For my first featured online resource on making webcomics, I’d like to introduce to you my favorite podcast, Webcomics Weekly. Webcomics Weekly is the -ehem- weekly podcast of Brad Guigar of Evil Inc., Dave Kellett of Sheldon, Kris Straub of Starslip Crisis, and Scott Kurtz of PvP. If you’re really into webcomics and haven’t heard of these guys then I suggest doing some extra homework and get to know them- now. They are considered to be some of the most (if not the most) successful webcomic creators around and to prove that, they’ve even written a book called How to Make Webcomics, which you can order now at Amazon or at each creator’s respective sites (they make more money that way, plus, you can order a special artist’s edition).

Their podcasts are light, funny, and most importantly, very informative. You can even send them an email and they will answer your question in their podcast. I personally find their podcasts very entertaining and I’ve learned a lot just by listening to these podcasts, but some may not be as comfortable with the inside jokes, the delivery of certain ideas, and/or Brad’s laugh, which has been the subject of ridicule across a few episodes. If you really want to learn about making webcomics and the business of webcomics, though, there’s no better way than to listen to the pros.

Do bear in mind though that you don’t have to take everything they say to heart. Part of learning how to make webcomics is making mistakes yourself. Doing everything that the professionals say does not guarantee success, but at least, will give you a head start.

You only need two things to make a webcomic: a comic to publish, and a site to publish it on.

From the word “webcomic” alone you will agree that it’s basic meaning is that it is a comic page or strip that is published on the web. So if it’s not published on the web, it’s just a “comic”, right? Of course, it will take much more to make the actual comics and the actual site that it will be published on but the main thing to learn here is that if you’re not comfortable making traditional comics then there’s no reason for you to make webcomics.

I believe that the the discipline of making comics and the discipline of making webcomics is just the same. It’s just the medium that is different. The web just gives creators a lot more freedom in presenting their comics and the potential to reach a world wide audience. I won’t dive into discussing the differences between traditional comics and webcomics, you can go to Wikipedia for that. All I want to point out is that webcomics are, in the simplest sense, just comics on the web. (more…)