The paper you are reading would not have been possible without my computer. As little as fifteen years ago, such an undertaking would have required more staff, equipment and revenue than a paper like this is capable of generating. But now, thanks to a silicon chip, a bunch of printed circuit boards and the cathode ray tube I'm staring into as I write this, I can put out this rag almost singlehandedly (with kudos as usual to my production assistant Carrie).

Because I'm so comfortable with this technology, a World Wide Web site is the logical next step. I've been talking about this for several years now, and I've finally gotten it together. Now, I know not all of you are computer-friendly (according to our survey about 47% of Comic News readers own a computer). But trust me on this, before too long the Web will be as ubiquitous, as useful, and as annoying as your telephone or TV. A client told me the other day that he's irritated when people don't have answering machines. I had to stifle the urge to tell him I feel the same way when folks don't have e-mail. Will we someday be exasperated at those without Websites?

Of course technology can entrap us as well as empower us, and any tool is only as good as the uses you put it to. But the beauty of the Web is that unlike the phone, which is a one-to-one device, or TV, which is a many-to-one device, the Web allows the many to speak to the many. Thus even a rinky-dink publisher like myself can get on a soapbox and rant to the whole planet (until now, contractual agreements with the Big Cartoon Syndicates have prevented me from distributing or marketing my paper outside of Tucson).

Sure, the big money guys, or the power-addicted greedheads if you will, are going to try and co-opt the Web. But the many-to-many factor will make it harder to rope in than traditional print or broadcast media. That's why dissident voices the world over, from the Zapatistas to the Serbian peace movement, are using the Web to bypass the censorship of the corporate media.

As of today, May 8th, the Tucson Comic News Website is officially up and running. Because of copyright law, most of the cartoons seen in the print edition cannot be included online, though most of my cartoonists have their own sites, which I've linked up to (for the less savvy among you, that means that if you were reading this page online, you could click on any underlined word, like Quigmans, and be transported to the appropriate Website). Conversely, because space is more expensive in the dead tree edition, the Website will include features not seen in the paper.

So let me give you a guided tour of the digital edition of the Comic News. The wired among you, set your browsers to http://iwhome.com/ComicNews (and don't forget the capital C and N). The rest of you can look over their shoulders.

Basically, the Website consists of nine separate Web pages. The first focuses on an area vital to the survival of this enterprise, Subscriptions. This page allows you to send e-mail messages ordering a free sample of the paper Comic News sent anywhere in the world (by snail mail), or to order a subscription for yourself or as a gift. Of course you can still do this using the phone or the post office; see details in the box below.

The second page is called Rants, and is an archive of all 46 Publisher's Rants printed to date. Some of those which had been edited for length have been restored to their full blather, and some additional writings may appear here as well. Eventually I will add links wherever appropriate, so that if you're reading about the anti-hunger group Results, you can click away for further info.

The third page is devoted to my cartoon US History Backwards, the only feature I don't need permission to publish. I've created about 180 of these nonfiction cartoon panels since 1991, and they will all show up here along with footnotes, linked to sources where possible. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, this page will change every week; we're starting out this week with #1.

The fourth page features excerpts from each of my four Books, and will be rotated monthly. It currently hosts a chunk of Take the Rich Off Welfare. If you think you've heard enough about that, next month will feature parts of my hand-printed 1989 book, The Nixon Saga: A Pathography in Twelve Parts, followed by some of The CIA's Greatest Hits (Odonian Press, 1994), and then a preview of the upcoming Bi Men's Lives: Bisexual Men Speak Out (See Sharp Press, 1997). Eventually there will be links to further information on these topics, as well as to other books from the publishers who so graciously made these books possible.

Next is the page that most of you will like best, especially those who have already stopped reading this and skipped ahead to the cartoons. The Toons page has links to all of my cartoon features except Maxine! (I'd tell you how to contact Marian Henley to complain about this, but she doesn't have any damn e-mail address either). Eventually I'll include bios and links to some of the editorial cartoonists as well.

Another page archives the Columns which have started appearing in the Comic News, on bicycles, food, music and green politics. Today you can find one music review and one bicycle column which couldn't fit into the print edition.

Next is the Letters page, which allows readers to send me hate e-mail (though no one's figured out a way to e-mail popsicle sticks or toothpicks). I will archive the most interesting missives, along with my replies, if necessary.

Then comes the page through which flows the lifeblood of this paper, the Ad Rates page. As always, let me beg you to support our advertisers, and let them know when you do; this paper wouldn't exist without them. And if you'd like to market to the educated and prosperous Comic News audience, you can find out how to do so on that page. But let me just say this: classifieds are five bucks, display ads start at $24, full pages only $165. Buy an ad today!

Finally, we come to the Links page, which I'll be putting the finishing touches on tonight, after I get this damn paper to the printers. This page will take you to all of my favorite places on the World Wide Web; to activist groups both local and global, to cartoonists and musicians I love, to pages on vegetarianism, green politics, bicycling, and the digital editions of some of the finest magazines around. So once you're done soaking up info on the Comic News, you can begin your excellent cyberspace adventure.

Okay, enough shameless self-promotion (hey, I'm just trying to make a living here). In any case, if you previously were lacking a reason to buy a computer, you have one now. Stop by and see us when you're online, and tell me what you think. What I think is, we've got one of the most powerful tools ever invented for art, activism and commerce. Now let's not screw it up.

PS: Many many thanks to my Web wizard Tracy. You can contact her at twinkle@primenet.com

Comic News Sponsors Online

Now that the Comic News is online, we thought it'd be timely to visit some of the Websites run by our longterm advertisers and give you a brief rundown. This is by no means a comprehensive list, and be warned, this is basically just one big ad. Not that this month's Rant wasn't, but hey, we gotta pay the bills....

The Coyote Wore Sideburns (http://azstarnet.com/~thecoy) maintains a colorful and whimsical Website. There are three main areas, focussing on the services offered at the hippest haircutters in town, the products they have available for purchase, and their lovable staff. There is an FAQ (frequently asked questions) file, some goofy photos, and an archive of some of Signe's coyote cartoon ads, many of which have appeared in these very pages.

Fair Wheel Bikes (http://www.cardiowest.org/~fairwheel/) keeps a site which gives a brief description of the store and its location, and discusses their formidable racing team as well as the morning rides they sponsor. They also maintain links to a half dozen or so bicycle manufacturers whose wares they carry.

Arizona Bookstore (http://desert.net/azbook/) has a pretty slick-looking site for themselves. Not only do they carry book recommendations by staff members Mark and Lia, but they offer a wide range of information on Tucson and the U of A, for newcomers to the area. Of course they also discuss their exemplary services as well.

Kennedy Enterprises (http://www.azstarnet.com/~john_k/), run by honest mechanic John P. Kennedy, offers a capsule bio of the man and his times. He describes his training and qualifications, and links up to some casual portraits of himself. John also discusses his beloved Karmann Ghia for your edification.

Wise Up Reaction Wear (http://wise-up.com) brings us the International Marijuana Conspiracy Museum, which details the sordid history of cannabis prohibition as well as the many industrial uses of the hemp plant. The site features some cute little animated icons, as well as their mission statement opposing drug war lunacy.

The Food Conspiracy Co-op (http://www.azstarnet.com/~roboser/food.html) has an extensive site with a plethora of information about the co-op movement in general, the history of the Food Conspiracy Co-op, the board and staff of the establishment, and articles from their informative newsletter.

That's all for now, but you know the drill. After you check out these sites, be sure and tell them you heard about it in the Comic News.