Are online comics the way of the future?

Internet comics, online comics, or web comics can be referred to as comics that are published exclusively on and for websites. This provides easy access for a wide range of readers who can access from anywhere in the world. Some of these comics are published through newspapers and books, but have a ‘Web Archive’ maintained. For now, web comics are nothing but ‘Self-published Print Comics’. In the case of web comics just about anyone can author his/her own web comic, along with getting it published. The present scenario is such that around 18000 comics exist online, right from conventional cartoon strips to graphic novels. An incredible array of topics, subjects, and genres are being covered via online comics. However, very few among them have been monetarily self-sustaining to date.

Medium

There are numerous differences between traditional printed comics and online comics. With the latter ones, formal restrictions pertaining to conventional magazine or newspaper format can be easily lifted, and artists can take complete advantage of the unique capabilities of the web. Scott McCloud, who holds the credit for being amongst one of the first to have advocated online comics, has led the way towards the idea of the ‘Infinite canvas’, wherein instead of being restricted to usual print dimensions, freedom is provided to artists in terms of spreading out in all directions.

Mixture

Other comic authors, like Mark Fiore, along with flash-based editorial caricatures, have been known to experiment by way of incorporation of animation and interactivity. Yet, many online comics are known for taking conventional forms. Tatsuya Ishida’s Sinfest and PvP by Scott Kurtz, tend to appear similar from the point of view of style but of course differing in delivery. This similarity is with respect to strips of black-and-white comics. Such a gag-a-day format would allow for faster and more recurrent updates, thereby potentially permitting any of the artists to build up a large audience quickly.

Other online comics are presented almost in the same identical way as conventional comic books, graphic novels, and manga. These types of comics, like Mega Tokyo by Fred Gallagher, and American Born Chinese by Gene Yang, come in the form of a page instead of the strip. They also go on for focusing more on the story as compared to gags. A number of self-published comics, like Finder by Carla Speed McNeil and Girl genius by Kaja and Phil Foglio have discontinued with the publication of print comics on an individual basis and rather have their content serialized in the form of online comics. This is an effort to reach out to a bigger audience.

Utterly modern

Certain online comic artists go a step further. They publish comics which don’t make use of conventional artwork. For instance- Sprite comics make use of copied as well as pasted sprites of video games for characters. Identically, certain online comics get created by making use of photo-comics or fumetti, found art, and clip art. A Softer World by Emily Horne and Joey Comeau, for instance, has been made with the help of photography that has been overlaid with strips of text resembling those from a typewriter. Artistic expression here, i.e. in ready-made comics like these is funneled basically in to writing.

Certain artists, like Dinosaur Comics’ Ryan North make comics with almost all the daily strips bearing the same art with regard to tradition of constrained comics. The only change is in text. Pixel art, like the one created by Diesel Sweeties’ Richard Stevens, is the same as that of the sprite comics. However, it makes use of original low-resolution shots captured by the artist. Experimentation is also being done with three dimensional art as far as online comics are concerned. The most noteworthy are the ones which make use of models and figures by utilizing poser, a three dimension rendering program.

Online comics that are published on an independent basis aren’t subject to restrictions regarding content from comic syndicates or publishers. These comics, in fact, go on with the enjoyment of artistic freedom, just like alternative and underground comics. Certain web comics stretch the boundaries of taste, thereby taking advantage of the fact that internet censorship has been virtually been nonexistent. Content of online comics are likely the cause of some problems, like protest by Catholic League against ‘Blasphemous Treatment of Jesus’, that was created by Eric Millikin, the Fetus-X artist.

Something different

Online comics that are known for having built up noteworthy archives sometimes are able to proceed with publication. The ones in comic books’ or newspaper strip’ form are often published in their original format, whereas artists creating online comics with non-standard formats find getting published a bit tougher.

Community

The growth of online comics has resulted in the growth of various online communities in that are focused on the world of web comics. There are fan bases which promote various artists by making use of blogs and fan selections, forums, etc. Most of the artists are known for maintaining rapport with their fans. Artists themselves are also known for having communities created through exchanges of the links, emails, forum posts, along with art itself. This art would be expressed through guest cross-overs and filler strips. Online comic communities are also emerging through general online comic sites which go on with coverage via news, articles like Comixpedia, and blog Fleen. The sites making way for other services, for instance- Smack Jeeves, ToonsUp, Drunk Duck, Comic genesis, or buzzComix, have the tendency to aggregate communities as well.

Controversies

As usual with internet related trends, the online comic community is already surrounded by controversy. As certain online comics gain popularity, regardless of quality, flame wars are bound to ensue. This occurs particularly if one of the controversies involves a specifically popular online comic or/and artist. Most controversies of this kind are caused when online comic artists post text on their sites that are heavy on political or cultural opinion, be it news post or update of that day. Rivalries amongst various artists can also add fuel to the flames. A specific online comic’s fan base can also be the reason behind controversies.

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