Why make webComics?

[That guy]

A I mentioned in an old thread, I'm doing a formal paper on Webcomics for a senior Folk Art course and I need some opinions, concepts, quotes, examples from YOU, the experts on the subject. So, if you're feeling helpful, I've got a few specific questions - or if you're VERY interested, you can eMail me for a more detailed discussion. (I've started this same thread on ComixPedia's Webcomic Theory forum.)

1) Why make webcomics?

2) Do you feel connected to a webcomic community? (why/why not?)

3) Do webcomics reflect in some way upon this community?

4) In what ways do webcomics bring people together?

5) What traditions do authors draw upon, and have webcomics developed any of their own, unique traditions?

5) Webcomics: "High" art or "Folk" art? Explain.

ALSO: Any links you have to "group pics" of your webcomic community (Like THISnice one, by Bob), if you are willing to let me, I would LOVE to compile some for my paper.

THANKS!

[Prettysenshi]

1) Why make webcomics?

Freedom of creativity and publication of my work without all the hassle. Plus, it's a nice hobby of mine.

2) Do you feel connected to a webcomic community? (why/why not?)

Very much so, however, I feel the webcomic community is divided into several smaller communities. Like CG and DD for instance. We're all for one, and one for all, but in groups.

3) Do webcomics reflect in some way upon this community?

....I don't get it. Sorry!

4) In what ways do webcomics bring people together?

We get critique from people who do what we do. We support one another.

5) What traditions do authors draw upon, and have webcomics developed any of their own, unique traditions?

I don't get the first question. Traditions in the webcomic community would to tease l33t people. For some reason, we hate people like that.

5) Webcomics: "High" art or "Folk" art? Explain.

I don't know what either means, sorry. So I'll guess! Yay. Um...I'd say folk, b/c I don't think it's been around long enough to be "high" art. Give us 10 more years, and come back to me.

[Yeahduff]

1) Why make webcomics?
Because printing them out is too expensive on your own.

2) Do you feel connected to a webcomic community? (why/why not?)
I like talking to people at ComicGenesis and I feel accepted [here], but I feel more of a cartoonist than strictly a webcartoonist. My work is not very indicative of what webcomics are.

3) Do webcomics reflect in some way upon this community?
You'll have to clarify. I don't get it either.

4) In what ways do webcomics bring people together?
The use of the internet to publish comics makes it that much easier to contact cartoonists and there are hundreds of message boards for cartoonists to mingle.

5) What traditions do authors draw upon, and have webcomics developed any of their own, unique traditions?
I don't feel webcomics are old enough to have traditions. At this point, they have cliches.

5) Webcomics: "High" art or "Folk" art? Explain.
Webcartoonists are typically untrained amateurs making their work for their own sake. In this way it's more of a folk art.

[Wishmaster]

1) Why make webcomics?

Because I would be writing.drawing these stories anyway, and odds are the major print comics publishers wouldn't give them the time of the day. So as a tool for distributing my comics webcomics beats poorly photocopied rags handed out on the street corner.

2) Do you feel connected to a webcomic community? (why/why not?)

Not really. I have found that most webcomics communities, including this one, are cliquish and insular. If you aren't willing to participate in the mutual dick sucking and OMGHUGGLELOL behavior, you're pretty much on the outs from the get go.

3) Do webcomics reflect in some way upon this community?

I've noticed many jams featuring lots of self-referential jokes and starring the usual line up of attention whores. Beyond that I'm not sure what you mean. Those are the webcomics that most truly reflect this particular community.

4) In what ways do webcomics bring people together?

I'm not sure they do. I know I have made a few lasting friends through webcomicking, but for the most part the majority of webcomics indulge in predictable pop culture references (and I suppose the commonality of the pop culture experience brings people together, by showing how alike everyone is) and mean spirited, misanthropic humor that illustrates contempt for one's fellow man.

