If you asked me to name some of the comics I like to read regularly, or have read, I could easily compile a list of at least ten that I enjoy. Could you borrow them? Where did I get them? How did I find them? No, the Internet, and the Internet.

I’ve always wanted to be the kind of person who enjoys reading actual comic books and being able to reference situations from specific scenes.

My dream conversation:

Person: Have you read Volume 42 of -renowned comic-? Me: I got it at Half-Price Books and it’s miraculously in *mint* condition. Great illustrations!

Actual conversation:

Person: Do you like comic books? Me: I used to read Archie comics when I was a kid! Person: *Silence*

Growing up being an avid reader, you’d think that I am well-versed in at least some comics or manga. Even the superhero ones?!

Nope. Not one.

Asofterworld, one of the many webcomics that I have grown to love and is now discontinued, is the first webcomic that I ever truly connected with (found at www.asofterworld.com, still an active website). The exception to this is the ridiculous, sometimes juvenile, and pretty well-known Cyanide and Happiness comics (found at www.explosm.net). After the former, I discovered that webcomic writers (from here on out referenced as “writers”) usually have links to other comics that they enjoy and can give major props to.

From Asofterworld, I found Buttercup Festival, Hark! A Vagrant, Dinosaur Comics, and Octopus Pie. From DC (Dinosaur Comics), I discovered Dresden Codak, Diesel Sweeties, XKCD, and my favorite still today, Questionable Content. I know many more, but still try to stay caught up with QC (Questionable Content).

One of the huge pros for webcomics is shown above; it’s easy to reference other works that you think are worth something. Comic books don’t say at the end, “HEY YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT THIS OTHER COMPLETELY DIFFERENT WORK”. They talk about their other personal works or the previous or next work in the series, but not necessary boasting other writers and/or illustrators. In this way, the webcomic community is something that brings people together on many different levels other than just reading the same book.

There are stores, meet-ups, and conventions that physical comic writers and artists can actively participate in, but the separation that the physical comic book has from the world of webcomics is vast and apparent. This separation is comparable to vinyl records, cassettes, and CDs versus digitally downloadable music. There is a virtuous aesthetic associated with physical works of art whether it be music, literature, or art. It also has a “I have the only copy and I can hold it in my hands” that creates an elevated sense of loyalty to whatever the work is. I believe that this is why physical comic books are still printed and distributed despite the accessibility and ease of webcomics.

Given all of my speculations and opinions, the question still remains: should we still give comic books a chance? It’s up to you. I have an immense and infinitely expanding library of books on their own despite knowing that I could buy most of them online and read them on a tablet. I like holding a book in my hands, carrying it around with me, and, weirdly, the smell of the pages and binding. I think that it’s perfectly acceptable to have that same kind of a relationship with comic books.

However, I strongly encourage you to explore the world of webcomics. There are plenty of them out there that are not as widely known but are still brilliant, and are not in any kind of print (unless you have the option to order books or prints of the comics from the writers’ web shops).

Each kind of comic has its positive and negative qualities, but it’s ultimately up to you, in every geeky aspect of your life, how you want to expose yourself to it. Keep your mind open to these respective forms of media, and comment if you want to know more about any of the comics that I recommended or if you have any questions!

KCCO

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