Web comic vs actual comics

[kingofsnake]

I've been doing webcomics for 4 years now, and I've really been wondering how the rest of the comic community views this trend of webcomicing as a whole. I think my opinion is somewhat biased, being an author. How do real comic book fans respond to this phenomenon, are you for it? do you resent it?

[mrc1214]

I've been doing webcomics for 4 years now, and I've really been wondering how the rest of the comic community views this trend of webcomicing as a whole. I think my opinion is somewhat biased, being an author. How do real comic book fans respond to this phenomenon, are you for it? do you resent it?


I dont think i have a choice. I think comics are going to eventually go to web based whether i like it or not.

[kingofsnake]

Not all comics though. There'll always be a place for print comics. If for no other reason than that you can make more money doing print comics.

[literally exaggerated]

I prefer print comics, but that has far less to do with the nature of the medium than the fact that most webcomics are shitty.

[Kid Omega]

I prefer print comics, but that has far less to do with the nature of the medium than the fact that most webcomics are shitty.

ZING!!

But you are correct.

[Elegance Liberty]

I prefer print comics, but that has far less to do with the nature of the medium than the fact that most webcomics are shitty.

Don't get me started on game sprite comics that have the gall to pass themselves off as an actual comic. Because of those worthless images, webcomics have a negative stigma attached to them for me.

Would you believe some nitwit actually said to me that sprite comics were harder to make than actual comics?

[Cephus]

I prefer print comics, but that has far less to do with the nature of the medium than the fact that most webcomics are shitty.

That's exactly the case, mostly because print comics have to actually sell and web comics don't. It's an expensive proposition taking a comic book to print, you have to hire (or be) writers and artists, you have to pay printers, you have to get it distributed, etc. Any moron with a computer and too much time on their hands can put up a webcomic no matter how much it sucks and, let's be honest, far too many morons do.

That's not to say that there aren't some good webcomics, but percentage wise, it doesn't look good.

[Grazzt]

Would you believe some nitwit actually said to me that sprite comics were harder to make than actual comics?

Maybe he was just one of those rare people who have an easier time drawing than copying and pasting.

But you're probably right about him being a nitwit.

[Valmore]

I do enjoy a couple of web comics - "PvP" is usually good, and Image Comics reprints expanded stories from it. I usually enjoy "Something Positive" as well.

I used to read "8-Bit Theater" - an evil "sprite" comic. It was funny at first. But then the writer really started dragging it out and doing the same jokes over and over.

[Charles RB]

Don't get me started on game sprite comics that have the gall to pass themselves off as an actual comic.

No, please get started. Sprite comics are an abomination unto the eyes of me.

[kingofsnake]

I'm not going to argue that there aren't alot of bad comics out there. But, typically, comics that suck don't last very long. Their authors load them with "in" jokes that no one else gets and then, when it fails to reach the penny arcades status of popularity in a matter of weeks, they abandon it.

Sprite comics are despised amoung the throngs of authors actually trying to be respected for their work for dragging the entire medium down.

I guess when I refer to webcomics, I have a whole portion of it sectioned off in my brain and quarantined. I mean comics that are part of communities that recognize quality, like graphic smash, and blanklabel.

[Grazzt]

I honestly don't get the mad-on towards sprite comics.

Okay, so the artist is somewhat lazy. So long as the dialogue and plotlines are good, I can accept that.

Then again, I don't read very many web-comics, so maybe I just haven't encountered the real stinkers amongst sprite comics. The only sprite comics I've read are Captain SNES: The Game Masta and 8-Bit Theater, which were both pretty good for a while. I've stopped reading 8-Bit (same reasons as Valmore), and Captain SNES updates so sporadically now that I've given up on it. But I read them both for a long time and I enjoyed them quite a bit.

[Charles RB]

I honestly don't get the mad-on towards sprite comics.

Because I can count, offhand, about one or two I remember finding funny, compared to dozens of the little buggers that sucked.

[Grazzt]

Because I can count, offhand, about one or two I remember finding funny, compared to dozens of the little buggers that sucked.

