Webcomics may have started as a relatively simplistic medium, but throughout the 21st century they have grown and matured, as new artists experiment with what can be done within the confines of a single page. As a result, what was once a format dominated by short, surrealist jokes has blossomed into an exciting and ever-evolving branch of literature. No longer the young upstart in the cultural hierarchy, critics and readers alike have been forced to acknowledge the growing importance of webcomics.
Best of all, their sheer versatility means that there is an almost endless range of content for you to read. Here are some of our favourites, from the playful to the poetic.
Hark a Vagrant
[ Read Hark a Vagrant online ]
Although artist Kate Beaton has since moved on to other projects, her literary/history themed webcomic Hark a Vagrant showcases her quick wit and wide-ranging interests. In addition to short sketches and one-liners, Beaton also specialises in humourous summaries of classic works of fiction.
Her magnum opus is a six-part summary of Wuthering Heights, one that celebrates the central themes of the novel whilst gently mocking Emily Brontë’s more melodramatic instincts. Throughout it all, Beaton’s passion for her subjects shines through.
The Comics of Margaret Atwood
[ Read Margaret Atwood’s comics online ]
Margaret Atwood may be most well known as the bestselling author behind the hit novel The Handmaid’s Tale, but she also dabbles in webcomics on the side. Available on her website, these short stories offer a unique and comedic insight into the life of the author, from research and writer’s block to book tours and public speaking.
If you want to see what one of the most talented writers of her generation can do when she combines her talent for prose with rustic artwork, then this is the perfect webcomic for you.
Joe vs Elan School
[ Read Joe vs Elan School online ]
Whilst most webcomics give humourous takes on modern life and literature, Joe vs Elan School demonstrates the sheer variety that is available for anyone willing to explore the more experimental side of the medium. The writer, who works under the pseudonym “Joe Nobody”, uses the online platform to expose the horrific abuse that took place at Élan School, a real academic institution in the United States of America, which claimed to help troubled kids but hid a culture of violence, forcing students to fight each other as part of their studies.
A scathing indictment of the American education system, Joe vs Elan School is as much a piece of activism as it is entertainment, proving just how powerful the medium can be.
A Softer World
[ Read A Softer World online ]
Created by Joey Comeau, A Softer World combines abstract photography with brief texts in order to create sometimes sad, sometimes funny short stories. The result feels both classically artistic and slightly avant-garde, with the minimalist approach and emotional resonance making it easy to binge read. Proof that less can be more, A Softer World offers an incredibly stylish take on the genre.
Existential Comics
[ Read Existential Comics online ]
Anyone with even a passing interest in philosophy will love Existential Comics, which provides a wry take on some of the most famous (or infamous) minds in the field, from Jean-Paul Sartre to Immanuel Kant. Material includes Fyodor Dostoyevsky searching for alternative means of employment, and a gentle critique of René Descartes’s attempts to create a sequel to Meditations on First Philosophy.
There is even a counter displaying the number of days since they last made a Kant/can’t pun – the total at the time of writing stood at 2,784 days – an impressive achievement by any standard.
Incidental Comics
[ Read Incidental Comics online ]
Grant Snider, the artist behind Incidental Comics, has the rare distinction of being both a respected orthodontist and a celebrated cartoonist. His whimsical drawings bring life to his musings on the meaning and method of creativity. Sometimes comedic, sometimes earnest, his comics never fail to make readers smile.
Though his artwork can be simplistic, Snider has a head for complex wordplay; for instance, he is able to tell a classic noir story entirely through different types of poetry. His focus may not be exclusively on literature, but Incidental Comics always provides comfort to anyone who has experienced the highs and lows of being an artist.
A History graduate from the University of Edinburgh, Nathaniel Ashley also runs his own film and TV blog called Natflix in his spare time. The pandemic has been an ideal opportunity for him to catch up on his reading, without the added burden of a social life to maintain. His wider portfolio can be seen at nathanielashley62.journoportfolio.com.