It’s been about two and a half years since Blog@Newsarama was born, when myself, Kevin Melrose, Graeme McMillan, Tom Bondurant, Michael May, Shane Bailey, Chris Hunter and Stephanie Chan joined the Newsarama team “to bring you an engaging, thought-provoking and fun blog that you’ll want to come back to every day.” Since then we’ve added a few names and seen a few people leave, but hopefully in between all the Hollywood rumors, comic industry dust-ups and just general weirdness that made its way into the blog, we gave you guys something worth reading.
It’s kind of bittersweet, then, to announce that those of us who currently write for the blog are leaving Newsarama. It’s no secret that the site has gone through tremendous growing pains over the last few months and has been moving in a new direction since being purchased by Imaginova. Behind the scenes, there’s been a lot of growing pains as well, and we’ve reached the point where we think it’s better for us to move on. Nov. 30 will be our last day, and starting Dec. 1 you’ll be seeing a new crew take over the site.
I want to take this opportunity to thank Matt Brady and Michael Doran for the opportunity they gave us and for all of their support over the last couple of years. We’ve also had a lot of great folks involved with the site over the last couple of years, from everyone I mentioned up top to our current contributors, including Chris Mautner, Lisa Fortuner, Tim O’Shea, Carla Hoffman, Melissa Krause, Jeff Trexler, Matt Maxwell and Jennifer de Guzman. And a lot of other people as well, like Neil Kleid, Wayne Beamer, Aron Head, Paul Levitz, Stacie Ponder, guest bloggers like Brian Wood and Marc Bernardin, among others … I want to thank all of them for their time and talent over the past couple of years.
This isn’t a goodbye. You’ll see many of us again, together, most likely in the new year. And we still have a few days left, but before we departed, I wanted to thank those of you who have read the blog, sent us links, linked to us, commented on what we said and even argued with us on all things comics. It’s been a blast, and wherever we end up, I hope we can continue the conversation.
Like I said, this isn’t a goodbye; it’s more like a “see you later.” Take care until then.
November 26th, 2008 at 4:35 am
You guys were tops. I can’t wait to see what’s next for you.
November 26th, 2008 at 4:48 am
Damn it! I hope the new guys will still plug Lying In The Gutters…
Any chance of a return to the old name?
November 26th, 2008 at 4:51 am
Wow. Didn’t see this coming.
Best of luck to you all. It was a pleasure to be able to work with you all back in the early days at The Great Curve and make the transition to Blog@.
I hope that I continue to read you all somewhere since it won’t be here anymore.
Best of luck to all!
November 26th, 2008 at 5:02 am
I can completely understand the “tremendous growing pains” as I feel I’m going through quite adjustment to Newsarama bold new direction. Good luck to future endeavors, I will be looking forward to seeing your work.
November 26th, 2008 at 5:33 am
I’ve pretty much stopped reading Newsarama EXCEPT for the Blog since the ill-fated owner switch and the site’s terrible redesign, now I won’t have a reason to read at all. Shame to see this happen but I gather that something new and hopefully even better is in the offing from the departing crew!
November 26th, 2008 at 6:20 am
Will the old crew be located at a new URL? I want to know so I can follow.
November 26th, 2008 at 6:21 am
Thanks for everything !
November 26th, 2008 at 6:26 am
This is f^cking horrible news…I’ll miss you all so much, this blog is the center of my day, happy moments between stresses at work, and lulls at home. It has really meant a lot to me over the years, thank you very much for your time here, it has been greatly appreciated…but please find a new home for the collective bunch of you…really hope this is not goodbye.
November 26th, 2008 at 6:55 am
Best of luck guys.
November 26th, 2008 at 7:01 am
Considering the jarring nature for users, it isn’t surprising there are problems going on behind the scenes. Good luck to everyone leaving and arriving, though.
November 26th, 2008 at 7:09 am
Wow. That’s a bit of a shock. I’m bummed but I want to thank everyone for giving me such a great place to go for the past couple years.
J.K. and Graeme, you guys are like family to me. Hope the whole gang finds an awesome new place to call home. Best of luck.
November 26th, 2008 at 7:36 am
Sorry to see you go guys.
