DC Comics to Launch Zudacomics.com

By Calvin Reid -- Publishers Weekly, 7/6/2007 12:53:00 PM

DC Comics has announced plans for Zudacomics.com, a Webcomics imprint and online community that will solicit original Web comics from fans for Web serialization and possible print publication. The majority of the comics published by the site will be selected by the Zudacomics community, which will vote in monthly competitions to pick the best comics submitted to the site. Winners will be published online for a year and published in print.

Zudacomics.com will begin soliciting comics for the site July 9 and begin promotions during the upcoming San Diego Comic-con in preparation for the site’s official launch in October. The site will be directed by Ron Perazza, DC director of creative services, Kwanza Johnson, DC Comics online editor, and Richard Bruning, DC senior v-p, creative director.

Perazza said the new imprint will use the Web to find new comics talent and to publish original comics in a wide variety of styles and genres. He called the process "like a portfolio review," and emphasized "this is not for the DC Universe; it’s not a place to submit your Batman story." According to Perazza, DC will be"open to any genre; biography, romance, whatever. We will support a variety of art styles, display the work well and give everyone who submits material a fair shake."

Each month Perazza and Johnson will pick 10 original Webcomics submissions and the Zudacomics community will vote for (and comment on) their favorite series. The monthly winner will be serialized for a year and published in print. Fans and professionals are encouraged to submit material. All creators chosen for the site will be paid; winners will receive a more elaborate compensation agreement.

DC president and publisher Paul Levitz said that the creators will own the copyright of each comic submitted to Zudacomics.com. He also said that DC will publish winning and chosen comics under a “fairly conventional publishing agreements adapted to the peculiarities of the digital platform.” There will be initial payments for work done and royalties from revenues based on other uses, “such as books, merchandise and movie/TV shows.” In addition, Levitz said, the contracts will be posted on the Zudacomics.com site in the next few months, so submitters can examine the contract language. “We’re doing our best to make them as clear as possible,” said Levitz, “so people can make an informed decision about submitting their work.”

Perazza described Zudacomics.com as "a long term business. We’re investing in the future." He said the site will take advantage of "the huge diversity in comics out on the Web. The Web is a huge platform for storytelling and for reaching new readers. We want to be a part of that." DC Comics is partnering with IBM to build the Web site’s infrastructure, which will offer the full Web layout of message boards, blogs and ratings to encourage participation from fans.

Levitz described the new online venture as, "a great stage for this new generation of creators." Levitz said Zudacomics will provide "a solid system for their work to reach audiences online and in print and for the creators to share in the profits their creations can generate. DC wants to be a good publisher for the evolving and growing community of online comic creators."

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