Wow, I honestly can't say that the total number of different web-comics I've ever read actually numbers in the dozens. Maybe 20 tops, of which maybe six I just stopped reading after a couple strips.

[kingofsnake]

Wow, I honestly can't say that the total number of different web-comics I've ever read actually numbers in the dozens. Maybe 20 tops, of which maybe six I just stopped reading after a couple strips.

what are your reading habits for print comics?

[Tages]

Every few months I see the same thread pop up.

"Are webcomics challenging the dominance of traditional comics?"
"They might once the vast majority of them stop being horrible."
"This is true."

[Grazzt]

what are your reading habits for print comics?

Mostly original trade paperbacks. I do like to keep abreast of whats going on in the DC and Marvel Universe, but I can usually do that through messageboards.

[Elegance Liberty]

No, please get started. Sprite comics are an abomination unto the eyes of me.

I made a rant about this in my DevArt gallery (http://eleganceliberty.deviantart.com/journal/9562314/) a while back, so I'll spare a long-winded rant here.

Therein will you find the infamous 'sprite comics are harder' quote from a moron who occassionaly harasses me. It's also worth noting a few months ago he took a hate boner out on me towards digital art (bear in mind 95% of my work is digital and he 'watches' my gallery) and said traditional was better...

Just putting things in context here.

But I digress.

[Avalanche]

I'll always prefer printed comics. There's just something about laying down completely relaxed holding the comic in your hands that can't be captured on the computer.

[Valmore]

Every few months I see the same thread pop up.

"Are webcomics challenging the dominance of traditional comics?"
"They might once the vast majority of them stop being horrible."
"This is true."

I said nothing of the sort, somewhat-triangular state dweller.

[StoneGold]

Because the real argument isn't print comics vs. web comics, it's print comics vs. digital comics, for which the answer is more than likely not now, but probably soon, whether the people who cry about it not being the same like it or not.

[ragnarok_2012]

I do enjoy a couple of web comics - "PvP" is usually good, and Image Comics reprints expanded stories from it. I usually enjoy "Something Positive" as well.

I used to read "8-Bit Theater" - an evil "sprite" comic. It was funny at first. But then the writer really started dragging it out and doing the same jokes over and over.

PVP & Something Positive are the webcomics I keep up with most regularly. I read Unshelved and Real Life irregularly.

I used to keep up with 8-Bit, Mega Tokyo and Sluggy Freelance.

I imagine there are bad webcomics out there. So long as there are good ones too, it doesn't really affect me. If I get bored with one, I find another I like and read that for a bit.

[Valmore]

PVP & Something Positive are the webcomics I keep up with most regularly. I read Unshelved and Real Life irregularly.

I used to keep up with 8-Bit, Mega Tokyo and Sluggy Freelance.

I imagine there are bad webcomics out there. So long as there are good ones too, it doesn't really affect me. If I get bored with one, I find another I like and read that for a bit.

I'm not sure why people get their panties in a bunch over boring webcomics. I mean, it's not like you have to PAY to read them, and you don't have to read them at all if you think they suck.

[Ontir]

As I've said on the other threads on this subject: I'm all for it. I can store decades of comics in a drive, as opposed to 10 boxes, and that's great, as far as I'm concerned. What I'm not wild about, is comics done specifically for the web, that are still set up for the traditional page layout. They should be widescreen to play to the strengths of the increasingly commonplace 16X9 screens, and re-considered from the ground up, as "new media."

[kingofsnake]

There are many web comics that do push the envelope as far as page layout and art goes, it's just they're really hard to find because they're not something that appeals to casual readers. And lets face it, for most people, when reading a comic, the last thing they want to do is think.

As far as sprite comics goes, the problem is there ARE one or two good ones, like 8 bit theatre and Bob and George, and they open the door for any yahoo who knows how to use the print screen function to think it would be a good idea to start their own, without really thinking through a formidable storyline or anything at all.

The digital vs traditional art argument is almost a moot one. Most print comics have been using digital components for a decade now, and more and more of the big name comics are becoming nearly entirely digitally inked and colored.