writing about (and disclose when we don't), including the books being discussed in this dispatch.
Lend us your attention, and I promise to deliver far more than another scroll down your social media feeds.
Mentioned in this issue: Sam Lotfi, Billy Bob Thornton, Lee Loughridge, Rob Guillory, Jean-Francois Beaulieu, Steve Wands, Scott Hoffman, Isaiah Broussard, Noah LeGrand, Taylor Adams, Tony Millionaire, Juni Ba, Alberto Ponticelli, Zach Chapman, Drew Edwards.
COMICS COVERED: Innards, Warm Fusion, A Mischief of Magpies, and 10+ books I picked up at small press event Paper Dragon.
Spotlight on Sam Lotfi’s Innards
The visual continuity brought to Ignition Press’ new series Innards cannot be understated. And yet, the overall story is intriguing enough that it might not get the attention it deserves. Thus, this week we’re putting a spotlight on the talents of series artist Sam Lotfi.
