Websnark
Though continuing to do role playing game development over the next several years, and flirting with a LiveJournal that was less an outlet for essays and more a traditional personal diary, Burns didn't really return to significant essay writing or criticism until 2004 and his launching of Websnark. Originally meant to be the frivolous journal with a renewed "Some Days in the Life" acting as his serious essay blog, Websnark swiftly built an audience that ultimately reached the mid five figures daily. Utilizing a conversational style with a heavy emphasis on Webcomics, Burns was seen at least initially as a more approachable alternative to more traditional critics in outlets like Comixpedia and The Webcomics Examiner. Any potential acrimony between these different approaches was swiftly mitigated, however, and Burns became a regular Comixpedia columnist as well as a contributor to the Examiner.
Though referring to his critiques as snarks, Burns typically eschews the snide and sarcastic tone that the word implies, most typically focusing on positive examples and developments in the webcomics world. Websnark is also an outlet for commentary on philosophy and popular culture, though webcomics remains what the site is known for. Of particular interest is Burns's use of literary criticism instead of art criticism as the basis of his critiques. Burns avoids directly criticizing art, in part because of his own lack of drawing ability. (A fact clearly underscored by his first webcomic, Unfettered by Talent, which Burns drew himself.) It seems more likely, however, that Burns's background and training in literary criticism informs his technique. Burns has employed New Criticism, Myth Criticism, and Historicism at different times, clearly enjoying literary theory for its own sake. When pressed, Burns identifies himself as a New Critic, though he is not known for close reading the works he is critiquing.
Burns also has archivist tendencies. Once a proponent of using Wikipedia itself as a tool for centralizing information about webcomics, Burns ultimately suggested the creation of Comixpedia's Webcomics Wiki, though others have done most of the work on the Webcomics Wiki since then.
In 2005, Burns took on Wednesday White as a partner at Websnark, and also began merchandising the site in minor ways. He also traded on the notoriety Websnark afforded him by putting out an open call for an artist to collaborate on a new webcomic (having decided against trying to draw it himself). Greg Holkan, the artist of Nemesis, came on board and the pair launched Gossamer Commons on March 21, 2005. It ended, unfinished, in April 2006. Also in 2005, Burns launched an unchanging artwork gag-a-day photo comic, The Adventures of Brigadier General John Stark, about the hero of the Battle of Bennington. In December, Burns became an editor for the webcomics collective Modern Tales, working with their free website. He stepped down from that position in August, citing general overwork. In 2007, Burns created a website for his fiction work called Banter-Latte, which is currently updated several days a week.
Eric had gastric bypass surgery in March 2004, and has credited this with saving his life. Burns has suggested that he approached 500 pounds at his heaviest. As of August 2005, he had lost close to two hundred pounds.
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