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Phil Cho

DRAFT List of 100 Greatest Webcomics: Comedy and Drama

Submitted by Xaviar Xerexes on January 22, 2009 - 14:50

Last year I posted a couple times (Previous posts on this "research" project were here and here) about a possible article on "ComixTALK's 100 Greatest Webcomics" which would be something like the American Film Institute's list of the greatest movies of the last 100 years.

A recurring comment to the previous two posts was what is the criteria for this.  I'm always a little hesitant to give too much guidance when part of the point of asking this kind of thing out loud is to listen to the resulting discussion of what everyone else thinks the criteria should be.  For the AFI list judges picked films based on criteria such as Critical Recognition, Major Award Winner, Popularity Over Time, Historical Significance, and Cultural Impact.

That sounds about right to me.  We've got a round decade plus a year or two of webcomics to look at it.  Critical reception (both from peers and critics), and popularity are both relevant to thinking about the impact of a webcomic.  WCCA awards are somewhat indicative of what peers were impressed with in a given year and more recently awards like the Eisners and Ignatzs have recoginized webcomics.  Historical significance and cultural impact are a little harder to pin down but various "firsts" in webcomics are important and comics like Penny Arcade have had a much wider impact on popular culture than most comics do these days (put aside the legacy superheros of comics -- what other "new" comic, let alone webcomic, in the last decade has had a wide cultural impact?)

Another thing AFI did that might be useful here to help sort through the vast numbers of webcomics one could talk about is to also think about categories or genres of work.  Just as a simple matter of numbers if a webcomic isn't one of the best of a larger type of story -- or frankly, so startlingly unique it's hard to categorize -- then it's hard to imagine it's one of the 100 Greatest...

So to move things along I'm listing another "draft" of titles submitted by the crowds but this time I've tried to break them up into drama and comedy so as to help avoid complete apples to oranges comparisons.  In doing that I've realized (1) it's hard in many cases to decide; and (2) there are probably more comedic than drama on the list so far.  I think it would make sense to whittle down the two lists to 75 each so as the final list is no more than 3/4 of one type or the other.  Of course we could further do genre type lists but for now this was enough work on my part.

So -- your assignment (if you choose to play):

  1. Name the comic you're talking about (you're also welcome to nominate ones not on the list -- I KNOW there are many I haven't even thought about yet -- it takes time to review all of the corners of the web)
  2. Tell me where on one the two lists (comedy and drama) it should be (you could give a range of slots if you're not sure). (If you think I've got a drama on the comedy list or vice-versa let me know!  I'm not "done" - this is fairly dashed off still at this point)
  3. Tell me why!  Referencing awards, critics, historical achievements, strengths and weaknesses of the works are all really helpful!

Welcome to I Draw Comics

Submitted by David Wright on January 12, 2009 - 05:31

Welcome to I Draw Comics!

This is the new home for my comic-related projects, including my attempt to get Taking Up Space syndicated.

During the next few months, I will be posting new Taking Up Space comics each M,W,F.

November 14th DRAFT version of 100 Greatest Webcomics List

Submitted by Xaviar Xerexes on November 13, 2008 - 21:02

This is an update to a previous post here, thanks for the cumulative suggestions on that thread.  JUST so we're clear - this is open-sourced to everyone research for a possible article to appear next month at ComixTalk.  I don't endorse the list or the order at all; at this point I've tried to include all of the suggestions I've gotten and I also went through all of the comics ComixTalk has ever reviewed and pulled quite a few titles.

We're at the point where it'll be most helpful if you tell me comics you think should go on the list, where (what number approximately) and which comic should get bumped.  If you just want to change the order you can do that to but there'll be another post before the month's through asking for help with that.  

Skinny Panda by Phil Cho

Learn to Draw!

Submitted by David Wright on August 13, 2007 - 00:26

When I first started Todd and Penguin, I drew about as well as a blind epileptic with hooks for hands. While I still have a long way to go to say, be as good as Phil Cho or Kazu Kibuishi, I have improved with tons of practice.

So, for those who are like me, and weren't blessed with loads of natural talent, you may want to spend some time learning from some of these free art tips online at http://dev.drawspace.com/

Updates On Entries in the Ill-Fated Webcomic Directory Project?

Submitted by Xaviar Xerexes on July 24, 2007 - 14:31

I built a "library" of webcomics and creators back in the fall of 2005 which I put into beta before realizing it was too much editorial work to deal with and the same information could be better provided through the community edited webcomic wiki - COMIXPEDIA.

Nevertheless looking back on the assortment of names collected (some from me, some sent in from you) I wonder if anyone has any significant updates on these creators 18 months later. Maybe we should interview some of them?

And Finally Monsieur, A Wafer-thin Webcomic.

Submitted by Xaviar Xerexes on November 24, 2006 - 11:28

Post-Turkey Day looks like slim pickin's for news but here's what we've got:

Not to stir the Most Read Project pot more (plenty of discussion in the thread on the subject of measuring webcomic readership here) but every webcomic host that publishes some kind of "popular" list is another potential data point for the project. This Drunk Duck list is described as "most read strips for the past seven days" (there is a second DD list for "story" comics):

UPDATE: I have to believe, based on a long tradition of Little Gamers mocking Comixpedia, that this strip was inspired by our recent discussion of measuring webcomics' audience size.

SOME WEBCOMICS I READ THIS MORNING

  • Lucid TV really deserves a spot on the Most Offensive webcomics poll we're running this month. Brutally-funny, medically-flavored comedy.
  • Michael LaLonde's Ornery Boy probably is the only webcomic featuring a zombie MC. Today's strip is one of the funnier raps he's penned for the strip.
  • Guest month at Todd and Penguin with comics from guest creators such as Jamie Robertson (Clan of the Cats), Phil Cho (Skinny Panda), and Paul Southworth (Ugly Hill).
  • If you changed the color of the splotch of lipstick red on Clango's chin and neck in today's Diesel Sweeties to black, you'd have Clango's evil twin brother Bango. Well it could happen!...

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 BLOGS

C Is For Cookie And That's Good Enough For Penguin

July 20, 2006 - 12:08 | Al Schroeder

Dave Wright's Todd and Penguin is filled with innocence and cynicism and so is he. We talked with the longtime webcomic creator about his comics, life and Keenspot.

Your Webcomic Is Not As Good As You Think It Is

February 5, 2006 - 18:03 | David Wright

Don't give up out there. Every webcomic started somewhere. A perspective on webcomic evolution from David Wright, the creator of Todd and Penguin.Your comic is not as good as you think it is.

No, I'm not talking to the handful of awesomely talented newcomers that seem to crop up each year, nor the proven vets -- you know who you are. I'm talking to the others. Those who are plugging along at a bad comic but just don't realize it. Your comic is not as good as you think it is. Take it from someone who knows.

SKinny Panda Hits 500 Strips ; Todd and Penguin Celebrates 5th Anniversary

Submitted by David Wright on November 21, 2005 - 22:54

Two long-running webcomics hit milestones this month: Skinny Panda and Todd and Penguin.

Skinny Panda hits strip number 500 this week and Todd and Penguin celebrated five years this Nov. 12.