Webcomic Artist/Creator Forum

The forum found on www.webcomics.com covers a wide range of topics concerning webcomics, whether that be a discussion of content or simply setting up a website. More generally, this forum was formed around a relatively new form of media [1]: webcomics. Membership to this site provides many benefits but comes at a cost. If a member wants to enjoy perks such as consultation discounts, daily tips and advice, and tutorials, it comes at the cost of five dollars a month or a payment of 30 dollars made once a year. Despite this monetary cost, many members have joined because of their common interest in webcomics and the process of building a successful following of said webcomics.

An extremely important part of making webcomics have a wider reach is a creator’s ability to connect with their readers [2]. Connections formed over the internet, while seemingly unimportant to some, can be as strong, if not stronger, than connections made from face-to-face contact. Due to this forum’s prestige, the help given pushes members further and speeds up the development process by forming bonds with experienced members of the community.

The internet has fostered webcomics, which in turn fostered a community around the topics and stories in said webcomics. This culture of discussion through the internet has been anything from a small comfort to a life-changing connection for many people involved [3]. Finally getting a new webcomic off the ground can provide much-needed income or feeling of accomplishment. Boosting the self-esteem of artists and creators is vital part of the production process; without a sense of community and support, many webcomics would never see the light of day.

1. Rettberg, Scott, Patricia Tomaszek, and Sandy Baldwin. Electronic Literature Communities. Computing Literature ; Volume 6. 2015.

2. Howard, Christopher S. "The Relationship between Community Building Antecedents and Followers' Perceptions of Community." The Journal of Applied Business and Economics 19, no. 11 (12, 2017): 105-109. http://prx.library.gatech.edu/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/1992204550?accountid=11107.

3. Shane, Alyson. Tedx Winnipeg. “The Positive Power of Digital Communities”. YouTube video, 12 minutes. Posted August 9th, 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pj7dWncixY.