5) What traditions do authors draw upon, and have webcomics developed any of their own, unique traditions?

Webcomics seems as equally influenced by strip format newspaper comics as much if not moreso than traditional superhero print comics, which I think is a good thing. There is a strong influence of gamer culture on webcomics, which I'm pretty sure is a bad thing. As to unique traditions, monkeys, pirates, ninjas, etc. have all become so common as to be considered traditions, I guess.

5) Webcomics: "High" art or "Folk" art? Explain.

A little of both, but I'm leaning toward folk art. Not many webcomics strike me as very "high concept."

THANKS!

De nada.

[Shishio]

1) Why make webcomics?

There is not, of course, just one reason to do webcomics. Each person has their own reason(s). I do not have a webcomic up yet, but I am working on one, (Here's hoping I don't jinx it by saying that.) and my reason for doing so is I desire to practice and improve my writing.

2) Do you feel connected to a webcomic community? (why/why not?)

No. I just don't.

4) In what ways do webcomics bring people together?

Anything can bring people together. It's only natural for most people to socialize with others who have similar tastes, opinions, etc. For example, most if not all the members of Comic Genesis are people who are working on one or more webcomics. We are here because we enjoy making, reading, and discussing comics. We come together to share our passions, problems, successes, thoughts, experiences, etc.

The internet, which allows webcomics to exist, also allows fans of comics (Both in print and on the web.) to interact with creators like never before. They come together (Mostly.) to express their enjoyment of the work, and, because they have a common interest, will also interact with each other.

Another instance of webcomics bringing people together is the Penny Arcade Expo. I do not have a link handy, but I'm sure you can easily find out about it on their site.

In short, webcomics bring people together by the simple virtue of the fact that they exist and that people enjoy them.

5) What traditions do authors draw upon, and have webcomics developed any of their own, unique traditions?

I have not and do not read very many webcomics, but I would assume that there are comics that draw upon traditions, (Such as the tonnes of anime/manga inspired webcomics out there.) and comics that break new ground, especially since this is the internet, which has levelled the playing field for everyone and allows anything to be published.

5) Webcomics: "High" art or "Folk" art? Explain.

I dislike those terms. To me, art is art. Dividing something so subjective into high and low categories seems ignorant to me.

[Yeahduff]

Stuff.

Wanna get some beers? I'll buy.

[Pyros]

1) Why make webcomics?

My reason for this is actually very exact. Boy Meets Boy ended. Arcana ended. Sublunary ended. All the good gay-themed webcomics I used to read ended, quite brutally in the case of Sublunary. Therefore, I will simply make my own, and my promise is that I will not simply end it. I want it to come to a comclusion (like BmB) and have closure. The gay theme is something that is usually done badly (usually ends up as just sex, which bothers me a lot)

2) Do you feel connected to a webcomic community? (why/why not?)

Barely. I haven't really tried to get connected to the community and it hasn't really reached out to me. Partially because I don't want to for fear of rejection. <3

3) Do webcomics reflect in some way upon this community?

I don't think so. I think the comics are so very diverse that they only reflect on their own genre and artist. The community itself is so broad you can have anything from egos to people who won't give their real name (guilty >_>;;)

4) In what ways do webcomics bring people together?

The internet, and comics, allow complete freedom of speech. Forget political correctness and needing to please everyone, you can do whatever you bloody well please and it's up to you whether you care about what people have to say. That way people of like mind can come closer to gether and everyone can say what they really feel. The animonity of the internet allows comics, hoever creative, to have whatever message we want to say and people look for that.

5) What traditions do authors draw upon, and have webcomics developed any of their own, unique traditions?

Eep... I put so much thought into the last question I can barely think of what this question means. I think I need to sleep...

6) Webcomics: "High" art or "Folk" art? Explain.

I'd go more in the direction of folky, as it doesn't get the publicity and publication that other comics get. It's more homely and more creative.

Hope this helped...

