This is old news, but here is, for instance, Rich Stevens, whose Webcomic Diesel Sweeties was a United Media launch, and why he decided, after a couple of years, to end his relationship with the syndicate (full interview here):
"'I did my taxes. I realized that I made less money than the last year that I wasn’t syndicated. It’s a hard business and it takes years and years to build up a client list and get paid. I just kinda thought to myself that I spent years and years learning how to make money off the Internet. Why should I continue to injure myself, when I could just do what I’m good at?'"
Strawberry Comics creator Gina Biggs on why she left Dark Horse to return to self-publishing:
Joey has a lot of interesting points, and, yeah, we all really don't know. But, in America, we are all entitled to our uninformed opinion."'This means they [her RED STRING series] will only be available through the website and at conventions, but it also means that I will see more of the profit from these books which could be very beneficial to someone striving to make a living through art and webcomics'"
Any time you (an independent cartoonist) get involved with a third party -- a syndicate, a publishing house -- that third party wants in on a piece of the action. Sure, this big company may have a crack publicity crew, sales staff, etc., but the deal is they want THEIR hand in YOUR pocket, in addition (let me pile on another metaphor) to being in the driver's seat. Your work will be referred to as "product." It's part of "their stable." It can be an upsetting experience.
It can be the road to great recognition and reward as well.
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