Hmm, it’s always telling when a mass exodus occurs from a company. I’ve seen it happen in my business (advertising/design) when a new boss comes in and has fun ‘implementing’ changes - and rarely for the better.
November 26th, 2008 at 7:58 am
Sorry to see you guys leave. Good luck!
Mel Caylo
Top Cow Productions
http://www.topcow.com
November 26th, 2008 at 8:19 am
Blog@’s always been my first stop for comics-related news, and I’m sorry to see you guys part. Thanks for everything, and good luck with whatever you’ll be doing next.
November 26th, 2008 at 8:34 am
Sucks that you guys are leaving. The Blog here is the only reason I’ve come to Newsarama these days. I’ve really disliked the change over and redesign of Newsarama, and the Blog was the only thing that still had that old feel. Good luck in whatever you guys have planned for the future, and be sure to let us know about it.
November 26th, 2008 at 9:09 am
Ouch. I hope the new crew do just as good a job as you guys. To be honest, since the take over of Newsarama I’ve been coming to the site less and less and reading other comic news sites more and more, but I always check the Blog daily. In fact the Blog has been more fun and informative than most of the stuff on the main part of the site which has just gotten worse and worse.
Good luck wherever you go!
November 26th, 2008 at 9:28 am
Well, Good Morning! Jeez.
Blog@ isn’t the be-all, end-all for me, but I’ve really enjoyed it. It’ definitely one of my most frequent stops on the net.
Good Luck and hopefully (after the 1st) we’ll see you all again soon somewhere.
Rikk
November 26th, 2008 at 9:33 am
I agree. The Blog was the best part of this site. I checked it several times a day and always found great stuff. You guys will be missed.
November 26th, 2008 at 9:57 am
Well, that’s a terrible loss for Newsarama but I hope it means all the best for you folks. I rarely have time for comics anymore and this blog was one of my favorite windows on a world I love. It was the crew in place, their perspective, that made it what it is. What it is, being something really, really great.
Good luck with your next venture—and don’t forget to let us know what it is!
Cheers.
November 26th, 2008 at 10:09 am
I look forward to seeing your next move.
November 26th, 2008 at 10:10 am
Well there goes the last reason to keep coming back to Newsarama. Good luck to you guys.
November 26th, 2008 at 11:03 am
I’ve really enjoyed the blog team’s work over the years. You made me a bit of an addict, checking back several times a day:) Thanks for all the hard work and best of luck with future endeavors!
November 26th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Echoing what everyone else is saying… This sucks. The Blog has, indeed, been the best part of Newsarama and I’m sorry to see this happen. Can you tell us here, in your last few days, where you expect to land next? A URL or something, if you have one lined up, would be appreciated.
I’ll still visit the ‘Rama, and I’ll check out the new Blog, but I’m sure it won’t be the same. JK, and all the rest, you will be missed. Just get back on a new site soon! And be sure to keep us all posted on how Carla and her husband are doing too. For that reason alone you need to find a new online home soon.
Peace.
November 26th, 2008 at 11:42 am
Ah shit. This is shitty news. Blog@ turned into the only good reason to visit Newsarama.
November 26th, 2008 at 11:46 am
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO http://tinyurl.com/6yprez
November 26th, 2008 at 11:51 am
Another voice disappointed by this news. Blog@ was what kept me coming to the site multiple times a day. You guys did a great job. I hope you let us all know if you write at another site!
November 26th, 2008 at 11:55 am
Sorry to see you guys go, John. You were aces. Thanks for letting me play!
Neil
November 26th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
you all will certainly be missed. look forward to seeing the new endeavors, though.
November 26th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Terrible news. I used to love Newsarama before the takeover by Imaginova. Now, Blog@ is about the only thing I read each day when I come to the site. Looks like I can kiss that good-bye, too.
November 26th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Same as above.
Looking forward to the nest iteration of this blog.
November 26th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Thus begins the end of Newsarama. I blame Dan DiDio.
November 26th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Hey, weren’t you guys some OTHER Blog before you were blog@ Newsarama? I guess you’re going to go back to that but probably can’t advertise it here, right?
RIGHT?
http://tinyurl.com/6yprez
November 26th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
I don’t like this news, but I understand it.
Let us know where we can follow you to, yeah?
November 26th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Good night and good luck.