[Nicked]

1) Why make webcomics?
Cheap, easy, and not risky to publish. I'm sure there are a lot of reasons-- to share inside jokes with your friends probably shouldn't be one of them. I do it mostly for practice and to accomplish something.

2) Do you feel connected to a webcomic community? (why/why not?)
Sorta, I drift in and out of here, but intelligent-fun conversations ensue when I visit.

3) Do webcomics reflect in some way upon this community?
Buh.

4) In what ways do webcomics bring people together?
Comics in some ways reveal the author-artist. Graphic-narratives are just about the closest thing to display the original intent/thought of the person--granted the author also draws the comic (with some degrees of separation, depending on how competently an artist's ability may be). Reading some one else's work? Good way to get to know people. I might've stolen that from Wonderboys.

5) What traditions do authors draw upon, and have webcomics developed any of their own, unique traditions?
I don't know about traditions, though I see a lot of cliches.

5) Webcomics: "High" art or "Folk" art? Explain.
On one hand, Folk Art-- it's available for everybody to read and for everybody to make.
On the other, High-- stuff like FAUB that refuses to rise above the underground, even though it could make quite the amount of money. It's something that I would pay money for, but is offered to me for free. Hardcore.

[Joel Fagin]

1) Why make webcomics?

Technically I'm actually not at the moment, but...

I have a drive to create and to tell stories. I also like to feel appreciated, to have fans. It's a strong motivational force that keeps me going. Webcomics are a good place for that.

2) Do you feel connected to a webcomic community? (why/why not?)

Yes and no. I feel connected to the Comic Genesis community which is busier and more active than anywhere else and so probably counts for a lot, but outside of that? No.

3) Do webcomics reflect in some way upon this community?

I'm not sure I understand the question, actually, but my first response would be "Of course. How can the comics not affect a community of comic writers?"

4) In what ways do webcomics bring people together?

As with anything, the fans congregate and so do the creators themselves. It's perfectly natural and occurrs in any field.

However, that these are web comics which definitly helps. The web is one big forum of like minds operating on pure word of mouth.

5) What traditions do authors draw upon, and have webcomics developed any of their own, unique traditions?

The "hiatus" is a tradition, I'm sure. As are guest strips, webcomics awareness day and so on.

The core of what webcomics are draw from one of two sources - either manga or gag comics. The manga comics haven't evolved much online but the gag comics have expanded every which way, sucking in a large number of (mostly geek related) genres.

The disappointing thing about the manga comics is that, unlike gag comics, they are not suited to page-by-page updates, particularly since manga uses different rules and can, for example, spend a page setting a scene. If that was the update for the week, then the story hasn't moved.

And yet I'm only aware of one mangaish comic which updates in batches of pages.

5) Webcomics: "High" art or "Folk" art? Explain.

Can be either but definitly tend towards the latter. Although there's some intelligent stuff around, there's precious little actual literature in webcomics. Literature is simply not popular enough for a medium which only pays in the appreciation of the fans.

- Joel Fagin

[TheSuburbanLetdown]

1) Why make webcomics?
It's a way to get things out of my head put it on paper. Plus it helps improve my ilustration skills which is handy to have as a graphic designer.

2) Do you feel connected to a webcomic community? (why/why not?)
Sorta. I like posting here and it's fun sometimes. But much of the time it ends up pissing me off and making me more disgruntled. But I just ignore the posts of the people I hate, so it's gotten better.

3) Do webcomics reflect in some way upon this community?
I don't understand this question.

4) In what ways do webcomics bring people together?
Webcomics are often personal to who's making them, so they tend to attract like-minded people.

5) What traditions do authors draw upon, and have webcomics developed any of their own, unique traditions?Starting a comic because one is bored. Another tradition is to make no effort to learn to do things properly, and pass it off as "stylized." I don't know if this really answers the question, but oh well.

