What?! I don't know how to unconvince you to not shut it down. Just know that I'll be sad. Probably cry a bit.

I want to write how I really feel but I don't want to hurt your feelings cos I respect you so much so let's just leave it at that.

--
Nazirah is a rabbit! She does pretty tricks for us. So well trained and so eager to please.

Do you know absolutely no one else whom you could enlist to help out?

Anyone?

General info? Links? News? That's what Google is for! I can totally understand your feelings when it comes to manga, but don't you think discarding what makes this place special would be a terrible waste of hosting? What of the most tightly-knit, outspoken forum ever to grace the web? What of the boarders that offer criticism better and more readilly than even DA, the largest artistic community on the internet? What of the comicking handbook? The tutorials, the tone archive, the reviews--all of these forming the oppurtunity for savvy surfers to contribute to the wealth of knowledge?

"But it's been a year and nothing major has happened..." Yet. I've been at this site for over 3 years, from before my fifteenth revolution up until the looming death of my childhood. I remember when there were only two "manga punks." I remember when MP got its first layout make-over featuring RtG from the 18 Revolutions cover. I remember the first Manga Punk(tm) book. I remember when MP first got an e-zine with articles and even interviews. I remember when you finally got a web lair not joined at the hip to MP. I remember when Drupal was first launched and you were ecstatic with plans for this place. I remember the first time an industry professional came and visited our site; thus exposing us (yourself included) to said professional. I remember when companies actually mustered enough faith in this place to send us review copies of their products.

All of that did not happen in one year.

Things might go slowly, but they will go, as they always have. The place may not fit your exact vision now, but will you so readilly dump that vision rather than persevere? What of MP as a publisher?

This place doesn't need to be entirely about manga, but remember that "manga" are "comics" too. The name "Manga Punk" can be changed, re-routed--whatever--but what MP is, what it means to us, and what it once meant to you, shouldn't be tossed aside.

Rachel: What are the procedures for adding to the handbook? I'm going to pimp the bloody hell out of it on ComicSpace.

And what exactly are you looking for in a reviews manager?

No :( It's not just about the manga, we are a community, a group of online friends and this is our hangout. Don't close teh MP, NOOOO!!!

*wants to say something to convince you, but has no idea what to say...*

---
Brilliant.
---
Shameless plugging, hurray!

Johnny says, put up advertising and hire a web master?.

Johnny is kidding, Johnny thing you should get a big loan from the bank and goto Jamacia.

Johnny

I agree with Joey for the most part. Things take time to develop and if you look at Mangapunk at a whole it's made progress and has made an impact in comic book creation. Has it rebooted the world of comics? No, but something like that usually happens by accident more than by design. Actually I've seen plenty of comic sites that have grand and bold visions of influencing the industry or being "The Site" and most of them just fade away rather quickly.

Also, I think I've stated numerous times that manga is just another word for comics. So your interests have changed, it doesn't seem you interests in comics has waned. Names change, tastes change, but in the end it's all the same medium that has so much potential that some people actually believe it's seperate things (comic and manga).
So honestly, don't worry about names or terms.

And if you need help with running the site, I'm willing to help out. Yes, life has sat on my head and done extremely rude things to me, but I still believe in comics. And I also believe that the future of comics is in the hands of the young comic creators like the ones that come to this site. Yes, I like to think I'll influence the comic world too, but I fear I'm too influenced by the current common trappings of comics. It's time for fresh perspectives and new ideas in the world of comics.

But in the end, Mangapunk has and always be Rachel's. It's her site to do with it as she see fit. I can only guess she has alot of choices and decisions on what to do with not only her comic career but her life as a whole, so I'm sure Mangapunk can just one more thing to worry about.

Well that's my 2 cents.

Word Mr Doub.

Johnny

Community is good and all, but I think Mangapunk has shifted a bit too mcuh to a "hangout" and has become less about comics. I'm not saying it can't be both, but maybe a better balance could be had?

But then I'm of the opinion that the internet as a whole has become more "social" and less "content".

Johnny says, Friends make the world go around.

Johnny

I agree that MP has become more of the "hangout to voice your opinion about whatnot" than solely a site about comics for comic creators and young artists. That's just something that happens to all forums, particualrly in their "general" sections.

Should you close MP down I will respect your decision Rachel. I will be saddened to see the site close and ya know I will certainly put tributes to MP in my comics. ^_^

http://neilak20.deviantart.com/
http://www.drunkduck.com/Soapbox_Hill/
http://www.drunkduck.com/Late_Entry_DDCW/

Ideas like MP don't come along every 5 seconds, if you know what I mean. When I saw the title "MP closing," I felt my breath catch. When I actually read the thread, my heart literally sank. I could feel it.

