The title really says it all. But since this is supposed to be a column and not just a title, I guess I should expound on this whole thing a bit.
HEROES was started back in April of 1999 (sweet jeebus) to provide a hub for writers of group oriented comic fanfiction. Archivists had a hub through CFAN, which also helped the groups but really didn't cater to their unique needs.
The core of group fanfiction is community within the group. It's required if you're all going to play in this big pot and essentially write one large story that is the group. But keeping within that group could be a bit insular and really stifle creativity, and at times the community of a group alone just isn't enough to keep folks going.
HEROES was created to bring these different groups together, give them all a central place to meet and interact and share ideas and stories and reviews and thoughts and really get juices flowing. In its eight years (holy crap, has it been eight years already?), HEROES has seen its up and downs and so has group fanfic in general, but it's continued because of the community.
Initially the magazine was the root, an attempt to really push some more thought, give a monthly sold dose of some great things that could help solidify the community. It relied on the community for content and readership, and when it was firing on all cylinders, it was hot. But sometimes it faltered and putzed out and people mourned its passing and got over it.
The mailing list still existed though, and while it may seem like more of a place to just make announcements, that is not its core reason for being, its "raison d'etre" to be all hoity-toity. The mailing list is really the core of the entire HEROES community. It's where everyone really comes together to talk shop. The list has helped create groups, kill groups, form stories and drive people to and from this medium. What started as a small group of fanficcers now measures up at 224 subscribers. 224 like-minded fans who love to write about characters they've read and enjoyed for years. 224 like-minded fans looking to read more of those stories crafted by their peers. 224 potential submitters to the HEROES magazine perhaps?
You see, HEROES has done pretty fine over the last eight years (gah, there's that "eight years" thing again ...I feel old) but the magazine -- that's where it's really at. The in depth interviews that get into the minds of the people who really stand out in this field, the thorough reviews that pick a story apart and really show how it rules and can help you yourself craft stories, the pieces that help you edit, help you design a site, help you be the very best at this you can be.
We've all got something to add to this tapestry. HEROES itself is a group site. It's one big story that everyone contributes to in their own way. Everyone brings something to the table and builds upon the community and story that makes what HEROES truly is. Whether you're a reader or a writer or an editor or a webmaster, we're all integral parts of what makes this community go, what makes each and every one of us continue to do what we do here.
When HEROES started, it listed all of five or six sites. Since then there have been ten times as many to come through here, some still around, others long gone, but that's a lot of stories, a lot of people, a lot of ideas and a hell of a lot of community. HEROES has outlived slumps, outlived flamewars, outlived the other side of fanfiction, the archives, all because of the community.
So now the community's rallying again. Some great people have stepped up to the plate and are giving this magazine thing another go. And my hat's off to them. As should be yours. And your pants too. Because that's part of being a community. Giving. Give unto HEROES.
Once again the magazine is here to help give this community a core, something to really think about and build off of and help make each of us better at what we do. And we all have something to contribute, something that we offer that we can share with the rest of the community.
We are all writers, we all have things we excel at in the craft. What can you share about that with others?
We are all editors, whether it be our own work or someone else's. What do you look for or see that you can help others keep an eye out for?
We are all readers, we all have something we enjoy out there, something that either entertains us or inspires us or really helps us hone our craft. Why not share with the rest of the world?
We are all fans, we all have something about comics or fanfiction that we enjoy, things that speak to us or infuriate us or really just keep us coming back for more. Is there something you want to share with the rest of the class?
We are all members of this community. Even if we're just here for the punch and pie. And while it's not BYOB, it's still something that really thrives most when we're all working together to help one another and improve what we're doing. Because we're all in this together and we all are looking to make ourselves better writers, readers and fans.
So welcome back to the new HEROES magazine, the resurgence of the HEROES community. Or, as I smartly titled this, the community of HEROES. Enjoy.
Jason Kenney
used to be somebody. Now he just pretends to be.