Webcomics, like most things on the Internet, are constantly evolving. New webcomics come out every day and their growing audiences allow more artists than ever to make a living off merchandise sales and still provide free content. This move towards self-sufficiency has brought a new freedom and sense of legitimacy to webcomics.

Comics such “Questionable Content,” “Achewood” and “Penny Arcade” paved the way for webcomics as we know them today. “Penny Arcade,” in particular, became the poster child for the medium’s increasing success and chances for self-sustainability.

When it began in 1998, “Penny Arcade” was just a lowly comic about video games, but it eventually grew into one of the Internet’s first self-sufficient webcomics. The comic is so popular that a “Penny Arcade Expo” has been held every year since 2004, and the most recent event drew around 60,000 paying attendees.

Since the success of “Penny Arcade,” numerous webcomics have attempted to do things differently. Here’s a look at some of the successful, but lesser-known webcomics that are changing the medium:

 

Dresden Codak – http://dresdencodak.com/

“Dresden Codak” is beautiful and mind-bending, with a darkly humorous take on science. The comic illustrates the adventures of misanthropic robot-girl Kim Ross–most notably her fight against the time colonists from the future in the comic’s only continuous storyline, called “Hob.”

Artist Aaron Diaz’s unique style generally disregards the common boundaries of panel flow and often forgoes the notion of panels altogether. Scenes flow freely without line breaks and often jam haphazardly into one another, making each comic feel strangely organic. Each strip is a self-contained story that often references scientific and philosophical theories. Strips range from hilarious (“The Sleepwalkers”) to heartbreaking (“Onald Creely, the Professional Ghost Story”), though Diaz always maintains a wickedly eccentric sense of humor.

xkcd – http://xkcd.com

“xkcd” ranks among the most unlikely Internet success stories. Author Randall Munroe, a former NASA employee, drew geeky comics about math and put them on his Web site.

“xkcd” developed a strong following among geeks and casual readers alike for its consistently witty writing and endearing stick figure artwork. Unlike the other examples included in this article, “xkcd” rarely features any continuity of characters, though recurring themes include the Web site’s self-proclaimed description of “romance, sarcasm, math, and language.”

While his comics are free, Munroe now earns enough money from lectures and merchandise to make a living. Munroe released a book compiling the best of the first 600 strips in September 2009, with a portion of the proceeds going to building a school in Laos. Sales of the book have already completely financed the school’s construction.

Octopus Pie – http://www.octopuspie.com/

Meredith Gran began “Octopus Pie” in 2007, shortly after graduating from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. The comic follows post-college roommates Eve and Hanna through their fights, adventures and anxieties in modern Brooklyn.

Gran’s clean, expressive artwork is a wonderful accompaniment to her detailed stories.

“Octopus Pie” is one long story broken into over 20 multi-strip story arcs. Each story is composed of many layers and references to past events, which makes the comic rewarding and fun to reread. Gran’s loving attention to detail sets “Octopus Pie” apart from many other humorous, story-driven comics. Each character is fully realized, allowing for fascinating, subtle interactions that are rare in the world of cartoons.

Axe Cop – http://axecop.com/

“Axe Cop” first appeared on the Internet in late January 2010. The comic is the brainchild of Eisner Award-nominated artist Ethan Nicolle, 29, and his brother Malachai Nicholle, 5. Their collaboration has produced a hilarious strip about the escapades of the aptly-named Axe Cop and his partner Flute Cop (who quickly becomes– spoiler alert–Dinosaur Soldier). “Axe Cop” serves as a prime example of webcomics’ potential. On Jan. 28 it was featured as Entertainment Weekly’s Site of the Day. Site traffic skyrocketed and “Axe Cop” was soon listed as the 89th most popular Google search term.

“Axe Cop,” in all of its goofiness, is a reminder that webcomics can capture the fun and spontaneity of youthful imagination. Ethan and Malachai Nicholle may be an unlikely duo, but the absurdity of the subject matter combined with the realism of the artwork has proven to be a winning combination.

 

[email protected]