So, lots going on with OUTNUMBERED lately. Last week, though busy with work as usual, I pushed myself to get out TWO Outnumbered (inks and lettered) strips so I could get them to the talented Andrew Chandler to color so I would be a week ahead of him starting this week. I have high hopes of getting even more lead time on him, since I don’t want to have to push him to do a crazy late night just to color the strip I gave him at the last minute some Sunday night. The analytics tell me that you guys liked having OUTNUMBERED in color last Monday! The pageviews for last Monday were an all-time high, thank you all!
Secondly, as a follow up to a post I put up a good 3-4 months ago, I finally heard back from the second of the “big two” syndicates, King Features. It was a nice email with a GREAT first paragraph about how much they liked the strip. The art, the writing, the humor, the concept- really- the whole package. Then the second paragraph: but we’re going to pass on it. Ouch. They said they have other strips in development/ launching that they feel are a bit stronger as far as “what editors like”. It ended with a nice “keep me posted on how it does on the web”, so there’s that. Problem with OUTNUMBERED as a webcomic? (THis is my opinion only.) I think its not what the “usual” webcomic fans look for. It doesn’t have fantasy elements, video game references, sex, half naked girls, or college humor. Its about a family. That suits newspapers better, in my opinion. You guys tell me what you think about that. Don’t worry though, I’m not going anywhere. I’m still very into “proving the man wrong”, so lets do that together!
But, back to Today’s strip – I’m excited! Not only is it in color again-which I can’t get used to and love more than blue jeans- but I’ve also finally gotten to the point I’ve been wanting to get to for awhile: the introduction of Travis, the new single guy next door. He has already been fun to write. I just imagine what my life (for good and- mostly- bad) would be if I had never married and had kids. And if I was a former high school football quarterback, which I wasn’t. That’s Travis. If I did everything correctly, you should see my original character design for Travis below. More to come on him.
Hello Tom,
Webcomics don’t draw just one kind of audience. I follow over 60 comics on the web, and none of them feature “video game references, sex, half naked girls, or college humor”.
I just discovered your comic and am now following it because I dig your art, which I don’t think would be done justice by newsprint.
Oh Boy. I’ve HAD a Neighbor that acted like Travis. Especially the shooting guns out the backdoor bit.
As for not being picked up by the “Big Syndicates” KEEP TRYING! “OUTNUMBERED” is Light Years BETTER than some of the Strips the Editors DO Pick!
Thanks so much Mordock999, I appreciate your support of Outnumbered!
I think Mark found his Cougar.
As for the syndication and your thoughts on webcomics… just keep doing what you’re doing… not that I know anything about this kind of stuff. I just know what I like.
A thought occurs: the blue line on Travis makes him seem like an angel or space being or something. I get why it was done, but I’m not sure it is necessary and may actually be a hindrance.
All while I was growing up, I would read newspaper comics and the like. They were funny (at least the ones I read) and when I got my own computer and found out about web comics, I was ecstatic. Web comics are just comics on the internet. Nothing fantasy, sex, or any raunchy thing is needed for it to be a successful web comic. In fact, it’s nice seeing a “newspaper type comic” on the web. I don’t get the newspaper (especially since I’m in a different state at the moment) so I resort to comic books (like the fabulous Opposite Forces) and web comics (like Outnumbered and some of my friends’ comics). It would be awesome to see yours published in the newspaper! I mean, I remember the times when I was so dedicated to the newspaper comics that I called in when they got rid of Garfield and some other favorites of mine with a nice, long rant. But now that newspapers are going out of “style,” if you will, the web is the perfect place for any comic strip! Keep going for that dream of being published, but know that you are most welcomed to the world of web comics. 🙂
what? I”m all caught up? But I want more!
I’ve enjoyed this every bit as much as Wes Molebash (Insert image) led me to believe. Thanks, Wes, and thanks, Tom, for doing such a great job. Kudos, etc., whatever floats your boat for praise.
