Comics Without the Smudges
Brigid Alverson -- School Library Journal, 5/6/2009
Comics, they’re not just on paper any more. Over the past few years, webcomics have emerged as an important new medium and an inexpensive way to expand your library’s collection far beyond its physical boundaries.
Most people think of webcomics as four-panel gag strips such as the library-themed Unshelved, but the medium is much broader than that. An increasing number of creators are putting longer comics and graphic novels on the Web, such as Phil and Kaija Foglio’s Girl Genius, T Campbell and Gisele Lagace’s high school drama Penny and Aggie, Scott Christian Sava’s The Dreamland Chronicles, and Gina Biggs’s Red String. And even after webcomics go to print, they’re likely to be archived online so fans can still check them out.
More established comics artists are also now posting their creations online. Wendy and Richard Pini recently finished putting the entire Elfquest saga online, and it’s free. And the manga publisher Viz is posting Rumiko Takahashi’s latest book, Rin-ne, online for a limited time before it goes to print.
But finding good comics online can still be a challenge. Although blogs such as ComixTalk and Fleen offer news about the latest online comics, most readers find new comics by checking the links on familiar webcomics sites such as TopWebComics or through recommendations on Twitter, LiveJournal, and Facebook.
How can librarians get into the act? By listening to teens’ recommendations and by including the links to webcomics sites on library Web sites. And don’t forget to distribute themed bookmarks and flyers, such as "Webcomics for manga readers." Also, whenever you read a webcomic, check the creator’s bio to see if he or she lives nearby. Webcomics artists are usually happy to give a talk or a workshop at their local library.
They might even do a drawing the old-fashioned way—on paper.
Brigid Alverson blogs at MangaBlog and Good Comics for Kids. She’s also a regular reviewer for Graphic Novel Reporter and a freelance writer for Publishers Weekly Comics Week. She has two teenage daughters.
