Why Webcomics are the Future of Comic Books

Marvel and DC have dominated the big screen for the past few years, and it seems in many ways that superhero-mania is at it's peak. It's no longer strange to know the story of comic books characters, and this has helped comic books financially. However, comic books on their own have seen a pretty steep decline over the last 10 years. So today, I want to talk about the alternative to buying and reading (or if you're naughty, pirating) comic books. I want to talk about webcomics, and why they are going to be the only comics left standing in the end.

A webcomic, or webtoon, is just like any other comic book except that it is designed for the Internet first. Some of you may be thinking-- aren't webtoons mostly just manga? The most notable webcomic of our era is probably One Punch man, which began as a (intentionally) poorly drawn webcomic, that evolved into the behemoth of a story and art that we now know today. However, webcomics range in every direction, from manga-esque stories from Japan, and Korea, to western comics, even with familiar characters such as Aphrodite IX. And because literally anyone can make a webcomic, there is no shortage of reading material. With that in mind, you of course have to sort what you like from what you dislike, but it's relatively easy to sift the wheat from the tares.

I thought it was garbage until I read it-- Scoob and Shag

Aside from the variety and originality of webtoons, the best part is that they're legally free. For example, the site Line Webtoon (and corresponding app) do not charge you to read the comics. Instead, they operate on an early access, minimal advertisement system. If you want to read the brand new chapter right now, pay a small amount. If you're satisfied to wait a week, then do it and read for free. In an age where a comic book costs 3.99 or more, the choice becomes obvious for broke college kids.

Finally, the best part about web comics is the ability for the creator to interact with fans via the comments section. Q&As are frequent, and in some you will even see frequent contribution from the fans. Creators even recommend other webcomics that they like to read! Even if you don't like the comic for one reason or another, if you say something, there is always a chance that the writer can and will improve. It's a far cry away from twitter bashing a well-known comic book writer in your frustration over a character's changes. When communication is possible, improvement is probable.

So, with no further ado, I'll share some of my personal favorite webtoons.

First up is Last Stop, a story about the last superhero-- Unstoppable, who has discovered that he has a terminal disease and no time to spare. The adventure begins, but how will it end?

Next up, Hooky is a story about a pair of twins who miss the bus to magic school. Hijinks ensue. It's a truly powerful story, filled with it's share of adventure and dread in proper portions.

Finally, let's talk about the Tower of God. Reminiscent of Hunter x Hunter without the hiatus, the Tower of God is a story of a boy who isn't looking for power or glory, but still has to climb the tower to get what he wants!

And with that, I'll wrap up.

Let's clarify that comic books are not dead. Far from it. Webcomics are what will last, because as long as people want to create stories, there will never be an end.