At first I was confused about this whole substack thing too. A bunch of big names in the mainstream comics scene all jumped aboard a newsletter website? Seriously who stops being the writer of freaking Batman, to go do a newsletter instead? What the hell is wrong with these people?
Well it’s a place but I think more importantly it’s an idea. I did the research, yeah the substack people had some missteps when they started a few years ago, but then they started to stand behind the writers on their website, in court, defending free speech, which is still pretty important even in this day and age where Fakebook & tooter and Gill Bates get to decide what is news and what you should be reading and thinking.
… actually it kinda seems like we need free speech more than ever.
But hell, what do comics have to do with any of this deep end of the brain pool kinda stuff?
Funny books?
Bat men and spider girls, are they really saying anything important to anyone older than 12?
Honestly yeah, of course they are and a million other comics and stories told in the comic format are saying important things.
The threat of being censored and removed from a website that is hosting all your comics and artwork, well that creates a stifling atmosphere where everyone is second guessing themself before drawing that next panel.
Substack is offering a refuge, a place where artists and writers can create their art without WORRY. Read those posts from the team behind substack, they’re betting that all of us comics people, creators and readers, want to have an actual safe space to create their arts and let readers enjoy it, discuss it, tear it apart, build it up, whatever they need to do. That’s worth getting behind and supporting, so that’s what I’m doing here too.
And who am I?
Well I’m your friendly, neighborhood doctor of the soul, dr. Ben Anthony! I’ve been self publishing my own weird brand of comics and stories for the last ten years…
holy shit!
I’ve been making funny books for ten years now! Like for real! Time really does fly when you’re having fun!
In that time I’ve made a variety of comics and been involved with numerous other creators in the comics and writing communities. Substack is offering me a chance to put all my work together in one place that is free from the whims of whatever the currently fashionable outrage may be.
We’ll be reviewing comics, both old and new, interviewing comics creators, retailers and readers to get new perspectives and give voices to those unheard folks out there. We’ll also take dives into that deep end of the brain pool to look at bigger questions.
And of course there will be my own comics, Thick Comics Presents will be a quarterly, anthology styled book, with ongoing stories, one off gags and political styled cartoons all mixes together for your enjoyment. Digital files of the comics will be available each month, leading up to a printed issue every three months.
So come along for the ride, see what the comics underground has got to say, laugh at some bad jokes and see what’s hiding just below the page.
dr.Ben