(Web-to-print, print-to-web, part 2)
I first discovered Jason Overby's comics as printed minicomics. His "Jessica" mini really impressed me when I read it (as have others of his minis). When he ran out of printed copies he posted a pdf of the comic on his website. He's done the same with some of his other minicomics (in the sidebar of his website). Minicomics really aren't about making money (they're about losing money in most cases), they're more about creating an object and exposure. Offering a sold out minicomic as a download is a great way to allow others to read the work (and people are surely more likely to download a pdf then send money for a comic they're not sure about).
Jason's also been posting work online before it becomes part of a minicomic. Some of these pages may very well make a web to print to web round trip, as the partial works shared online become minicomics and then the minicomics later become downloads. Why stick with just web or print when you can do both, mix and mingle.
This type of movement between the two is becoming ever more frequent (such as the What Things Do site I mentioned earlier), and, I think, is creating a point in the future where the the term "webcomics" becomes essentially meaningless as a separate comics arena.
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