How Not To Do A Webcomic

It can't all be peaches and cream, readers, for all the good webcomics, there must also be those that are generally unredeeming in their quality, ones that are just bad.  There are some qualities that define a good webcomic, and from my experience on the web, I'll list them here for your convenience:

Must update at least two to three times a week, if not daily
Must have either an engaging storyline, or throw continuity to the wind
If they are drawn badly, they must at least have good writing
However, this does not work reverse all the time, if a comic is written badly,
then even excellent drawing can't help it
The term is webcomic,  not webdrama,  these are meant to entertain
the reader, not make them wallow in sadness.  If your comic is full of angst and despair,
don't expect many readers

Think about these guidelines when reading any new comic, readers, and see how it stacks up.

History? In my webcomic? Preposterous!

Who says that webcomics can't also educate while they entertain? Melding the two together until they become one. One such webcomic (the only one I know of) is Hark, A Vagrant, written and drawn by the marvelous Kate Beaton.  Most comics' topics have to do with videogames, life, or other mundane topics made funny by the inclusion of the absurd.  In HAV, Beaton uses history and classic literature turned on its head.  The most recent example, seen here: 

Not only is the comic very well drawn, but it also requires actual intelligence to read and understand.  Do you  think the average yuk on the street has even read Dracula?  I think not.  So if you're looking for a comic to stretch you're history muscles, look no further than Hark, A Vagrant.

Saturday Mornings! In Comic Form!

Alright, late night post, so here we go.  Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal is the comic we have for you guys today.  Written and drawn by Zach Weiner, SMBC is a daily color comic that can literally be about anything.  Weiner enjoys writing jokes in the from of graph, math, or literally any kind of random subject.  Similar to XKCD, he follows no continuity or storyline, eschewing them in favor for gems like this:

No rhyme, no reason, just humor at it's finest.  If you're looking for a comic to inject a little extra variety into your daily routine, look no further than SMBC.  In addition, there is always a secondary little comic available by hovering your cursor over the red button in the lower corner of the comic, as a little extra for frequent readers.   Only here will you find a perfect collection of dick jokes, graph jokes, and the smart kind of humour that leads to witticisms like this: 

The Marvelous Misadventures of Mr. Fish

Well, its that time of the week again, so here we go.  For your viewing pleasure today readers we have a criminally under read comic by the name The Punchline is Machismo, written and drawn by Kelly Turnbull, who is also one of the designers and animators for the show Ugly Americans.  This comic follows the life of Commander Badass, the leader of a sort of halfway house for all of the action videogame heroes; space marines, Kratos, Duke Nukuem, and many more grace the screen in this comic, and its all the better for it.  However, the character that really steals the show for me, and probably many readers, is Jared, the intern, and his pet Gyarados, Mr. Fish.  The story of Jared and Mr. Fish's origin is easily one of my favourite strips, seen here:

Quite simply, this is exquisite.  Well-drawn, hilarious, simply stunning.  The best thing is, the quality of the comics only go up from here.  Updating twice a week, Punchline is a great example of of how a comic doesn't need to update constantly or even be mainstream to be great.  That's the whole purpose of this blog, to show you guys the blogs that aren't mainstream, the ones that take some looking to find.  In closing, here is more Mr. Fish:

The Wonderful World of Wondermark

Today, readers we have a comic that might fly under quite a few of your radars, but given that at least two of
the comics I've told you about link to it, now is a good time to acquaint yourselves with it.  The name of the game today is Wondermark, written and "drawn" by David Malki.  The reason I say drawn is opposed to either a digital or analog method of drawing, Malki instead uses prints from Victorian era periodicals and pictures from his own collection of rare books, and adds contemporary dialog in order to create something unique and truly funny.  It's pretty difficult to explain, so here is a recent example:













Also, something worth mentioning now that I have shown more than a few choice comics is the fact that almost all webcartoonists know each other, keep in touch with each other, and help each other out, usually in the form of guest comics.  For example, in the following Dr, Mcninja, Chris Hastings consulted Malki for a memorable strip involving the bashing of the steampunk genre, seen here:

I'll be sure to show other collaborations and partnerships as we come to those comics, but until then, stay tuned!

Nightmare Fuel

There are some webcartoonists whose style and subject matter one may be able to call eclectic in what they choose to delight their readers with.  Randomness personified might be a good way to describe these particular comics, in that they just march to their own tune, unconcerned with how they stack up to anything else.  One such comic is Gunshow, written and drawn by K.C. Greene.  The comic follows no rhyme or reason, but just simply is.  It really can't be defined in any simple terms, and can't be really identified with any genres, because just when he starts to settle into a rhythm, he draws something so off the wall that it defines explanation.  Here is one of his more conventional comics, to show you where he sets the bar for weirdness.

However, my true reason for mentioning Gunshow tonight is one comic in particular, supposedly drawn from a nightmare Greene had, for all his readers to view.  The fact is, it's over two feet long if I posted it here, so check the link here.   However, be warned, it will stay with you for a while, so read at your own risk.  Also, if anyone has any perspective on what it all actually means, please, let me know, cause I haven't a damn clue. 

