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This is a resource for students who are writing papers about webcomics and want a webcartoonist's opinions and answers on same.
Since I took the time to answer Fritz's questions, it's only fair I do with those answers what I please. So here they are for everyone's use.
They are written as simply as I could manage so that they would be less trouble to translate. Perhaps Alain can tell me if I succeeded!
On Wed, Apr 9, 2008 at 1:56 PM, Franz Langer <F.Langer2@gmx.de> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> my name is Franz, I am writing a term paper on web comics as part of my American Literary History studies at the Ludwig-Maximillians-University in Munich, Germany.
>
> I would like to do a short five questions interview:
It's actually eight questions, Fritz. I will give you short answers. I will share these questions and answers at my public blog, so that other students can make use of them.
> 1. Why are you making web comics? Was it because you have certain sentiments against print comics?
Because my audience can see them when I wish, rather than some months or years after they are done. Print comics have barriers like will the bookstore buy them, will an audience be there for them, will they come out at an unfortunate time, will the publisher decide they do not want to support it?
I don't dislike print, I simply recognize that it has many barriers that web does not.
> 2. What is the sate of web comics today from your point of view?
That artists (an many people who wish to have a voice) are taking advantage of it, and this is for the good.
> 3. Do you think an artist can live of web comics alone? What type of financing do you prefer: membership, donations, merchandising or advertising?
Obviously, since some webcartoonists are making a living from it, it is possible. But it is like any entrepreneurial business, the person(s) must be ready for a lot of hard work to realize their goals.
As for financing, I prefer donations, but that is so I don't have to mess with advertising or managing the making of things. However, this is the least reliable option. In future, my financing will be carefully chosen sponsors, some merchandise, and advantages for readers.
> 4. Do you think the technical capabilities of computers and the Internet should be used to its full extent?
Should be or is?
Should be, of course, provided it is not used for crime or for activities that violate the rights of private citizens.
Is, I think it is being used to the extent of its current limits. I am very pleased to have an Internet. I think it is one of the best resources mankind has ever realized for itself.
> 5. Where do you think web comics will be in ten years? Do you think web comics will published in print or will web comics overtake print comics?
I think graphic novels will overtake the single small issues of comics, and that graphic novels are no longer treated as a genre by large publishers. Before large publishers would start graphic novel initiatives and be done with them in a year or two as they discovered comics were much harder to manage than they'd imagined.
I cannot say if webcomics will overtake print. I can say if fuel becomes prohibitively costly, that the web will be an important delivery system for words and pictures as paper goods may get so expensive to deliver that publishers cut back.
In ten years, there will be webcomics with twenty-year old archives. I wonder if they will appear like their newspaper counterparts, where they are dull from age and a lack of new ideas?
On the other hand, there will be many more complete long comics, and I am fascinated when I imagine a library of drawn stories that has never existed on paper, and what it means that being able to get to a physical library or a bookstore is no obstacle to accessing these works.
How amazing.
Lea
Since I took the time to answer Fritz's questions, it's only fair I do with those answers what I please. So here they are for everyone's use.
They are written as simply as I could manage so that they would be less trouble to translate. Perhaps Alain can tell me if I succeeded!
On Wed, Apr 9, 2008 at 1:56 PM, Franz Langer <F.Langer2@gmx.de> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> my name is Franz, I am writing a term paper on web comics as part of my American Literary History studies at the Ludwig-Maximillians-University in Munich, Germany.
>
> I would like to do a short five questions interview:
It's actually eight questions, Fritz. I will give you short answers. I will share these questions and answers at my public blog, so that other students can make use of them.
> 1. Why are you making web comics? Was it because you have certain sentiments against print comics?
Because my audience can see them when I wish, rather than some months or years after they are done. Print comics have barriers like will the bookstore buy them, will an audience be there for them, will they come out at an unfortunate time, will the publisher decide they do not want to support it?
I don't dislike print, I simply recognize that it has many barriers that web does not.
> 2. What is the sate of web comics today from your point of view?
That artists (an many people who wish to have a voice) are taking advantage of it, and this is for the good.
> 3. Do you think an artist can live of web comics alone? What type of financing do you prefer: membership, donations, merchandising or advertising?
Obviously, since some webcartoonists are making a living from it, it is possible. But it is like any entrepreneurial business, the person(s) must be ready for a lot of hard work to realize their goals.
As for financing, I prefer donations, but that is so I don't have to mess with advertising or managing the making of things. However, this is the least reliable option. In future, my financing will be carefully chosen sponsors, some merchandise, and advantages for readers.
> 4. Do you think the technical capabilities of computers and the Internet should be used to its full extent?
Should be or is?
Should be, of course, provided it is not used for crime or for activities that violate the rights of private citizens.
Is, I think it is being used to the extent of its current limits. I am very pleased to have an Internet. I think it is one of the best resources mankind has ever realized for itself.
> 5. Where do you think web comics will be in ten years? Do you think web comics will published in print or will web comics overtake print comics?
I think graphic novels will overtake the single small issues of comics, and that graphic novels are no longer treated as a genre by large publishers. Before large publishers would start graphic novel initiatives and be done with them in a year or two as they discovered comics were much harder to manage than they'd imagined.
I cannot say if webcomics will overtake print. I can say if fuel becomes prohibitively costly, that the web will be an important delivery system for words and pictures as paper goods may get so expensive to deliver that publishers cut back.
In ten years, there will be webcomics with twenty-year old archives. I wonder if they will appear like their newspaper counterparts, where they are dull from age and a lack of new ideas?
On the other hand, there will be many more complete long comics, and I am fascinated when I imagine a library of drawn stories that has never existed on paper, and what it means that being able to get to a physical library or a bookstore is no obstacle to accessing these works.
How amazing.
Lea