Tom, the great thing about webcomics is that they can be anything. Don’t worry too much about format. There are lots of family friendly webcomics out there that do very well. Besides, why go for a syndicate when newspapers are taking half the profits? I understand that syndication was the brass ring that everyone went for, but now, with narrower profit margins, it’s just not good for business. You’d have to devote enough of your time to put out six strips a week, with very little return on it. With this, you can do what you need (go from twice a week to once a week) with very little repercussions, and still advance your strip.
At any rate, it was nice of them to send you a personal letter, rather than the form letter I would receive if I ever submitted a packet. Better luck next time!
Honestly, the world of newspaper comic could use some new blood, so to speak. I read plenty of Web comics, many of which are targeted to teenagers and twenty-somethings, but I appreciate newspaper-type comics too. And it’s great to see comics whether they’re in print or on my computer screen that don’t use such cheap devices as sex or so-called “fan service” (i.e., half-naked girls).
I’m going to repeat what a few have already said, Tom…
Sure, you might get a more immediate audience with video games, sex and all that other stuff but there are lots of us doing the “webcomic thing” that doesn’t have ANY of that stuff… heck, I have a freakin’ werewolf in my strip… talk about something that’s “not ready for newspaper editors”.
But you know where I DO have success? With POD books of all of my strips. Granted, that’s mostly by going to a number of comic book conventions in my area and selling them on my table.
But you know, my friend, Dawn Griffin does an all-ages comic about two aliens disguised as dogs. She recently wrote about a new approach she was trying where she was going to publish her webcomic like TV “seasons”. She wrote extensively about it for our Webcomic Alliance website and it has been one of the most popular articles on our site. If you want to read it, just click the link below:
Thanks for all of these thoughts Chris! Your suggestions are timely and are skewing toward a direction I am thinking about now. I will read this article, it sounds like a good one! I may contact you later about the POD books you do, since that is also of interest to me. Thanks!
Absolutely, Tom. Feel free to contact me any time. I’m a great admirer of your work and really dig your Outnumbered style.
Tom the strip is awesome and I hope to see it in the paper one day. I think of Stephen Patsis (Pearls Before Swine) and his incredibly inspiring story. You are incredibly talented. I love reading Outnumbered. Keep them coming. You have a loyal fan here.
Angel Alvarez
Miami, FL
Hiya Tom! I’ve just recently (today) come across your webcomic and I HAVE TO SAY, I LOVE IT! It feels so interesting to get an insight into a family, I especially find it interesting to know more about the parents side of things, being a kid myself. I personally read a buncha more webcomics, but only because they have good art+storyline, which yours definitely has. I love how much heart it has..and whether published by a syndicate or not, lemme tell ya: You RAWK and so does Outnumbered! And Kudos to you for doing something that you felt so passionate about 😀 Rock on yo! Can’t wait to read more!
Hey back and thanks so much for those nice thoughts. I appreciate your support for my baby (Outnumbered). I’ll do my best to keep on Rockin!
I recognize that this is a long time after this comic’s initial posting, but as someone who does his own comic AND as someone who’s read webcomics for a long time, I felt I had something to contribute to the topic mentioned in the commentary above.
My webcomic has a Links section that’s divided into two seperate Links pages: one for G-to-PG-rated comics, and comics that are PG-13 or R-rated. Unsurprisingly, the webcomics that fit into the latter greatly outnumber the former. And while I understand the reasons for this – the internet, after all, differs from the newspaper in that you have no editors to censor your work or tell you to tone it down – it doesn’t seem quite right that the internet must “only” be for “mature” comics. I see an untapped niche here – children are getting tech-savvy at a younger age nowadays, giving them the means to read these comics. There’s also lots of families who no longer get (or can’t afford to get) the newspaper, and I think it would be great for there to be a webcomic that the whole family can enjoy. Your comic could become one of the first to attract a new audience on the internet, with families reading your comic on their iPads at the breakfast table.
I wish you the best of luck with this comic, and I may add it to my own comic’s Links page in the near future. 🙂