It's no secret that I grew up reading the "funny pages" and caring about comic books. As an adult, that love hasn't faded into darkness as did many other childhood affections. In fact, with the abundance of comics available on the internet, it might be bigger now.
I do my own comic, albeit rarely. But in all honesty I spend more time soaking in the art of others, and I'm okay with that. I follow lots of comic artist on Twitter, etc - and there are even a few that I depend on in order to learn and create my own work, whether they like it or not. I enjoy the community of comics, so I keep tabs on hundreds of sites and artists. And even though I suffer the changing of tastes from time to time, here are 9 (because 10 is such an overused round number) web comics that I am really digging and keep close - as of today:
Jackie Rose: The Treasure of Captain Read - by Josh Ulrich
One of the main reasons I have an affection for 'Jackie Rose' is the fact that my kids enjoy reading it with me. It is a fantastic story of air pirates and adventure. And I absolutely love the way Josh draws. His colors are tight and accurate, and his story telling is thrilling. I am completely serious when I say this: 'Jackie Rose' could be pitched for screen rights. I'd watch it.
'Jackie Rose' was recently funded to become a printed book through a successful Kickstarter campaign, and we can't wait to get our hands it. You can follow Josh on Twitter here.
Yeti 4 Hire: Terror of Taco Tuesday - by Jeff Crowther
Yeti 4 Hire is a fun and fantastic looking web comic I have followed for a while. I was drawn to it initially by the allure of a Yeti - a legendary creature I hold in the same high regard as Bigfoot or Loch Ness - portrayed in comic form. I was hooked by Jeff's story structure and fun style. And for some reason, I feel hungry after reading it.
Yeti 4 Hire remains in my top picks consistently, and is the only comic I've ever drawn fan art for (insert geeky blush). You can follow Jeff on Twitter here.
Adamsville - Book 1: The Unknowns - by Michael Regina
Michael was one of the first comic artists I started following. We have common affinities for the mysterious - and the X-Files. Adamsville follows that same intriguing path, and it is fun to see the character development. Michael also writes with his daughter, and has successfully funded a children's book - which gave my wife and me the spark to create the kids book we are currently working on.
You can follow Michael on Twitter here.
Please Listen To Me - by Matt Lubchansky
The true "Comic Strip" is what I gravitate toward the most. In my opinion it is a separate entity from the traditional comic book/graphic novel, and that difference is in the ability to get a concise gag across very few panels effectively. So even though Matt may not stick to an older fashioned 1-4 panels, the way they read is in that spirit. And Matt creates some of the funniest strips I come across. His art and style are unique to him, which is something I appreciate in the striposphere.
You can follow Matt on Twitter here.
Spud Comics - by Lonnie Easterling
Spud Comics is a recent addition to my bookmarks, and for a simple reason: I have rarely encountered the true comic strip that makes me feel like I did as a kid - when I would pester my dad to let me walk to the convenience store to get a newspaper. It was in those papers that I would find and save the "funny pages". Spud Comics is loaded with delightful and clever deliveries - often in one panel (a feat of intelligence in my opinion).
You can follow Lonnie on Twitter here.
The Underfold - by Brian Russell
Even though I mention 'The Underfold' in the title, Brian's website (here) is such a mega resource that it should be the lead off. His blog is funny and insightful. His artist interviews are great. And I highly recommend his book 'What I Remember About Dinosaurs' as my kids have enjoyed it (as well as me). But, The Underfold itself is worth a haunt in your browser.
You can follow Brian on Twitter here.
Zorphbert and Fred - by Dawn Griffin
Dawn has created a gem of a web comic that mashes sci-fi with dogs (or at least dog disguises) - two of man's favorite things. Her ideas are original, and her deliveries are really quite impressive. Think about it...it can't be that easy to get a point across a few panels using aliens in dog outfits as the messenger. Yet we pay attention. Why? Because it's aliens in dog outfits. Very clever Dawn.
You can follow Dawn on Twitter here.
Hijinks Ensue - by Joel Watson
I think most people know about this strip - it's a magnet to geeks like me, because it is easy to relate to. Right now, every marketing firm's golden demographic is the nerd/geek/con culture. To me, it would seem hard to pull off a strip like this without appearing cliched or "just another geek joke" driven. Joel manages to deliver his panels without falling into a G4 show, which I appreciate. Plus, I really like the way he draws.
You can follow Joel on Twitter here.
The Graveyard Gang - by Rich Clabaugh
I'll be honest and spill the beans: the number one thing I like about 'The Graveyard Gang' is the art itself. I feel like I should be able to watch this on one of the cartoon channels. It's beautiful. I also enjoy how things we were afraid of as children are re-imagined in a fun way. My oldest son (9 years old) has claimed this comic as one of his favorites as well (of course, I do a little censoring before he gets them), and when I can read them with my kids, well that's just icing. I am also excited to see Krampus injected into this world (see Trivial Post #2 for reference).
You can follow Rich on Twitter here.
Honestly, I follow and read so many comics that it isn't really fair to narrow it down to nine. I think I'll start a monthly spotlight post for this - it was fun.
I'd love to hear your comments or thoughts.
No comments:
Post a Comment