WebComic Planet Collective

As you may or may not have heard, Phil has stepped down as the owner/manager of Webcomic Planet and all the associated sites with it, including the Collective.  As the new leader of the WCP, I thought it best for you to know what I have planned.

First, let me state clearly that nothing I am saying in this email is a reflection on the way Phil managed the WCP previously.  It is a daunting task and he did it very well.  I have nothing by the utmost respect for his skills and for what he’s created with the WCP.  With that said, I move on.

I am in the process of assembling an advisory committee that will help me flesh out my ideas.  These are associates of mine who’s opinions I respect and they are people who are not attached to the WCP currently.  Mostly they’re business folks like myself who also happen to have a strong background in either marketing and/or the comic arts.  This committee is strictly temporary to help me formalize my ideas before presenting them to the Collective.

I am going to run the Collective as a business.  I have a plan on how to organize the current membership and make it manageable.  I will be coming to you current members shortly to both nominate and elect an operating Board for the WCP and Collective.  These four Board members will take in your ideas and suggestions and then decide on how to best implement them, as well as take my vision and input and move the WCP forward.  I will not beat the Chamber of Commerce example to death, but in essence that is what the Collective will be, but modified to meet the needs of an on-line community as opposed to a “local” community. 

The bottom line is we need to make the WCP a place where readers desire to come, time and time again.  Once there, they will have an easy way to find content and thus find their way to your comic or website.  We will offer them information, events and other opportunities that will be networking possibilities for us members to draw in new readers.

I know change is unsettling.  Some of you may elect to leave the Collective.  I would only ask that you hear out my plans.  If they are not your cup of tea, then I will understand any of you who wish to move on.  As stated, this is a business venture, and if you do not decide to continue on, then so be it. 

Welcome to the NEW WCP Collective everyone!  Let me know any concerns or thoughts and I’ll do my best to address them.

Byron Wilkins
byron@1977thecomic.com