If Rachel's chooses to close it down, what is there to be done but respect it?

I wish you wouldn't close down the site, but you have my respect either way.

The times we had on Manga Punk have been amazing and informative about comics.

I will be sad to see this place go if that is what you decide, but again, it what YOU decide.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If people here could help maintain the site, I will offer to buy the server you're using and the rights to this site. It would remain just like this, unless circumstances demanded a few details be changed. But this site is like a home to me, if buying server space and hirring web page people is what it takes to keep this site up, I will do everything I can to keep it up.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I've never has a heart, Never know love.

Yet you expect me to care, to care about you.

Now you're staring at me, You stare at me as your love fades to grey.

What did you expect, Did you expectg me to love, love you with a heart I've never had?

It's not something I want to do, just something I've been thinking about.

Things aren't slow, they're fast. They are fast for me at least. So much is happening, I have so much to say, so much to write, so much to do, and I can barely update SubcultureofOne.com. I feel like comics news and links and all sorts of good things are whooshing past faster than I can pump them into this site. I still haven't made a link module that allows us to add links to sites.

I would lose a lot if I shut MP down. Community and friends for one thing, and one of my Big Things that I put on my resume and tout to people who ask, "So who the hell are you and what are you doing in this dumpster behind Wizard World?" for another.

But this place isn't about comics these days. It's become a hangout like Doub said. It's like GaiaOnline but with fewer people and no fun avatars. It's like Deviantart but without art uploads. If MangaPunk is just a glorified message board, there are better message boards out there.

I wanted to inspire young people to make comics and share ideas and get out to conventions and write and interview and review... And it's not happening, maybe because I can't put all of myself in it anymore. I feel like I'm letting the dream down.

I'll probably not shut it down as I've already invested so much of my heart and time in this site. It's a showcase and a home. But damn, I wish I could make this place more useful to comickers.

****
I live under a bridge.

It will become more useful, Rachie. I know cranking out a comic every week must be grueling. What MP really needs right now is a staff. We need at least one other dedicated PHPer with time to spare and heart to contribute. We need a reviews manager (Doub: Are you really sure you're up to it so soon?). As for the handbook, the biggest way this site was supposed to make a difference, we have to actually advertise the darned thing so people know it's there and waiting for input.

MP overall needs more advertisement. To be honest, it's as if after SoO took form, MP became the other site, the other place to find Rachel. I think that's what it boils down to really. Most people find this place through you. They come here for you. But MP isn't about you, it's about comics. We've got to make it stand on its own. The other issue is that this is a place for learning...

...and the Learners are here. What we need is some Teachers!

MP needs to be touted more as a place to teach rather than a place to learn from now on, in my opinion. I can start working harder on getting people (experienced, skilled people) informed and involved in MP. Heck, give me my admin powers back and let me manage the articles, reviews, and whatever else.

And you are not letting the dream down, Rachel. You have made a difference. Getting out to conventions, writing, and reviewing? What do you think Joey's been doing? And who do you think inspired her to do that, Rachel?

johnny said you can lead a artist to inspiration, but you cant make them drink.

life is full of comprimise, sharing and deligation, people got to pick up the ball where they find it... nothing is wrong with your efforts RTG, only if you stop trying...

Giana dont sound very punk... and Deviant is just a photo album...

MP is the dark matter that holds the mangaverse together.

Johnny

Just as Joey said, when I saw the title today, I blinked back tears. Mangapunk? Closing? That faithful place where I could always count on a comforting shoulder, and a good friend to say, "Buck up. The art-work will get better, the boys will get better, life in general will better"? If I didn't have this community, I would've already broken - several times.

Rachel, I can say truthfully that because you made this website, I think we've all bettered ourselves - in our conduct, in our artwork, and in our very own, personal lives.

Sure, this website is about the art, and it has, admittedly, done a bit of a backslide into the social aspect. But it's just like an artist. There are times in an artist's working life where the artist works incredibly hard, and their artwork flourishes - everyone can see it, and the artist feels so proud - but then, there are times when the artist hits a wall, and it feels like nothing is being produced that is "new" or "exciting." But really, what's going on is a rest stop for the artist so that way they can burst forward again, and make great strides.

I think MangaPunk is doing that, too. It may not be so pronounced (or maybe it is, I don't know). But I think that everyone's just taking a rest stop before we all shoot forward again, as one big group, like in a baton race.

So I don't think I can change your mind. And maybe I don't want to. It really is, after all, your decision, and we all respect that. I guess I just want to thank you for creating this website, and letting me meet new friends and learn how to better myself. Thank you.

