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Webcomic Interviews
Even though I'm pretty sure the Internet is just a passing fad, there are some comic creators out there who think it's going to last -- and they're creating some damn fine comics on it!
Each week I'll sit down for a chat with one or more webcomic creators about the trials and tribulations of making comics on the 'Tubes, the latest news about their series and what inspires them to hunker down and do their thing. If you know of a webcomic creator I should interview, feel free to send your suggestions to: rick [at] comicmix [dot] com.
- Rick Marshall
Managing Editor, ComicMix
News Articles Featured in Webcomic Interviews
Fri Mar 14, 2008 — by Rick Marshall
Interview: Wes Molebash on Zuda Comics and 'You'll Have That'
Creator brings 'The Litterbox Chronicles' to DC's webcomic initiative
Ask any longtime comics fan what they give someone "on the outside" to turn them on to the comics world, and they usually have a stock answer ready. Some go the Watchmen route, others go with Art Spiegelman's Maus or, quite possibly, something more akin to Craig Thompson's Blankets. Lately, Brian K. Vaughan's Y: The Last Man has been popping up quite often in these types of conversations.
Sometimes, though, your best bet in converting someone into a comics fan isn't in proving the ability of comics to provide a window into serious emotional or political issues, or in giving them what amounts to a sneak peek at the next big comic-to-film adaptation. Sometimes, your best bet simply lies in showing someone that comics can still be fun -- that a few panels of cartoon art can connect a reader with the more light-hearted moments in life without requiring any heavy, emotional investment.
That's why Wes Molebash's You'll Have That has found its way into my list of first-time reader recommendations. The strip follows the life of a young, married couple as they work through the inherent trials and tribulations of starting a family, navigating a complicated social circle and learning their way around co-habitation. Molebash has been publishing YHT as a webcomic for more than four years now, and doing so on a five-days-a-week schedule for much of that time. The series is hosted by Viper Comics, who also publishes print collections of the series at regular intervals.
Recently, Molebash decided to try his hand with Zuda Comics, the new webcomics initiative by DC Comics. Creators submit sample strips to Zuda, and each month, editors select a set number to to host on the Zuda Comics site. Winners are chosen monthly based upon the strips' popularity among readers, and the winning creators receive a year-long contract to continue their series. However, the program has been the focus of widespread criticism in the online world, especially among webcomic creators, due to the restrictions imposed by DC/Zuda on ownership of the strips and creators' rights.
Molebash's current submission to Zuda, The Litterbox Chronicles, about a pair of mischevious house cats, marks the first occasion in which an already well-established webcomic creator has participated in the Zuda competition. In this interview, he shares some thoughst on the Zuda experience thus far and discusses the future of You'll Have That and the implications of the strip on his life.
COMICMIX: So, let's get to it. You already have a very successful webcomic in You'll Have That -- so why go the Zuda route?
WES MOLEBASH: Well, the Zuda thing has been quite a hot topic with creators for a while...
CMix: ... to put it lightly...
WM: I really struggled with the decision. I've been keeping my eye on Zuda ever since I first heard about DC doing this kind of thing, so I've read any article that I found on the Internet about it. I've read everyone's opinion. And it seems like the majority of cartoonists seem to be against it.
Continue reading Interview: Wes Molebash on Zuda Comics and 'You'll Have That' ›
Fri Mar 7, 2008 — by Rick Marshall
Interview: Rene Engström on 'Anders Loves Maria'
Daily webcomic finds the importance in life's overlooked moments
In all honesty, I might never have encountered Rene Engström's excellent webcomic Anders Loves Maria if it wasn't for the following recommendation:
I didn't think there'd ever be a good, heartfelt character development that took place while characters were naked & having teh buttsecks.
It felt necessary to include that quote, because now that I've spent some time with Anders Loves Maria, I realize that it really sums up one of the most impressive attributes of Engström's daily strip about love, life and evolution of a human relationship. The Swedish-Canadian cartoonist's ongoing tale of a late-20s couple on the threshold of a new chapter in life is filled with evidence of Engström's knack for adding depth to her cast of characters at the most unexpected moments, and an ability to find the true emotional impact of any experience, no matter how intimate or mundane.
The process of interviewing Engström, who is based in Brunflo, Sweden, is also worth mentioning here. In order to create a more personal atmosphere, the cartoonist had a friend sit in and ask the questions I had sent her. I bring this up only because I believe it sheds some light on the creator's approach to her work and, well, it's just important to give credit where it's due. So, my thanks go out to Rene Engström's friend, whoever you are, for being my stand-in on the following interview.
COMICMIX: What are you up to today, Rene?
RENE ENGSTRÖM: Today I'm working on Anders Loves Maria, specifically for today. And I am eating vanilla yogurt with apple and cinnamon müsli. Besides Anders Loves Maria, I'm also working on some conceptual design for an animated film. That's about it. Oh, and I'm also trying to get out t-shirt designs so I can make some money. I'm poor.
Continue reading Interview: Rene Engström on 'Anders Loves Maria' ›
