Monthly Themes for 2007?

Pencil

by mooncity - 12/15/2006 - 16:26

I like the various art methods being used in webcomics right now, as I mentioned previously. There are some out there which eschew the full-on digital tools, other than the obvious requirements of posting the comics to the 'net. One of the interesting phenomenon is webcomics made primarily in pencil (something mentioned on another site I visit). My favorite of these is "By The Saints", but that's down due to server trouble right now. There are others that use pencil or even colored markers as a base ("Lords of Death and Life"), and then spiff it up with digital tools.

Along the lines of "Villains", though, how about looking at Heroes in a new light. That is, not how great they are, because everyone thinks it'd be great to be a hero, but rather maybe an article on the down side of being a hero would be fun (the Peter Parker Syndrome). Ever wonder, where do heroes get their costumes cleaned? Where do they get replacement ones, etc., etc...?

Mooncity

Reversing the polarity of the neutron flow since 1976!

Niche comics

by What the Duck - 12/14/2006 - 16:51

Would be interesting to see an article on how even the most niche and specialized comics can cultivate a following via the web.

http://www.whattheduck.net/
The comic strip for and about photographers.

There are a lot of good,

by Alexander Danner - 12/13/2006 - 04:30

There are a lot of good, practical themes suggested here already. That's usually what I like to see, but for today, I'm going to go the other direction and suggest some pure fun themes.

First off, how about a "Villains" issue? That's actually broader than it might sound. First off, you've got the "how to write a good villain" article. You can examine how different comics handle villainy, which play with pure evil and which employ sympathetic villains. Also, there's an interesting phenomenon in webcomics of presenting stories from the villains' point of view: Narbonic, Chopping Block, and Sluggy Freelance come immediately to mind, but there are many more. This phenomenon might be worth exploring--at the very least, these sorts of comics would be obvious choices for review.

Not a Bad Idea on the "How to Avoid Bad Manga" Bit

by Sean C - 12/12/2006 - 16:09

It's too bad the vast majority of bad-manga-makers would never listen. They've got their own little comics culture, where critisism is rejected by under a wave of Livejournal whining. If they THINK they're making something decent, chances are they're not gonna make adjustments. Sigh - such is the modern mangaphile...

Don't hesitate to procrastinate.

• My brand new comic: http://cain.bombsheltercomics.com
• See my stuff at http://www.cuteninjagirls.com

Manga

by mooncity - 12/12/2006 - 15:25

The explosion of manga in the webcomic world might be interesting to look at. The appeal of the style for webcomic artists, etc., and how aspiring webcomic artists can make something new out of it, when so many webcomics are mangas already, how to avoid the pitfalls of bad manga webcomics, things like that.

Mooncity

Reversing the polarity of the neutron flow since 1976!

I'd be really interested in

by Petie Shumate - 12/12/2006 - 14:20

I'd be really interested in a look at science/science fiction in webcomics. Granted, you'd see a lot more of the latter, but good science in webcomics always makes me very, very happy.

girl/robot - One girl. One robot. A series of unintentionally scarring escapades.

The Culcha

by CaveMonster - 12/12/2006 - 09:11

How about the culture around webcomics? All the webcomic review sites and podcasts, all the blogs, the Websnarks and the Comicspaces all the peripheral stuff that has grown up around the experience of going to a site and looking at comics.

The stars are pretty tonight. Let's [url=http://www.iamarocketbuilder.com]go there.[/url

History

by almamater - 12/12/2006 - 02:17

It might be interesting to cover history as seen through the eyes of webcomics. Along the same lines, I'd also like to see a feature covering webcomics and "high culture" (such as literature or art history).

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How about webcomics from the

by Bryant Paul Johnson - 12/11/2006 - 18:41

- teaching baby paranoia

Long-form or "graphic

by mooncity - 12/11/2006 - 16:29

Long-form or "graphic novel" type webcomics may be interesting to cover. I'd also like to see something on different art styles being used for them, and for webcomickry in general. For example, several artists use watercolors for their graphic comics, but there isn't much being said about it.

There's also the old debate over "standard" style comics vs. "infinite canvas" style comics. I haven't heard much about that in a while, so it might be an interesting topic to revisit and see who (if anybody), won that argument.

And perhaps something on the content of webcomics today. Is there any particular trend towards G-rated or R-rated language/content, etc. now, vs. a few years ago?

Mooncity

Reversing the polarity of the neutron flow since 1976!

How about a Marketing and

by Keith Quinn - 12/11/2006 - 14:58

How about a Marketing and Merchandise theme? I imagine such a theme including all the various ways that webcomic creators try to offer alternative ways to spread the word about their comics, with such things as desktop wallpapers, AIM icons, buttons, clothes, toys, iPod covers, and web cartoons. Not just what people make, but what "works" and why it works.

=========
Local Heroes at www.localheroes.us
Follow the periodic misadventures of the super-powered heroes of UNIONS Local 37.

Collectives!

by Sean C - 12/11/2006 - 13:50

How 'bout some coverage on webcomic collectives? This year was a big year for collectives, as quite a few good ones formed. Since this is really starting to take off, why not talk about some of them, who they are, and what they do to set themselves apart from all the other collectives?

Don't hesitate to procrastinate.

• My brand new comic: http://cain.bombsheltercomics.com
• See my stuff at http://www.cuteninjagirls.com

Suggestion Box

by pclips - 12/11/2006 - 13:19

Webcomics Outside the Web - a look at RSS, mobile device, email, print periodical, and other distribution media which webcomics have explored or crossed into. Plus a look at video podcasting, internet radio, music, animation and other new media content related to webcomics.

I'd like to see an

by Joey Manley - 12/11/2006 - 12:14

I'd like to see an examination of the efforts of Marvel, DC, Dark Horse and Image to figure out webcomics -- what they've done in the past, what they're doing now, and what they say they want to do.