.:suzu-chan/killijoy/Joeys Cupcake:.
.:"No time for goodbyes," he said, as he faded away. "It's hard to imagine, but one day you'll end up like me." Then he said, "If you want to stay alive, hold on for your life.":.

...

This is really sad. I know that this site is not what you want Rachel...but it's pretty d*mned good.

When I learned about a year and half ago (after seeing your comics on gURL) that comics aren't just for boys and came to this website. And through it I have found a family online...and yes, this site has become mostly just a hangout...but maybe we can try harder to make it about comics. If that's what it takes to keep Manga Punk up, I'm willing.

The people should not be afraid of it's government. The government should be afraid of it's people. -V

Yes Joey, I think I'm up to it. I can only sit around and do nothing for so long. (Speaking of, Rachel expect some review copies from CPM fairly soon.)

On the focus of the site, I've had thoughts about how to get Mangapunk back toward comics, but I didn't want to be pushy considering this isn't my website.

I'm getting the impression from Rachel, that time isn't her friend at the moment. There's just not enough time in the day for Rachel to do everything for the site and do everything else on her plate.

So I would say there are three choices at this point:

1. Just leave the site the way that it is. People enjoy the site in it's current state and it's not hurting comics being like this.

2. Delegate responsibilities of the site to others that you can trust. But remember even with trust, other people will of course have different ideas and Mangapunk my change in unexpected ways because of other peoples' input.

3. Close it. I would almost say all people who come to Mangapunk is because of Rachel, but between her site, LJ, women comic creator portal, and other things, getting a hold of Rachel is fairly easy nowadays (except physically, who wants to drive out into the country to go to a farm :P ).

I saw this yesterday, and honestly tried to avoid it. I didn't want to read about MP closing. Yeah, I am fairly new here, but I feel like I actually know all of these people. And I can understand where you are coming from... but not all fourms and sites are like this. We actually use grammar, and we all are (for the most part) intellectual and gt a good discussion here.

If you close down MP, well I'll have to go back to xanga... (thats something i DON'T want to do) But Change is hard, and it really is your decision.

*gets down on knees*

But still...PLEASE DON'T SHUT DOWN MP!

Oh my god seriously please don't close it down!
This is one of the reasons I started drawing Manga and Anime. I went to gurl.com the subcultureofone.com and finally ended up here.
I really want to learn to draw like you and noone else is gonna tell me how good or bad my pictures are because my friends and family hate being mean. (Not that yall are mean, it just I think yall will probably tell me if the picture is bad or not)

I like everyone here and I would love to meet them but I know that will probably never happen but this is an awesome site and I love coming here and just reading what people say. I like seeing what they draw so if they can help me with somethng. I loved your comics and never really bought a manga or anime book until I started reading your comics. I found out that those books are acually very intresting.

This site is awesome and I really wish you wouldn't close it down.
But, If you feel like you want to close down this site, theres really nothing me or anyone else can do.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
LIES!!! LIES AND FRUITCAKE!!!!

I think, shifting or limiting the themes of the individual forums would be the only way to get it more about "comics". Like I said before, MP has a large General Section, which means there will naturally be lots of traffic and posts in that area.

I think, that if anything MP is one of the sites I've seen that's MOST geared toward making comics. We have the MP comic Jam, as well as talk of several other group projects. I was thinking about asking one of the guys from the AP forums, who does the "Acid Test" a periodic contest for artists to draw from a section of script he posts up, if he wouldnt mind me starting something similar on this forum. I also had the idea recently to do a similar thing with writing.

I'm not sure if this is the time to talk about starting new things, but I figure new comic themed participation things would be good for everyone, its a great learning experiance.

I wont tell you what to do, its my opinion that MP shouldnt close down, but then I am biased on that. Like I said before, should you close it, I can respect that choice.

http://neilak20.deviantart.com/
http://www.drunkduck.com/Soapbox_Hill/
http://www.drunkduck.com/Late_Entry_DDCW/

The post you're reading is quite honestly a bump post. I don't want this thread being drowned by the other nonsense we've got going on.

I think it should be made a sticky if at all possible.

http://neilak20.deviantart.com/
http://www.drunkduck.com/Soapbox_Hill/
http://www.drunkduck.com/Late_Entry_DDCW/

Rachel can do it if she wants next time she drops in to check up.

I just want to say that I realize I am probably coming off really pushy in this thread. Everyone's got the right idea when they say that this is Rachel's site and indeed her call to make. I am simply adamant about it not having to come to that. I've come to view Rachel as a friend, but I have also come to view MP as more than just an extension of her. It's a ponderous, pulsating ball of potential energy, and the waste of potential is almost too depressing to bear.

