Well thanks for your honest opinion. It's good to hear feedback from people who both like and dislike the website, and it is always helpful when the people who didn't like it actually explain why (like you did) instead of just saying "You suck!" and nothing more.

I could probably write a very long response to your review, but I'll try and keep it short. Homestarrunner was indeed my inspiration for starting FredtheMonkey.com. Before hand, Fred was only in comic form, and began in that way almost 10 years ago. Flash allowed me to take the characters to the next level, with voices and animation. I even give credit to the talented Chapman Bros. in my "Credit is Due" book on the site.

I'm sorry you feel the things I borrowed three years ago to begin the site spoil the whole experience. Many, many people love the Mailbags, so I will continue to do them even though I completely agree with you that it is obvious where the idea stems from. I think since its start, the Mailbags at FredtheMonkey.com have grown into a new and different experience. Some examples are that each one now flows into the next, almost as if it were a continuous story arc. Plus Sceb looks at real world things, like his DS and references to Back to the Future, Best Buy, Microsoft, etc.

I will never forget the things that inspired me to make Fred and the crew my daily work (work - even though I don't get paid to animate). But I feel (and hope) that with time the things I used to call on for inspiration and the actual cartoons I produce will drift further apart until one day someone else may be, as you called it, "a hack" for taking some of my original ideas. I personally think that's okay. It's one thing to rip off direct scenes and characters, but quite another to be inspired by someone else's artwork and style. Without people borrowing from what others have built we would not have many of the things we do today. How many of today's humorists, like the creators of South Park, for example, have said publically of their inspirations from the Monty Python crew? Yes, SP obviously differs graphically from the MP skits and movies, but if you examine the show closely you will see many familiar themes. Examples of this sort of thing are everywhere.

I suppose I did a pretty bad job of keeping this reply short like I said I'd try to do, but I will end with this: If I can generate laughter and smiles from people all over the world by borrowing themes or ideas from other places, and not harm those original places in the process, I think being occationally called a "hack" is well worth it. Because after all is said and done, all I really want to do is bring some joy to the world. (Boy gosh jeepers that sure sounds corny... Oh well!)
Thanks again for taking the time to leave such a well thought out review. I hope you'll keep watching the Fred cartoons and let me know if you find them original and funny in the future.