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The State of Comics

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tedzsee:
Just read an interesting rant about comics by Bill Watterson.

It got me thinking about the state of syndicated newspaper comics today.  Besides the old standby For Better or For Worse, I was wondering if anyone could think of any newspaper comics that could, in a few years, be considered really "genius."

Or is the medium really static today?  Are webcomics the last bastion of the creative?  Are they even a bastion of the creative?

Thoughts?

jeph:
Newspaper comics have been dying for years. There will always be the occasional flash of brilliance (Get Fuzzy, while not exactly breaking new ground, is consistently hilarious) but it has basically become an industry of diminishing returns.

Primate:
Between shrinking circulations, constricted formats, and dinosaurs that won't die and that keep new blood from joining their ranks, there are very few opportunities for anyone new to shine in the field of newspaper comics. Most of us who might have pursued a syndication deal a decade ago have instead switched over to the web. The artform is doing fine, even if the medium has changed.

My Aim Is True:
I've read that article many times before. The only thing I don't like about it is his bashing of comic books.


--- Quote from: Bill Watterson ---comic books have traditionally been an even sloppier; dumber, and more exploitive market than newspaper comics.

--- End quote ---


He wrote this just a few short years after Frank Miller and Alan Moore changed the face of mainstream comics, but even before that, there was tons of great literature being published as comics. Look at the work of Harvey Pekar, or even some of the Spider-Man stories written by Stan Lee. Sure, there was a lot of crap, but Spider-Man's origin tale, told in just 10 pages, laid the groundwork for one of the most moving and inspiring archetypes or the 20th century.


Oh, and Jeph, I agree Get Fuzzy is outstanding.

Se7en:
I think the important thing here, is the fact that newspapers themselves are a dying medium. The cartoons are a tiny part of the newspaper that they included to broaden a newspapers appeal, back in the days when newspapers were big bussiness.

Webcomics, are of course the way forward. For every syndicated comic, there are a thousand published for free on the web. This isnt good for making money, but its good for artistic expression. Sure, theres loads of crap, but there are gems too.

Paper comic books are a waning art form too i think, destroyed by the "comic book guy" stereotype, as satirised on the simpsons. Paper comic books have always been seen as a thing for children and nerds, and what self respecting modern nerd buys a physical version of something he can get for free on the internet?

Paper just isnt cool anymore.

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