Scott Kurtz, creator of the wildly successful online comic strip PvP has thrown down the newspaper syndication gauntlet (SDCC 2004 - Part Four). His fine rant recognizes that the economics of comic syndication has shifted dramatically, particularly in markets (most of them) where there is no newspaper competition. Unfortunately, the comic syndicates are not changing to match the times. When Kurtz was looking into newspaper syndication, the syndicate demanded ownership of the strip, despite the fact that it was a successful established online strip. Big mistake for the syndicate.

But I've already become attached to the idea of seeing PvP in the papers, and that's why I've decided to start a new program. In the coming months, I'll be putting into effect, a program in which papers can receive PVP for free. That's right, free. They don't have to pay me a cent for it. I will provide for the papers, a comic strip with a larger established audience then any new syndicated feature, a years worth of strips in advance, and I won't charge them a cent for it.

The exposure and prestige of PvP appearing in daily papers would more than pay for itself in a months time. In exchange, I can offer the papers a comics feature that's tried and tested, funny and best of all, free. They have nothing to lose or risk financially. They can see, in advance, a years worth of strips so they don't risk me flaking out on them. Most of all, I can provide them with yet another bargaining chip against the very syndicates. This is the perfect climate to take this step.

Another highly recommended "read the whole thing."

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