Blog@ was my favorite. I hope the new crew can keep it up.
November 26th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
This was my first stop for comic news each morning. A great balance of links, original content, and commentary. Always classy and professional. This is certainly Newsarama’s loss. Looking forward to seeing where you guys land!
November 26th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
NOOOOOO!!!! What about my weekly dose of Grumpy Old Fan??!!
November 26th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Good luck in your new endeavors, guys. You’re the best and will be greatly missed!
j.
November 26th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Oh, and JK… Wherever you guys end up, I hope you’ll be more judicious than Imaginova in who you let advertise on the site. I really don’t need to see any more insipid “Did Obama buy the election?” ads. Certainly not on a site like this one.
Regardless of where you might fall politically, that was just crappy. I don’t think many rational people would suggest that the president-elect somehow “bought” the election.
November 26th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
*sigh* We need a new Newsarama.
Hoping everyone lands on their feet…
November 26th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Wow, this was the only part of Newsarama still worth reading. I can read the same press releases everywhere else. Looking forward to continue reading you guys where ever you all go next.
November 26th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Wow, I’m really sorry to hear this — I love reading all of your updates. I’m taking hope in the hint that with the new year will come a new group effort from this groupmind, though, and I’ll certainly be on board as a reader for whatever that might be.
Good luck and enjoy some calm for the rest of this year. Thanks for all the great times here.
November 26th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Godspeed, John Glenns.
November 26th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
You did excellent work here, and you’ll be missed. Best of luck to you all, and I’ll look forward to your next incarnation.
The Great Curve … abides.
November 26th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Sorry to hear this — Blog@ is one of the highlights of my daily browsing.
Good luck, everyone!
November 26th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Onward & upward JK & crew!
We’ll be watching to see where you go so we can visit that each day instead! Best of luck!
November 26th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
It’s their loss.
See ya at the new place!
November 26th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Kevin! Where will I get my gay-themed comics news NOW?!!!
Seriously, take care guys. I’ll especially miss Tom Bondurant’s “Grumpy Old Fan” feature.
November 26th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
This is because I couldn’t get my act together enough to guest-blog, isn’t it? I hate me. But I loved this blogging team, and hopefully still will. Thanks for making a great corner of the web to read in.
November 26th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Color me the same as everyone else, JK, Kevin et al - You guys will be missed on this site more than you’ll know. It was great to have been here with you when I was here, but even better to be able to just enjoy it as a reader. Looking forward to what you all do next.
November 26th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
What the hell? First Denny had to leave Comicmix and now you guys? Where are you guys going? Please keep us informed!
November 26th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
All the best guys and gals. Thank you for creating a welcome diversion from work.
November 26th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Loved the blog and like everyone has said, you will be missed. Thanks for all the hard and great work! Good luck and look forward to seeing / hearing from you all later!
November 26th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Please keep me posted to whatever you do next. Your loyalty has been integral to my success and I wish you the very best in wherever you land and do.
Happy Thanksgiving!
–Dino
November 26th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
JK,
Sometime in the new year? That’s not going to work for me; I need a new site and/or RSS feed to read the gang’s blogging from! Hope the new group here will be entertaining in the meantime.
Good luck to you and the gang.
November 26th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
Sorry to see you all go! I really love this blog.
Best of luck in your new endeavor… !
November 26th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Thanks for cranking out lots of enjoyable articles. Good luck and all the best in the future.
November 26th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
New place better still allow for non-registered posting under pseudonyms. You hear me?
November 26th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Just in case it doesn’t, I’m an alt shared by John Byrne and Dan Didio.
November 26th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Well, this sucks. When the news breaks about your new blog, if there is one, I’ll certainly continue to read it. Blog@ has become the only thing I read on Newsarama these days, with all my comic news coming from Comic Book Resources since that’s a layout I can actually stand.
Ah well. Here’s to a bright future for all you lot and continued enjoyment of comics!
November 26th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
I’m looking for the silver lining here. Tell me there’s a silver lining.
November 26th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
As long as we’re all clear it’s Parker’s fault.
November 26th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
Sorry to see yall go, goodluck and let us know will you?
November 26th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
O O
*
____
November 26th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Man, this is sad.
Y’know, I remember just a few years ago when I was an active member of this place. And I remember changes over time that have slowly made it less fun, user-friendly or welcoming.
