As I mentioned on Twitter, EZ Street didn't get a Harvey Award tonight. That award went to the deliciously perverse -- but retired, come on now! -- webcomic strip Perry Bible Fellowship. Glenn has a complete list of Harvey Awards winners on ComicMix.
One of the other nominees in the webcomics category was Diary of a Wimpy Kid, a book that I've seen by the hundreds in shelves of many Barnes and Noble stores. After the awards show, Martha Thomases from ComicMix interviewed Jeff Kinney, the creator of the Diary series. I chatted with him and found out that he has kids who are a little too young for the books, 5 and 3 like mine. I also learned that his day job -- which he has no plans to give up -- is as a designer/developer on a massively multiplayer online game called Poptropica. After looking at the game's home page, who wouldn't have known it was related?
Jeff signed the book for my kids and I got some blurry iPhone pictures.
GrimJack
EZ Street
Jon Sable, Freelance
Comments (12)
Add a Comment Inappropriate or promotional comments may be removed.
Anonymous 537 days ago
I love those wimpy kid books! and Jeff looks adorable
Russ Rogers 530 days ago
I believe "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" was originally created as content for Poptropica. I have 4 daughters and the older two, 10 and 8, have shown me Poptropica. Poptropica pays the bills by blending the advertising right in with the game with product placements. It's an interesting choice. Sometimes a little intrusive and annoying. But somebody's got to pay for the lights and megabytes.
The interesting thing is that "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" is still available for free on Poptropica and that hasn't hurt sales of the Paper Versions at all. In fact, many of the buyers of the paper version are people who have already read the book on line. This seems like EXACTLY the same sales model that ComicMix is trying to emulate. "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" and Jeff Kinney were one of the most nominated (maybe THE most nominated) for the Harvey's. I think it was seven. Anyway, they got shut out. It's hard to award stick figures prizes for artistic excellence.
I have argued that "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" shows that there is a LARGE market for kids comics on the web. This is a highly untapped market, filled with folks eager to gain the attention of kids. Look at Webkinz, Poptropica, KidZui, Dizzywood: where are the web-comics for kids?
I've said that ComicMix should have a sister site, "ComicMix Kids." You already have the structure, the bones of the operation. All you need to do is copy it with age appropriate material. Oh well, that idea seemed to fall on deaf ears. Just like when I suggested GrimJack use some word other than "Fuck" because it would lose a measurable demographic. John Ostrander was of the opinion that anybody who would be offended by the word "fuck" shouldn't be reading GrimJack to begin with. He may be right.
Anonymous 521 days ago
hi i really want to know what website you can read diary of a wimpy kid rodricks rules online ,AND,where you can read diary of a wimpy kid the last straw online for free?
Dimples 506 days ago
Hi I want to know where you can read books online at ? Well write Back please
Brian Alvey 499 days ago
They started out as free webcomics on Funbrain.com. Here you go. Enjoy!
Marie 392 days ago
I am reading the Dairy of A wimpy kid right now, it is sooo good! But I wanted to know where I could read book 2 online?
Thank You.
Megan Sparzo 376 days ago
Just a stupid book about a stupid kid. What is so cool about that!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
Anonymous 360 days ago
actually its very cool :]
Anonymous 368 days ago
I love this series it is good and it is adding book but so so so worth it it is like dineg with out
mina 323 days ago
OMG!!!!!!! where can i read diary of a wimpy kid 3 online?????? i a m ADDICTED!!!!!!! halp!
Anonymous 310 days ago
can you please tell me where you can read diary of a wimpy kid rodick rules
Anonymous 162 days ago
did anybody know that the 12th october a NEW volume of diary of a wimpy kid will be released i wanna read the 3rd and the new one