News Release

W.T. Duck Set for Release Jan. 1, 2009

Kansas City, MO  (07/18/2008)  “W.T. Duck,” a comic strip by Aaron Johnson of Milwaukee, started online in July 2006. The comic strip is now available for syndication through Universal Press Syndicate to print and online newspapers. Start date for dailies is scheduled Jan. 5, 2009; for Sundays, Jan. 11.

Johnson’s strip is making headway with some of the country’s major dailies, including newly-signed clients The Rocky Mountain News, The Oregonian, The Seattle Post Intelligencer, the Madison, Wis., State Journal, and The Ontario Star. “W.T. Duck” appeals to smaller papers, too, and a newly-signed client is the Kenosha, Wis. News.

“The fact that these mainstream newspapers are giving W.T. Duck a chance is very exciting,” says Johnson.

The new strip about the adventures of a budding photographer who just happens to be a duck started making ripples on the Web in July 2006 as “What the Duck” when Johnson first posted a strip on his band’s blog as a lark. “I thought creating a comic strip about a duck photographer would be funny to about six people. But, for some reason, it made me laugh and I ran with it. It turns out I was completely wrong and began to get immediate feedback from fans,” Johnson said.

No characters are named in the strip—just ducks of different color.

“The reason the characters don't have names is because I wanted a strip that anyone could come to at any time and still get something out of it. I didn't want readers to feel like they ‘came late to the party’ and get hung up on who's who, what's that guy's name, and how is he related to that other character. I wanted it to be accessible,” the cartoonist said.

Johnson, a talented animator, pokes fun of the fact that the name of the comic strip was changed from “What the Duck” to “W.T. Duck” for syndication, after a few newspaper editors said the original title might be too provocative for print. His YouTube video called “The Name Game Video” can be accessed from Johnson’s Web site at www.wtduck.net.

When Johnson isn’t working on “W.T. Duck” or making music with his band, Sweet Jelly, he is a computer-based animator for Mad Max Designs in Milwaukee. Each week, he takes the strip published on Friday and animates it into a short clip for his Web site and on YouTube. Johnson’s Web site is deeply layered with news, fan comments, his animations, brand products and much more.

Fan input is important to Johnson and since the beginning of the strip, he has offered fans opportunities to name strips. When a strip is first published on http://www.wtduck.net, the strips are only given a number for identification. Readers post comments with suggestions on naming each the strip. Johnson picks the best title and publishes it the next day with that comic strip.

Johnson has a degree in animation from Columbia College Chicago, and currently resides in Oak Creek, Wis., (near Milwaukee).

Creator(s):

Contact(s): Kathie Kerr

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