5) Webcomics: "High" art or "Folk" art? Explain.
Folk art. Most are untrained and kind of wing it. It leads to some nice results sometimes, but usually not. Some comics are pretty good and be considered high art, but you gotta search hard for that nice shiney pebble in a gigantic quary filled with shitty rocks.

[Anywherebuthere]

Personally, I do it to reel in the girls.


OHHHH YEAH!




:sigh: lonely, so so lonely.

[That guy]

Thanks for all the feedback so far!

anywherebuthere, maybe too honest.

[Rocknjosie]

1) Why make webcomics?
Because I'm just starting to draw seriously and I can't ever see good enough for the UPI from where I'm standing. So I get to post my attempts at art, have people read them, gains fans, get feedback, the benefits are many.
2) Do you feel connected to a webcomic community? (why/why not?)
Not really, although I fluctuate. I'm not willing to do the silly, playful, look at me look at me stuff online because it just seems a rediculous place to do it. But I do enjoy engaging in a serious discussion now and then, because living in the community I do, I don't often get to see people arguing the other side of issues. And yeah, it's hard to force a community of strangers who can't see you to give a damn.
3) Do webcomics reflect in some way upon this community?
In so much that we give each other advice and criticism. But I've never wanted my comic to look like a webcomic.
4) In what ways do webcomics bring people together?
As with any underground medium, it's a sanctuary for those who have been forced underground. With comics as the medium of exchange, an ostracised kid in the Dakotas and an ostracised kid in the Carolinas, or along the St. Lawrence River, or in California, can find each other.
5) What traditions do authors draw upon, and have webcomics developed any of their own, unique traditions?
Depends on the author. Anything comic from throughout history is bound to influence someone drawing today.
5) Webcomics: "High" art or "Folk" art? Explain.
Folk Art. But only because high art is a category invented by elitests to give them something to be proud of.

[Bustertheclown]

1) Why make webcomics? Frankly, they're the cheapest way to publish. However, I'm most closely identified with print comics, black and white indies, specifically. Still, I recognize that webcomics have their place and their value. Plus, given the very new format that technology has provided comics, the experimental quality of webcomics is very intriguing, and very fun to observe.

2) Do you feel connected to a webcomic community? (why/why not?) Comic Genisis. The CG forum is, frankly, the only comic community that I currently belong to, and feel any connection to in any way, beyond my small circle of cartoonist friends.

3) Do webcomics reflect in some way upon this community? I don't know.

4) In what ways do webcomics bring people together? There's the outlaw aspect of it. Like I stated above, there's an experimental quality to webcomics, which I don't believe has been present in comics in general since the self-publishing and indy movement really settled a decade ago. Comics have always had their share of fringe creators, trying to reform the art, and expanding it beyond existing paradigms. Right now, webcomics have that air about them, and with that air, tent cities of disenfranchised creative spirits begin to sprout up and evolve.

5) What traditions do authors draw upon, and have webcomics developed any of their own, unique traditions? I think that the web aspect of the artform is too new to really identify anything that could be described as "traditional". Much of what webcomics are about right now is taking advantage of the cheap/free distribution aspect of computer technology in a way that discards old methods. Since you don't pay for mistakes with more than time, people don't mind trying new things. People who wouldn't otherwise have gotten into creating comics are now doing so. It's a frontier, and tradition has no place on the frontier. Perhaps in ten or 20 years, when great successes have truly been identified, studied, and emulated, and great failures have truly been identified, studied, and discarded, there will be more traditional qualities to webcomics.

5) Webcomics: "High" art or "Folk" art? Explain. Folk art, in the truest sense of the word. This is not a studied artform. This is rarely a professional artform. Anyone can do it, and most often, anyone can or will do it. Even the biggest current stars of webcomicdom blundered into it as a hobby, much like painting flower pots. Only quite recently have we seen the inklings of establishment taking hold. As this initial rush wears itself down, it may become less "folk", and more industrial or scholastic. However, as it stands now, it's still a creative outlet as common as dirt.

