One of my favorite webcomics, Sinfest, has not only recently broken free from Keenspot in order to make it’s own way in the world (winde web), but series creator, Tatsuya Ishida, has also recently introduced color Sunday strips, complete with longer format. As incredibly sweet as his art is in black and white, it’s doubly impressive in all it’s technicolor glory.

OK, this would have been HUGE about 5 years ago, but even now, it may turn out to be a pretty big deal. Warren Ellis is lending his name to a new project headed by Modern Tales’ Joe Manley. Now, Ellis won’t actually be writing new comics for this project (appropriately and awkwardly named “Webcomics Nation Collective Edition Engine”), but will be slapping his personal seal of approval on every comic that is added to the portal. Like I said before, 5 years ago this would have been a juggernaut, but I’m hoping that there’s enough steam in Ellis’ proomotional engine today to make the venture a success.

I am working with Warren Ellis to launch a free webcomics portal using the new Webcomics Nation Collective Edition Engine. This latest addition to the Modern Tales family will be all free, all the time, and defined by “Warren Likes This Stuff.” He’ll be making a call for submissions soon. Gary Chaloner will be designing the site. This is the first new (as opposed to pre-existing) site to launch with the beta version of the WCN Collective Edition engine, soon to be a commercial product available to anybody who wants to launch a multi-creator webcomics portal (your own Keenspot or Modern Tales, in other words) inexpensively and with ease. The name of Warren’s new site, and its URL, will be announced soon, probably at The Engine.

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Cant really say that this is much of a surprise, though I didn’t see this coming either. After having a ridiculous amount of problems with Diamond last year, and facing the harsh realities of the monopolistic direct market, Claypool Comics has announced that they’re suspending their print operations and moving entirely to an internet publishing model. Here’s hoping that they find success in this move.

SEE YOU ON THE NET!

Claypool Comics Shuts Down Print Operations and Moves to Internet

After almost fourteen years and more than 300 issues — one of the longest runs in the history of independent comics — publisher Claypool Comics is telling the world of print, “Thank you and farewell.” After ELVIRA, MISTRESS OF THE DARK #166 (shipping in February 2007), SOULSEARCHERS AND COMPANY #82 (also shipping in February), and DEADBEATS #82 (shipping in March), Claypool will cut back its line to DEADBEATS alone and put new adventures of that series’ vampire-haunted world on the Internet. Claypool’s trade-paperback comics collections (under the Boffin Books imprint) and back issues will remain available as long as supplies last.

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I’m a fan of the strip, but I’m able to recognize that PVP’s Scott Kurtz has melted down in spectactular fashion online on more than one occassion. This has led to him being pinned with an online drama queen label, and not necessarily unfairly. That said, compared to a lot of other webcomic creators the man is the epitome of professionalism and level-headedness. I really wish he’d delivered this speech in person rather than just via his characters, but it still makes for an awesome strip nonetheless.

Based on Diablo the Satanic Chicken from Jonathan Rosenberg’s ridiculously popular GOATS strip, we have one of the first webcomic forays into the vinyl figure market. OK, so he’s calling it an action figure and not a vinyl figure, but look at it - Diablo’s not exactly articulated. Either way, Diablo looks pretty nice, truly like the character come to life. There’s a standard edition you can pre-order for a mere twenty bucks, or you can get in on the limited edition that’s signed and comes with a glowing skull. A skull that can switch places with Diablo’s removable head. Sweet.

Penny Arcade gets in on the “Superman Returns” fun. This might be my favorite Superman guest appearance in a webcomic to date, even if it isn’t as balls out rude as Yirmumah’s strips this week.

If you’ve never heard the whole Jesus/Superman comparison theory before, Yirmumah breaks it all down for you.

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Just wanted to point out to everyone that KFR has a new sponsor over there to the right - Jimmy Gardner’s webcomic “Made With Love.” Click on over, check out the archives and enjoy!