I agree. Not much people have been contributing to the site. I'm older now. Nearly an adult. I ave a comic in the works. This is not one of my failed dreams. I have three months doing idle waiting for my exam results and I plan to make this comic happen. I was thinking of not telling anyone until I drew completely the first chapter. Rachel, you have inspired so much in me that you just CANNOT close this site.

I'm going to take my car license too. So I can drive myself to comic cons around Msia. So I can review them. Then I can be a correspondent for this site soon enough. I'll spread this website more to other websites; I'll do more. This won't be an empty promise.

Please please please don't close the site.

--
Nazirah is a rabbit! She does pretty tricks for us. So well trained and so eager to please.

Because it means so much to you all, I won't close it, but I need to make it better. Keep giving feedback and making suggestions.

****
I live under a bridge.

YAYAYAYAYAY!!!

About the suggestions...

Can we do it on this topic or should we make new ones?

The people should not be afraid of it's government. The government should be afraid of it's people. -V

I think everybody here needs to get involved! Buy more comics and anime, get a job to support this habit, make more comprehensible reviews in proper English about them and post them here. And go to cons, and post news.

Okay, I'll prolly never do that last one cos I'm really news deprived.

--
Nazirah is a rabbit! She does pretty tricks for us. So well trained and so eager to please.

I think Rabbit has the right idea that everyone could do something, and it doesn't have to be hard core involvement. It could be something easy and fun.

For example, an easy thing one can do is bring a friend to Mangapunk. I'm sure alot of us know manga readers or artists and we can casually mention to them about this place. I'm not talking about a hard sell or spamming them about it. Just say if they're into comics/manga, that you know a fairly open place that helps to support comics/manga and it can be fairly fun. Because like Joey pointed out Mangapunk is basically the sum of all it's parts so the more talented people the better.

And just one example. You could also say ask the local library or book store to put flyers up. Speaking of libraries I've been thinking about ask my local library to see if I can setup a manga reading group or something like that to meet once a month at the library. It's one thing to like manga, but to know and understand the elements that go into making it good is interesting to alot of people.

Okay, so that's 2 (maybe 3) examples, but all of us at Mangapunk can be more proactive. It just shouldn't feel forced for you. Just do what you're comfortable with (and can afford).

It would be a shame if MP closed.
Although about the only suggestion I could give would be to consolidate the forums into subcultureofone.com if you do choose to close it.

Quamp's discount manga/anime fan fiction
The Texas Conventions a Collection of artwork I've collected over various conventions.

Aye Aye Captain! I've been meaning to write up some comic reviews, but I'm not sure what to suggest for the site. I like what everyone else has suggested so far about inviting people over and stuff.
Also I talked to Frustraited Pilot, over at the AP forums, he said I could start up an Acid Test like thing here, and that he just joined MP yesterday ^_^

http://neilak20.deviantart.com/
http://www.drunkduck.com/Soapbox_Hill/
http://www.drunkduck.com/Late_Entry_DDCW/

I'll try to recruit people to Manga Punk. A lot of my friends are into manga and anime and I'll ask them to check it out.

The people should not be afraid of it's government. The government should be afraid of it's people. -V

I know that for a fact I will bring 3 people to MP!

*sits dejectedly in corner* I recommended a few of my friends here a few months ago, and they never came...*sobs a little* And to think, they love manga and anime even more than me...

Well, I'll just have to go and tell them again! OuO

---
Brilliant.
---
Shameless plugging, hurray!

Just keep pestering them and then when they come they'll realize how cool it is here and want to stay!

The people should not be afraid of it's government. The government should be afraid of it's people. -V

Yeah well none of my real friends like manga or anime.

I could ask my habbo friends.....

I can probably get some people.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
LIES!!! LIES AND FRUITCAKE!!!!

Bless your heart!

All of the above are great suggestions. I also think we need to start making an effort to diversify the site. There are other cool comics out there that don't come from Japan, and we should incorporate more of those into the site's atmosphere in order to cater to and attract a more eclectic group of boarders/contributors.

We love comics, so we need to show the love! I know no one here would mind fighting off discrimination against non-Japanese comics. ;)

This doesn't mean you should abandon your love of all things Japanese now! It means let's make an effort to try out new things, talk about those new things here, write about them, and get people who like it involved with us. I'm sure we'd all be shocked to find out how many cool comics fans the title "MANGA Punk" has turned off.