Over time I cut back on my posting, just as the blog@ was taking off.
Eventually - with the board switch and my username being lost into oblivion - this was the only place I came.
And now you guys are going? Damn.
Goodbye to the best most consistent part of this site.
November 26th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
It took that many people to cut and past the press releases?
November 26th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
Been there, done that… but damn. A tip of the hat to you guys. JK, drop me a line when you can?
November 27th, 2008 at 12:43 am
Wow, guys. Let me just echo what most have been saying: I’m sorry to hear about the change, and Blog@ has been what I’ve read the most at Newsarama for quite some time now. Keep us in the loop when you’ve got the new locale and the new URL, because you’re going to have a huge audience at the new place.
November 27th, 2008 at 1:50 am
You will be missed, gentlemen. If I had an unlimited budget and you guys were willing to, y’know, never talk about DC or indies, I’d sign you up for Blog@Marvel.com in a second!
November 27th, 2008 at 2:24 am
Damn. Everyone at Blog@ has been doing a fantastic job, so it really sucks to see you all go.
With the disintigration of the forums, the transformation of the news section, and now the death of Blog@ (more or less), I guess I no longer have any reasons to visit Newsarama. Way to go, Imaginova.
November 27th, 2008 at 3:27 am
This is a travesty! It’s bad enough Imaginova raped the site and reats the remaining people who post here like retarded children giving them scraps to keep them quiet. Now this?! Newsarama is a shell of it’s former self. The people here are great and newsarama sucks it’s that simple, like the people who run this site.
November 27th, 2008 at 3:44 am
I hope everyone has the chance to go onto the bigger and better things that they deserve as you guys have done an excellent job managing what is in my opinion the best comics blog.
November 27th, 2008 at 5:14 am
Count me in as another one of those who almost stopped visiting Newsarama after the redesign, but came back to your blog in a daily basis.
I am sad to see you go, but I know it will be for the best for you all.
November 27th, 2008 at 11:43 am
So, I left the first comment on this blog and It’s been moderated out of existence - was it something I said? OK, I’ll try again.
When something like a mass exodus occurs, it usually signifies a rot deep within a company, or a new broom who is trying too hard to sweep the old regime out of the way. Wonder which it is here? Sorry to see you go guys, but why do I suspect you won’t be the last?
November 27th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
Very sad news indeed, its been tough to adjust to the new Newsarama (unfriendly) site as it was but the Blog section remained the one place where everything was the same…
I find myself visiting other boards more and more just for the diversity and quality of the content.
Best of luck to all of you involved with the Blog, hope the people that come after you will be able to do half as a good job that you guys were able to do here !
November 27th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
This is really disappointing. I’m going to miss the blog.
November 27th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
Scott Koblish Says:
November 26th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
“It took that many people to cut and past the press releases?”
This coming from a guy who inks other’s work? LULzacoaster!!!!!
November 28th, 2008 at 12:41 am
Well at least Brady and Doran got THEIR money.
November 29th, 2008 at 5:14 am
It looks like the smart rats do indeed know when to jump off the sinking ship! I’ll be happy to follow you guys to your new home. Hopefully one with less “Previews” and regurgitated press releases.
I honestly wonder if newsarama will be worth visiting in two months.
November 29th, 2008 at 9:47 am
Another nail in the coffin that is being built for Newsarama, this site used to be amazing. With all the changes and the non friendly user interfaces as well as modsd outs of control….Blog was the best thing here.
Well i guess that leaves us to go find other sites that do a better job in reporting actual news and give us real commentary.
Sad to see you guys go, won’t be back unless major changes happen to this site.
November 29th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Well, one more site to remove from my bookmarks.
As someone who’s been on the losing end of the “new regime/old regime” workplace crapola I can sympathize. Good luck in whatever you do next (and don’t be silent about what it is, if you know what I mean).
December 1st, 2008 at 5:46 pm
Any link on where the old gang will be posting?
December 1st, 2008 at 6:09 pm
I think it’ll be a little while. One of JK’s interviews someplace else gave a general timeframe for an announcement that I remember as being soon-but-not-too-soon, like February or something. Many of them are going to be continuing blogs on their private sites, that’s where I’d keep watch!