[Mo]

1) Why make webcomics?
It's an easily accessable creative outlet that can get you helpful feedback and an audience without too much trouble or costs. Most of all I'm seeing it as a way for me to experiment with techniques and styles, improve my art and writing, but ultimately it's just a hobby and my goal (hope) is to live off illustrations (mainly) and/or comics (haha, doubtfully yeah). I'm estimating that I'll probably give up on webcomicking within the next 2 years, either because I find fulfilling creative work that actually pays bills in that time span, or if that's not the case, I'll probably give up and move on to do something else with my life. Who knows. I don't see it as a "lifestyle".

2) Do you feel connected to a webcomic community? (why/why not?)
Yes and no. I have found a few pals on Comic Genesis and I feel generally accepted, but like in all other aspects of my life, I don't really feel like I'm part of the crowd. (No matter what my postcount and jam activities say. =P) I guess it's because my view on various serious and important aspects of life differ from what's most "common" in the webcomic community. But I found that this isn't really a problem when I'm just here for fun and art, not for political / religious / etc discussions. Got plenty of that in real life.
But I like getting constructive feedback and having the chance to exchange tips on techniques and learn from others, stuff like that. I also find a lot of inspiration here. So being part of the network does have its rewards.

3) Do webcomics reflect in some way upon this community?
Not sure how to read that.

4) In what ways do webcomics bring people together?
Well, there's the contact a webcomic author can obtain with his/her readers, which is awesome (I heard). Other than that, like with any other hobbies, we enjoy hanging around people who have the same interests, that's why there is a whole bunch of active forums and chatrooms for those who make/read webcomics. It depends on your definition of "bringing people together" though. Most of the social interactions that have to do with webcomics are quite superficial. But there are exceptions.

5) What traditions do authors draw upon, and have webcomics developed any of their own, unique traditions?
What Yeahduff said - I really don't think we can speak of webcomics traditions yet. There are cliches, trends and reoccurring events, but webcomics are all in all really young, and too much has happened in a short period of time to speak of "traditions", imho.

5) Webcomics: "High" art or "Folk" art? Explain.
I'm not sure how you Americans interpret both terms, but I guess I would say it's more folk art than high art because most webcomickers are amateurs.

Hope that was helpful.

[Blackaby]

1) Why make webcomics?

It's easier than writing.

2) Do you feel connected to a webcomic community? (why/why not?)

Well, not exactly the community, but definitely a few people I've met through it.

3) Do webcomics reflect in some way upon this community?

That question makes shit all sense, dude.

4) In what ways do webcomics bring people together?

Forums, conventions, other geeky things.

5) What traditions do authors draw upon, and have webcomics developed any of their own, unique traditions?

Comic book traditions. And yes they have.

5) Webcomics: "High" art or "Folk" art? Explain.

Depends on the comic.

[Anywherebuthere]

Thanks for all the feedback so far!

anywherebuthere, maybe too honest.

I know...honesty is the best policy.

[Mage]

1) Why make webcomics?
because you enjoy it, creating webcomic's shouldn't be a chore it's a hobby that you enjoy and something you do because you like to share it with the world.

2) Do you feel connected to a webcomic community? (why/why not?)
to a cirtain degree yes. i know i can talk to any of the people within my webcomic community as they tend to be nice people. there are a few web comic communties which arn't so nice. but most are and it is sometimes nice to just sit around and tlak to them.

3) Do webcomics reflect in some way upon this community?
i beleive so. much that we see in the media is expressed in web comics. they are a tool to bring a mass of attention on a cirtain subject. if there is something one person dosn't agree on or is concerned about they can do a comic themed on it and then someone else could read it and do anouther one. it's a way to bring a message across the net. after all l33t didn't become popular until a webcomic started using it often. sprite comic's didn't exist before bob and george and 8-bit. web comics are an effective way to reach the community, they can change and reflect the community itself.