I haven't been reading comics for ages because no libraries are around this area. Even the ones in Kuala Lumpur don't have ANY manga titles so we have to buy them ourselves. But trouble is, I only know one person who's into comics in Msia in real life and she's busy. Maybe when I go to college I could start that manga reading group. Or find some local internet people who are interested in comics. Good suggestion, David.

For some Malaysian comics, you can go to www.gempakstarz.com. They sell some comics. But I'm not toos ure if it's sold in English. I'm sure they sell one comic for $5 including shipping. It's really high quality paper too. They also carried some Japanese and Chinese comics. Then again, I'm not too sure if they carry the comics in English. Just a suggestion.

--
Nazirah is a rabbit! She does pretty tricks for us. So well trained and so eager to please.

I think bringing all types of comics to Manga Punk is a good idea. Because as cool as manga is, I have read some regular comics that kick some major @ss too.

The people should not be afraid of it's government. The government should be afraid of it's people. -V

This here is just a random thought that doesn't necessarilly have to be taken seriously.

I was musing earlier about what MangaPunk.com could possibly be called should its name ever change. What I came up with in my head was PunkSequence.com. I figure "punk" could always stay for its rebel factor, and "sequential art" is probably the only word for "comics" that doesn't exlude any particular genre, country, style, or what have you. Plus, a sequence is defined as a number of things that follow one another, that build upon one another, which I think ties in nicely with the whole concept of "the revolution" and all those involved.

Again, just a random musing. :)

That a pretty cool name I think, but I'm rather partial to Manga Punk.

The people should not be afraid of it's government. The government should be afraid of it's people. -V

As am I, but if changing the name would help out traffic flow I'm all for it. It was still just a random thought anyway. ;p

Yeah, I understand...because if this site isn't going to be all about manga at some point the name may need to change.

The people should not be afraid of it's government. The government should be afraid of it's people. -V

PunkSequence sounds spiffy to me, and it actually would bring in some new members. A few months ago *elephantine memory kicking in* I was talking to a few people in the graphic novel section about (gasp!) Mangapunk. These weren't manga-ers, but they were interested in the site.

Then I told them the name.

...T_T

PunkSequence does sound like a good name. I'd say if there is a name change, it should be a major event (well major for us). Maybe treat it like a virtual birth or maybe a graduation (considering some of the current Mangapunkers are "growing up" sniff sniff). There could be like a graduation ceremony and invites sent out to that. People could be "speakers" at the graduation, where they talk about the past of Mangapunk (and comics) and what they foresee for the future of their "class".

PunkSequence could be like "Mangapunk The College Years" and could maybe reflect a wider but yet more detailed focus on comics in the world. Much like going from High School to College is a change in learning.

I like the SequentialPunk idea myself, like the previous suggestions only inverted.
I dont know how I feel about an MP name change though. I wont start the "manga means comics" argument again, I know how much of a headache that one is x_x

http://neilak20.deviantart.com/
http://www.drunkduck.com/Soapbox_Hill/
http://www.drunkduck.com/Late_Entry_DDCW/

David: ... which also goes along with the concept of "sequence" as building upon events. Nice! ;D

Neila: I thought of SequentialPunk, too, actually. I changed it to PunkSequence in my head because "SequentialPunk" sounds too much like a knock-off of the already existing SequentialTart.

LOL..that was me for a really long time. glad to help.
AND IF ONLY COULD HELP MORE! I wish my computer skills were up to par if only help keep MP alive. PLEASE don't shut down the site Rachel, where am I suppose to go? *sniff*

But seriously, is there no way to recuit people, atleast mods or something to help monitor the site while you work on your weeklies? You can still "manage" the place and have mods to look after specific sections on the site. One to moniter articles, another to moniter activity and joiners, and another to moniter the forums, etc.
Can nothing be done?
Do i have to start a petition? CAUSE YOU KNOW I CAN!
*poke* RACHAL CHAN!!!!!!!!!!

-------------------------------

I don't think "punk sequence" would work. It would be less than optimal as far as search engines are concerned, and it sounds a little confusing and for that reason it could come off as pretentious. The shorter and easier to spell a domain name is, the better. I already know what domain I would pick. It's simple and easy and available, but if I say it here, it might get bought up. Needless to say, the renaming has already been taken care of should the site ever require it. But that would require a facelift and a bit of retooling I'm not up to right now, so don't get ahead of me here :)

I think we need to make a page based on each step in the comicking process:
Writing
Drawing
Inking
Toning
Coloring
Lettering
Publishing (both online and offline)

Each page would link to a sticky forum topic where members can suggest links and resources to use. The pages themselves would have tutorials, downloads and links pertaining to the subject. What do you think? If I tore down the site, that is essentially what I would have put up in its place.

****
I live under a bridge.