December is traditionally a "year in review" kind of issue at Comixpedia and that's the goal this time around. As we get closer to the end of 2006 it's revealing to look at what folks were writing about webcomics at the end of 2005: The 2005 Webcomics Roundtable.
For the last two years we've also ran a special "25 People Of Webcomics" list article. Here's a link to the 2005 POW List article. Who do you think should be on this year's list? Post a comment with your nominations.
Actually book quantity doesn't really count due to the fact that I know of one guy who's done 3 this year. I'm sure someone did more, though this year my feelers aren't all over just yet… but one day… I shall know every scheming thing in the entire webcomic world, MUHAWHAWHAWHAW! *cough* I mean… I only know of 3 books in one year so far… 🙂
Ryan North is #1 for sure.
But let’s not forget Phil Kahn’s tireless pursuit of webcomics-related inebriation.
What should not be forgotten when considering such a list of webcomic luminaries are those who pioneered and took great risks. One that immediately comes to mind is Eric Millikin of Fetus-X fame. Eric took a chance and retooled the old and worn-out template of what romance comics are all about. He was robbed at the WCCA’s this year; let’s right this wrong.
If that wasn’t enough; I have eight more words for you…"Fat Uncle Sam With A Bacon Double Cheeseburger".
I can say no more. I’m getting worked up
AP Furtado
WEBCOMICS
Ah, but were all three books 200+ pages, in full color with a written commentary for each comic?
(plug, plug)
Theater Hopper -::- Comics about movies every Monday, Wednesday and Friday -::- http://www.theaterhopper.com
I would like to nominate three people who have helped to bring webcomics to a wider audience and garner the pursuit just that a little bit more respect from the wider literary world in general.
Gene Yang for his Book Award nomination and subsequently appearing large and in color on the cover of the SF Chronicle Newspaper's Datebook section.
Joey Manley for continuing to put his capitalistic monomania and unsurpassed coding genius to the service and benefit of the webcomics community as a whole.
Scott McCloud for being the world's favorite webcomics know-it-all and book writer.
Meanwhile for giving the lovely but perspectively-challenged webcomics community a huge kick in the pants (or shot in the arm depending on your POV) I would have to nominate Eric Milikin for his wildly successful "Fat Uncle Sam With A Bacon Double Cheeseburger" project… whatever that was all about.
Chuck
http://www.pewfell.com
I second that suggestion loudly! And I'm not saying it just because I've been helping him with the I'm Just Drinking project (and associated video podcast, featuring lots of free exposure for participating creators).
Phil Kahn has done a hell of a lot else for webcomics this year. He helped produce the WCCAs, he has done a great deal of work with Digital Strips (including the Platinum/Drunk Duck interview), and worked his ass off for the webcomics tracks at ConnectiCon, UberCon, PhilCon and others. Phil deserves a spot on this list.
Fred Gallagher of Megatokyo is still going at it at his admittedly irregular but continuous pace. His published collections continue to surprise people with sales numbers. As one of the earliest voices among webcomics, it seems a little strange that Comixpedia hasn’t recognized him yet.
Dan Kim of Clone Manga, while not on any sort of a schedule, still manages to produce possibly the best black and white art out there in the manga genre.
This year, there was a guy named Ryan North who launched Project Wonderful, and he should probably be number one. There was another guy named Ryan North who launched this thing called OhNoRobot, and I’d put him at number two. And, weirdly, the guy who launched RSSPect was also named Ryan North. I’d put him at number three. The Ryan North who writes Dinosaur Comics should probably be at number four — note that that puts an actual webcomics creator beneath three excellent entrepreneurs, so maybe I’m showing my bias. I don’t mean to disrespect Ryan North of Dinosaur Comics, it’s just that those other guys had such an intense impact over the course of the year. I hope he understands.
Joey
http://www.webcomicsnation.com
Is it shameful to nominate myself for the list? I released two books this year and was regionally syndicated in a youth publication owned by Gannett Newspapers.
I dunno… 2006 was a pretty big year for me. You can put me at number 26 on the list if you want.
Beyond that, give kudos to DJ Coffman for his work on Hero By Night, R. Stevens for breaking big into syndication and Kurtz for winning the Eisner. Amazing achievements all around.
Now that I think about it, my little victories don't really compare. Oh, well!
Theater Hopper -::- Comics about movies every Monday, Wednesday and Friday -::- http://www.theaterhopper.com