4) In what ways do webcomics bring people together?
comic cons? forums? chat? msn? it brings some wild obsessed people together who like one thing so they can talk about the same thing. good or bad? who knows?

5) What traditions do authors draw upon, and have webcomics developed any of their own, unique traditions?
there are the repetive jokes which appear on and off. if one webcomic uses a joke then anouther often tends to copy. many like to cover the chiche or traditional story ruit. for example a gameing comic will often feature two males playing computer games or reccuring characters appearing in the games themselves. and a fantasy comic will have the heros always winning at the end with some really bad villain who everyone makes fun of and hates.

5) Webcomics: "High" art or "Folk" art? Explain.
depends of the artist and the genre of the comic. different comics fall into different sectors.

[Webkilla]

1) Why make webcomics?
Cuzz I think its fun and I get to draw naughty stuff

2) Do you feel connected to a webcomic community? (why/why not?)
I am pretty lively at the Jack (a webcomic) forum... and I've posting here more and more as of late

3) Do webcomics reflect in some way upon this community?
uhm... we wouldn't be here if not for webcomics

4) In what ways do webcomics bring people together?
well, there's this forum... and the others ones for the other webcomics

5) What traditions do authors draw upon, and have webcomics developed any of their own, unique traditions?
One word: WINTEREENMAS - and of course, it was the webcomic Sexy Losers which coined the sound effect 'fap' which is now used almost everywhere for when male characters masturbate

5) Webcomics: "High" art or "Folk" art? Explain.
My art - and that goes for all webcartoonists. There is NO standard of art style and/or quality for webcomics. You can't even weigh quantity or quality, because some webcomics with a supposedly 'low quality' make that into their unique style which fits perfectly with how those webcomics are done

[Dutch!]

1) Why make webcomics?

2) Do you feel connected to a webcomic community? (why/why not?)

3) Do webcomics reflect in some way upon this community?

4) In what ways do webcomics bring people together?

5) What traditions do authors draw upon, and have webcomics developed any of their own, unique traditions?

5) Webcomics: "High" art or "Folk" art? Explain.

Take this as you see it, Will. It may not be what you're expecting, but it's the way I look at it all.

1. They're a good way to get boys to read. My kids are starting to use proper Australian terms in their speech instead of (generally) American imports. They are useful as a teaching tool for sequencing, narrative, quotation marks and paragraphing. It lets you portray the world (or at least a part of it) if not the way it is, or the way it was, but perhaps the way it should be.

2. I suppose I can say yes here. This forum I've hung around in for nearly two years now although I usually steer clear of many of the various topics like you don't patronise all of the shops on the main street. As a community though...well...put it this way. It wouldn't bother me if someone wanted to pull down a specific forum...but I'd get my back up if someone wanted to pull down the local community hall. That's the difference between a place like CG and a real living community.

3. Of course they do. Others have answered this question with much my own thoughts, so I'll leave it at that.

4. A little story you draw out in front of the telly watching the cricket goes up on the screen and is read by someone who looks forward to it on the other side of the world in a country that's never heard of the sport. It's a much better way to become aware of people around the world instead of seeing them purely on the news shooting each other.

5. Traditions? The missed update...the hiatus...the begging for guest art when time is tight...geek humour...gamer humour...two friends in a flat...talking/mutated animal mascots...I may have just realised why my work is not attracting large crowds...I haven't followed any of these traditions yet...

6. Folk Art. It's created by the people for the people whoever those people may be. Personally, I would only ever consider my own work folk art at best. That's not to disparage high art, it's only that it is folklore that interests me more, and it's what I aim to bring into my own work. Some webcomics may bridge the divide between both. I'll use the poetry of Banjo Paterson as an example...arguably the greatest written poem in the Australian language is The Man From Snowy River...which is undoubtedly etched deeply into our folklore as well. Primarily though, webcomics are folk art.

Remember though...folk are queer.

Cheers.