THE WEBCOMICS REVOLUTION

The internet and digital technologies have profoundly impacted the way that comics and graphic novels are produced, distributed, and read because they no longer need to be produced and printed on paper and distributed to readers in that medium. A related development in this technological revolution is the emergence and proliferation of webcomics, a type of comic that has allowed creators to avoid having to rely on publishers for distribution and marketing. As Sean Kleefeld (2020) points out, webcomics differ from those digital comics and graphic novels which use the internet only as a means of distribution. For webcomics the creator’s intention lies at the root of this distinction as a webcomic’s creator intends for the web to be the only means of distribution. In addition, webcomics differ technologically, as they do not require proprietary software for reading. This course examines the webcomics revolution in a multifaceted way in order to understand how the internet and related technologies have allowed creators to produce and distribute comic narratives that address subjects neglected by the print and digital publishing industry. Because of webcomics absolute reliance on digital technologies for production and distribution, this course will consider those technologies as part of our investigation into what makes webcomics distinct from traditional print comics and graphic novels. As part of this investigation, we will look at how webcomics are built and distributed. We will therefore think about the ways that reading webcomics on a computer screen or smartphone differs from the experience of reading a printed comic or graphic novel. This will lead to a consideration of why webcomics are distributed in a single-page format as opposed to print and digital comics and graphic novels that can comprise hundreds of pages. We’ll think about how webcomic creators’ use of the single page as the smallest unit of information is not only connected to the production process but is also part of the need to use search engines and social media to help readers find and access the webcomics. To enhance these topical explorations, students will make webcomics and webpages to host them, in order to gain a practical as well as conceptual understanding. As the class considers these topics, the course readings will include selections from some of the most prominent webcomics in recent years. These selections have been chosen to represent a range of genres and page formats in order to allow students to consi