Discovering webcomics and motion comics

– Written by Alice Godayol project partner from YuzuPulse –

If you think that comics, or interesting comics, are only published in print, this article should give you new insights by introducing intrisically digital forms of comics, namely webcomics and motion comics. Just as you don’t have to carry regular books everywhere thanks to ereaders and tablets, you can also enjoy comics on the go without carrying comic books around.

A BIT OF THEORY

Reading comics on a screen has opened new forms or new ways of reading comics, as Scott Mc Cloud envisioned when he stated that making comics digitally would offer an “infinite canvas”. According to him, making comics digitally allows for potentially limitless space to develop stories and multidirectional ways to explore them. While some authors developed experiences around this idea, such as Daniel Merlin Goodbrey, such experiments are not necessarily accessible to all and were not meant to be widely spread.

You can read more about the infinite canvas concept at: http://scottmccloud.com/4-inventions/canvas/

Webcomics

A webcomic is a form of comic that is meant to be published primarily online. They are generally shared on social media, blogs, or onto websites specialised in publishing webcomics.

Such platforms include, for example:

https://tapas.io/

https://www.webtoonfactory.com/en/home/

https://www.webtoons.com/en

There are several platforms in other languages, such as delitoon.com in French (on which you can read Philocomix, a series about philosophy https://www.delitoon.com/webtoon/philocomix).

Here are some interesting webcomics, authors and publications to get you started:

Slice of life: Boulet Corp (http://english.bouletcorp.com/), Pascal Campion’s works (https://www.facebook.com/pascalcampionart/), Cat’s Café (https://www.catscafecomics.com/)
Educational: Philocomix, a series about philosophy (https://www.delitoon.com/webtoon/philocomix)
Romance: Fangs, a love story between a werewolf and a vampire (https://tapas.io/series/fangscomic/info)

Motion comics

Motion comics are probably the form of comics that make the most innovative use of the digital creation and reading of comics. They are transmedia cultural products, than are based mostly on images, but offer different navigation or reading experiences than more traditional forms of comics read digitally. They can offer elements of animation and sound.

Two interesting examples that come with the added bonus of being available for free are:

‘Phallaina’, an introspective adventure by Marietta Ren (https://mariettaren.com/portfolio/phallaina/),
‘Media Entity’, a fast paced story about a trader framed for a massive financial loss (http://www.mediaentity.net/fr/).

With this reading list, there is no doubt that you will discover new comics, maybe even new forms of comics, that you have not read before. Happy reading!