:Keenspot

The formation of Keenspot was triggered by the collapse of an earlier webcomic portal, Big Panda.{{Cite web|url=http://webcomicsreview.com/examiner/glossary.html|title=Glossary of Comics, Webcomics, and Digital Art Terms - Big Panda|publisher=WebComicsReview.com|access-date=September 25, 2008|archive-date=September 3, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080903122348/http://webcomicsreview.com/examiner/glossary.html|url-status=dead}}

Following the portal's creation in March 2000,{{cite web|url=http://www.princeton.edu/~rcgilles/charlesrozakisthesis.pdf|title=AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT THE BUSINESS VIABILITY OF WEBCOMICS|last=Rozakis|first=Charles|date=April 9, 2003|pages=7, 8|access-date=June 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050223101410/http://www.princeton.edu/~rcgilles/charlesrozakisthesis.pdf|archive-date=February 23, 2005}} Keenspot was serving over 23 million page views monthly by February 2001 and had 47 cartoonists.[http://www.keenspot.com/pressbox/pressbox-2000-2002.html Keenspot Press box] Dave Astor, Editor & Publisher, 2001-02-26, "more than 23 million page views a month. It showcases the work of 47 cartoonists who aren't in traditional print syndication" Also in June 2000 they had launched the free comics web hosting service Keenspace{{cite book|last=Laporte|first=Leo|author-link=Leo Laporte|title=Leo Laportes 2003 Technology Almanac|date=May 25, 2006|publisher=Pearson Education, Limited|isbn=0789728478|page=323}}{{cite book|last=Brad|first=J. Guigar|title=The Everything Cartooning Book: Create Unique And Inspired Cartoons For Fun And Profit|date=November 4, 2004|publisher=Everything Books|isbn=1593371454|page=263}}{{cite book|last=Lopes|first=Paul Douglas|title=Demanding Respect: The Evolution of the American Comic Book|url=https://archive.org/details/demandingrespect00lope|url-access=limited|date=May 28, 2009|publisher=Temple University Press|quote=first successful long-running open host-site was Keenspace ... launched in 2000|isbn=978-1592134434|page=[https://archive.org/details/demandingrespect00lope/page/n245 219]}} (later renamed Comic Genesis{{cite book|last1=Hills|first1=Doug|last2=Rhodes|first2=Michael|title=Manga Studio For Dummies|url=https://archive.org/details/mangastudiofordu00hill_362|url-access=limited|year=2008|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=978-0470129869|page=[https://archive.org/details/mangastudiofordu00hill_362/page/n345 333]}}). In 2001 Keenspot launched its own printed comic book line and launched graphic novel collections in 2002 both at San Diego Comic-Con. By August in 2002, Keenspot opened a retail store, selling brandname toys and comics; Keenspot had 50 million views monthly and 600 paying members – who can read the comics without ads – and had published 26 titles.[http://www.keenspot.com/pressbox/pressbox-2000-2002.html Keenspot Press release / KEENSPOT ENTERTAINMENT OPENS OFFLINE RETAIL STORE], August 10, 2002

Keenspot gross revenues grew from $103,976 in 2002 to $188,475 in 2003 with the number of pageviews largely unchanged from mid-2001.[http://www.keenspot.com/pressbox KEENSPOT ANNOUNCES 2003 REVENUES INCREASED 81.2% OVER 2002], March 15, 2004 {{As of|2007|10}} it claimed to be home to more than 50 comics covering several genres and artistic styles.[http://www.keenspot.com/ Keenspot]: "Keenspot is the largest publisher of exclusive webcomics! Founded in February 2000, we are now the home to over 50 comics, and the list keeps growing."

In 2008, Bleuel and Stone sold their 50% stake in Keenspot to Crosby Comics, leaving Chris and Teri Crosby as the sole owners. Daniel "Dan" Shive, writer-illustrator of the Keenspot webcomic/webtoon series EGS, was named Chief Technical Officer (CTO).{{cite web|title=Crosbys Buy Out Other Half Of Keenspot|url=http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/briefings/blog_monthly/2008/02/|website=Comics Reporter|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513181933/http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/briefings/blog_monthly/2008/02/|archive-date=May 13, 2008|date=February 28, 2008}}

As of September 2017 the site hosts 57 comics, of which eight are described as "updating with new comics regularly" and the rest of which are "completed or update infrequently".

One of Keenspot's most notable traits is that it has been a starting point and steadfast supporter of many successful webcartoonists over the years. More than a dozen comics originally and currently hosted at Keenspot have branched out to become substantial full-time jobs for their creators.{{Citation needed|date=November 2019}}

The company says that it keeps exclusive web publishing rights to its comics, including archives, but that other rights are left with the creators. Side projects, particularly merchandising deals, are covered separately. Keenspot Entertainment is based in Cresbard, South Dakota.

The majority of titles published by Keenspot have been distributed to comic book stores worldwide by Diamond Comic Distributors. Keenspot has also launched two podcasts, a cartoon podcast, called Keentoons Video Podcast Network and an audio podcast called Keencast. Until 2006, Keenspot published the Keenspot Comics Page in collaboration with the Turlock Journal and several other small newspapers.{{Citation needed|date=August 2021}}

• {{annotated link|Sluggy Freelance}}

{{reflist|30em}}

• [http://www.keenspot.com/ Keenspot] (homepage)
• [http://www.comicgenesis.com/ Comic Genesis] (formerly Keenspace)
• [http://www.keentoons.com/ Keentoons] (animation division)
• [http://www.keenswag.com/home.php Keenswag] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061126153629/http://www.keenswag.com/home.php |date=November 26, 2006 }} (print volumes/collections and misc. items from their hosted comics)
• [http://www.keenspot.com/pressbox Keenspot Pressbox] (incomplete collection of major newspaper and magazine articles about or featuring Keenspot, includes Daily Variety, Editor & Publisher, Comics Buyers Guide, etc.)

{{Keenspot}}

Category:Internet properties established in 2000

Category:Comic book publishing companies of the United States

Category:Webcomic publishing companies

Category:Webtoon publishing companies