And Now for Something Completely Different

Hats.  We see them everyday, but do we really understand the hat, not merely as a head covering, but an extension of yourself?  In a way, once the hat becomes perched upon your head, does it not become a part of you, no less so then your arm or a leg?  The kind of hat one wears is extension of the personality of the hatwearer, whether or not he knows it.  Even in these modern times, one can wear the hats of olde to express themselves in a way that they feel mere clothes cannot offer.  If you feel your life needs a little pizazz, to spice up an otherwise dull day, simply pick up the nearest hat or hat shaped object, and be on your way.  That new feeling is the confidence you now have to face the day, with head bucket in place. And for your patience dear reader, here is a picture of Meowth wearing a Ditto as a hat:

Sitcomocity Ad Absurdum

Maybe one can gleam from the title of this post, but it is quite late, and as such, my brain is scrambling to put two words together, let alone cogent sentences capable of communicating thoughts to the readers of such text walls as mine.  My offering to the less informed of the internet today is as follows:  A slice of life comic that not only parallels the cartoonists actual life, but takes turns into the absolute absurd and back again, without even batting an eye, as if to say, "Oh that?  That was Tuesday."  This is a comic that blends the life of a grown up geek with such topics as orbital space stations, mech suits, and interdimensional Volvos.  Strangely enough, it works.  Maybe it's time I name this comic, which is Real Life, written and drawn by Greg Dean, and also one of the growing herd of comics to update every day, sans weekends.  Content usually follows the life of Greg and his wife Liz, as they live out their lives, dealing with drama such as design school, WOW guilds, and friends building interdimensional wormholes in space.  Here is a recent update, to get you in the swing of things:

 

Falling into the habit of showing how much a particular webcartoonist has progressed, here is this, dredged up from Sir Dean's archives:



Wow.  Ten years is a long time, huh?  This is understandable, seeing as Dean uses digital art to draw his comic, Illustrator I believe, but I'm not even sure that was around ten years ago, and if it was, then this is a record of how much further imaging technology has advanced in only ten years.

The bottom line is that if you have a few minutes each day, where you find yourself wondering what to do, why not wander through the Real Life archives?  It will surely be worth your while.

Ninjas, Gorillas, and Raptors, Oh My!

In the world of webcomics, there are certain genres that are followed, much like television.  We have drama, comedy, action, adventure, and everything in between.  However, there are certain comics that eschew the traditional labels, or are simply astoundingly good.  One fine example of this label is Dr. Mcninja, written and inked by Chris Hastings.  Dr. Mcninja is, as its title may suggest, about a ninja who also practices medicine, with his gorilla receptionist, Judy.  Either way, the comic, which updates three times a week, chronicles the good doctor's attempts to keep his town of Cumberland, Maryland safe from the likes of gangs, unicorn motorcycles, and ghost wizards.  For those who think I type in jest, there is this:

As you may be able to tell, dear reader, this is a rather old comic, but now, Dr. Mcninja is fully colored, and even crazier than this.  Have you ever wanted to see a dinosaur with a jetpack?  Well, here you go:

If I haven't been able to convince you that Dr.Mcninja is a thing you should be reading, either you are blind, or legally dead.  Either way, you are not the target audience, so good day to you.  Other, more interested readers will be directed to go here:  CLICK ME.

To Arms!

Well readers, now that we have gotten to know each other(as well as people can know each other, connected via nothing but miles of fiber optic cable), let's get to the meat of this particular internet rambling:  what webcomics are relevant to your interests and why.  To kick things off, lets start with a personal favorite of mine, a strip by the name of Questionable Content, written and drawn by the great Mr. Jeph Jacques.  Started in the summer of 2003 as a strip mainly focused on indy rock humour, QC has continually evolved until it is nigh unrecognizable from its original incarnation.  QC is unique among the webcomic world in not only does it update daily and without fail, each strip is a masterwork of colour and design, every detail showing that not only is this work a man's occupation, but his passion.  The basis of the comic is the interaction  between the large cast of characters, which provides not only humour, but also an almost soap opera like drama that draws you into the lives of the characters that Jacques has created.  Here is a recent strip that shows in pictures what I struggle to describe in words.

Hopefully this sample shows even a shred of what QC is about, but for those that remain unconvinced, feel free to visit the site, and maybe you'll see what a gem QC is among the rest of the drab internet.

Introductory Remarks

Well, hello there!  Perhaps you stumbled upon this particular text wall in error, or maybe one too many clicks of the "stumble" button brought you to my word lair.  It matters not, for you are here now, and you might as well pull up a chair (or rather, move one's chair closer, so as not to miss anything vital) and stay awhile, for here is an amalgamation of all things web and comic, and if we are lucky, perhaps the twain shall meet.  In short, if one feels slighted by the physical media's lack of leisurely entertainment, is it not right that one should seek out new outlets of entertainment, perhaps in the digital realm, where any and all things can be witnessed and written, for better or for worse (A prime example of a comic that should be put down behind a nice barn somewhere).  So stick around, and you may find that the comics aren't limited to what can be drawn on a section of dead mahogany seven days a week, and can instead be long running works of art, with all the depth and entertainment that newspaper comics lack (The one exception that springs to mind is of course Dilbert, which continues to be subtly hilarious, despite the best efforts of newspapers.)  So, let us begin.