Wikinomics

I finally finished reading "Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything" a few days back, I had been reading it off and on for quite a while now. I won't go into a full review but I do think it's an important book to read. The times are changing whether some people like it or not and it's important to understand what's working and what isn't. I don't agree with everything in the book, some of their opinions and conclusions just don't work for me or seem to overlook things I'm curious about, but that's just my opinion.

The stuff in this book is more directly related to my job than my interest in comics (and the comics industry) but I think there are also parts that are important for everyone, including the comic industry, to learn from. The web is just one game changer and with every new technology things are changing. Trying to stick to old business models just isn't going to work in the long run.

I don't really have the business mind to see exactly where things are going, I think anyone who does say they are certain about how things will be in the future is deluded or trying to sell you something (or both). But I do know things are and will be changing. Okay, maybe I'm a little deluded too but at least I'm not trying to sell you something.

I could ramble on and on about all this stuff, last weekend a friend and I talked about it for hours (less about the company side though and more about the regular workers) but I don't think that would be to anyone's benefit (I'm guessing only one or two people will get this far in the rambling).

As an aside, I'm a little disappointed that I'm not seeing the unknown people trying to organize panels at Fan Expo. I think creating a panel with something unique could be good advertising for the webcomic/self publishing crowd. There are a few panels by people who have been successful at getting their own stuff out there ("Killing Shakespeare") or are people who have had at least some level of mainstream success (Ty Templeton, Cameron Stewart,...) but I'd actually like a more discussion-based panel with people who haven't yet. The last two years have had that (some with the people above before they were successful) but I just don't see it this year. Perhaps I'm missing something, perhaps there's just no demand for it (why talk to someone who hasn't made it when you can go to a panel to listen to someone who has), or maybe everyone's just too busy to do something like that. Either way, I'm just not seeing it. So I'll probably be spending much of my time at the sketching duels.

That new feature... My Weekly Wrap Up

So I said I'd be adding something other than comic reviews so here it is, my new weekly (hopefully) wrap up feature where I just give quick blurbs about stuff going on on the web and elsewhere.

Over on Occasional Superheroine there have been a few conversations of interest this week. The ones I took note of are the Secret Invasion posts (she's pretty hyped about it, I'm slightly curious but kinda tired of the big crossover events and will be skipping it), moderating posts (I guess I should consider myself fortunate that so few people read this blog, high profile people and their blogs have a tendency to attract a lot of people looking for anything to pick a fight over. I do wonder if Valerie being a woman makes her more of a target on its own as comic geeks object to her voicing her opinion or if it just makes her higher profile and in turn, a bigger target whether male or female...If that makes any sense. Of course I don't think anyone can answer that for sure), and Reality Comics (which would be about celebrities making comics and not, as I originally thought, comics depicting real life. I guess Harvey Peckar already wrote the book on that one).

High Moon continues to soar. David Gallaher (writer and co-creator) has been gracious enough to check in here every now and then so you may have seen a few of his comments. Not only am I seeing High Moon advertising everywhere but the Honolulu Star Bulletin and Rue Morgue both took the time to cover it. I'm happy for David as he seems like a great guy and they've obviously been working extremely hard on High Moon so it's great to see it taking off. But beyond that, I have to say that I'm happy for web comics and comics in general. That may seem kinda odd to say but I'm a pretty firm believer that North American comics need better coverage of genres outside the superhero realm. It's why sites like Zuda or DrunkDuck are getting a lot of attention from me. They are providing an outlet for comic creators and readers to present or read comics of varying genres. By the way, I'm still really enjoying Bayou as well.

The Buffy/Satsu event still has some people talking. I don't really think I have much more to say and everyone is entitled to their opinion. I do find quite a bit of negativity coming from people who didn't watch the show nor read the comics (though the negative thoughts definitely are not restricted to that group of people). Some conversations I've read have been very mature and enlightening. Others consist of "Yay! Lesbians!"

And the big event for me, the Incredible Hulk trailer. As a lifelong Hulk fan I was very eager to see any glimpse of where they might be going with this movie. And for the record, I'm one of "those" people who actually enjoyed Ang Lee's movie (though I wouldn't consider it a perfect movie by any means). Now obviously I'm not going to come to a decision about this movie after only seeing the trailer but I did see a lot I liked. I'm happy to see the concentration on Banner's inner struggle with the monster along with his external struggle with the military. I was actually rather happy with the Abomination's look, despite being different from the comics he at least has the appearance of being a physical threat for the Hulk. And the Hulk is big and green so I'm happy. I'm not the type of person to get too nitpicky about his looks, he's had so many artists give him their own take on the character so really, who's to say what he really should look like. So as long as he's a big and green (or even gray) monster, I'm happy. I'm looking forward to seeing this one when it comes out.

Almost forgot, one other thing about the Hulk trailer. My brother and I were making plenty of jokes about possible endings to the film after watching the trailer and they centered around the Hulk and Abomination deciding to put aside their differences and go into Zanzibar for a drink and some entertainment. Zanzibar is an "Adult Club" on Yonge Street in Toronto where the movie was filmed. Appearantly while they decided to put up fake "Apollo Theatre" and other stuff they decided to leave in Zanzibar. The Big Slice restaurant and Sam the Record Man (also Yonge Street landmarks) are also left in.