News Release

UPS Creates New Web Paradigm for Cartoon Talent Search

KANSAS CITY, Mo.  (11/07/2003)  Dan Thompson’s sweet, incident-prone cartoon sheep George may be lost, but when it comes to decisions regarding character development in his new cartoon strip Lost Sheep, Thompson’s not.

He gets daily feedback and rankings for Lost Sheep from his growing fan base on Comics Sherpa, a brand new web service that is part of uclick’s consumer comic site, www.ucomics.com. Since the service launched in November 2003, more than 100 aspiring cartoonists have paid the small monthly fee to display their cartoon features alongside cartoon greats like Doonesbury, Garfield and Bloom County for viewing by uComics' millions of Web fans. Comics Sherpa can be accessed easily by going to www.ucomics.com and clicking on "Comics Sherpa."

In addition to making their cartoons available for browsing, Comics Sherpa provides new cartoonists with daily e-mail delivery of comics on the same site as syndicated pros, a full archiving of their work, electronic postcards and direct feedback from their audience.

"Comics Sherpa is presenting the freshest cartoon talent to comic fans worldwide and is giving us the chance to be part of discovering the next Bill Watterson (Calvin and Hobbes) or Gary Larson (The Far Side)," says John Glynn, acquisitions editor at Universal Press Syndicate, a sister company of uclick and a company of Andrews McMeel Universal, based in Kansas City. The new venture promises to be “a powerful acquisition channel for the company’s cartoon features and other properties."

The site is not only user-friendly, but artist-friendly. “I find it easy to put up my comics. I love the fact that you can edit your cartoons a day before the publishing date if you need to because I’m trying to develop the characters toward the feedback I’ve been getting,” says Thompson.

During the first few weeks on Comics Sherpa, he received phone calls from well-known syndicated cartoonists and from reporters wanting interviews. His Lost Sheep mugs and other gift items on CafePress.com are selling well. “It’s been a total blast . . . something that wouldn’t exist if uclick hadn’t put up this amazing service.”

James Bradbury, who lives in England, is another new Comics Sherpa cartoonist who has had his expectations exceeded. He had hoped his strip Offworlders would be popular, but he never thought he’d already be receiving e-mails from people saying they love it. His fans give him high scores and tune in faithfully every day for the next installment of Offworlders, a strip starring two alien buddies who are all the more loveable for their distinctly human characteristics. “I find the constructive criticism I get really helpful,” says Bradbury.

This service is described as “a new paradigm for how syndicates search for talent” by Scott Shorter, uclick’s director of content acquisition. “Rather than operating from the insular environment of the back office, we’re turning to readers to give their opinions as to what makes an entertaining comic.” Shorter feels the trend toward more reader involvement is a positive one. “It’s democratic—-readers get to see and vote for cartoons that never get a chance to appear in newspapers through traditional syndication. It’s fun for the reader, and great exposure for the cartoonists.”

Has Shorter or Glynn spotted the next Gary Larson yet? They’re not saying, but both are impressed with the excellent quality of the work exhibited thus far and the commradery amongst the young creators and look forward to more talented cartoonists exhibiting via the Comics Sherpa forum. They plan on making an announcment shortly.

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Creator(s):

Contact(s): Lillian Kuras (800/255-6734, ext. 6933) lkuras@amuniversal.com

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