A couple of notes about Comixpedia. Early on we decided we were not going to have a list of webcomics unless we brought something to it that wasn't already available from a number of existing directories. We're not there yet in terms of creating what we think would be the ultimate webcomic & webtoonist directory so we'd rather encourage you to visit those existing sites with directories (and we've listed quite a few in our LINKS section). So if you've submitted a specific webcomic to our links pages, that's why we've chosen not to list those at this point.

But we do see a lack of directories out there for all of the sites about and around webcomics that would be useful to creators and readers alike. Categories like: Host/Syndicates; Tutorials; Automation Scripts; Fonts; and Blogs by webtoonists. Send us your favorite links for these categories and feel free to email us at postmaster at comixpedia dot com with suggestions for additional categories.

A great interview with Howard Taylor who does Schlock Mercenary (on KeenSpot). If you've never read Schlock here's a good description:

Schlock Mercenary is a serial sci-fi strip with long interconnected story arcs, the shortest is about four weeks, the longest is about six months, that also manages to deliver a comedic gag every day. It's about a group of space mercenaries with a mix of talents and even more mixed scruples, who end up mixed up in the first truly galactic war in history. The title character, Schlock, is a "carbosilicate amorph," which is a fancy way of saying pile of sentient glop.

Here's an interview with the editor of the new Comics section of Entertainment Weekly debuting February 17th. I see little chance for webcomic coverage there given the editor's seeming focus on movie adaptations of comic book characters but I suppose any mainstream coverage of comics is a redeeming thing for the overall medium. Moreover, if EW is really committed to coverage of comics they may find increasing reasons to notice webcomics lest they be forced to fill the section solely with coverage of superheroes and Ziggy.

Girlamatic has already raised its share of controversy. Now it's nearing it's launch date as the newest subscription site of Modern Tales. Before it launches, check out the work of three artists who will have comics on the site:

Bite Me by Dylan Meconis;

Return to Sender by Vera Brosgol; and

Strings of Fate by Jen Wang.

In our continuing search for the ultimate in webcomic automation systems, we bring you links to several not-quite-there-yet open source projects. Some require access to a MySQL database and other do not - this is obviously a key consideration if your host does not provide you with access to a MySQL database with your account. The three we review today do not require MySQL databases.

A major advantage to serial strips from publication on the web is the immediate availability of the entire archives on the site, freeing the strip from the useless "recap" panels seemingly required in all non-gag comic strips published in newspapers.

Most sites have archived their strips with various means to find specific comics via dates and storylines. Another useful tool that is not as commonly available is to make the text of the archived comics searchable. Apparently Sluggy Freelance's horde of fans recently completed the work necessary to make the entire Sluggy archives searchable by character and their dialogue. For example, Keanau Reeves has nothing on lead character Torg who has said "whoa" twelve times in the archives.

Christopher Baldwin of Bruno and Indigo Kelleigh of The Circle Weave will be sharing a table at a comics convention held at the Portland Memorial Coliseum in the Rose Quarter on Feb 23, 10AM - 5PM. (that's in Portland, Oregon, not Maine)